Vishvamitra's Consolation to Lift Trishanku's Curse

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.13.1)

राजोवाच - हरिश्चन्द्रः कृतो राजा सचिवैर्नृपशासनात् । त्रिशङ्कुस्तु कथं मुक्तस्तस्माच्चाण्डालदेहतः

rājovāca - hariścandraḥ kṛto rājā sacivairnṛpaśāsanāt triśaṅkustu kathaṁ muktastasmāccāṇḍāladehataḥ

The king said: Harishchandra was made king by the ministers, at the command of the king. But how was Trishanku freed from that outcaste body?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.13.2)

मृतो वा वनमध्ये तु गङ्गातीरे परिप्लुतः । गुरुणा वा कृपां कृत्वा शापात्तस्माद्विमोचितः

mṛto vā vanamadhye tu gaṅgātīre pariplutaḥ guruṇā vā kṛpāṁ kṛtvā śāpāttasmādvimocitaḥ

Did he die there in the midst of the forest, swept away on the bank of the Ganga? Or was he released from that curse by his preceptor's mercy?

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.13.3)

एतद् वृत्तान्तमखिलं कथयस्व ममाग्रतः । चरितं तस्य नृपतेः श्रोतुकामोऽस्मि सर्वथा

etad vṛttāntamakhilaṁ kathayasva mamāgrataḥ caritaṁ tasya nṛpateḥ śrotukāmo'smi sarvathā

Tell me this entire account before me; I wish in every way to hear the story of that king.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.13.4)

व्यास उवाच । अभिषिक्तं सुतं कृत्वा राजा सन्तुष्टमानसः । कालातिक्रमणं तत्र चकार चिन्तयञ्छिवाम्

vyāsa uvāca abhiṣiktaṁ sutaṁ kṛtvā rājā santuṣṭamānasaḥ kālātikramaṇaṁ tatra cakāra cintayañchivām

Vyasa said: Having consecrated his son, the king, satisfied at heart, passed his time there, meditating upon the auspicious Devi.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.13.5)

एवं गच्छति काले तु तपस्तप्त्वा समाहितः । द्रष्टुं दारान्सुतादींश्च तदागात्कौशिको मुनिः

evaṁ gacchati kāle tu tapastaptvā samāhitaḥ draṣṭuṁ dārānsutādīṁśca tadāgātkauśiko muniḥ

As time passed thus, the sage Kaushika, having performed austerity with concentrated mind, came at that time to see his wife, sons, and the rest.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.13.6)

आगत्य स्वजनं दृष्ट्वा सुस्थितं मुदमाप्तवान् । भार्यां पप्रच्छ मेधावी स्थितामग्रे सपर्यया

āgatya svajanaṁ dṛṣṭvā susthitaṁ mudamāptavān bhāryāṁ papraccha medhāvī sthitāmagre saparyayā

Coming there and seeing his family well settled, he felt joy; that wise man asked his wife, who stood before him with due reverence:

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.13.7)

दुर्भिक्षे तु कथं कालस्तया नीतः सुलोचने । अन्नं विना त्विमे बालाः पालिता केन तद्वद

durbhikṣe tu kathaṁ kālastayā nītaḥ sulocane annaṁ vinā tvime bālāḥ pālitā kena tadvada

"How did you pass your time during the famine, O beautiful-eyed one? Without food, by whom were these children cared for? Tell me this."

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.13.8)

अहं तपसि सन्नद्धो नागतः शृणु सुन्दरि । किं कृतं तु त्वया कान्ते विना द्रव्येण शोभने

ahaṁ tapasi sannaddho nāgataḥ śṛṇu sundari kiṁ kṛtaṁ tu tvayā kānte vinā dravyeṇa śobhane

"I, absorbed in austerity, did not come — listen, O beautiful one. What did you do, my beloved, without any means, O lovely one?"

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.13.9)

मया चिन्ता कृता तत्र श्रुत्वा दुर्भिक्षमद्भुतम् । नागतोऽहं विचार्यैवं किं करिष्यामि निर्धनः

mayā cintā kṛtā tatra śrutvā durbhikṣamadbhutam nāgato'haṁ vicāryaivaṁ kiṁ kariṣyāmi nirdhanaḥ

"I felt anxious there, hearing of that terrible famine, but I did not come, thinking: 'What can I, without means, do about it?'"

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.13.10)

अहमप्यति वामोरु पीडितः क्षुधया वने । प्रविष्टश्चौरभावेन कुत्रचिच्छ्वपचालये

ahamapyati vāmoru pīḍitaḥ kṣudhayā vane praviṣṭaścaurabhāvena kutracicchvapacālaye

"I myself, O lovely-thighed one, was severely afflicted with hunger in the forest, and, in the manner of a thief, entered a certain outcaste's dwelling."

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.13.11)

श्वपचं निद्रितं दृष्ट्वा क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् । महानसं परिज्ञाय भक्ष्यार्थं समुपस्थितः

śvapacaṁ nidritaṁ dṛṣṭvā kṣudhayā pīḍito bhṛśam mahānasaṁ parijñāya bhakṣyārthaṁ samupasthitaḥ

"Seeing the outcaste asleep, and greatly afflicted by hunger, I found his kitchen and approached it in search of food."

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.13.12)

यदा भाण्डं समुद्घाट्य पक्वं श्वतनुजामिषम् । गृह्णामि भक्षणार्थाय तदा दृष्टस्तु तेन वै

yadā bhāṇḍaṁ samudghāṭya pakvaṁ śvatanujāmiṣam gṛhṇāmi bhakṣaṇārthāya tadā dṛṣṭastu tena vai

"When I opened the pot and took some cooked dog-flesh meat in order to eat it, I was then seen by him."

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.13.13)

पृष्टः कस्त्वं कथं प्राप्तो गृहे मे निशि सादरम् । ब्रूहि कार्यं किमर्थं त्वमुद्घाटयसि भाण्डकम्

pṛṣṭaḥ kastvaṁ kathaṁ prāpto gṛhe me niśi sādaram brūhi kāryaṁ kimarthaṁ tvamudghāṭayasi bhāṇḍakam

"He asked me: 'Who are you? How have you come to my house at night?' — with respect he said, 'Tell me your business — why are you opening my pot?'"

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.13.14)

इत्युक्तः श्वपचेनाहं क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् । तमवोचं सुकेशान्ते कामं गद्गदया गिरा

ityuktaḥ śvapacenāhaṁ kṣudhayā pīḍito bhṛśam tamavocaṁ sukeśānte kāmaṁ gadgadayā girā

"Thus addressed by the outcaste, I, greatly afflicted by hunger, O beautiful-haired one, said to him, indeed, in a voice choked with distress:"

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.13.15)

ब्राह्मणोऽहं महाभाग तापसः क्षुधयार्दितः । चौरभावमनुप्राप्तो भक्ष्यं पश्यामि भाण्डके

brāhmaṇo'haṁ mahābhāga tāpasaḥ kṣudhayārditaḥ caurabhāvamanuprāpto bhakṣyaṁ paśyāmi bhāṇḍake

"'I am a Brahmin, O greatly fortunate one, an ascetic, tormented by hunger; I have come to steal, and I see food in your pot.'"

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.13.16)

चौरभावेन सम्प्राप्तोऽस्म्यतिथिस्ते महामते । क्षुधितोऽस्मि ददस्वाज्ञां मांसमद्मि सुसंस्कृतम्

caurabhāvena samprāpto'smyatithiste mahāmate kṣudhito'smi dadasvājñāṁ māṁsamadmi susaṁskṛtam

"'I have come to you as a thief, but I am your guest, O wise one; I am hungry — grant me leave, that I may eat this well-prepared meat.'"

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.13.17)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । श्वपचस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा मामुवाच सुनिश्चितम् । भक्षं मा कुरु वर्णाग्र्य जानीहि श्वपचालयम्

viśvāmitra uvāca śvapacastu vacaḥ śrutvā māmuvāca suniścitam bhakṣaṁ mā kuru varṇāgrya jānīhi śvapacālayam

Vishvamitra said: Hearing my words, the outcaste said to me, quite firmly: "Do not eat this, O foremost of your caste; know that this is the dwelling of an outcaste."

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.13.18)

दुर्लभं खलु मानुष्यं तत्रापि च द्विजन्मता । द्विजत्वे ब्राह्मणत्वं च दुर्लभं वेत्सि किं न हि

durlabhaṁ khalu mānuṣyaṁ tatrāpi ca dvijanmatā dvijatve brāhmaṇatvaṁ ca durlabhaṁ vetsi kiṁ na hi

"Human birth itself is truly rare, and rarer still is being twice-born; and among the twice-born, being a Brahmin is rare — do you not know this?"

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.13.19)

दुष्टाहारो न कर्तव्यः सर्वथा लोकमिच्छता । अग्राह्या मनुना प्रोक्ताः कर्मणा सप्त चान्त्यजाः

duṣṭāhāro na kartavyaḥ sarvathā lokamicchatā agrāhyā manunā proktāḥ karmaṇā sapta cāntyajāḥ

"Corrupt food should by no means be eaten by one who desires the world hereafter; Manu has declared seven castes to be untouchable, by their nature and occupation."

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.13.20)

त्याज्योऽहं कर्मणा विप्र श्वपचो नात्र संशयः । निवारयामि भक्ष्यात्त्वां न लोभेनाञ्जसा द्विज

tyājyo'haṁ karmaṇā vipra śvapaco nātra saṁśayaḥ nivārayāmi bhakṣyāttvāṁ na lobhenāñjasā dvija

"I, an outcaste, am indeed to be shunned by my occupation, O Brahmin, without doubt; I forbid you from eating this — certainly not out of stinginess, O twice-born."

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.13.21)

वर्णसङ्करदोषोऽयं मा यातु त्वां द्विजोत्तम । विश्वामित्र उवाच । सत्यं वदसि धर्मज्ञ मतिस्ते विशदान्त्यज

varṇasaṅkaradoṣo'yaṁ mā yātu tvāṁ dvijottama viśvāmitra uvāca satyaṁ vadasi dharmajña matiste viśadāntyaja

"Let not this fault of caste-mixing befall you, O best of the twice-born." Vishvamitra said: "You speak the truth, O knower of dharma; your understanding is clear, O outcaste —"

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.13.22)

तथाप्यापदि धर्मस्य सूक्ष्ममार्गं ब्रवीम्यहम् । देहस्य रक्षणं कार्यं सर्वथा यदि मानद

tathāpyāpadi dharmasya sūkṣmamārgaṁ bravīmyaham dehasya rakṣaṇaṁ kāryaṁ sarvathā yadi mānada

"— yet, in a time of emergency, I shall tell you the subtle path of dharma: the body must by all means be protected."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.13.23)

पापस्यान्ते पुनः कार्यं प्रायश्चित्तं विशुद्धये । दुर्गतिस्तु भवेत्पापादनापदि न चापदि

pāpasyānte punaḥ kāryaṁ prāyaścittaṁ viśuddhaye durgatistu bhavetpāpādanāpadi na cāpadi

"At the end of the committed sin, atonement should again be performed for purification; evil consequence follows sin when there is no emergency, not when there is one."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.13.24)

मरणात्क्षुधितस्याथ नरको नात्र संशयः । तस्मात्क्षुधापहरणं कर्तव्यं शुभमिच्छता

maraṇātkṣudhitasyātha narako nātra saṁśayaḥ tasmātkṣudhāpaharaṇaṁ kartavyaṁ śubhamicchatā

"For one dying of hunger, hell follows, without doubt; therefore, one desiring good must remove his hunger."

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.13.25)

तेनाहं चौर्यधर्मेण देहं रक्षेऽप्यथान्त्यज । अवर्षणे च चौर्येण यत्पापं कथितं बुधैः

tenāhaṁ cauryadharmeṇa dehaṁ rakṣe'pyathāntyaja avarṣaṇe ca cauryeṇa yatpāpaṁ kathitaṁ budhaiḥ

"By this principle of theft in an emergency, I shall protect my body, even so, O outcaste. And the sin that has been spoken of by the wise, incurred through theft, for the lack of rainfall —"

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.13.26)

यो न वर्षति पर्जन्यस्तत्तु तस्मै भविष्यति । इत्युक्ते वचने कान्ते पर्जन्यः सहसापतत्

yo na varṣati parjanyastattu tasmai bhaviṣyati ityukte vacane kānte parjanyaḥ sahasāpatat

"— let it fall upon that god of rain who withholds the rain instead." When these words were spoken, my beloved, the rain-cloud suddenly poured forth —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.13.27)

गगनाद्धस्तिहस्ताभिर्धाराभिरभिकाङ्क्षितः । मुदितोऽहं घनं वीक्ष्य वर्षन्तं विद्युता सह

gaganāddhastihastābhirdhārābhirabhikāṅkṣitaḥ mudito'haṁ ghanaṁ vīkṣya varṣantaṁ vidyutā saha

"— from the sky, in streams as thick as an elephant's trunk, so eagerly awaited; delighted, I saw the rain-cloud pouring down, together with lightning."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.13.28)

तदाहं तद्गृहं त्यक्त्वा निःसृतः परया मुदा । कथय त्वं वरारोहे कालो नीतस्त्वया कथम्

tadāhaṁ tadgṛhaṁ tyaktvā niḥsṛtaḥ parayā mudā kathaya tvaṁ varārohe kālo nītastvayā katham

"Then I left that house and departed with the greatest joy. Now you tell me, O lovely one, how you passed your time."

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.13.29)

कान्तारे परमः क्रूरः क्षयकृत्प्राणिनामिह । व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पतिमाह प्रियंवदा

kāntāre paramaḥ krūraḥ kṣayakṛtprāṇināmiha vyāsa uvāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā patimāha priyaṁvadā

"— the forest holds much that is exceedingly cruel, destructive to living beings here." Vyasa said: Hearing his words, that sweetly-speaking wife said to her husband:

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.13.30)

यथा शृणु मया नीतः कालः परमदारुणः । गते त्वयि मुनिश्रेष्ठ दुर्भिक्षं समुपागतम्

yathā śṛṇu mayā nītaḥ kālaḥ paramadāruṇaḥ gate tvayi muniśreṣṭha durbhikṣaṁ samupāgatam

"Hear how I passed that most terrible time. After you left, O best of sages, a famine came upon us."

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.13.31)

अन्नार्थं पुत्रकाः सर्वे बभूवुश्चातिदुःखिताः । क्षुधितान्बालकान्वीक्ष्य नीवारार्थं वने वने

annārthaṁ putrakāḥ sarve babhūvuścātiduḥkhitāḥ kṣudhitānbālakānvīkṣya nīvārārthaṁ vane vane

"For want of food, all our sons became greatly distressed; seeing my hungry children, I went from forest to forest in search of wild rice."

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.13.32)

भ्रान्ताहं चिन्तयाऽऽविष्टा किञ्चित्प्राप्तं फलं तदा । एवं च कतिचिन्मासा नीवारेणातिवाहिताः

bhrāntāhaṁ cintayā''viṣṭā kiñcitprāptaṁ phalaṁ tadā evaṁ ca katicinmāsā nīvāreṇātivāhitāḥ

"I wandered about, filled with anxiety; some fruit was found now and then. Thus a few months passed, sustained on wild rice."

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.13.33)

तदभावे मया कान्त चिन्तितं मनसा पुनः । न भिक्षा किल दुर्भिक्षे नीवारा नापि कानने

tadabhāve mayā kānta cintitaṁ manasā punaḥ na bhikṣā kila durbhikṣe nīvārā nāpi kānane

"When even that was lacking, my beloved, I thought again in my mind: 'There is no alms to be had during a famine, nor is there wild rice left in the forest.'"

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.13.34)

न वृक्षेषु फलान्यासुर्न मूलानि धरातले । क्षुधया पीडिता बाला रुदन्ति भृशमातुराः

na vṛkṣeṣu phalānyāsurna mūlāni dharātale kṣudhayā pīḍitā bālā rudanti bhṛśamāturāḥ

"'There is no fruit on the trees, no roots in the ground. My hungry children weep, greatly distressed.'"

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.13.35)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि किं ब्रवीमि क्षुधार्तितान् । एवं विचिन्त्य मनसा निश्चयस्तु मया कृतः

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi kiṁ bravīmi kṣudhārtitān evaṁ vicintya manasā niścayastu mayā kṛtaḥ

"'What shall I do, where shall I go, what shall I say to my starving children?' Thinking thus in my mind, I made a resolve —"

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.13.36)

पुत्रमेकं ददाम्यद्य कस्मैचिद्धनिने किल । गृहीत्वा तस्य मौल्यं तु तेन द्रव्येण बालकान्

putramekaṁ dadāmyadya kasmaiciddhanine kila gṛhītvā tasya maulyaṁ tu tena dravyeṇa bālakān

"'— that I would today give one son to some wealthy person; and, taking his price, with that money I would support my other children.'"

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.13.37)

पालयेऽहं क्षुधार्तांस्तु नान्योपायोऽस्ति पालने । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा पुत्रोऽयं प्रहितो मया

pālaye'haṁ kṣudhārtāṁstu nānyopāyo'sti pālane iti sañcintya manasā putro'yaṁ prahito mayā

"'There is no other way to support my starving children.' Thinking thus in my mind, I sent forth this son —"

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.13.38)

विक्रयार्थं महाभाग क्रन्दमानो भृशातुरः । क्रन्दमानं गृहीत्वैनं निर्गताहं गतत्रपा

vikrayārthaṁ mahābhāga krandamāno bhṛśāturaḥ krandamānaṁ gṛhītvainaṁ nirgatāhaṁ gatatrapā

"— for the purpose of selling him, O greatly fortunate one, though he wept in great distress. Taking him, weeping, I went forth, having set aside my shame."

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.13.39)

तदा सत्यव्रतो मार्गे मामुद्वीक्ष्य भृशातुराम् । पप्रच्छ स च राजर्षिः कस्माद्रोदिति बालकः

tadā satyavrato mārge māmudvīkṣya bhṛśāturām papraccha sa ca rājarṣiḥ kasmādroditi bālakaḥ

"Then, on the way, Satyavrata, seeing me in such great distress, that royal sage asked: 'Why is this child crying?'"

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.13.40)

तदाहं तमुवाचेदं वचनं मुनिसत्तम । विक्रयार्थं नीयतेऽसौ बालकोऽद्य मया नृप

tadāhaṁ tamuvācedaṁ vacanaṁ munisattama vikrayārthaṁ nīyate'sau bālako'dya mayā nṛpa

"Then I said this to him, O best of sages: 'This child, O king, is being taken by me today to be sold.'"

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.13.41)

श्रुत्वा मे वचनं राजा दयार्द्रहृदयस्ततः । मामुवाच गृहं याहि गृहीत्वैनं कुमारकम्

śrutvā me vacanaṁ rājā dayārdrahṛdayastataḥ māmuvāca gṛhaṁ yāhi gṛhītvainaṁ kumārakam

"Hearing my words, the king, his heart softened with compassion, then said to me: 'Go home, taking back this boy.'"

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.13.42)

भोजनार्थे कुमाराणामामिषं विहितं तव । प्रापयिष्याम्यहं नित्यं यावन्मुनिसमागमः

bhojanārthe kumārāṇāmāmiṣaṁ vihitaṁ tava prāpayiṣyāmyahaṁ nityaṁ yāvanmunisamāgamaḥ

"'I shall provide meat for the feeding of your children, and shall deliver it to you daily, until your husband's return.'"

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.7.13.43)

अहन्यहनि भूपालो वृक्षेऽस्मिन्मृगसूकरान् । विन्यस्य याति हत्वासौ प्रत्यहं दययान्वितः

ahanyahani bhūpālo vṛkṣe'sminmṛgasūkarān vinyasya yāti hatvāsau pratyahaṁ dayayānvitaḥ

"Day after day, that king, filled with compassion, slew deer and boars, hung them upon this tree, and would then depart."

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.7.13.44)

तेनैव बालकाः कान्त पालिता वृजिनार्णवात् । वसिष्ठेनाथ शप्ताऽसौ भूपतिर्मम कारणात्

tenaiva bālakāḥ kānta pālitā vṛjinārṇavāt vasiṣṭhenātha śaptā'sau bhūpatirmama kāraṇāt

"By him alone, my beloved, were our children rescued from that ocean of calamity. Then that king was cursed by Vasishtha, because of me —"

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.7.13.45)

कस्मिंश्चिद्दिवसे मांसं न प्राप्तं तेन कानने । हता दोग्ध्री वसिष्ठस्य तेनासौ कुपितो मुनिः

kasmiṁściddivase māṁsaṁ na prāptaṁ tena kānane hatā dogdhrī vasiṣṭhasya tenāsau kupito muniḥ

"— on a certain day, when he found no meat in the forest, he slew Vasishtha's milk-cow; for this, the sage grew furious with him."

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.7.13.46)

त्रिशङ्कुरिति भूपस्य कृतं नाम महात्मना । कुपितेन वधाद्धेतोश्चाण्डालश्च कृतो नृपः

triśaṅkuriti bhūpasya kṛtaṁ nāma mahātmanā kupitena vadhāddhetoścāṇḍālaśca kṛto nṛpaḥ

"That great soul, in his anger, gave the king the name Trishanku for that act of killing, and the king was turned into a Chandala."

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.7.13.47)

तेनाहं दुःखिता जाता तस्य दुःखेन कौशिक । श्वपचत्वमसौ प्राप्तो मत्कृते नृपनन्दनः

tenāhaṁ duḥkhitā jātā tasya duḥkhena kauśika śvapacatvamasau prāpto matkṛte nṛpanandanaḥ

"Because of that, O Kaushika, I have become sorrowful over his sorrow; that king's son has come to the condition of an outcaste on my account."

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.7.13.48)

येन केनाप्युपायेन भवता नृपतेः किल । तस्माद्रक्षा प्रकर्तव्या तपसा प्रबलेन ह

yena kenāpyupāyena bhavatā nṛpateḥ kila tasmādrakṣā prakartavyā tapasā prabalena ha

"By whatever means, indeed, that king must surely be rescued from this by you, through the power of your austerity."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.7.13.49)

व्यास उवाच । इति भार्यावचः श्रुत्वा कौशिको मुनिसत्तमः । तामाह कामिनीं दीनां सान्त्वपूर्वमरिन्दम

vyāsa uvāca iti bhāryāvacaḥ śrutvā kauśiko munisattamaḥ tāmāha kāminīṁ dīnāṁ sāntvapūrvamarindama

Vyasa said: Hearing his wife's words, Kaushika, that best of sages, that queller of foes, spoke consolingly to his distressed wife:

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.7.13.50)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । मोचयिष्यामि तं शापान्नृपं कमललोचने । उपकारः कृतो येन कान्ताराद्रक्षितासि वै

viśvāmitra uvāca mocayiṣyāmi taṁ śāpānnṛpaṁ kamalalocane upakāraḥ kṛto yena kāntārādrakṣitāsi vai

Vishvamitra said: "I shall release that king from the curse, O lotus-eyed one; he has surely done me a favor, by whom you were rescued from that terrible forest-plight."

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.7.13.51)

विद्यातपोबलेनाहं करिष्ये दुःखसङ्क्षयम् । इत्याश्वास्य प्रियां तत्र कौशिकः परमार्थवित्

vidyātapobalenāhaṁ kariṣye duḥkhasaṅkṣayam ityāśvāsya priyāṁ tatra kauśikaḥ paramārthavit

"By the power of my knowledge and austerity, I shall bring an end to his sorrow." Having thus comforted his beloved wife, Kaushika, the knower of highest truth,

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.7.13.52)

चिन्तयामास नृपतेः कथं स्याद्दुःखनाशनम् । संविमृश्य मुनिस्तत्र जगाम यत्र पार्थिवः

cintayāmāsa nṛpateḥ kathaṁ syādduḥkhanāśanam saṁvimṛśya munistatra jagāma yatra pārthivaḥ

— pondered how the king's suffering might be ended; having deliberated, the sage went to that place where the king was.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.7.13.53)

त्रिशङ्कुः पक्वणे दीनः संस्थितः श्वपचाकृतिः । आगच्छन्तं मुनिं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितोऽसौ नराधिपः

triśaṅkuḥ pakvaṇe dīnaḥ saṁsthitaḥ śvapacākṛtiḥ āgacchantaṁ muniṁ dṛṣṭvā vismito'sau narādhipaḥ

Trishanku, wretched, in the form of an outcaste, was staying at a cooking-fire; seeing the sage approaching, that king was astonished.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.7.13.54)

दण्डवन्निपपातोर्व्यां पादयोस्तरसा मुनेः । गृहीत्वा तं करे भूपं पतितं कौशिकस्तदा

daṇḍavannipapātorvyāṁ pādayostarasā muneḥ gṛhītvā taṁ kare bhūpaṁ patitaṁ kauśikastadā

He fell like a rod upon the ground before the sage's feet, quickly; and Kaushika, taking hold of the fallen king by the hand,

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.7.13.55)

उत्थाप्योवाच वचनं सान्त्वपूर्वं द्विजोत्तमः । मत्कृते त्वं महीपाल शप्तोऽसि मुनिना यतः

utthāpyovāca vacanaṁ sāntvapūrvaṁ dvijottamaḥ matkṛte tvaṁ mahīpāla śapto'si muninā yataḥ

— raised him up, and that best of the twice-born spoke to him consolingly: "Since you, O lord of the earth, were cursed by the sage on account of me —"

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.7.13.56)

वाञ्छितं ते करिष्यामि ब्रूहि किं करवाण्यहम् । राजोवाच - मया सम्प्रार्थितः पूर्वं वसिष्ठो मखहेतवे

vāñchitaṁ te kariṣyāmi brūhi kiṁ karavāṇyaham rājovāca - mayā samprārthitaḥ pūrvaṁ vasiṣṭho makhahetave

"— I shall grant you your desire; tell me what I should do." The king said: "Earlier I entreated Vasishtha, for the sake of a sacrifice —"

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.7.13.57)

मां याजय मुनिश्रेष्ठ करोमि मखमुत्तमम् । यथेष्टं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र यथा स्वर्गं व्रजाम्यहम्

māṁ yājaya muniśreṣṭha karomi makhamuttamam yatheṣṭaṁ kuru viprendra yathā svargaṁ vrajāmyaham

"'— Perform the sacrifice for me, O best of sages; let me undertake this excellent rite. Do as I wish, O foremost of Brahmins, so that I may reach heaven —'"

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.7.13.58)

अनेनैव शरीरेण शक्रलोकं सुखालयम् । कोपं कृत्वा वसिष्ठोऽसौ मामाहेति सुदुर्मते

anenaiva śarīreṇa śakralokaṁ sukhālayam kopaṁ kṛtvā vasiṣṭho'sau māmāheti sudurmate

"'— in this very body, to that abode of happiness, Indra's world.' In anger, Vasishtha said to me, 'O evil-minded one —'"

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.7.13.59)

मानुषेण हि देहेन स्वर्गवासः कुतस्तव । पुनर्मयोक्तो भगवान्स्वर्गलुब्धेन चानघ

mānuṣeṇa hi dehena svargavāsaḥ kutastava punarmayokto bhagavānsvargalubdhena cānagha

"'— how can dwelling in heaven with a human body be yours?' Again I, O sinless one, greedy for heaven, said to that blessed one —"

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.7.13.60)

अन्यं पुरोहितं कृत्वा यक्ष्येऽहं यज्ञमुत्तमम् । तदा तेनैव शप्तोऽहं चाण्डालो भव पामर

anyaṁ purohitaṁ kṛtvā yakṣye'haṁ yajñamuttamam tadā tenaiva śapto'haṁ cāṇḍālo bhava pāmara

"'— I shall appoint another priest and perform this excellent sacrifice.' Then I was cursed by him: 'Become a Chandala, O wretch!'"

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.7.13.61)

इत्येतत्कथितं सर्वं कारणं शापसम्भवम् । मम दुःखविनाशाय समर्थोऽसि मुनीश्वर

ityetatkathitaṁ sarvaṁ kāraṇaṁ śāpasambhavam mama duḥkhavināśāya samartho'si munīśvara

"This is the whole account of how the curse arose, told to you. You are able, O lord of sages, to bring an end to my sorrow."

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.7.13.62)

इत्युक्त्वा विररमासौ राजा दुःखरुजार्दितः । कौशिकोऽपि निराकर्तुं शापं तस्य व्यचिन्तयत्

ityuktvā viraramāsau rājā duḥkharujārditaḥ kauśiko'pi nirākartuṁ śāpaṁ tasya vyacintayat

Having said this, the king, tormented by the pain of his sorrow, fell silent; and Kaushika too began to consider how to remove that curse from him.