Valmiki Tells the Tale of Kalmashapada

Shloka 1 (uttara.65.1)

प्रस्थाप्य च बलं सर्वं मासमात्रोषितः पथि । एक एवाशु शत्रुघ्नो जगाम त्वरितं तदा ।। 65.1 ।।

prasthāpya ca balaṃ sarvaṃ māsamātroṣitaḥ pathi | eka evāśu śatrughno jagāma tvaritaṃ tadā || 65.1 ||

Having sent forth the whole army and having stayed a month upon the way, Shatrughna then went on swiftly, alone.

Shloka 2 (uttara.65.2)

द्विरात्रमन्तरे शूर उष्य राघवनन्दनः । वाल्मीकेराश्रमं पुण्यमगच्छद्वासमुत्तमम् ।। 65.2 ।।

dvirātramantare śūra uṣya rāghavanandanaḥ | vālmīkerāśramaṃ puṇyamagacchadvāsamuttamam || 65.2 ||

After two nights spent on the way, the heroic scion of Raghava reached the sacred hermitage of Valmiki, an excellent place to rest.

Shloka 3 (uttara.65.3)

सो ऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं वाल्मीकिं मुनिसत्तमम् । कृताञ्जलिरथो भूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। 65.3 ।।

so 'bhivādya mahātmānaṃ vālmīkiṃ munisattamam | kṛtāñjaliratho bhūtvā vākyametaduvāca ha || 65.3 ||

He greeted the great-souled Valmiki, foremost of sages, and then, with joined palms, spoke these words.

Shloka 4 (uttara.65.4)

भगवन्वस्तुमिच्छामि गुरोः कृत्यादिहागतः । श्वः प्रभाते गमिष्यामि प्रतीचीं वारुणीं दिशम् ।। 65.4 ।।

bhagavanvastumicchāmi guroḥ kṛtyādihāgataḥ | śvaḥ prabhāte gamiṣyāmi pratīcīṃ vāruṇīṃ diśam || 65.4 ||

"O reverend one, I have come here on my elder's errand and wish to lodge here for the night; at dawn tomorrow I shall go on toward the western quarter."

Shloka 5 (uttara.65.5)

शत्रुघ्नस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । प्रत्युवाच महात्मानं स्वागतं ते महायशः ।। 65.5 ।।

śatrughnasya vacaḥ śrutvā prahasya munipuṅgavaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātmānaṃ svāgataṃ te mahāyaśaḥ || 65.5 ||

Hearing Shatrughna's words, the foremost of sages smiled and replied to the great-souled one: "Welcome, O renowned one.

Shloka 6 (uttara.65.6)

स्वमाश्रममिदं सौम्य राघवाणां कुलस्य हि । आसनं पाद्यमर्ध्यं च निर्विशङ्कः प्रतीच्छ मे ।। 65.6 ।।

svamāśramamidaṃ saumya rāghavāṇāṃ kulasya hi | āsanaṃ pādyamardhyaṃ ca nirviśaṅkaḥ pratīccha me || 65.6 ||

This hermitage, gentle one, belongs to the House of Raghu as its own; accept from me, without hesitation, a seat, water for the feet, and the guest-offering."

Shloka 7 (uttara.65.7)

प्रतिगृह्य तदा पूजां फलमूलं च भोजनम् । भक्षयामास काकुत्स्थस्तृप्तिं च परमां गतः ।। 65.7 ।।

pratigṛhya tadā pūjāṃ phalamūlaṃ ca bhojanam | bhakṣayāmāsa kākutsthastṛptiṃ ca paramāṃ gataḥ || 65.7 ||

Accepting that honor, Kakutstha then partook of the meal of fruits and roots, and was fully satisfied.

Shloka 8 (uttara.65.8)

स भुक्त्वा फलमूलं च महर्षिं तमुवाच ह । इयं यज्ञविभूतिस्ते कस्याश्रमसमीपतः ।। 65.8 ।।

sa bhuktvā phalamūlaṃ ca maharṣiṃ tamuvāca ha | iyaṃ yajñavibhūtiste kasyāśramasamīpataḥ || 65.8 ||

Having eaten the fruits and roots, he asked that great sage: "Whose is this trace of a sacrificial rite, here so close to your hermitage?"

Shloka 9 (uttara.65.9)

तत्तस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा वाल्मीकिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् । शत्रुघ्न शृणु यस्येदं बभूवायतनं पुरा ।। 65.9 ।।

tattasya bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā vālmīkirvākyamabravīt | śatrughna śṛṇu yasyedaṃ babhūvāyatanaṃ purā || 65.9 ||

Hearing his question, Valmiki said: "Listen, Shatrughna, to whose it once was, this place of sacrifice.

Shloka 10 (uttara.65.10)

युष्माकं पूर्वको राजा सौदासस्तस्य भूपतेः । पुत्रो वीरसहो नाम वीर्यवानतिधार्मिकः ।। 65.10 ।।

yuṣmākaṃ pūrvako rājā saudāsastasya bhūpateḥ | putro vīrasaho nāma vīryavānatidhārmikaḥ || 65.10 ||

Your ancestral king was Sudasa; that sovereign's son, named Virasaha, was valorous and deeply righteous.

Shloka 11 (uttara.65.11)

स बाल एव सौदासो मृगयामुपचक्रमे । चञ्चूर्यमाणं ददृशे स शूरो राक्षसद्वयम् ।। 65.11 ।।

sa bāla eva saudāso mṛgayāmupacakrame | cañcūryamāṇaṃ dadṛśe sa śūro rākṣasadvayam || 65.11 ||

That Saudasa, even as a boy, took up hunting; and that valiant one saw two rakshasas roaming about.

Shloka 12 (uttara.65.12)

शार्दूलरूपिणौ घोरौ मृगान्बहुसहस्रशः । भक्षमाणावसन्तुष्टौ पर्याप्तिं नैव जग्मतुः ।। 65.12 ।।

śārdūlarūpiṇau ghorau mṛgānbahusahasraśaḥ | bhakṣamāṇāvasantuṣṭau paryāptiṃ naiva jagmatuḥ || 65.12 ||

In the terrible forms of tigers, those two, devouring deer by the thousands, remained dissatisfied and could not find their fill.

Shloka 13 (uttara.65.13)

स तु तौ राक्षसौ दृष्ट्वा निर्मृगं च वनं कृतम् । क्रोधेन महताविष्टो जघानैकं महेषुणा ।। 65.13 ।।

sa tu tau rākṣasau dṛṣṭvā nirmṛgaṃ ca vanaṃ kṛtam | krodhena mahatāviṣṭo jaghānaikaṃ maheṣuṇā || 65.13 ||

Seeing those two rakshasas and seeing the forest emptied of its deer, he, seized with great anger, struck down one of them with a mighty arrow.

Shloka 14 (uttara.65.14)

विनिपात्य तमेकं तु सौदासः पुरुषर्षभः । विज्वरो विगतामर्षो हतं रक्षो ह्युदैक्षत ।। 65.14 ।।

vinipātya tamekaṃ tu saudāsaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | vijvaro vigatāmarṣo hataṃ rakṣo hyudaikṣata || 65.14 ||

Having felled that one, Saudasa, bull among men, now free of anxiety and anger, looked upon the slain rakshasa.

Shloka 15 (uttara.65.15)

निरीक्षमाणं तं दृष्ट्वा सहायं तस्य रक्षसः । सन्तापमकरोद्घोरं सौदासं चेदमब्रवीत् ।। 65.15 ।।

nirīkṣamāṇaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahāyaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ | santāpamakarodghoraṃ saudāsaṃ cedamabravīt || 65.15 ||

Seeing Saudasa gazing thus, the companion of the slain rakshasa, filled with terrible grief, spoke these words to him.

Shloka 16 (uttara.65.16)

यस्मादनपराधं त्वं सहायं मम जघ्निवान् । तस्मात्तवापि पापिष्ठ प्रदास्यामि प्रतिक्रियाम् ।। 65.16 ।।

yasmādanaparādhaṃ tvaṃ sahāyaṃ mama jaghnivān | tasmāttavāpi pāpiṣṭha pradāsyāmi pratikriyām || 65.16 ||

"Since you have killed my innocent companion, therefore, O wretch, I too shall give you your due in return."

Shloka 17 (uttara.65.17)

एवमुक्त्वा तु तद्राक्षस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । कालपर्याययोगेन राजा मित्रसहो ऽभवत् ।। 65.17 ।।

evamuktvā tu tadrākṣastatraivāntaradhīyata | kālaparyāyayogena rājā mitrasaho 'bhavat || 65.17 ||

So saying, that rakshasa vanished on the spot; and, in the course of time, that king came to be called Mitrasaha.

Shloka 18 (uttara.65.18)

राजापि यजते यज्ञमस्याश्रमसमीपतः । अश्वमेधं महायज्ञं तं वसिष्ठो ऽभ्यपालयत् ।। 65.18 ।।

rājāpi yajate yajñamasyāśramasamīpataḥ | aśvamedhaṃ mahāyajñaṃ taṃ vasiṣṭho 'bhyapālayat || 65.18 ||

That king performed a great Ashvamedha sacrifice near this very hermitage, which Vasishtha supervised.

Shloka 19 (uttara.65.19)

तत्र यज्ञो महानासीद्बहुवर्षगणायुतः । समृद्धः परया लक्ष्म्या देवयज्ञसमो ऽभवत् ।। 65.19 ।।

tatra yajño mahānāsīdbahuvarṣagaṇāyutaḥ | samṛddhaḥ parayā lakṣmyā devayajñasamo 'bhavat || 65.19 ||

There took place that great sacrifice, spanning many years' preparation, resplendent with supreme majesty, and equal to a sacrifice of the gods.

Shloka 20 (uttara.65.20)

अथावसाने यज्ञस्य पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन् । वसिष्ठरूपी राजानमिति होवाच राक्षसः ।। 65.20 ।।

athāvasāne yajñasya pūrvavairamanusmaran | vasiṣṭharūpī rājānamiti hovāca rākṣasaḥ || 65.20 ||

At the sacrifice's conclusion, remembering the former enmity, that rakshasa, assuming Vasishtha's form, spoke thus to the king.

Shloka 21 (uttara.65.21)

अस्य यज्ञस्य जातो ऽन्तः सामिषं भोजनं मम । दीयतामिह शीघ्रं वै नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। 65.21 ।।

asya yajñasya jāto 'ntaḥ sāmiṣaṃ bhojanaṃ mama | dīyatāmiha śīghraṃ vai nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 65.21 ||

"Now that this sacrifice has ended, meat has become due to me as my meal; let it be given here at once — there is no need to deliberate over this."

Shloka 22 (uttara.65.22)

तच्छ्रुत्वा व्याहृतं वाक्यं रक्षसा ब्रह्मरूपिणा । भक्ष्यसंस्कारकुशलमुवाच पृथिवीपतिः ।। 65.22 ।।

tacchrutvā vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ rakṣasā brahmarūpiṇā | bhakṣyasaṃskārakuśalamuvāca pṛthivīpatiḥ || 65.22 ||

Hearing this word spoken by the rakshasa disguised as a brahmin, the lord of the earth spoke to the one skilled in preparing food.

Shloka 23 (uttara.65.23)

हविष्यं सामिषं स्वादु यथा भवति भोजनम् । तथा कुरुष्व शीघ्रं वै परितुष्येद्यथा गुरुः ।। 65.23 ।।

haviṣyaṃ sāmiṣaṃ svādu yathā bhavati bhojanam | tathā kuruṣva śīghraṃ vai parituṣyedyathā guruḥ || 65.23 ||

"Prepare quickly such a savory, meat-mixed offering as will please our preceptor — see that it is done so he is satisfied."

Shloka 24 (uttara.65.24)

शासनात्पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य सूदः सम्भ्रान्तमानसः । स राक्षसः पुनस्तत्र सूदवेषमथाकरोत् ।। 65.24 ।।

śāsanātpārthivendrasya sūdaḥ sambhrāntamānasaḥ | sa rākṣasaḥ punastatra sūdaveṣamathākarot || 65.24 ||

At the king's command, while the alarmed cook stood confused, that rakshasa himself then assumed there the guise of the cook.

Shloka 25 (uttara.65.25)

स मानुषमथो मांसं पार्थिवाय न्यवेदयत् । इदं स्वादु हविष्यं च सामिषं चान्नमाहृतम् ।। 65.25 ।।

sa mānuṣamatho māṃsaṃ pārthivāya nyavedayat | idaṃ svādu haviṣyaṃ ca sāmiṣaṃ cānnamāhṛtam || 65.25 ||

He then offered human flesh to the king, saying: "Here is the savory sacrificial food, meat-mingled fare, brought for the meal."

Shloka 26 (uttara.65.26)

स भोजनं वसिष्ठाय पत्न्या सार्धमुपाहरत् । मदयन्त्या नरव्याघ्र सामिषं रक्षसा हृतम् ।। 65.26 ।।

sa bhojanaṃ vasiṣṭhāya patnyā sārdhamupāharat | madayantyā naravyāghra sāmiṣaṃ rakṣasā hṛtam || 65.26 ||

The king, O tiger among men, served that meat-laced meal, brought by the rakshasa, to Vasishtha along with his wife Madayanti.

Shloka 27 (uttara.65.27)

ज्ञात्वा तदामिषं विप्रो मानुषं भाजनं गतम् । क्रोधेन महताविष्टो व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। 65.27 ।।

jñātvā tadāmiṣaṃ vipro mānuṣaṃ bhājanaṃ gatam | krodhena mahatāviṣṭo vyāhartumupacakrame || 65.27 ||

Recognizing that the flesh set upon the plate was human flesh, the brahmin, seized with great fury, began to speak.

Shloka 28 (uttara.65.28)

यस्मात्त्वं भोजनं राजन्ममैतद्दातुमिच्छसि । तस्माद्भोजनमेतत्ते भविष्यति न संशयः ।। 65.28 ।।

yasmāttvaṃ bhojanaṃ rājanmamaitaddātumicchasi | tasmādbhojanametatte bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 65.28 ||

"Since, O king, you wish to give me this food, this very food shall become yours too — of that there is no doubt."

Shloka 29 (uttara.65.29)

ततः क्रुद्धस्तु सौदासस्तोयं जग्राह पाणिना । वसिष्ठं शप्तुमारेभे भार्या चैनमवारयत् ।। 65.29 ।।

tataḥ kruddhastu saudāsastoyaṃ jagrāha pāṇinā | vasiṣṭhaṃ śaptumārebhe bhāryā cainamavārayat || 65.29 ||

Then Saudasa, enraged, took water in his hand and began to curse Vasishtha; but his wife restrained him.

Shloka 30 (uttara.65.30)

राजन्प्रभुर्यतो ऽस्माकं वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः । प्रतिशप्तुं न शक्तस्त्वं देवतुल्यं पुरोधसम् ।। 65.30 ।।

rājanprabhuryato 'smākaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ | pratiśaptuṃ na śaktastvaṃ devatulyaṃ purodhasam || 65.30 ||

"O king, Vasishtha the divine sage is our master; you have no power to curse this god-like priest in return."

Shloka 31 (uttara.65.31)

ततः क्रोधमयं तोयं तेजोबलसमन्वितम् । व्यसर्जयत धर्मात्मा ततः पादौ सिषेच च ।। 65.31 ।।

tataḥ krodhamayaṃ toyaṃ tejobalasamanvitam | vyasarjayata dharmātmā tataḥ pādau siṣeca ca || 65.31 ||

Then that righteous king, unable to release that wrath-charged, power-filled water outward, poured it instead upon his own two feet.

Shloka 32 (uttara.65.32)

तेनास्य राज्ञस्तौ पादौ तदा कल्माषतां गतौ । तदाप्रभृति राजा ऽसौ सौदासः सुमहायशाः । कल्माषपादः संवृत्तः ख्यातश्चैव तथा नृपः ।। 65.32 ।।

tenāsya rājñastau pādau tadā kalmāṣatāṃ gatau | tadāprabhṛti rājā 'sau saudāsaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ | kalmāṣapādaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ khyātaścaiva tathā nṛpaḥ || 65.32 ||

By that water, the king's two feet at once became spotted and mottled; and from that time on, that greatly renowned king, Saudasa, became famed by the name Kalmashapada — 'spotted-footed.'

Shloka 33 (uttara.65.33)

स राजा सह पत्न्या वै प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः । पुनर्वसिष्ठं प्रोवाच यदुक्तं ब्रह्मरूपिणा ।। 65.33 ।।

sa rājā saha patnyā vai praṇipatya muhurmuhuḥ | punarvasiṣṭhaṃ provāca yaduktaṃ brahmarūpiṇā || 65.33 ||

That king, together with his wife, bowing again and again, related once more to Vasishtha all that had been said by the one disguised as a brahmin.

Shloka 34 (uttara.65.34)

तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य रक्षसा विकृतं च तत् । पुनः प्रोवाच राजानं वसिष्ठः पुरुषर्षभम् ।। 65.34 ।।

tacchrutvā pārthivendrasya rakṣasā vikṛtaṃ ca tat | punaḥ provāca rājānaṃ vasiṣṭhaḥ puruṣarṣabham || 65.34 ||

Hearing the king's account, and of that deceit wrought by the rakshasa, Vasishtha spoke once more to the king, that bull among men.

Shloka 35 (uttara.65.35)

मया रोषपरीतेन यदिदं व्याहृतं वचः । नैतच्छक्यं वृथा कर्तुं प्रदास्यामि च ते वरम् ।। 65.35 ।।

mayā roṣaparītena yadidaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ vacaḥ | naitacchakyaṃ vṛthā kartuṃ pradāsyāmi ca te varam || 65.35 ||

"This word I spoke, overcome by anger, cannot now be made void; yet I shall grant you a boon in its place.

Shloka 36 (uttara.65.36)

कालो द्वादश वर्षाणि शापस्यान्तो भविष्यति । मत्प्रासादाच्च राजेन्द्र व्यतीतं न स्मरिष्यसि ।। 65.36 ।।

kālo dvādaśa varṣāṇi śāpasyānto bhaviṣyati | matprāsādācca rājendra vyatītaṃ na smariṣyasi || 65.36 ||

After twelve years, this curse shall come to its end; and by my grace, O lord of kings, you will not even remember what has passed."

Shloka 37 (uttara.65.37)

एवं स राजा तं शापमुपभुज्यारिसूदनः । प्रतिलेभे पुना राज्यं प्रजाश्चैवान्वपालयत् ।। 65.37 ।।

evaṃ sa rājā taṃ śāpamupabhujyārisūdanaḥ | pratilebhe punā rājyaṃ prajāścaivānvapālayat || 65.37 ||

Thus that king, destroyer of foes, having undergone that curse, regained his kingdom once more and continued to rule his people.

Shloka 38 (uttara.65.38)

तस्य कल्माषपादस्य यज्ञस्यायतनं शुभम् । आश्रमस्य समीपे ऽस्य यन्मां पृच्छसि राघव ।। 65.38 ।।

tasya kalmāṣapādasya yajñasyāyatanaṃ śubham | āśramasya samīpe 'sya yanmāṃ pṛcchasi rāghava || 65.38 ||

This, Raghava, about which you asked me — this sacred site of the sacrifice, close by this hermitage — is that of Kalmashapada."

Shloka 39 (uttara.65.39)

तस्य तां पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य कथां श्रुत्वा सुदारुणाम् । विवेश पर्णशालायां महर्षिमभिवाद्य च ।। 65.39 ।।

tasya tāṃ pārthivendrasya kathāṃ śrutvā sudāruṇām | viveśa parṇaśālāyāṃ maharṣimabhivādya ca || 65.39 ||

Having heard that most dreadful tale of the king, Shatrughna bowed to the great sage and entered the leaf-hut.