SECTION CLXXXIV
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Arjuna asked, 'What for, O Gandharva, did
king Kalmashapada command his queen to go unto that foremost of all persons
conversant with the Vedas--the master Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious
and great Rishi Vasishtha himself who was acquainted with every rule of
morality know a woman he should not have known? O friend, was this an act of
sin on the part of Vasishtha? It behoveth thee to remove the doubts I entertain
and refer to thee for solution.'
"The Gandharva replied, saying, 'O
irrepressible Dhananjaya, listen to me as I answer the question thou hast asked
in respect of Vasishtha and king Kalmashapada that cherisher of friends. O thou
best of the Bharatas, I have told thee all about the curse of king Kalmashapada
by Saktri, the illustrious son of Vasishtha. Brought under the influence of the
curse, that smiter of all foes--king Kalmashapada--with eyes whirling in anger
went out of his capital accompanied by his wife. And entering with his wife the
solitary woods the king began to wander about. And one day while the king under
the influence of the curse was wandering through that forest abounding in
several kinds of deer and various other animals and overgrown with numerous
large trees and shrubs and creepers and resounding with terrible cries, he became
exceedingly hungry. And the monarch thereupon began to search for some food.
Pinched with hunger, the king at last saw, in a very solitary part of the
woods, a Brahmana and his wife enjoying each other. Alarmed at beholding the
monarch the couple ran away, their desire ungratified. Pursuing the retreating
pair, the king forcibly seized the Brahmana. Then the Brahmani, beholding her
lord seized, addressed the monarch, saying, 'Listen to what I say, O monarch of
excellent vows! It is known all over the world that thou art born in the solar
race, and that thou art ever vigilant in the practice of morality and devoted
to the service of thy superiors. It behoveth thee not to commit sin, O thou
irrepressible one, deprived though thou hast been of thy senses by (the
Rishi's) curse. My season hath come, and wishful of my husband's company I was
connected with him. I have not been gratified yet. Be propitious unto us, O
thou best of kings! Liberate my husband.' The monarch, however, without
listening to her cries cruelly devoured her husband like a tiger devouring its
desirable prey. Possessed with wrath at this sight, the tears that that woman
shed blazed up like fire and consumed everything in that place. Afflicted with
grief at the calamity that overtook her lord, the Brahmani in anger cursed the
royal sage Kalmashapada, 'Vile wretch, since thou hast today cruelly devoured
under my very nose my illustrious husband dear unto me, even before my desires
have been gratified, therefore shall thou, O wicked one afflicted by my curse,
meet with instant death when thou goest in for thy wife in season. And thy
wife, O wretch, shall bring forth a son uniting herself with that Rishi
Vasishtha whose children have been devoured by thee. And that child, O worst of
kings, shall be the perpetuator of thy race.' And cursing the monarch thus,
that lady of Angira's house bearing every auspicious mark, entered the blazing
fire in the very sight of the monarch. And, O thou oppressor of all foes, the
illustrious and exalted Vasishtha by his ascetic power and spiritual insight
immediately knew all. And long after this, when the king became freed from his
curse, he approached his wife Madayanati when her season came. But Madayanati
softly sent him away. Under the influence of passion the monarch had no
recollection of that curse. Hearing, however, the words of his wife, the best
of kings became terribly alarmed. And recollecting the curse he repented
bitterly of what he had done. It was for this reason, O thou best of men, that
the monarch infected with the Brahmani's curse, appointed Vasishtha to beget a
son upon his queen.'"
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