“Arjuna asked, ‘What for, O Gandharva, did king Kalmashapada command
his queen to go to that foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas – the
Guru Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious and Maharishi Vasishtha himself
who was familiar with every Dharma know a woman he should not have known? O
friend, was this an act of sin on the part of Vasishtha? It is your duty to
remove the doubts I entertain and refer to you for solution.’
“The Gandharva replied, saying, ‘O irrepressible Dhananjaya (Arjuna), listen to me as I answer the question you
have asked in respect of (Rishi) Vasishtha
and king Kalmaashapaada, that cherisher of friends. O you best of the Bharatas (Arjuna), I have told you all about the curse of
king Kalmaashapaada by (Rishi) Shakti,
the illustrious son of (Rishi) Vasishtha.
Brought under the influence of the curse, that striker of all enemies – king
Kalmaashapaada – with eyes rotating in anger went out of his capital (Ayodhya) accompanied by his wife. Entering with his
wife, the isolated forest the king (Kalmaashapaada) began to roam about.
“One day, while the king (Kalmaashapaada) 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, shrubs, creepers and resounding with terrible cries, he became
exceedingly hungry. The monarch immediately began to search for some food.
Pinched with hunger, the king (Kalmaashapaada) at last saw, in a very isolated part of the forest, a Brahmana and his
wife enjoying each other.
“Alarmed at seeing the monarch (Kalmaashapaada) the couple ran away, their desire unsatisfied. Following the
retreating pair, the king (Kalmaashapaada) forcibly catched the Brahmana. Then the Brahmani, seeing her lord
seized, addressed the monarch, saying, ‘Listen to what I say, O monarch of
excellent vows (Vacha in Sanskrit)!
It is known all over the world that you are born in the solar race (Aaditya
Vamsha in Sanskrit), and that you are
ever vigilant in the practice of Dharma and devoted to the service of your
superiors. O you irrepressible one (Kalmaashapaada), it is your duty not to commit sin deprived though you have been of your
senses by (the Rishi's) curse. My
season has come, and wishful of my husband's company I was connected with him.
I have not been satisfied yet. Be favourable to us, O you best of kings!
Liberate my husband.’
“The monarch (Kalmaashapaada),
however, without listening to her cries cruelly devoured her husband like a
tiger devouring its desirable prey. Possessed with anger at this sight, the
tears that that woman shed blazed up like fire and consumed everything in that
place. Pained with grief at the calamity that overtook her lord, the Brahmani
in anger cursed the Rajarishi Kalmaashapaada, ‘Wicked wretch, since you have
today cruelly devoured under my very nose my illustrious husband dear to me,
even before my desires have been satisfied, therefore you shall, O wicked one pained
by my curse, meet with instant death when you go in for your wife in season. O
wretch, your wife shall bring forth a son uniting herself with that Rishi
Vasishtha whose children have been devoured by you. That child, O worst of kings,
shall be the preserver of your race.’
“Cursing the monarch thus, that lady of (Rishi) Angira’s house bearing every auspicious
mark, entered the blazing fire in the very sight of the monarch (Kalmaashapaada). O you oppressor of all enemies (Arjuna), the illustrious and noble Vasishtha by
his power of Tapas and spiritual insight (Gnana Yoga in Sanskrit) immediately knew all. Long after this,
when the king (Kalmaashapaada)
became freed from his curse, he approached his wife Madayanti when her season
came. But Madayanti softly sent him away. Under the influence of Kaamaa, the
monarch (Kalmaashapaada) had no
recollection of that curse. Hearing, however, the words of his wife, the best
of kings became terribly alarmed. Recollecting the curse he repented bitterly
of what he had done. It was for this reason, O you best of men, that the monarch
infected with the Brahmani’s curse, appointed (Rishi) Vasishtha to father a son upon his queen.’”
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