Sarga 59: Vishvamitra's Curses
Vishvamitra Shaap
Vashishtha's hundred sons and Mahodaya insult Vishvamitra's ability to perform the sacrifice; enraged, Vishvamitra curses them to become mushtikas, feed on carrion, and Mahodaya to become a nishada condemned to wander endlessly.
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श्रुत्वा ते वचनं सर्वे समायान्ति द्विजातय:। सर्वदेशेषु चागच्छन् वर्जयित्वा महोदयम्||1.59.11||
Meaning
Having heard those words, all brahmins save Mahodaya arrived from all countries to take part in the sacrifice.
वासिष्ठं तच्छतं सर्वं क्रोधपर्याकुलाक्षरम्। यदाह वचनं सर्वं शृणु त्वं मुनिपुङ्गव||1.59.12||
Meaning
Hear, O preeminent among ascetics, what the hundred sons of Vashishtha spoke in anger and confusion of speech.
क्षत्रियो याजको यस्य चण्डालस्य विशेषत:। कथं सदसि भोक्तारो हविस्तस्य सुरर्षय:||1.59.13||
Meaning
When a kshatriya serves as priest, especially for a chandala, how shall gods and sages partake of the offerings?
ब्राह्मणा वा महात्मानो भुक्त्वा चण्डालभोजनम्। कथं स्वर्गं गमिष्यन्ति विश्वामित्रेण पालिता:||1.59.14||
Meaning
How shall brahmins under Viswamitra, having eaten food offered by a chandala, attain heaven?
एतद्वचननैष्ठुर्यमूचु स्संरक्तलोचना:। वासिष्ठा मुनिशार्दूल सर्वे ते समहोदया:||1.59.15||
Meaning
Thus the sons of Vashishtha along with Mahodaya, their eyes reddened with rage, uttered these harsh words.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वेषां मुनिपुङ्गव:। क्रोधसंरक्तनयन स्सरोषमिदमब्रवीत्||1.59.16||
Meaning
Hearing those words of all the Vasishtha's sons, the preeminent sage Viswamitra, his eyes reddened with anger, spoke furiously.
ये दूषयन्त्यदुष्टं मां तप उग्रं समास्थितम्। भस्मीभूता दुरात्मानो भविष्यन्ति न संशय:||1.59.17||
Meaning
Those wicked ones who have abused me, though faultless and engaged in rigorous austerity, shall be reduced to ashes—no doubt of it.
अद्य ते कालपाशेन नीता वैवस्वतक्षयम्। सप्तजातिशतान्येव मृतपस्सन्तु सर्वश:||1.59.18||
Meaning
This day, bound by death's noose, they shall be brought to Yama's abode; for seven hundred births they shall feed upon corpses.
श्वमांसनियताहारा मुष्टिका नाम निर्घृणा:। विकृताश्च विरूपाश्च लोकाननुचरन्त्विमान्||1.59.19||
Meaning
Born in the merciless race of mushtikas, feeding on the flesh of dogs, hideous and deformed, they shall wander these worlds.
महोदयस्तु दुर्बुद्धिर्मामदूष्यं ह्यदूषयत्। दूषित स्सर्वलोकेषु निषादत्वं गमिष्यति||1.59.20||
Meaning
As for the wicked Mahodaya, who blamed a faultless sage, he shall be reborn in the race of nishadas vulnerable to all abuse.