Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/419

Rh said unto him sweetly,- king, this is my way. This is the eternal rule of morality indicated in every treatise on duty and religion, viz. that a king should ever make way for Brahmanas,- Thus did they address each other respecting their right of way. Stand aside, stand aside, were the words they said unto each other. The Rishi, who was in the right, did not yield, nor did the king yield to him from pride and anger. That best of monarchs, enraged at the Rishis, refusing to yield him the way, acted like a Rakshasa, striking him with bis whip. Thus whipped by the monarch, that best of Rishis, the son of Vasistha, was deprived of his senses by anger, and speedly cursed that first of monarchs, saying,-0 worst of kings, since thou persecutest like a Rakshasa an ascetic, thou shalt from this day, become a Rakshasa subsisting on human flesh! Hence, thou worst of kings! Thou shalt wander over the earth, affecting human flesh! This did the Rishi Saktri, endued with great prowess, speak unto king Kalmashapada. At this time Viswamitra, between whom and Vasistha there was a dispute about the discipleship of Kalmashapada, approached the place where that monarch and Vasistha's son were. And, O Partha, that Rishi of severe ascetic penances, viz., Viswamitra of great energy, approached the pair (knowing by his spiritual insight that they bad been thus quarrelling with each other). After the curse bad been pronounced, that best of monarchs knew that Rishi to be Vasistha's son and equal unto Vasistha bimself in energy. And, O Bharata, Viswamitra, desirous of benefitting himself, remained on that spot, concealed from the sight of both by making himself invisible. Then that best of monarchs, thus cursed by Saktri, desir. ing to propitiate the Rishi, began to humbly beseech him. And, O chief of the Kurus, Viswamitra, ascertaining the disposition of the king (and fearing that the difference might be made up), ordered a Rakshasa to enter the body of the king. And a Rakshasa of the name of Kinkara then entered the monarch's body in obedience to Saktri's curse and Viswa mitra's command. And knowing, O chastiser of foes, that the Rakshasa had possessed himself of the monarch, that best of Rishis. Viswamitra, then left the spot and went away.'

"Shortly after, O Partha, the monarcb, possessed by the Rakshasa and terribly afflicted by him, lost all his senses. At this time a Brahmana beheld the king in the woods. Afflicted with hunger, that Brahmana begged of the king some food with meat. The royal sage. Kalmashapada, that cherisher of friends, answered the Brahmana,saying, --Stay thou here, O Brahmana for a momenti On my return. I will give thee whatever food thou desirest I Having said this, the monarch went away, but the Brahmana stayed on there. The high.