Chapter 49 - King Kalaśa Turns into a Tiger

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Chapters 49-51 are meant for the glorification of Kalaśeśvara. King Kalaśa is cursed by sage Durvāsā to be a tiger, for feeding him with meat. But he assures him redemption when a cow, Nandinī by name, shows him the Śiva-liṅga adored by Bāṇa. When it took place and the king recovered his human form, he devoted himself to the adoration of that Liṅga which consequently came to be known after him as “Kalaśeśvara.” He built a temple of Umā-Maheśvara with a splendid Kuṇḍa in from, of a meritorious efficacy.

Sūta said:

1-2. There itself on the banks of the tank has been installed the highly meritorious deity called Kalaśeśvara. He is the destroyer of all sins. By visiting Kalaśeśvara, a man is rid of sins.

3. Formerly there was a king hailing from Yadu race, named Kalaśa. He performed Yajñas. He was vigilant and munificent. He was engaged in the welfare of all the worlds.

4. Once upon a time, the excellent sage Durvāsas came to his abode. He had adopted the vow of Cāturmāsya.

5. The king immediately got up and joyously came forward to him, respectfully saying “Welcome, welcome to you.”

6. He devoutly bowed down to him, washing his feet himself. After offering Arghya he said with tears of joy welling up in his eyes:

7. “O sage, I shall give you all these things—this kingdom, these sons, these women, this wealth. Tell me your purpose (in coming here).”

Durvāsas said:

8. O great king, it is proper on your part to say thus to a Brāhmaṇa like us, a person of vows who has come to your abode.

9. O excellent king. I have nothing to do with your riches nor with your kingdom. I have adopted the Cāturmāsya (vow extending to four months) Vrata. Hence I am eager to perform the Pāraṇā.

10. Hence, O king, whatever food is ready in your house, give it unto me for eating. My hunger is very great.

Sūta said:

11. Then the king himself served him the food well-cooked as it was.

12. There were many types of sweet dishes and side-dishes of various kinds. There were four traditional types of food-stuff, viz. Peya (beverages), Coṣya (foodstuff worthy of being sucked), Khādya (food to be chewed) and Lehya (food worthy of being licked and lapped up). There were many meat dishes well sesoned [seasoned?] with salt etc.

13. The hungry and distressed Brāhmaṇa hurriedly gulped everything in big morsels without relishing the taste. Yet he was joyous.

14. After getting satiated he realized that he had the taste of meat, O Brāhmaṇas. Thereupon the leading sage became furious and cursed him:

15. “Since you caused a violation in my Vrata by feeding me with meat, you will become a terrible carnivorous tiger.”

16. The miserable king in utter fright, bowed down to the leading sage and said trembling with a distressed face:

17-18. “O sage, you had your throat parched with hunger. With great devotion I served you the meal cooked and ready. So why do you feel inclined to curse me? Be pleased with me, your humble devotee, O excellent Brāhmaṇa, by quickly changing your curse into a blessing.”

Durvāsas said:

19. Excepting in a Śrāddha and Yajña no Brāhmaṇa shall eat meat. Especially so at the conclusion of a Vrata pertaining to Cāturmāsya.

20. If a Brāhmaṇa eats flesh after the observance of fast, certainly his Vrata becomes fruitless and the meat is futile.

21. Hence my Vrata pertaining to Cāturmāsya has been fruitless, O leading king. So you have been now cursed angrily by me.

The king said:

22. Still, O Brāhmaṇa, bring about the desired end to the curse given to me particularly since I am devout, wretched and blameless.

Durvāsas said:

23. When the cow Nandinī points out to you the Liṅga formerly worshipped by Bāṇa, your liberation shall take place immediately.

24. After saying thus, the eminent Brāhmaṇa went back to his hermitage. The king too assumed the highly terrible form of a tiger.

25. He soon lost memory (of his antecedents). On seeing animals in front of him, he killed them and was dislodged from that place by other animals. He then entered a great forest.

26. The ministers of the king, desiring that there should be an end to his curse, protected the kingdom duly.