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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 9: Chapter 9: Verses 14-27
The story of King Bhagiratha: the descent of the holy Ganga
That which has been said here with regard to this heavenly river-emanated (as it is) from the lotus-feet of the infinite Lord (Visnu) and (therefore) capable of ending transmigration-is not something which should excite great wonder. (For) by fully concentrating their mind on those feet with reverence pure-hearted sages have speedily attained oneness with the Lord, shaking off their identification with the body (a product of the three Gunas or modes of Prakrti)-identification with which is (so) difficult to give up. From (the loins of) Bhagiratha sprang up Sruta, whose son was Nabha. Of the latter was born Sindhudwipa; of Sindhudwipa, Ayutayu; and from him sprang up Rtuparna a friend of Nala, who received the knowledge of training horses from Nala, imparting to him (in return) the secret of winning the game of dice. And l Rtuparna's son was Sarvakama. From (the loins of) Sarvakama sprang up Sudasa and his son, 0 king, was Saudasa (the husband of Madayanti),whom people actually called Mitrasaha, while in some places they referred to him as Kalmasapada. Due to the curse pronounced by the sage Vasistha (his preceptor) he turned out to be an ogre and had no issue (sprung from his own loins) in consequence of his
own action. The king (Pariksit) submitted : What was the occasion for the curse pronounced by the preceptor (the sage Vasistha) on the high-souled Saudasa? We desire to know this, which may (kindly) be pointed out (to us) unless it is a secret.
Sri Suka replied : While roaming in pursuit of game, so the tradition goes Saudasa (son of Sudasa) killed a certain ogre and let go his brother, who immediately left with the intention of retaliating. Contemplating harm to the king (Saudasa), he assumed the form of the
latter's cook at his palace and, having dressed human flesh, took it to his preceptor (the sage
Vasistha), who had called at he palace with intent to dine. Immediately perceiving
human flesh (which is ever prohibited as food) about to be served to him, the glorious sage
flew into a rage and uttered an imprecation on the king saying, "You will surely turn an ogre
through this (improper) conduct of yours." Learning (in the meantime) that it was the
work of an ogre, the sage limited (the operation of) the curse to (a period of) twelve years
(only); (while) Saudasa too (in his turn) took water in the hollow of his joined palms, fully
prepared to utter a (counter) curse on his preceptor (who had cursed him for no fault of his). Stopped by (his wife) Madayanti, and finding the (four) quarters, the sky and the earth all instinct with life, the king (Saudasa) dropped that harmful water (burning with the fire of his wrath) on his own feet (lest it might injure any other living being, thus justifying his appellation, Mitrasaha, which means he who is indulgent towards his friends and well-wishers). Blackened in his feet (by the action of the water thrown by him and hence named as Kalmasapada) and having acquired an ogre-like disposition, Saudasa saw (one night) a Brahmana couple dwelling in a forest at the time of copulation. Pinched by hunger, Saudasa seized the Brahmana (with the intention of devouring him), whereupon his wife pleaded like one afflicted:-"You are no ogre as such; you are (on the other hand) a great car-warrior among the scions of Ikswaku and the husband of Madayanti, 0 valiant monarch! You ought not to do what is unrighteous. (Pray,) restore (to me-eager as I am to have a son-my husband, who is a Brahmana and has not yet attained his object (in the form of a son).
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