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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 9: Chapter 9: Verses 28-41
The story of King Bhagiratha: the descent of the holy Ganga
This human body, O king, is capable of yielding all the objects sought after by a Jiva. Therefore, the destruction of this body, 0 heroic king, is spoken of as the frustration of all one's objects. Indeed this Brahmana is not only learned but endowed with asceticism, an amiable disposition and other virtues. (Nay,) he seeks to worship Brahma (the Absolute), known by the name of Lord Visnu (the supreme Person)-which, though present in (all) created beings is screened by ego etc., (the products of the three Gunas or modes of Prakrti)---by looking upon all living beings as his (very) self. As such how can he, the foremost of Brahmana sages, deserve death, O lord knowing what is right, at the hands of the foremost of royal sages in you, any more than a son at the hands of his father ? How can you, esteemed of the righteous, approve of the death (at your own hands) of this pious and sinless Brahmana, an expositor of the Vedas even when unborn, any more than you would the slaughter of a cow? If (in spite of my protests) this Brahmana-without home I shall not survive even for a moment-is to be made a victim by you, then first devour me, as good as dead." In spite of her pleading pitifully in this way and crying like a helpless woman, King Saudasa, who was deluded by the curse (of his preceptor, the sage Vasistha) devourd the Brahmana even as a tiger would devour a beast. Finding her husband (lit, impregnator) eaten up by Saudasa (who behaved like an ogre), and lamenting herself, the chaste Brahmana woman, full of anger, cursed the king (in the following words) "Since my husband, 0 wicked soul, has been devoured by you while I was stricken with love, your death too, O foolish one, will be shown by me to follow from sexual intercourse. Having cursed King Mitrasaha in the aforesaid words and consigning his husband's bones to a flaming fire, the lady-who looked upon the world of her husband (the region to which the soul of her husband had gone) as her ultimate destination-followed the course of her husband (burnt herself to death).
Rid of the curse (of his preceptor) at the end of twelve years, and fully intent upon copulation, he was stopped by his wife (Madayanti), who had come to know of the curse pronounced on him by the (aforesaid) Brahmana lady. Thenceforth he gave up the pleasures of sex and (consequently) did not have any issue due to his (own) action (of devouring a Brahmana). Entreated by him, the sage Vasistha begot an issue through Madayanti. She actually bore the child in her womb for seven years; the boy (however) did not see the light (yet). Vasistha (thereupon) hit her abdomen with a stone; and the boy (who thus emerged from the womb) was for that reason called Mmaka. From (the loins of) Asmaka sprang up Mulaka, who was effectively protected (against the wrath of
Parasurama) by women (who actually shielded his body as an armour). (Hence) he was called by the name of Narikavaca. When not a single Ksatriya was left (after the extermination of the Ksatriya race by Parasurama), it was he who served as the stock of the regenerated Ksatriya race. (Hence he became known as Mulaka). Of Mulaka, Dasaratha was born and from (the loins.of) the latter sprang up a son, Aidavida (by name). Of Aidavida
(again) was born Viswasaha, whose son, Khatwanga, turned out to be. a universal monarch.
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