Shloka 18
Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation
तत: सुदासस्तत्पुत्रो दमयन्तीपतिर्नृप: । आहुर्मित्रसहं यं वै कल्माषाङ्घ्रिमुत क्वचित् । वसिष्ठशापाद् रक्षोऽभूदनपत्य: स्वकर्मणा ॥ १८ ॥
tataḥ sudāsas tat-putro damayantī-patir nṛpaḥ āhur mitrasahaṁ yaṁ vai kalmāṣāṅghrim uta kvacit vasiṣṭha-śāpād rakṣo ’bhūd anapatyaḥ sva-karmaṇā
Thereafter Sarvakāma had a son named Sudāsa, whose son Saudāsa was the husband of Damayantī. Saudāsa is also known as Mitrasaha or Kalmāṣāṅghri. By his own misdeed he became without offspring, and by Vasiṣṭha’s curse he turned into a man-eating rākṣasa.
FAQs
In this verse, Mitrasaha—also called Kalmāṣāṅghri—is identified as the son of King Sudāsa and the husband of Damayantī, who later became a rākṣasa due to Vasiṣṭha’s curse.
The verse states that by Vasiṣṭha’s curse he became a rākṣasa; it also emphasizes that the king’s own actions (sva-karmaṇā) were instrumental in bringing about his childlessness and suffering.
Even when external factors like conflict or condemnation arise, the Bhagavatam highlights personal responsibility (karma) and the need for disciplined conduct, humility, and dharmic choices to avoid long-term consequences.