A curse has plagued with outcast's doom?”

In vile Chaṇḍála[237] shape, the king

Heard Viśvámitra's questioning,

And, suppliant palm to palm applied,

With answering eloquence he cried:

“My priest and all his sons refused

To aid the plan on which I mused.

Failing to win the boon I sought,

To this condition I was brought.

I, in the body, Saint, would fain