Kalmashapada

Many texts narrate how Kalmashapada was cursed to die if he had intercourse with his queen, so he obtained a son from Vashishtha by niyoga, an ancient tradition whereby a husband can nominate another man to impregnate his wife.

[1] Kalmashapada's story is narrated in various works, including the classic epic poems Mahabharata and Ramayana, and the Puranas.

[3][2] The Padma Purana states that he was the son of Rituparna, the contemporary Solar king of Nala-Damayanti (even a character in their story).

[6] A commentator on the Vishnu Purana says that Mitra-saha (literally, "one who forbears a friend") is an epithet the king acquires from the curse of the sage Vashishtha.

The king restrains (saha) himself from retaliation against his friend (mitra) Vashishtha's curse, though he possesses the power to do so.

The sage Vishvamitra, the arch-enemy of Vashishtha who desires to have Kalmashapada as his disciple, sends a rakshasa (named Kinkara) to possess the king's body.

Under the influence of the rakshasa, the king serves human flesh to a Brahmin, who sets Shakti's curse into effect.

[1][8][9] The Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana and the Shiva Purana narrate about Vashishtha cursing Kalmashapada with slight variation.

The Uttara Ramayana tells that once, while hunting in the forest, Kalmashapada mistakenly kills a rakshasa disguised as a tiger cub.

His fellow rakshasa – who was also disguised as a cub – assumes his true form and warns the king that he will take his revenge against the wrongful death at the proper time.

[1] Texts such as the Mahabharata, the Linga Purana, and the Kanchipuranam blame Vishvamitra for provoking Kalmashapada to slay Vashishtha's sons.

The chaste Brahmin widow wails and curses Kalmashapada that he would die if he touched any woman with amorous intent.

[1][3] The Shiva Purana adds a continuation: The sin of killing a Brahmin transforms into a monster called Brahmahatya, who starts following Kalmashapada.

There, the sage Gautama teaches Kalmashapada divine knowledge and directs him to the Shiva temple of Gokarna to free him of his sins.

[14] The Mahabharata adds that this act of "giving" his wife to a Brahmin helps Kalmashapada attain heaven.

In the Bhagavata Purana, Vashishtha himself strikes the queen's belly with a stone after seven years to free the child.

The Ramayana identifies the son as Shankhana and states that ten generations lie between Kalmashapada and Dasharatha.