The best of rivers, seeing them in that state them, "O dwellers of heaven, why do you look dejected? Is every thing all right with you?" The celestial Vasus replied to her, “O great river, we have been cursed for our little fault by the illustrious Vasistha in anger. Vasishtha was engaged in his Sandhya (twilight worship); that best of Rishis was not seen by us. We in our ignorance crossed him. Therefore, he cursed us in anger, saying, 'Be born as men.'
किमिदं नष्टरूपाः स्थ कचित् क्षेमं दिवौकसाम्। तामूचुर्वसवो देवाः शप्ताः स्मो वै महानदि॥ अल्पेऽपराधे संरम्भाद् वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। विमूढा हि वयं सर्वे प्रच्छन्नमृषिसत्तमम्॥ संध्यां वप्तिष्ठमासीनं तमत्यभिसृताः पुरा। तेन कोपाद् वयं शप्ता योनौ सम्भवतेति ह॥