Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.1840

c7.1840

7) *How Mitrasaha got the name “Kalmāṣapāda.”* Mitrasaha became very angry whan he was cursed by Vasiṣṭha. He decided to pay back in the same coin by cursing Vasiṣṭha also. He took water in his hand and was about to throw it down with the words of curse. But his queen Madayantī stopped him. She reminded him that it was not right to curse a Brāhmaṇa and requested him to sprinkle that water on his own feet. The King’s anger cooled down and he sprinkled the water on his own feet. Since his feet were polluted by the water of sin Mitrasaha came to be called “Kalmāṣapāda”, and Kalmāṣānghri” from that day. (Śiva Purāṇa, Śivarātri Māhātmya).