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Seventh Skandha · Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Unit 172 of 318Seventh Skandha · Chapter 19Seventh Skandha · Chapter 191 source entries

Seventh Skandha · Chapter 19

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व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भूपतेः कौशिको मुनिः । प्रहस्य प्रत्युवाचेदं हरिश्चन्द्रं तथा नृप ॥ १ ॥ राजंस्तीर्थमिदं पुण्यं पावनं पापनाशनम् । स्नानं कुरु महाभाग पितॄणां तर्पणं तथा ॥ २ ॥ कालः शुभतमोऽस्तीह तीर्थे स्नात्वा विशांपते । दानं ददस्व शक्त्यात्र पुण्यतीर्थेऽतिपावने ॥ ३ ॥ प्राप्य तीर्थं महापुण्यमस्नात्वा यस्तु गच्छति । स भवेदात्महा भूय इति स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ४ ॥ तस्मात्तीर्थवरे राजन् कुरु पुण्यं स्वशक्तितः । दर्शयिष्यामि मार्गं ते गन्तासि नगरं ततः ॥ ५ ॥ आगमिष्यामहं मार्गदर्सनार्थं तवानघ । त्वया सहाद्य काकुत्स्थ तव दानेन तोषितः ॥ ६ ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा मुनेः कपटमण्डितम् । वासांस्युत्तार्य विधिवत्स्नातुमभ्याययौ नदीम् ॥ ७ ॥ बन्धयित्वा हयं वृक्षे मुनिवाक्येन मोहितः । अवश्यंभावियोगेन तद्वशस्तु तदाभवत् ॥ ८ ॥ राजा स्नानविधिं कृत्वा सन्तर्प्य पितृदेवताः । विश्वामित्रमुवाचेदं स्वामिन् दानं ददामि ते ॥ ९ ॥ यदिच्छसि महाभाग तत्ते दास्यामि साम्प्रतम् । गावो भूमिर्हिरण्यं च गजाश्वरथवाहनम् ॥ १० ॥ नादेयं मे किमप्यस्ति कृतमेतद्‌व्रतं पुरा । राजसूये मखश्रेष्ठे मुनीनां सन्निधावपि ॥ ११ ॥ तस्मात्त्वमिह सम्प्ताप्तस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्प्रवरे मुने । यत्तेऽस्ति वाञ्छितं ब्रूहि ददामि अव वाञ्छितम् ॥ १२ ॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच - मया पूर्वं श्रुता राजन् कीर्तिस्ते विपुला भुवि । वसिष्ठेन च सम्प्रोक्ता दाता नास्ति महीतले ॥ १३ ॥ हरिश्चन्द्रो नृपश्रेष्ठः सूर्यवंशे महीपतिः । तादृशो नृपतिर्दाता न भूतो न भविष्यति ॥ १४ ॥ पृथिव्यां परमोदारस्त्रिशङ्कुतनयो यथा । अतस्त्वां प्रार्थयाम्यद्य विवाहो मेऽस्ति पार्थिवः ॥ १५ ॥ पुत्रस्य च महाभाग तदर्थं देहि मे धनम् । राजोवाच - विवाहं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र ददामि प्रार्थितं तव ॥ १६ ॥ यदिच्छसि धनं कामं दाता तस्यामि निश्चितम् । व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तः कौशिकस्तेन वञ्चनातत्परो मुनिः ॥ १७ ॥ उद्‌भाव्य मायां गान्धर्वीं पार्थिवायाप्यदर्शयत् । कुमारः सुकामारश्च कन्या च दशवार्षिकी ॥ १८ ॥ एतयोः कार्यमप्यद्य कर्तव्यं नृपसत्तम । राजसूयाधिकं पुण्यं गृहस्थस्य विवाहतः ॥ १९ ॥ भविष्यति तवाद्यैव विप्रपुत्रविवाहितः । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा मायया तस्य मोहितः ॥ २० ॥ तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय नोवाचाल्पं वचस्तथा । तेन दर्शितमार्गोऽसौ नगरं प्रति जग्मिवान् ॥ २१ ॥ विश्वामित्रोऽपि राजानं वञ्चयित्वाश्रमं ययौ । कृतोद्वाहविधिस्तावद्‌विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीन्नृपम् ॥ २२ ॥ वेदीमध्ये नृपाद्य त्वं देहि दानं यथेप्सितम् । राजोवाच - किं तेऽभीष्टं द्विज ब्रूहि ददामि वाञ्छितं किल ॥ २३ ॥ अदेयमै संसरे यशः कामोऽस्मि साम्प्रतम् । व्यर्थं हि जीवितं तस्य विभवं प्राप्य येन वै ॥ २४ ॥ नोपार्जितं यशः शुद्धं परलोकसुखप्रदम् । विश्वामित्र उवाच - राज्यं देहि महाराज वराय सपरिच्छदम् ॥ २५ ॥ गजाश्वरथरत्‍नाढ्यं वेदीमध्येऽतिपावने । व्यास उवाच - मोहितो मायया तस्य श्रुत्वा वाक्यं मुनेर्नृपः ॥ २६ ॥ दत्तमित्युक्तवान् राज्यमविचार्य यदृच्छया । गृहीतमिति तं प्राह विश्वामित्रोऽतिनिष्ठुरः ॥ २७ ॥ दक्षिणां देहि राजेन्द्र दानयोग्यां महामते । दक्षिणारहितं दानं निष्फलं मनुरब्रवीत् ॥ २८ ॥ तस्माद्दानफलाय त्वं यथोक्तां देहि दक्षिणाम् । इत्युक्तस्तु तदा राजा तमुवाचातिविस्मितः ॥ २९ ॥ ब्रूहि कियद्धनं तुभ्यं देयं स्वामिन् मयाधुना । दक्षिणानिष्क्रयं साधो वद तावत्प्रमाणकम् ॥ ३० ॥ दानपूर्त्यै प्रदास्यामि स्वस्थो ब् हव तपोधन । विश्वामित्रस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा तमाह मेदिनीपतिम् ॥ ३१ ॥ हेमभारद्वयं सार्धं दक्षिणां देहि साम्प्रतम् । दास्यामीति प्रतिश्रुत्य तस्मै राजातिविस्मितः ॥ ३२ ॥ तदैव सैनिकास्तस्य वीक्षमाणाः समागताः । दृष्ट्वा महीपतिं व्यग्रं तुष्टुवुस्ते मुदान्विताः ॥ ३३ ॥ व्यास उवाच - श्रुत्वा तेषां वचो राजा नोक्त्वा किञ्चिच्छुभाशुभम् । चिन्तयन्स्वकृतं कर्म ययावन्तःपुरे ततः ॥ ३४ ॥ किं मया स्वीकृतं दानं सर्वस्वं यत्समर्पितम् । वञ्चितोऽहं द्विजेनात्र वने पाटच्चरैरिव ॥ ३५ ॥ राज्यं सोपस्करं तस्मै मया सर्वं रतिश्रुतम् । भारद्वयं सुवर्णस्य सार्धं च दक्षिणा पुनः ॥ ३६ ॥ किं करोमि मतिर्भ्रष्टा न ज्ञातं कपटं मुनेः । प्रतारितोऽहं सहसा ब्राह्मणेन तपस्विना ॥ ३७ ॥ न जाने दैवकार्यं वै हा दैव किं भविष्यति । इति चिन्तापरो राजा गृहं प्राप्तोऽतिविह्वलः ॥ ३८ ॥ पतिं चिन्तापरं दृष्त्वा राज्ञी पप्रच्छ कारणम् । किं प्रभो विमना भासि का चिन्ता ब्रूहि साम्प्रतम् ॥ ३९ ॥ वनात्पुत्रः समायातो राजसूयः कृतः पुरा । कस्माच्छोचसि राजेन्द्र शोकस्य कारणं वद ॥ ४० ॥ नारातिर्विद्यते क्वापि बलवान्दुर्बलोऽपि वा । वरुणोऽपि सुसन्तुष्टः कृतकृत्योऽसि भूतले ॥ ४१ ॥ विन्तया क्षीयते देहो नास्ति चिन्तासमा मृतिः । त्यज्यतां नृपशार्दूल स्वस्थो भव विचक्षण ॥ ४२ ॥ तन्निशम्य प्रियावाक्यं प्रीतिपूर्वं नराधिपः । प्रोवाच किञ्चिच्चिन्तायाः कारणं च शुभाशुभम् ॥ ४३ ॥ भोजनं न चकाराऽसौ चिन्ताविष्टस्तथा नृपः । सुप्त्वापि शयने शुभ्रे लेभे निद्रां न भूमिपः ॥ ४४ ॥ प्रातरुत्थाय चिन्तार्तो यावत्सन्ध्यादिकाः क्रियाः । करोति नृपतिस्तावद्‌विश्वामित्रः समागतः ॥ ४५ ॥ क्षत्रा निवेदितो राज्ञे मुनिः सर्वस्वहारकः । आगत्योवाच राजानं प्रणमन्तं पुनः पुनः ॥ ४६ ॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच - राजंस्त्यज स्वराज्यं मे देहि वाचा प्रतिश्रुतम् । सुवर्णं स्पृश राजेन्द्र सत्यवाग्भव साम्प्रतम् ॥ ४७ ॥ हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - स्वामिन् राज्यं तवेदं मे मया दत्तं किलाधुना । त्यक्त्वान्यत्र गमिष्यामि मा चिन्ता कुरु कौशिक ॥ ४८ ॥ सर्वस्वं मम ते ब्रह्मन् गृहीतं विधिवद्‌विभो । सुवर्णदक्षिणां दातुमशक्तोऽस्म्यधुना द्विज ॥ ४९ ॥ दानं ददामि ते तावद्यावन्मे स्याद्धनागमः । पुनश्चेत्कालयोगेन तदा दास्यामि दक्षिणाम् ॥ ५० ॥ इत्युक्त्वा नृपतिः प्राह पुत्रं भार्यां च माधवीम् । राज्यमस्मै प्रदत्तं वै मया वेद्यां सुविस्तरम् ॥ ५१ ॥ हस्त्यश्वरथसंयुक्तं रत्‍नहेमसमन्वितम् । त्यक्त्वा त्रीणि शरीराणि सर्वं चास्मै समर्पितम् ॥ ५२ ॥ त्यक्त्वायोध्यां गमिष्यामि कुत्रचिद्‌वनगह्वरे गृह्णात्विदं मुनिः सम्यग्‌राज्यं सर्वसमृद्धिमत् ॥ ५३ ॥ इत्याभाष्य सुतं भार्यां हरिश्चन्द्रः स्वमन्दिरात् । विनिर्गतः सुधर्मात्मा मानयंस्तं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥ ५४ ॥ व्रजन्तं भूपतिं वीक्ष्य भार्यापुत्रावुभावपि । चिन्तातुरौ सुदीनास्यौ जग्मतुः पृष्ठतस्तदा ॥ ५५ ॥ हाहाकारो महानासीन्नगरे वीक्ष्य तांस्तथा । चुक्रुशुः प्राणिनः सर्वे साकेतपुरवासिनः ॥ ५६ ॥ हा राजन् किं कृतं कर्म कुतः क्लेशः समागतः । वञ्चितोऽसि महाराज विधिनापण्डितेन ह ॥ ५७ ॥ सर्वे वर्णास्तदा दुःखमाप्नुयुस्तं महीपतिम् । विलोक्य भार्यया सार्धं पुत्रेण च महात्मना ॥ ५८ ॥ निनिन्दुर्ब्राह्मणं तं तु दुराचारं पुरौकसः । धूर्तोऽयमिति भाषन्तो दुःखार्ता ब्राह्मणादयः ॥ ५९ ॥ निर्गत्य नगरात्तस्माद्विश्वामित्रः क्षितीश्वरम् । गच्छन्तं तमुवाचेदं समेत्य निष्ठुरं वचः ॥ ६० ॥ दक्षिणायाः सुवर्णं मे दत्त्वा गच्छ नराधिप । नाहं दास्यामि वा ब्रूहि मया त्यक्तं सुवर्णकम् ॥ ६१ ॥ राज्यं गृहाण वा सर्वं लोभश्चेद्‌धृति वर्तते । दत्तं चेन्मन्यसे राजन् देहि यत्तत्प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥ ६२ ॥ एवं ब्रुवन्तं गाधेयं हरिश्चन्द्रो महीपतिः । प्रणिपत्य सुदीनात्मा कृताञ्जलिपुटोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ६३ ॥

vyāsa uvāca - iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā bhūpateḥ kauśiko muniḥ | prahasya pratyuvācedaṃ hariścandraṃ tathā nṛpa || 1 || rājaṃstīrthamidaṃ puṇyaṃ pāvanaṃ pāpanāśanam | snānaṃ kuru mahābhāga pitṝṇāṃ tarpaṇaṃ tathā || 2 || kālaḥ śubhatamo'stīha tīrthe snātvā viśāṃpate | dānaṃ dadasva śaktyātra puṇyatīrthe'tipāvane || 3 || prāpya tīrthaṃ mahāpuṇyamasnātvā yastu gacchati | sa bhavedātmahā bhūya iti svāyambhuvo'bravīt || 4 || tasmāttīrthavare rājan kuru puṇyaṃ svaśaktitaḥ | darśayiṣyāmi mārgaṃ te gantāsi nagaraṃ tataḥ || 5 || āgamiṣyāmahaṃ mārgadarsanārthaṃ tavānagha | tvayā sahādya kākutstha tava dānena toṣitaḥ || 6 || tacchrutvā vacanaṃ rājā muneḥ kapaṭamaṇḍitam | vāsāṃsyuttārya vidhivatsnātumabhyāyayau nadīm || 7 || bandhayitvā hayaṃ vṛkṣe munivākyena mohitaḥ | avaśyaṃbhāviyogena tadvaśastu tadābhavat || 8 || rājā snānavidhiṃ kṛtvā santarpya pitṛdevatāḥ | viśvāmitramuvācedaṃ svāmin dānaṃ dadāmi te || 9 || yadicchasi mahābhāga tatte dāsyāmi sāmpratam | gāvo bhūmirhiraṇyaṃ ca gajāśvarathavāhanam || 10 || nādeyaṃ me kimapyasti kṛtametad‌vrataṃ purā | rājasūye makhaśreṣṭhe munīnāṃ sannidhāvapi || 11 || tasmāttvamiha samptāptastīrthe'sminpravare mune | yatte'sti vāñchitaṃ brūhi dadāmi ava vāñchitam || 12 || viśvāmitra uvāca - mayā pūrvaṃ śrutā rājan kīrtiste vipulā bhuvi | vasiṣṭhena ca samproktā dātā nāsti mahītale || 13 || hariścandro nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ sūryavaṃśe mahīpatiḥ | tādṛśo nṛpatirdātā na bhūto na bhaviṣyati || 14 || pṛthivyāṃ paramodārastriśaṅkutanayo yathā | atastvāṃ prārthayāmyadya vivāho me'sti pārthivaḥ || 15 || putrasya ca mahābhāga tadarthaṃ dehi me dhanam | rājovāca - vivāhaṃ kuru viprendra dadāmi prārthitaṃ tava || 16 || yadicchasi dhanaṃ kāmaṃ dātā tasyāmi niścitam | vyāsa uvāca - ityuktaḥ kauśikastena vañcanātatparo muniḥ || 17 || ud‌bhāvya māyāṃ gāndharvīṃ pārthivāyāpyadarśayat | kumāraḥ sukāmāraśca kanyā ca daśavārṣikī || 18 || etayoḥ kāryamapyadya kartavyaṃ nṛpasattama | rājasūyādhikaṃ puṇyaṃ gṛhasthasya vivāhataḥ || 19 || bhaviṣyati tavādyaiva vipraputravivāhitaḥ | tacchrutvā vacanaṃ rājā māyayā tasya mohitaḥ || 20 || tatheti ca pratijñāya novācālpaṃ vacastathā | tena darśitamārgo'sau nagaraṃ prati jagmivān || 21 || viśvāmitro'pi rājānaṃ vañcayitvāśramaṃ yayau | kṛtodvāhavidhistāvad‌viśvāmitro'bravīnnṛpam || 22 || vedīmadhye nṛpādya tvaṃ dehi dānaṃ yathepsitam | rājovāca - kiṃ te'bhīṣṭaṃ dvija brūhi dadāmi vāñchitaṃ kila || 23 || adeyamai saṃsare yaśaḥ kāmo'smi sāmpratam | vyarthaṃ hi jīvitaṃ tasya vibhavaṃ prāpya yena vai || 24 || nopārjitaṃ yaśaḥ śuddhaṃ paralokasukhapradam | viśvāmitra uvāca - rājyaṃ dehi mahārāja varāya saparicchadam || 25 || gajāśvaratharat‍nāḍhyaṃ vedīmadhye'tipāvane | vyāsa uvāca - mohito māyayā tasya śrutvā vākyaṃ munernṛpaḥ || 26 || dattamityuktavān rājyamavicārya yadṛcchayā | gṛhītamiti taṃ prāha viśvāmitro'tiniṣṭhuraḥ || 27 || dakṣiṇāṃ dehi rājendra dānayogyāṃ mahāmate | dakṣiṇārahitaṃ dānaṃ niṣphalaṃ manurabravīt || 28 || tasmāddānaphalāya tvaṃ yathoktāṃ dehi dakṣiṇām | ityuktastu tadā rājā tamuvācātivismitaḥ || 29 || brūhi kiyaddhanaṃ tubhyaṃ deyaṃ svāmin mayādhunā | dakṣiṇāniṣkrayaṃ sādho vada tāvatpramāṇakam || 30 || dānapūrtyai pradāsyāmi svastho b hava tapodhana | viśvāmitrastu tacchrutvā tamāha medinīpatim || 31 || hemabhāradvayaṃ sārdhaṃ dakṣiṇāṃ dehi sāmpratam | dāsyāmīti pratiśrutya tasmai rājātivismitaḥ || 32 || tadaiva sainikāstasya vīkṣamāṇāḥ samāgatāḥ | dṛṣṭvā mahīpatiṃ vyagraṃ tuṣṭuvuste mudānvitāḥ || 33 || vyāsa uvāca - śrutvā teṣāṃ vaco rājā noktvā kiñcicchubhāśubham | cintayansvakṛtaṃ karma yayāvantaḥpure tataḥ || 34 || kiṃ mayā svīkṛtaṃ dānaṃ sarvasvaṃ yatsamarpitam | vañcito'haṃ dvijenātra vane pāṭaccarairiva || 35 || rājyaṃ sopaskaraṃ tasmai mayā sarvaṃ ratiśrutam | bhāradvayaṃ suvarṇasya sārdhaṃ ca dakṣiṇā punaḥ || 36 || kiṃ karomi matirbhraṣṭā na jñātaṃ kapaṭaṃ muneḥ | pratārito'haṃ sahasā brāhmaṇena tapasvinā || 37 || na jāne daivakāryaṃ vai hā daiva kiṃ bhaviṣyati | iti cintāparo rājā gṛhaṃ prāpto'tivihvalaḥ || 38 || patiṃ cintāparaṃ dṛṣtvā rājñī papraccha kāraṇam | kiṃ prabho vimanā bhāsi kā cintā brūhi sāmpratam || 39 || vanātputraḥ samāyāto rājasūyaḥ kṛtaḥ purā | kasmācchocasi rājendra śokasya kāraṇaṃ vada || 40 || nārātirvidyate kvāpi balavāndurbalo'pi vā | varuṇo'pi susantuṣṭaḥ kṛtakṛtyo'si bhūtale || 41 || vintayā kṣīyate deho nāsti cintāsamā mṛtiḥ | tyajyatāṃ nṛpaśārdūla svastho bhava vicakṣaṇa || 42 || tanniśamya priyāvākyaṃ prītipūrvaṃ narādhipaḥ | provāca kiñciccintāyāḥ kāraṇaṃ ca śubhāśubham || 43 || bhojanaṃ na cakārā'sau cintāviṣṭastathā nṛpaḥ | suptvāpi śayane śubhre lebhe nidrāṃ na bhūmipaḥ || 44 || prātarutthāya cintārto yāvatsandhyādikāḥ kriyāḥ | karoti nṛpatistāvad‌viśvāmitraḥ samāgataḥ || 45 || kṣatrā nivedito rājñe muniḥ sarvasvahārakaḥ | āgatyovāca rājānaṃ praṇamantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ || 46 || viśvāmitra uvāca - rājaṃstyaja svarājyaṃ me dehi vācā pratiśrutam | suvarṇaṃ spṛśa rājendra satyavāgbhava sāmpratam || 47 || hariścandra uvāca - svāmin rājyaṃ tavedaṃ me mayā dattaṃ kilādhunā | tyaktvānyatra gamiṣyāmi mā cintā kuru kauśika || 48 || sarvasvaṃ mama te brahman gṛhītaṃ vidhivad‌vibho | suvarṇadakṣiṇāṃ dātumaśakto'smyadhunā dvija || 49 || dānaṃ dadāmi te tāvadyāvanme syāddhanāgamaḥ | punaścetkālayogena tadā dāsyāmi dakṣiṇām || 50 || ityuktvā nṛpatiḥ prāha putraṃ bhāryāṃ ca mādhavīm | rājyamasmai pradattaṃ vai mayā vedyāṃ suvistaram || 51 || hastyaśvarathasaṃyuktaṃ rat‍nahemasamanvitam | tyaktvā trīṇi śarīrāṇi sarvaṃ cāsmai samarpitam || 52 || tyaktvāyodhyāṃ gamiṣyāmi kutracid‌vanagahvare gṛhṇātvidaṃ muniḥ samyag‌rājyaṃ sarvasamṛddhimat || 53 || ityābhāṣya sutaṃ bhāryāṃ hariścandraḥ svamandirāt | vinirgataḥ sudharmātmā mānayaṃstaṃ dvijottamam || 54 || vrajantaṃ bhūpatiṃ vīkṣya bhāryāputrāvubhāvapi | cintāturau sudīnāsyau jagmatuḥ pṛṣṭhatastadā || 55 || hāhākāro mahānāsīnnagare vīkṣya tāṃstathā | cukruśuḥ prāṇinaḥ sarve sāketapuravāsinaḥ || 56 || hā rājan kiṃ kṛtaṃ karma kutaḥ kleśaḥ samāgataḥ | vañcito'si mahārāja vidhināpaṇḍitena ha || 57 || sarve varṇāstadā duḥkhamāpnuyustaṃ mahīpatim | vilokya bhāryayā sārdhaṃ putreṇa ca mahātmanā || 58 || ninindurbrāhmaṇaṃ taṃ tu durācāraṃ puraukasaḥ | dhūrto'yamiti bhāṣanto duḥkhārtā brāhmaṇādayaḥ || 59 || nirgatya nagarāttasmādviśvāmitraḥ kṣitīśvaram | gacchantaṃ tamuvācedaṃ sametya niṣṭhuraṃ vacaḥ || 60 || dakṣiṇāyāḥ suvarṇaṃ me dattvā gaccha narādhipa | nāhaṃ dāsyāmi vā brūhi mayā tyaktaṃ suvarṇakam || 61 || rājyaṃ gṛhāṇa vā sarvaṃ lobhaśced‌dhṛti vartate | dattaṃ cenmanyase rājan dehi yattatpratiśrutam || 62 || evaṃ bruvantaṃ gādheyaṃ hariścandro mahīpatiḥ | praṇipatya sudīnātmā kṛtāñjalipuṭo'bravīt || 63 ||

English translation

1-12. Vyasa said O King! Hearing thus the words of the King Haris’chandra, the Maharsi Kaus’ika smilingly said “O King! This Tirath is very sacred; if one bathes here, one is cleansed of one’s sins and virtue springs up. So, highly fortunate One! Bathe in this and do peace-offerings (tarpanam) to your fathers. O King! This time is very auspicious and highly meritorious; so take a bath in this sacred Punya Tirtha and make charities as far as it lies in your power. Svayambhuva Manu says He, who arriving at a tirtha capable to give high merits (Punya), does not bathe and make charities, deceives himself; so he is the slayer of his soul, no doubt. So, O King! Do meritorious acts as best as you can in this excellent tirtha. Then I will shew you the way and you will go to Ayodhya. O Kakutstha! Today I will be pleased with your gifts and I will accompany you to show you the way; this I have decided.” Hearing the deceitful words of the Maharsi, the King took off his upper garments and tying the horse on to a tree, went towards the river to bathe according to due rites. O King! The accidental combination, that was to have been so (sure to come), so enchanted the King by the Muni’s words, that he got himself entirely under the control of the Muni. He duly completed his bath and offered peace offerings to the Devas and the Piths and then spoke to Vis’vamitra. “O Lord! I am now making gifts to you. O Fortunate One! Cows, lands, jewels, elephants, horses, chariots or horses, etc., anything that you like I will give you just now. There is nothing that I cannot give. When I performed previously the Rajasuya sacrifice, I took, then, before all the Munis, this vow. So, O Muni! You are also present at this principal Tirtha (place of pilgrimage); so express what you desire; I will give you your desired object.”

13-15. VisVamitra said “O King! Your glory is spread far and wide in this world; especially I have already heard that there is no second man charitable like you. The Muni Vas’istha has said The

King of the solar dynasty, the Tris’anku’s son, Haris’chandra is foremost and first amongst the kings in this world and there is no one so liberal-minded as he is; such a king there never was nor ever there will be. So, O King! Now the marriage time of my son has arrived; so I pray before you today, that you give me wealth to celebrate this marriage.”

16. The King said:-- “O Brahmin! Yes! Celebrate the marriage ceremony; I will give you your desired wealth. What more can be said than this that whatever wealth you would want, I will give that abundantly. There is no doubt in this.”

17-22. Vyasa said O King! Hearing these words of the King, the Muni Kaus’ika became ready to deceive him and originating the Gandharbi Maya, created a beautiful youth and one daughter aged ten years and showing them to the King, said, “The marriage of these two is to be celebrated today. O King! To marry the boys and the girls in the house-hold is to earn more merits than the Rajasuya sacrifice. So today you will get that desired fruit if you make charities for the marriage of this Brahmin Youth.” The King was much enchanted by his Maya; so no sooner he heard those words, he immediately promised “That will be done,” he did not raise any objection whatsoever. VisVamitra then showed the way and the King went to his city. VisVamitra, too, thus deceiving the King, went back to his As’rama. When the King was staying in Agnis’ala (cook-room), VisVamitra Muni went to him and said “O King! The marriage rites have been finished; so today give me what I desire in this sacrificial hall.”

23-24. The King said “O Brahmin! Speak out what you want; now I like to get fame. So if there be anything in the world, that is not to be given by me, if you want, I will give that even to you, no doubt. The mortal, possessing all wealth, if he does not earn good name and fame, capable to give happiness to him in his next world, passes his life in vain.”

25. VisVamitra said “O King! Give to this bridegroom, while within this sacred sacrificial altar, your entire kingdom with the royal umbrella and Chamara for fanning the king and elephants, horses, chariots, infantry and all the gems and jewels.”

26-33. Vyasa said O King! The King Haris’chandra was deluded by his Maya; so no sooner he heard the Muni’s words, he willingly said without the slightest consideration “O Muni! I give as you pray, my this vast dominion to you.” The very cruel Vis’vamitra then said:-- “O King! I have accepted your offer; but O Intelligent One! Give now the requisite Daksina to complete your gift. Manu says gift without Daksina is fruitless; so to get the fruit of your gift give Daksina as duly fixed.” The King was exceedingly surprised to hear this and said “O Lord! Kindly say what amount of wealth am I to give to you as Daksina. O Saint! Say the value of your Daksina. O Ascetic! Don’t be impatient; I will give you the Daksina to that amount, no doubt.” Hearing this, Vis’vamitra told to the King “At present give me two and a half loads of gold as Daksina.” The King Haris’chandra became greatly amazed and promised “I will give you that,” he then anxiously mounted on his horseback and became ready to go quickly. At this time, his soldiers who lost their road in quest of their king, came to him. They were very glad to see him; but, seeing him anxious, they began to praise him in great haste.

34-47. Vyasa said O King! Hearing their words, the King did not say anything, good or bad; but thinking on his own doing entered into the zenana. Oh! What have I promised to give? I have made a gift of all that I have; I am cheated in this matter by the Muni like one robbed by a thief in a wilderness. My whole dominion including my dress I have promised to give to him. Moreover I will have to pay besides two and a half loads of gold. My brain seems to have been completely destroyed. What to do now? I did not know the cunningness of the Muni. Therefore I am cheated by this deceitful Brahmin. It is next to impossible to understand the work of Daiva.

Oh! My Fate! What will happen to me now? Very much bewildered the King entered in the interior of the palace. The queen seeing her husband immersed in cares, enquired into the cause, thus “O Lord Why have you become so absent-minded? Kindly say what you are thinking now? O King! The son has come back from the forest before you completed your Rajasuya sacrifice; why then are you in grief now? Kindly speak out the cause of your sorrow. Nowhere is your enemy, strong or weak; only Varuna was angry with you; now he is also very satisfied. So there is nothing further for you to do to think. O King! Owing to cares, this body gets weaker and weaker day by day. So nothing is like cares to lead one to death.” When his dear wife said so, the King expressed to her somewhat the cause of his cares, good or bad. But the King was much absorbed with his cares so that he could not eat nor sleep though his bedding was perfectly white and clear. Early in the next morning, when, getting up from his bed, he was doing anxiously his morning duties, VisVamitra came up there. When the sentinel informed the King of the arrival of VisVamitra, he gave order for him to enter. VisVamitra, the Looter of his all and everything, came before him and told the King who repeatedly bowed down to him “O King! Now leave your kingdom and give me the gold that you promised as Daksina and prove that you are truthful.”

48-63. Haris’chandra said “O Lord! I have given you this vast dominion of mine; so my Kingdom has now become yours; I am leaving this Kingdom and going to somewhere else. O Kaus’ika! You need not think a bit for this. O Brahmana! You have taken my all according to the technical rule; so now I am unable to give you Daksina. If, in time, wealth comes to me, I will at once give you your Daksina.” Saying him thus, the King told his wife S’aivya, and his son Rohita, “In this Agnihotra room I say that I have given my vast dominion to the Muni VisVamitra. Elephants, horses, chariots, gold and jewels all I have given to him along with my kingdom. What more than this that save us three, everything else I have given to him. O Maharsi! Take fully this prosperous dominion; we are going somewhere else to a forest or a mountain cave.” The exceedingly virtuous Haris’chandra spoke thus to his wife and son, and, paying respects to the Muni, went out from his house. Seeing the King going thus away, his wife and son, afflicted with cares, followed him with their sad faces. Seeing thus, all the inhabitants of Ayodhya cried aloud, and great consternation and uproar arose in the city. O King! What is this act that you have done? How has this suffering come to you! O King! The great Fate, without any consideration, has certainly deceived you. The Brahmanas, Ks’attriyas, Vais’yas and S’udras, all the four Varnas gave vent to their sorrows, when they saw the King going away with his wife and son. The Brahmins and the other inhabitants of the city, all were afflicted with sorrows and began to abuse the vicious Brahmana saying that “He is a cheat, etc.” O King! Give the gold for Daksina and then go; or say that you will not be able to give and I will then not take the Daksina. Or if you entertain within yourself any greed, then take back all your Kingdom. O King!

If you think that you have really made this gift, then give what you have promised. The son of Gadhi was saying so, when the King Haris’chandra very humbly bowed down to him with folded palms and said to him.

Here ends the Nineteenth Chapter of the Seventh Book on the taking away of Haris’chandra’s Kingdom in the Maha Puranam S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 20649, revision 76181 (2016-08-17T00:29:51Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk07ch19.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.