Narada Tells of Harishchandra and Pandu's Message

Verse 1 (2.12.1)

प्रायशो राजलोकस्ते कथितो वदतां वर । वैवस्वतसभायां तु यथा वदसि मे प्रभो ॥

prāyaśo rājalokaste kathito vadatāṃ vara | vaivasvatasabhāyāṃ tu yathā vadasi me prabho

O best of speakers, you have described to me nearly all the kings in the hall of Vaivasvata (Yama), just as you tell it, my lord.

Verse 2 (2.12.2)

वरुणस्य सभायां तु नागास्ते कथिता विभो । दैत्येन्द्राश्चापि भूयिष्ठाः सरितः सागरास्तथा ॥

varuṇasya sabhāyāṃ tu nāgāste kathitā vibho | daityendrāścāpi bhūyiṣṭhāḥ saritaḥ sāgarāstathā

In Varuna's hall, my lord, you have described the Nagas, and many lords of the Daityas too, the rivers and the oceans;

Verse 3 (2.12.3)

तथा धनपतेर्यक्षा गुह्यका राक्षसास्तथा । गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव भगवांश्च वृषध्वजः ॥

tathā dhanapateryakṣā guhyakā rākṣasāstathā | gandharvāpsarasaścaiva bhagavāṃśca vṛṣadhvajaḥ

likewise, in the hall of the Lord of Wealth (Kubera), the Yakshas, the Guhyakas and the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas and the Apsaras, and the blessed god whose banner bears the bull (Shiva).

Verse 4 (2.12.4)

पितामहसभायां तु कथितास्ते महर्षयः । सर्वे देवनिकायाश्च सर्वशास्त्राणि चैव ह ॥

pitāmahasabhāyāṃ tu kathitāste maharṣayaḥ | sarve devanikāyāśca sarvaśāstrāṇi caiva ha

In the hall of the Grandsire (Brahma) you have described the great sages, all the hosts of the gods, and all the branches of learning as well.

Note on the text: Corrected महर्षभः → महर्षयः (misprint in Wikisource; the plural कथिताः needs a plural subject, "the great sages" — the critical edition reads maharṣayaḥ) and वैव → चैव (misprint in Wikisource; व for च, as in the critical edition, caiva).

Verse 5 (2.12.5)

शक्रस्य तु सभायां तु देवाः सङ्कीर्तिता मुने । उद्देशतश्च गन्धर्वा विविधाश्च महर्षयः ॥

śakrasya tu sabhāyāṃ tu devāḥ saṅkīrtitā mune | uddeśataśca gandharvā vividhāśca maharṣayaḥ

In Shakra's (Indra's) hall, O sage, you have named the gods, and briefly the Gandharvas and the various great sages.

Verse 6 (2.12.6)

एक एव तु राजर्षिर्हरिश्चन्द्रो महामुने । कथितस्ते सभायां वै देवेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः ॥

eka eva tu rājarṣirhariścandro mahāmune | kathitaste sabhāyāṃ vai devendrasya mahātmanaḥ

But only one royal sage, Harishchandra, O great sage, have you named in the hall of the great-souled king of the gods.

Verse 7 (2.12.7)

किं कर्म तेनाचरितं तपो वा नियतव्रत । येनासौ सह शक्रेण स्पर्धते सुमहायशाः ॥

kiṃ karma tenācaritaṃ tapo vā niyatavrata | yenāsau saha śakreṇa spardhate sumahāyaśāḥ

What deed did he perform, or what austerity, O you of steadfast vows, by which that most illustrious king vies with Shakra himself?

Note on the text: Corrected स्पर्धदे → स्पर्धते (misprint in Wikisource; द for त — the verb is spardhate, as in the critical edition).

Verse 8 (2.12.8)

पितृलोकगतश्चैव त्वया विप्र पिता मम । दृष्टः पाण्डुर्महाभागः कथं वाऽपि समागतः ॥

pitṛlokagataścaiva tvayā vipra pitā mama | dṛṣṭaḥ pāṇḍurmahābhāgaḥ kathaṃ vā'pi samāgataḥ

And you, O brahmin, saw my father, the noble Pandu, who has gone to the world of the ancestors. How did you come to meet him?

Verse 9 (2.12.9)

किमुक्तवांश्च भगवंस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रत । त्वत्तः श्रोतुं सर्वमिदं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥

kimuktavāṃśca bhagavaṃstanmamācakṣva suvrata | tvattaḥ śrotuṃ sarvamidaṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me

And what did he say, holy one? Tell me that, O you of good vows. I long to hear all of this from you; my curiosity is very great.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.11.51 (missed by the automatic alignment); the critical edition reads the first line differently (bhagavann etad icchāmi veditum).

Verse 10 (2.12.10)

यन्मां पृच्छसि राजेन्द्र हरिश्चन्द्रं प्रति प्रभो । तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तस्य धीमतः ॥

yanmāṃ pṛcchasi rājendra hariścandraṃ prati prabho | tatte'haṃ sampravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ

Since you ask me about Harishchandra, O king of kings, my lord, I will tell you the greatness of that wise king.

Verse 11 (2.12.11)

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातस्त्रिशङ्कुर्नाम पार्थिवः । अयोध्याधिपतिर्वीरो विश्वामित्रेण संस्थितः ॥

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jātastriśaṅkurnāma pārthivaḥ | ayodhyādhipatirvīro viśvāmitreṇa saṃsthitaḥ

In the line of the Ikshvakus was born a king named Trishanku, the heroic lord of Ayodhya, whose place was secured by Vishvamitra.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (wiki mark) before the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (2.12.12)

तस्य सत्यवती नाम पत्नी केकयवंशजा । तस्यां गर्भः समभवद्धर्मेण कुरुनन्दन ॥

tasya satyavatī nāma patnī kekayavaṃśajā | tasyāṃ garbhaḥ samabhavaddharmeṇa kurunandana

His wife, named Satyavati, was born of the Kekaya line. By dharma, O joy of the Kurus, she conceived a child.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (2.12.13)

सा च काले महाभागा राजन्मासं प्रविश्य च । कुमारं जनयामास हरिश्चन्द्रमकल्मषम् । स वै राजा हरिश्चन्द्रस्त्रैशङ्कव इति स्मृतः ॥

sā ca kāle mahābhāgā rājanmāsaṃ praviśya ca | kumāraṃ janayāmāsa hariścandramakalmaṣam | sa vai rājā hariścandrastraiśaṅkava iti smṛtaḥ

When her time came and the month was reached, O king, that noble lady gave birth to a sinless son, Harishchandra. That king Harishchandra is remembered as Traishankava, the son of Trishanku.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark (wiki mark) at the end of the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 14 (2.12.14)

स राजा बलवानासीत्सम्राट् सर्वमहीक्षिताम् । तस्य सर्वे महीपालाः शासनावनताः स्थिताः ॥

sa rājā balavānāsītsamrāṭ sarvamahīkṣitām | tasya sarve mahīpālāḥ śāsanāvanatāḥ sthitāḥ

That king was mighty, an emperor over all the rulers of the earth. All the kings of the earth stood bowed to his command.

Verse 15 (2.12.15)

तेनैकं रथमास्थाय जैत्रं हेमविभूषितम् । शस्त्रप्रतापेन जिता द्वीपाः सप्त जनेश्वर ॥

tenaikaṃ rathamāsthāya jaitraṃ hemavibhūṣitam | śastrapratāpena jitā dvīpāḥ sapta janeśvara

Mounted on a single victorious chariot adorned with gold, he conquered the seven continents by the might of his weapons, O lord of men.

Verse 16 (2.12.16)

स निर्जित्य महीं कृत्स्नां सशैलवनकाननाम् । आजहार महाराज राजसूयं महाक्रतुम् ॥

sa nirjitya mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ saśailavanakānanām | ājahāra mahārāja rājasūyaṃ mahākratum

Having conquered the whole earth with its mountains, woods and forests, he performed, great king, the great sacrifice called the Rajasuya.

Verse 17 (2.12.17)

तस्य सर्वे महीपाला धनान्याजह्रुराज्ञया । द्विजानां परिवेष्टारस्तस्मिन्यज्ञे च तेऽभवन् ॥

tasya sarve mahīpālā dhanānyājahrurājñayā | dvijānāṃ pariveṣṭārastasminyajñe ca te'bhavan

At his command all the kings brought wealth, and at that sacrifice they served the brahmins their food.

Verse 18 (2.12.18)

समाप्तयज्ञो विधिवद्धरिश्चन्द्रः प्रतापवान् । अभिषिक्तश्च शुशुभे साम्राज्येन नराधिपः ॥

samāptayajño vidhivaddhariścandraḥ pratāpavān | abhiṣiktaśca śuśubhe sāmrājyena narādhipaḥ

When the sacrifice had been completed according to rule, the valiant Harishchandra, lord of men, was consecrated and shone with imperial sovereignty,

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick (wiki mark) before the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (2.12.19)

राजसूयेऽभिषिक्तश्च समाप्तवरदक्षिणे ॥

rājasūye'bhiṣiktaśca samāptavaradakṣiṇe

consecrated in the Rajasuya once its rich sacrificial fees had been given.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark (wiki mark) at the end. A single line in Wikisource. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 20 (2.12.20)

प्रादाच्च द्रविणं प्रीत्या याचकानां नरेश्वरः । यथोक्तवन्तस्ते तस्मिंस्ततः पञ्चगुणाधिकम् ॥

prādācca draviṇaṃ prītyā yācakānāṃ nareśvaraḥ | yathoktavantaste tasmiṃstataḥ pañcaguṇādhikam

And that lord of men gladly gave wealth to those who asked, five times more than they had asked for.

Verse 21 (2.12.21)

अतर्पयच्च विविधैर्वसुभिर्ब्राह्मणांस्तदा । प्रसर्पकाले सम्प्राप्ते नानादिग्भ्यः समागतान् ॥

atarpayacca vividhairvasubhirbrāhmaṇāṃstadā | prasarpakāle samprāpte nānādigbhyaḥ samāgatān

He also satisfied the brahmins with riches of many kinds, when the time came for the visitors to the sacrifice, who had gathered from every quarter,

Verse 22 (2.12.22)

भक्ष्यभोज्यैश्च विविधैर्यथाकामपुरस्कृतैः । रत्नौघतर्पितैस्तुष्टैर्द्विजैश्च समुदाहृतम् । तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च नृपेभ्योऽभ्यधिकोऽभवत् ॥

bhakṣyabhojyaiśca vividhairyathākāmapuraskṛtaiḥ | ratnaughatarpitaistuṣṭairdvijaiśca samudāhṛtam | tejasvī ca yaśasvī ca nṛpebhyo'bhyadhiko'bhavat

and with many kinds of food, hard and soft, served as each desired. The brahmins, sated with streams of jewels and well content, proclaimed it: he was more brilliant and more renowned than all other kings.

Verse 23 (2.12.23)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्हरिश्चन्द्रो विराजते । तेभ्यो राजसहस्रेभ्यस्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ ॥

etasmātkāraṇādrājanhariścandro virājate | tebhyo rājasahasrebhyastadviddhi bharatarṣabha

For this reason, O king, Harishchandra shines above those thousands of kings. Know that, O bull among the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected तद्विद्वि → तद्विद्धि (misprint in Wikisource; the imperative is viddhi, "know", as in the critical edition).

Verse 24 (2.12.24)

समाप्य च हरिश्चन्द्रो महायज्ञं प्रतापवान् । अभिषिक्तश्च शुशुभे साम्राज्येन नराधिप ॥

samāpya ca hariścandro mahāyajñaṃ pratāpavān | abhiṣiktaśca śuśubhe sāmrājyena narādhipa

Having completed the great sacrifice, the valiant Harishchandra was consecrated and shone with imperial sovereignty, O lord of men.

Verse 25 (2.12.25)

ये चान्ये च महीपाला राजसूयं महाक्रतुम् । यजन्ते ते सहेन्द्रेण मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ ॥

ye cānye ca mahīpālā rājasūyaṃ mahākratum | yajante te sahendreṇa modante bharatarṣabha

And other kings too who perform the great Rajasuya sacrifice rejoice in the company of Indra, O bull among the Bharatas.

Verse 26 (2.12.26)

ये चापि निधनं प्राप्ताः सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनः । ते तत्सदनमासाद्य मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ ॥

ye cāpi nidhanaṃ prāptāḥ saṅgrāmeṣvapalāyinaḥ | te tatsadanamāsādya modante bharatarṣabha

Those too who meet their death in battle without fleeing reach that hall and rejoice there, O bull among the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected नि नं → निधनं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara — the critical edition reads nidhanaṃ), सदनम् ताद्य → सदनमासाद्य (misprint in Wikisource; a broken āsādya, "having reached") and मोन्दते → मोदन्ते (misprint in Wikisource; transposed nasal — the critical edition reads modante).

Verse 27 (2.12.27)

तपसा ये च तीव्रेण त्यजन्तीह कलेवरम् । ते तत्स्थानं समासाद्य श्रीमन्तो भान्ति नित्यशः ॥

tapasā ye ca tīvreṇa tyajantīha kalevaram | te tatsthānaṃ samāsādya śrīmanto bhānti nityaśaḥ

And those who give up the body here through fierce austerity reach that place and shine there in splendour for ever.

Verse 28 (2.12.28)

पिता च त्वाऽऽह कौन्तेय पाण्डुः कौरवनन्दन । हरिश्चन्द्रे श्रियं दृष्ट्वा नृपतौ जातविस्मयः ॥

pitā ca tvā''ha kaunteya pāṇḍuḥ kauravanandana | hariścandre śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpatau jātavismayaḥ

Your father Pandu too, O son of Kunti, joy of the Kauravas, has a word for you. Seeing the splendour of King Harishchandra, he was filled with wonder,

Verse 29 (2.12.29)

विज्ञाय मानुषं लोकमायान्तं मां नराधिप । प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा वदेथास्त्वं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

vijñāya mānuṣaṃ lokamāyāntaṃ māṃ narādhipa | provāca praṇato bhūtvā vadethāstvaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram

and learning that I was bound for the world of men, O lord of men, he bowed and said to me, "Tell Yudhishthira:"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 30 (2.12.30)

समर्थोऽसि महीं जेतुं भ्रातरस्ते स्थिता वशे । राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठमाहरस्वेति भारत ॥

samartho'si mahīṃ jetuṃ bhrātaraste sthitā vaśe | rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhamāharasveti bhārata

You are able to conquer the earth; your brothers stand obedient to you. Perform the Rajasuya, the best of sacrifices, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected क्रतुश्रेष्ठमहारस्वेति → क्रतुश्रेष्ठमाहरस्वेति (misprint in Wikisource; the imperative is āharasva, "perform", as in the critical edition). Speaker: Pandu's message, quoted whole by Narada (no heading in the text).

Verse 31 (2.12.31)

त्वयीष्टवति पुत्रेऽहं हरिश्चन्द्रवदाशु वै । मोदिष्ये बहुलाः शश्वत्समाः शक्रस्य संसदि ॥

tvayīṣṭavati putre'haṃ hariścandravadāśu vai | modiṣye bahulāḥ śaśvatsamāḥ śakrasya saṃsadi

When you, my son, have performed that sacrifice, I too shall soon rejoice, like Harishchandra, for many endless years in Shakra's assembly.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Speaker: Pandu's message, quoted by Narada (no heading in the text).

Verse 32 (2.12.32)

एवं भवतु वक्ष्येऽहं तव पुत्रं नराधिपम् । भूलोकं यदि गच्छेयमिति पाण्डुमथाब्रुवम् ॥

evaṃ bhavatu vakṣye'haṃ tava putraṃ narādhipam | bhūlokaṃ yadi gaccheyamiti pāṇḍumathābruvam

"So be it; if I go to the world of the earth, I will tell this to your son, the lord of men," I then said to Pandu.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 33 (2.12.33)

तस्य त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र सङ्कल्पं कुरु पाण्डव । गन्तासित्वं महेन्द्रस्य पूर्वैः सह सलोकताम् ॥

tasya tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra saṅkalpaṃ kuru pāṇḍava | gantāsitvaṃ mahendrasya pūrvaiḥ saha salokatām

Fulfil his wish, O tiger among men, son of Pandu. You will go with your forefathers to great Indra's world.

Verse 34 (2.12.34)

बहुविघ्नश्च नृपते क्रतुरेष स्मृतो महान् । छिद्राण्यस्य हि वाञ्छन्ति यज्ञघ्ना ब्रह्मराक्षसाः ॥

bahuvighnaśca nṛpate kratureṣa smṛto mahān | chidrāṇyasya hi vāñchanti yajñaghnā brahmarākṣasāḥ

But this great sacrifice, O king, is known to be beset with many obstacles. Brahmarakshasas, destroyers of sacrifices, watch for its weak points.

Note on the text: Corrected छिद्राण्यस्य वाञ्छन्ति → छिद्राण्यस्य हि वाञ्छन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; the line is one syllable short — the dropped particle हि is restored from the critical edition, which reads chidrāṇy atra hi vāñchanti).

Verse 35 (2.12.35)

युद्धं च क्षत्रशमनं पृथिवीक्षयकारणम् । किञ्चिदेव निमित्तं च भवत्यत्र क्षयावहम् ॥

yuddhaṃ ca kṣatraśamanaṃ pṛthivīkṣayakāraṇam | kiñcideva nimittaṃ ca bhavatyatra kṣayāvaham

And a war may follow that destroys the Kshatriyas and lays waste the earth; here some slight cause arises that brings ruin.

Verse 36 (2.12.36)

एतत्सञ्चिन्त्य राजेन्द्र यत्क्षमं तत्समाचर । अप्रमत्तोत्थितो नित्यं चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षणे ॥

etatsañcintya rājendra yatkṣamaṃ tatsamācara | apramattotthito nityaṃ cāturvarṇyasya rakṣaṇe

Weigh all this, O king of kings, and do what is fitting. Be ever vigilant and ready in protecting the four varnas.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.11.70ab–cd (missed by the automatic alignment).

Verse 37 (2.12.37)

भव एधस्व मोदस्व धनैस्तर्पय च द्विजान् । एतत्ते विस्तरेणोक्तं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि । आपृच्छे त्वां गमिष्यामि दाशार्हनगरीं प्रति ॥

bhava edhasva modasva dhanaistarpaya ca dvijān | etatte vistareṇoktaṃ yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi | āpṛcche tvāṃ gamiṣyāmi dāśārhanagarīṃ prati

Prosper, flourish and rejoice, and satisfy the brahmins with wealth. I have told you at length what you asked me. Now I take my leave of you; I shall go to the city of the Dasharhas (Dvaraka).

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to CE 2.11.70ef (critical edition: dānais for धनैः); the second and third lines to CE 2.11.71 (missed by the automatic alignment).

Verse 38 (2.12.38)

एवमाख्याय पार्थेभ्यो नारदो जनमेजय । जगाम तैर्वृतो राजन्नृषिभिर्यैः समागतः ॥

evamākhyāya pārthebhyo nārado janamejaya | jagāma tairvṛto rājannṛṣibhiryaiḥ samāgataḥ

Having told this to the sons of Pritha, O Janamejaya, Narada departed, O king, surrounded by the sages with whom he had come.

Verse 39 (2.12.39)

गते तु नारदे पार्थो भ्रातृभिः सह कौरवः । राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं चिन्तयामास पार्थिवः ॥

gate tu nārade pārtho bhrātṛbhiḥ saha kauravaḥ | rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ cintayāmāsa pārthivaḥ

When Narada had gone, the son of Pritha, the Kaurava king, began with his brothers to think about the Rajasuya, the best of sacrifices.