Vishvamitra Forbids the Slaying of the Brahmin's Son as Sacrificial Victim

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.16.1)

व्यास उवाच । गतेऽथ वरुणे राजा रोगेणातीव पीडितः । दुःखाद्दुःखं परं प्राप्य व्यथितोऽभूद् भृशं तदा

vyāsa uvāca gate'tha varuṇe rājā rogeṇātīva pīḍitaḥ duḥkhādduḥkhaṁ paraṁ prāpya vyathito'bhūd bhṛśaṁ tadā

Vyasa said: Then, when Varuna had departed, the king was afflicted exceedingly by the disease; attaining sorrow upon sorrow, he became at that time greatly distressed.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.16.2)

कुमारोऽसौ वने श्रुत्वा पितरं रोगपीडितम् । गमनाय मतिं राजंश्चकार स्नेहयन्त्रितः

kumāro'sau vane śrutvā pitaraṁ rogapīḍitam gamanāya matiṁ rājaṁścakāra snehayantritaḥ

That prince, dwelling in the forest, hearing that his father was afflicted by disease, bound by affection, resolved in his mind to go to him.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.16.3)

संवत्सरे व्यतीते तु पितरं द्रष्टुमादरात् । गन्तुकामं तु तं ज्ञात्वा शक्रस्तत्राजगाम ह

saṁvatsare vyatīte tu pitaraṁ draṣṭumādarāt gantukāmaṁ tu taṁ jñātvā śakrastatrājagāma ha

When a year had passed, knowing that he desired, out of reverence, to go and see his father, Indra himself came there.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.16.4)

वासवस्तु तदा रूपं कृत्वा विप्रस्य सत्वरः । वारयामास युक्त्या वै कुमारं गन्तुमुद्यतम्

vāsavastu tadā rūpaṁ kṛtvā viprasya satvaraḥ vārayāmāsa yuktyā vai kumāraṁ gantumudyatam

Vasava (Indra) then swiftly assumed the form of a brahmin, and by a stratagem restrained the prince who was ready to depart.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.16.5)

इन्द्र उवाच । राजपुत्र न जानासि राजनीतिं सुदुर्लभाम् । अतः करोषि मूढस्त्वं गमनाय मतिं वृथा

indra uvāca rājaputra na jānāsi rājanītiṁ sudurlabhām ataḥ karoṣi mūḍhastvaṁ gamanāya matiṁ vṛthā

Indra said: O prince, you do not know the statecraft that is so hard to attain; therefore, O fool, you form this vain resolve to go.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.16.6)

पिता तव महाभाग ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । कारयिष्यति होमं ते ज्वलितेऽथ विभावसौ

pitā tava mahābhāga brāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ kārayiṣyati homaṁ te jvalite'tha vibhāvasau

O fortunate one, your father will have brahmins learned in the Veda perform, in the kindled fire, an oblation on your account.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.16.7)

आत्मा हि वल्लभस्तात सर्वेषां प्राणिनां खलु । तदर्थे वल्लभाः सन्ति पुत्रदारधनादयः

ātmā hi vallabhastāta sarveṣāṁ prāṇināṁ khalu tadarthe vallabhāḥ santi putradāradhanādayaḥ

O child, it is one's own self that is truly dear to all living beings; sons, wives, and wealth are dear only for that self's sake.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.16.8)

आत्मनो देहरक्षार्थं हत्वा त्वां वल्लभं सुतम् । हवनं कारयित्वासौ रोगमुक्तो भविष्यति

ātmano deharakṣārthaṁ hatvā tvāṁ vallabhaṁ sutam havanaṁ kārayitvāsau rogamukto bhaviṣyati

Only by slaying you, his beloved son, and having the oblation performed for the sake of protecting his own body, will he become free of his disease.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.16.9)

तस्मात्त्वया न गन्तव्यं राजपुत्र पितुर्गृहे । मृते पितरि गन्तव्यं राज्यार्थे सर्वथा पुनः

tasmāttvayā na gantavyaṁ rājaputra piturgṛhe mṛte pitari gantavyaṁ rājyārthe sarvathā punaḥ

Therefore, O prince, you must not go to your father's house; only when your father has died should you go back at all, for the sake of the kingdom.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.16.10)

एवं निषेधितस्तत्र वासवेन नृपात्मजः । वनमध्ये स्थितः कामं पुनः संवत्सरं नृप

evaṁ niṣedhitastatra vāsavena nṛpātmajaḥ vanamadhye sthitaḥ kāmaṁ punaḥ saṁvatsaraṁ nṛpa

Thus forbidden by Vasava, the prince, O king, remained willingly in the forest for yet another year.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.16.11)

अत्यन्तं दुःखितं श्रुत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रं तदाऽऽत्मजः । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे मरणे कृतनिश्चयः

atyantaṁ duḥkhitaṁ śrutvā hariścandraṁ tadā''tmajaḥ gamanāya matiṁ cakre maraṇe kṛtaniścayaḥ

Hearing that Harishchandra was in extreme sorrow, the son again resolved to go, this time having made up his mind even to die.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.16.12)

तुषाराड् द्विजरूपेण तत्रागत्य च रोहितम् । निवारयामास सुतं युक्तिवाक्यैः पुनः पुनः

tuṣārāḍ dvijarūpeṇa tatrāgatya ca rohitam nivārayāmāsa sutaṁ yuktivākyaiḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Tusharat (Indra) again came there in the form of a brahmin and, again and again, restrained the son Rohita with well-reasoned words.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.16.13)

हरिश्चन्द्रोऽतिदुःखार्तो वसिष्ठं स्वपुरोहितम् । पप्रच्छ रोगनाशाय तत्रोपायं सुनिश्चितम्

hariścandro'tiduḥkhārto vasiṣṭhaṁ svapurohitam papraccha roganāśāya tatropāyaṁ suniścitam

Harishchandra, tormented by great suffering, asked his family priest Vasishtha for a sure remedy for the destruction of his disease.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.16.14)

तमाह ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो यज्ञं कुरु नृपोत्तम । क्रयक्रीतेन पुत्रेण शापमोक्षो भविष्यति

tamāha brahmaṇaḥ putro yajñaṁ kuru nṛpottama krayakrītena putreṇa śāpamokṣo bhaviṣyati

The son of Brahma (Vasishtha) said to him: O best of kings, perform the sacrifice; through a son procured by purchase, release from the curse will come about.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.16.15)

पुत्रा दशविधां प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । द्रव्येणानीय तस्मात्त्वं पुत्रं कुरु नृपोत्तम

putrā daśavidhāṁ proktā brāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ dravyeṇānīya tasmāttvaṁ putraṁ kuru nṛpottama

Brahmins learned in the Veda have declared sons to be of ten kinds; therefore, O best of kings, procure a son by means of wealth.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.16.16)

वरुणोऽपि प्रसन्नः सन्सुखकारी भविष्यति । लोभात्कोऽपि द्विजः पुत्रं प्रदास्यति स्वराष्ट्रजः

varuṇo'pi prasannaḥ sansukhakārī bhaviṣyati lobhātko'pi dvijaḥ putraṁ pradāsyati svarāṣṭrajaḥ

Varuna too, being pleased, will become gracious; out of greed for wealth, some brahmin born in your own realm will surely give up his son.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.16.17)

एवं प्रमोदितो राजा वसिष्ठेन महामना । प्रधानं प्रेरयामास तदन्वेषणकाम्यया

evaṁ pramodito rājā vasiṣṭhena mahāmanā pradhānaṁ prerayāmāsa tadanveṣaṇakāmyayā

Thus gladdened by Vasishtha, the great-hearted king, wishing to search for such a son, sent forth his minister.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.16.18)

अजीगर्तो द्विजः कश्चिद्विषये तस्य भूपतेः । तस्यासंश्च त्रयः पुत्रा निर्धनस्य विशेषतः

ajīgarto dvijaḥ kaścidviṣaye tasya bhūpateḥ tasyāsaṁśca trayaḥ putrā nirdhanasya viśeṣataḥ

In that king's realm there lived a certain brahmin named Ajigarta, who was especially poor and who had three sons.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.16.19)

प्रधानेनाप्यसौ पृष्टः पुत्रार्थं दुर्बलो द्विजः । गवां शतं ददामीति देहि पुत्रं मखाय वै

pradhānenāpyasau pṛṣṭaḥ putrārthaṁ durbalo dvijaḥ gavāṁ śataṁ dadāmīti dehi putraṁ makhāya vai

When questioned by the minister, that weakened brahmin, in exchange for a son, said: I will give a hundred cows — you give me a son for the sacrifice.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.16.20)

शुनःपुच्छः शुनःशेपः शुनोलाङ्गूल इत्यमी । तेषामेकतमं देहि ददामि तु गवां शतम्

śunaḥpucchaḥ śunaḥśepaḥ śunolāṅgūla ityamī teṣāmekatamaṁ dehi dadāmi tu gavāṁ śatam

Shunahpuccha, Shunahshepa, and Shunolangula — these are my three sons; give me any one of them, and I will give you a hundred cows.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.16.21)

अजीगर्तस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् । पुत्रं च कतमं तेभ्यो विक्रेतुं वै मनो दधे

ajīgartastu tacchrutvā kṣudhayā pīḍito bhṛśam putraṁ ca katamaṁ tebhyo vikretuṁ vai mano dadhe

Hearing this, Ajigarta, sorely afflicted by hunger, set his mind on which of the three sons should be sold.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.16.22)

कार्याधिकारिणं ज्येष्ठं मत्वा नासावदादमुम् । कनिष्ठं नाप्यदान्माता ममैष इति वादिनी

kāryādhikāriṇaṁ jyeṣṭhaṁ matvā nāsāvadādamum kaniṣṭhaṁ nāpyadānmātā mamaiṣa iti vādinī

Deeming the eldest son the rightful heir to his duties, he did not give him up; nor did the mother give up the youngest, saying, 'This one is mine, my darling.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.16.23)

मध्यमं च शुनःशेपं ददौ गवां शतेन च । आनिनाय पशुं चक्रे नरमेधे नराधिपः

madhyamaṁ ca śunaḥśepaṁ dadau gavāṁ śatena ca ānināya paśuṁ cakre naramedhe narādhipaḥ

So he gave up the middle son, Shunahshepa, in exchange for a hundred cows; and the king had that human victim brought for the human sacrifice.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.16.24)

रुदन्तं दुःखितं दीनं वेपमानं भृशातुरम् । यूपे बद्धं निरीक्ष्यामुं चुक्रुशुर्मुनयस्तदा

rudantaṁ duḥkhitaṁ dīnaṁ vepamānaṁ bhṛśāturam yūpe baddhaṁ nirīkṣyāmuṁ cukruśurmunayastadā

Seeing that weeping, sorrowful, wretched, greatly distressed and trembling boy bound to the sacrificial post, the sages at that moment cried out in anguish.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.16.25)

शामित्राय पशुं चक्रे नरमेधे नराधिपः । शमिता नाददे शस्त्रं तमालम्भयितुं शिशुम्

śāmitrāya paśuṁ cakre naramedhe narādhipaḥ śamitā nādade śastraṁ tamālambhayituṁ śiśum

The king appointed that victim for the rite of slaying, but the priest charged with the slaying (the shamitri) would not take up the weapon to kill the boy.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.16.26)

नाहं द्विजसुतं दीनं रुदन्तं करुणं भृशम् । हनिष्यामि स्वलोभार्थमित्युवाचाप्यसौ तदा

nāhaṁ dvijasutaṁ dīnaṁ rudantaṁ karuṇaṁ bhṛśam haniṣyāmi svalobhārthamityuvācāpyasau tadā

He too spoke out at that time: Out of my own greed I will not slay this wretched brahmin's son, who weeps so piteously.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.16.27)

इत्युक्त्वा विररामासौ कर्मणो दुष्करादथ । राजा आभासदः प्राह किं कर्तव्यमिति द्विजाः

ityuktvā virarāmāsau karmaṇo duṣkarādatha rājā ābhāsadaḥ prāha kiṁ kartavyamiti dvijāḥ

So saying, he desisted from that terrible act. Then the king asked the brahmins present: What is now to be done?

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.16.28)

जातः किलकिलाशब्दो जनानां क्रोशतां तदा । क्रन्दमाने शुनःशेपे सभायां भृशमद्भुतम्

jātaḥ kilakilāśabdo janānāṁ krośatāṁ tadā krandamāne śunaḥśepe sabhāyāṁ bhṛśamadbhutam

Then, as Shunahshepa wept and cried out, a most astonishing uproar arose in the assembly from the people who were crying out.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.16.29)

अजीगर्तस्तदोत्थाय तमुवाच नृपोत्तमम् । राजन् कार्यं करिष्यामि तवाहं सुस्थिरो भव

ajīgartastadotthāya tamuvāca nṛpottamam rājan kāryaṁ kariṣyāmi tavāhaṁ susthiro bhava

Then Ajigarta rose up and said to the best of kings: O king, I myself will perform this deed — be at ease.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.16.30)

वेतनं द्विगुणं देहि हनिष्यामि पशुं किल । कर्तव्यं मखकार्यं वै मया तेऽद्य धनार्थिना

vetanaṁ dviguṇaṁ dehi haniṣyāmi paśuṁ kila kartavyaṁ makhakāryaṁ vai mayā te'dya dhanārthinā

Give me double the payment, and I myself will indeed slay the victim; desiring wealth, I myself shall today accomplish this sacrificial task.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.16.31)

दुःखितस्य धनार्थस्य सदासूया प्रसूयते । व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य हरिश्चन्द्रो मुदान्वितः

duḥkhitasya dhanārthasya sadāsūyā prasūyate vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya hariścandro mudānvitaḥ

In one who is wretched and greedy for wealth, contempt is ever born. Vyasa said: Hearing this speech, Harishchandra was gladdened,

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.16.32)

तमुवाच ददाम्यद्य गवां शतमनुत्तमम् । तदाकर्ण्य पिता तस्य पुत्रं हन्तुं समुद्यतः

tamuvāca dadāmyadya gavāṁ śatamanuttamam tadākarṇya pitā tasya putraṁ hantuṁ samudyataḥ

and said to him: Today I shall give you an excellent hundred cows. Hearing this, that boy's father made ready at once to slay his own son.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.16.33)

लोभेनाकुलचित्तोऽसौ शामित्रे कृतनिश्चयः । समुद्यतं च तं दृष्ट्वा जनाः सर्वे सभासदः

lobhenākulacitto'sau śāmitre kṛtaniścayaḥ samudyataṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā janāḥ sarve sabhāsadaḥ

His mind confounded by greed, resolved on the act of slaying, he made ready to take up the weapon; seeing him so prepared, all the people seated in the assembly

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.16.34)

चुक्रुशुर्भृशदुःखार्ता हाहेति जगदुर्वचः । पिशाचोऽयं महापापी क्रूरकर्मा द्विजाकृतिः

cukruśurbhṛśaduḥkhārtā hāheti jagadurvacaḥ piśāco'yaṁ mahāpāpī krūrakarmā dvijākṛtiḥ

cried out in great anguish, 'Alas, alas!' and spoke harsh words: This is a great sinner in a brahmin's guise, a cruel-deeded demon,

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.16.35)

यत्स्वयं स्वसुतं हन्तुमुद्यतः कुलपांसनः । धिक्चाण्डाल किमेतत्ते पापकर्म चिकीर्षितम्

yatsvayaṁ svasutaṁ hantumudyataḥ kulapāṁsanaḥ dhikcāṇḍāla kimetatte pāpakarma cikīrṣitam

who is himself ready to slay his own son — a disgrace to his lineage! Shame on you, O outcaste! What sinful deed is this you wish to do?

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.16.36)

हत्वा सुतं धनं प्राप्य किं सुखं ते भविष्यति । आत्मा वै जायते पुत्र अङ्गाद्वै वेदभाषितम्

hatvā sutaṁ dhanaṁ prāpya kiṁ sukhaṁ te bhaviṣyati ātmā vai jāyate putra aṅgādvai vedabhāṣitam

What happiness will you find in wealth gained by killing your son? The Veda proclaims that a son is born from a man's own limbs, as his very self.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.16.37)

तत्कथं पापबुद्धे त्वमात्मानं हन्तुमिच्छसि । एवं कोलाहले तत्र जाते कुशिकनन्दनः

tatkathaṁ pāpabuddhe tvamātmānaṁ hantumicchasi evaṁ kolāhale tatra jāte kuśikanandanaḥ

Then, O sinful-minded one, why do you wish to slay your very own self? While this uproar was thus taking place, the son of Kushika (Vishvamitra)

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.16.38)

समीपं नृपतेर्गत्वा तमुवाच दयापरः । विश्वामित्र उवाच । राजन्नमुं शुनःशेपं रुदन्तं भृशदुःखितम्

samīpaṁ nṛpatergatvā tamuvāca dayāparaḥ viśvāmitra uvāca rājannamuṁ śunaḥśepaṁ rudantaṁ bhṛśaduḥkhitam

went near the king and, filled with compassion, spoke to him. Vishvamitra said: O king, this Shunahshepa, weeping in such great sorrow —

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.16.39)

क्रतुस्ते भविता पूर्णो रोगनाशश्च सर्वथा । दयासमं नास्ति पुण्यं पापं हिंसासमं नहि

kratuste bhavitā pūrṇo roganāśaśca sarvathā dayāsamaṁ nāsti puṇyaṁ pāpaṁ hiṁsāsamaṁ nahi

release him — your sacrifice will be complete and your disease will indeed be wholly destroyed. There is no merit equal to compassion, no sin equal to violence.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.16.40)

रागिणां रोचनार्थाय नोदनेयं विचारय । आत्मदेहस्य रक्षार्थं परदेहनिकृन्तनम्

rāgiṇāṁ rocanārthāya nodaneyaṁ vicāraya ātmadehasya rakṣārthaṁ paradehanikṛntanam

This urging, given only to please those attached to their desires, is not right — consider this well. To cut down another's body for the protection of one's own

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.16.41)

न कर्तव्यं महाराज सर्वतः शुभमिच्छता । दयया सर्वभूतेषु सन्तुष्टो येन केन च

na kartavyaṁ mahārāja sarvataḥ śubhamicchatā dayayā sarvabhūteṣu santuṣṭo yena kena ca

should not be done, O great king, by one who wishes for good in every way; by whatever means, one should remain content while showing compassion to all beings.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.16.42)

सर्वेन्द्रियोपशान्त्या च तुष्यत्याशु जगत्पतिः । आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु चिन्तनीयं नृपोत्तम

sarvendriyopaśāntyā ca tuṣyatyāśu jagatpatiḥ ātmavatsarvabhūteṣu cintanīyaṁ nṛpottama

By the stilling of all the senses, the Lord of the world is swiftly pleased; O best of kings, one should think of all beings as one thinks of oneself.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.7.16.43)

जीवितव्यं प्रियं नूनं सर्वेषां सर्वदा किल । त्वमिच्छसि सुखं कर्तुं देहे हत्वा त्वमुं द्विजम्

jīvitavyaṁ priyaṁ nūnaṁ sarveṣāṁ sarvadā kila tvamicchasi sukhaṁ kartuṁ dehe hatvā tvamuṁ dvijam

Life, indeed, is dear to all beings always; you wish to make yourself happy by giving pleasure to your own body through the killing of this brahmin —

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.7.16.44)

कथं नेच्छेदसौ देहं रक्षितुं स्वसुखास्पदम् । पूर्वजन्मकृतं वैरं नानेन सह ते नृप

kathaṁ necchedasau dehaṁ rakṣituṁ svasukhāspadam pūrvajanmakṛtaṁ vairaṁ nānena saha te nṛpa

then how could he not likewise wish to protect his own body, the seat of his own happiness? O king, you have no enmity with him from a former birth,

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.7.16.45)

येनामुं हन्तुकामस्त्वं द्विजपुत्रं निरागसम् । यो यं हन्ति विना वैरं स्वकामः सततं पुनः

yenāmuṁ hantukāmastvaṁ dvijaputraṁ nirāgasam yo yaṁ hanti vinā vairaṁ svakāmaḥ satataṁ punaḥ

for whose sake you wish to kill this innocent brahmin's son. Whoever repeatedly kills another without enmity, merely to satisfy his own desire,

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.7.16.46)

हन्तारं हन्ति तं प्राप्य जननं जननान्तरे । जनकोऽस्य सुदुष्टात्मा येनासौ ते समर्पितः

hantāraṁ hanti taṁ prāpya jananaṁ jananāntare janako'sya suduṣṭātmā yenāsau te samarpitaḥ

will meet that same killer in a later birth and kill him in turn. This boy's father, an utterly wicked soul, sinful of conduct out of greed for wealth and evil of mind,

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.7.16.47)

स्वात्मजो धनलोभेन पापाचारः सुदुर्मतिः । एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोऽपि गयां व्रजेत्

svātmajo dhanalobhena pāpācāraḥ sudurmatiḥ eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā yadyeko'pi gayāṁ vrajet

is the one by whom this boy has been handed over to you. Many sons should be desired, so that even if only one of them should go to Gaya to perform the ancestral rite,

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.7.16.48)

यजेत चाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् । देशमध्ये च यः कश्चित्पापकर्म समाचरेत्

yajeta cāśvamedhena nīlaṁ vā vṛṣamutsṛjet deśamadhye ca yaḥ kaścitpāpakarma samācaret

or perform the horse-sacrifice, or release a blue bull as an offering. Whoever in this realm commits a sinful act,

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.7.16.49)

षष्ठांशस्तस्य पापस्य राजा भुङ्क्ते न संशयः । निषेधनीयो राज्ञासौ पापं कर्तुं समुद्यतः

ṣaṣṭhāṁśastasya pāpasya rājā bhuṅkte na saṁśayaḥ niṣedhanīyo rājñāsau pāpaṁ kartuṁ samudyataḥ

of that sin the king undoubtedly bears a sixth part, if the king fails to restrain one who is bent on committing it.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.7.16.50)

न निषिद्धस्त्वया कस्मात्पुत्रं विक्रेतुमुद्यतः । सूर्यवंशे समुत्पन्नस्त्रिशङ्कुतनयः शुभः

na niṣiddhastvayā kasmātputraṁ vikretumudyataḥ sūryavaṁśe samutpannastriśaṅkutanayaḥ śubhaḥ

Why did you not forbid him from selling his son? This auspicious son of Trishanku, born in the Solar dynasty,

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.7.16.51)

आर्यस्त्वनार्यवत्कर्म कर्तुमिच्छसि पार्थिव । मोचनान्मुनिपुत्रस्य करणाद्वचनस्य मे

āryastvanāryavatkarma kartumicchasi pārthiva mocanānmuniputrasya karaṇādvacanasya me

O king, being noble yourself, you wish to perform a deed fit only for the ignoble! By freeing this sage's son and by heeding this word of mine,

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.7.16.52)

तव देहे सुखं राजन् भविष्यत्यविचारणात् । पिता ते शापयोगेन चाण्डालत्वमुपागतः

tava dehe sukhaṁ rājan bhaviṣyatyavicāraṇāt pitā te śāpayogena cāṇḍālatvamupāgataḥ

you shall gain happiness in your very body, without doubt. Your father, through the power of a curse, once came to the condition of a Chandala,

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.7.16.53)

मयासौ तेन देहेन स्वर्लोकं प्रापितः किल । तेनैव प्रीतियोगेन कुरु मे वचनं नृप

mayāsau tena dehena svarlokaṁ prāpitaḥ kila tenaiva prītiyogena kuru me vacanaṁ nṛpa

and I myself sent him to the heavenly world in that very body; for that same affection's sake, heed this word of mine, O king.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.7.16.54)

मुञ्चैनं बालकं दीनं रुदन्तं भृशमातुरम् । याचितोऽसि मया नूनं यज्ञेऽस्मिन् राजसूयके

muñcainaṁ bālakaṁ dīnaṁ rudantaṁ bhṛśamāturam yācito'si mayā nūnaṁ yajñe'smin rājasūyake

Release this wretched boy, weeping and so greatly distressed; at this royal sacrifice, this alone is what I have begged of you.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.7.16.55)

प्रार्थनाभङ्गजं दोषं कथं त्वं नावबुध्यसे । प्रार्थितं सर्वदा देयं मखेऽस्मिन्नृपसत्तम

prārthanābhaṅgajaṁ doṣaṁ kathaṁ tvaṁ nāvabudhyase prārthitaṁ sarvadā deyaṁ makhe'sminnṛpasattama

Why do you not understand the fault born of refusing a supplicant's request? O best of kings, whatever is asked for at this sacrifice must always be given,

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.7.16.56)

अन्यथा पापमेव स्यात्तव राजन्न संशयः । व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कौशिकस्य नृपोतमः

anyathā pāpameva syāttava rājanna saṁśayaḥ vyāsa uvāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā kauśikasya nṛpotamaḥ

otherwise, O king, sin alone will surely result. Vyasa said: Hearing this speech of Kaushika (Vishvamitra), the best of kings

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.7.16.57)

प्रत्युवाच महाराज कौशिकं मुनिसत्तमम् । जलोदरेण गाधेय दुःखितोऽहं भृशं मुने

pratyuvāca mahārāja kauśikaṁ munisattamam jalodareṇa gādheya duḥkhito'haṁ bhṛśaṁ mune

replied to great Kaushika, that best of sages: O son of Gadhi, I am greatly afflicted by dropsy, O sage!

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.7.16.58)

तस्मान्न मोचयाम्येनमन्यत्प्रार्थय कौशिक । न त्वया विग्रहः कार्यः कार्येऽस्मिन्मम सर्वथा

tasmānna mocayāmyenamanyatprārthaya kauśika na tvayā vigrahaḥ kāryaḥ kārye'sminmama sarvathā

Therefore I shall not release him; ask for some other boon, O Kaushika. In this matter you should not, on any account, quarrel with me.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.7.16.59)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञो विश्वामित्रोऽतिकोपनः । बभूव दुःखसन्तप्तो वीक्ष्य दीनं द्विजात्मजम्

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ rājño viśvāmitro'tikopanaḥ babhūva duḥkhasantapto vīkṣya dīnaṁ dvijātmajam

Hearing the king's words, Vishvamitra grew exceedingly angry, and, beholding that wretched brahmin's son, he became consumed with sorrow.