Harishchandra's Vow to Give Wealth to the Aged Brahmin

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.18.1)

व्यास उवाच । कदाचित्तु हरिश्चन्द्रो मृगयार्थं वनं ययौ । अपश्यद्रुदतीं बालां सुन्दरीं चारुलोचनाम्

vyāsa uvāca kadācittu hariścandro mṛgayārthaṁ vanaṁ yayau apaśyadrudatīṁ bālāṁ sundarīṁ cārulocanām

Vyasa said: Once Harishchandra went to the forest for hunting; there he saw a beautiful young woman, lovely-eyed, weeping.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.18.2)

तामपृच्छन्महाराजः कामिनीं करुणापरः । पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षि किं रोदिषि वरानने

tāmapṛcchanmahārājaḥ kāminīṁ karuṇāparaḥ padmapatraviśālākṣi kiṁ rodiṣi varānane

That great king, filled with compassion, asked the lovely woman: O you with eyes wide as lotus petals, O fair-faced one, why do you weep?

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.18.3)

केनासि पीडितात्यर्थं किं ते दुःखं वदाशु मे । का च त्वं विजने घोरे कस्ते भर्ता पिताथवा

kenāsi pīḍitātyarthaṁ kiṁ te duḥkhaṁ vadāśu me kā ca tvaṁ vijane ghore kaste bhartā pitāthavā

By whom are you so grievously afflicted — tell me at once what your sorrow is; and who are you, alone in this desolate, dreadful place — do you have a husband, or a father?

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.18.4)

न बाधते च राज्ये मे राक्षसोऽपि पराङ्गनाम् । तं हन्मि तरसा कान्ते यस्त्वां सुन्दरि बाधते

na bādhate ca rājye me rākṣaso'pi parāṅganām taṁ hanmi tarasā kānte yastvāṁ sundari bādhate

In my kingdom, not even a demon dares molest another man's wife; O beauty, whoever it is that troubles you, O dear one, I shall slay him at once.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.18.5)

ब्रूहि दुःखं वरारोहे स्वस्था भव कृशोदरि । विषये मम पापात्मा न तिष्ठति सुमध्यमे

brūhi duḥkhaṁ varārohe svasthā bhava kṛśodari viṣaye mama pāpātmā na tiṣṭhati sumadhyame

O you of graceful limbs, tell me your sorrow and be at ease, O slender-waisted one — no sinner can remain within my realm, O fair one of the lovely waist.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.18.6)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नारी तमब्रवीन्नृपम् । प्रमृज्याश्रूणि वदनाद्धरिश्चन्द्रं नृपोत्तमम्

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā nārī tamabravīnnṛpam pramṛjyāśrūṇi vadanāddhariścandraṁ nṛpottamam

Hearing the king's words, and wiping the tears from her face, that woman spoke thus to Harishchandra, the best of kings.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.18.7)

नार्युवाच । राजन् मां बाधतेऽत्यर्थं विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । तपः करोति यद्घोरं मदर्थं कौशिको वने

nāryuvāca rājan māṁ bādhate'tyarthaṁ viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ tapaḥ karoti yadghoraṁ madarthaṁ kauśiko vane

The woman said: O king, the great sage Vishvamitra is causing me extreme distress; Kaushika is performing terrible austerities in the forest on my account.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.18.8)

तेनाहं दुःखिता राजन् विषये तव सुव्रत । विद्धि मां कमनां कान्तां पीडितां मुनिना भृशम्

tenāhaṁ duḥkhitā rājan viṣaye tava suvrata viddhi māṁ kamanāṁ kāntāṁ pīḍitāṁ muninā bhṛśam

O king, O keeper of good vows, it is for this that I am in sorrow within your very realm; know me to be a lovely, beloved woman, grievously tormented by that sage.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.18.9)

राजोवाच । स्वस्था भव विशालाक्षि न ते दुःखं भविष्यति । तमहं वारयिष्यामि मुनिं तापपरायणम्

rājovāca svasthā bhava viśālākṣi na te duḥkhaṁ bhaviṣyati tamahaṁ vārayiṣyāmi muniṁ tāpaparāyaṇam

The king said: O wide-eyed one, be at ease, no sorrow shall touch you now; I myself shall restrain that sage so intent upon his austerities.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.18.10)

इत्याश्वास्य स्त्रियं राजा तरसा मुनिसन्निधौ । नत्वा प्रणम्य शिरसा तमुवाच महीपतिः

ityāśvāsya striyaṁ rājā tarasā munisannidhau natvā praṇamya śirasā tamuvāca mahīpatiḥ

Having thus reassured the woman, the king went at once to the sage's presence; bowing with his head lowered, that lord of the earth said to him —

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.18.11)

स्वामिन्किं क्रियतेऽत्यर्थं तपसा देहपीडनम् । किमर्थं ते समारम्भो ब्रूहि सत्यं महामते

svāminkiṁ kriyate'tyarthaṁ tapasā dehapīḍanam kimarthaṁ te samārambho brūhi satyaṁ mahāmate

O lord, why do you afflict your body with such extreme austerity? What is the purpose of this endeavor — tell me the truth, O great-minded one.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.18.12)

वाञ्छितं तव गाधेय करोमि सफलं किल । उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ तरसा तपसालमतः परम्

vāñchitaṁ tava gādheya karomi saphalaṁ kila uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha tarasā tapasālamataḥ param

O son of Gadhi, whatever your desire may be, I shall fulfill it, indeed; rise, rise at once — what further need is there now of this austerity?

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.18.13)

विषये मम सर्वज्ञ न कर्तव्यं सुदारुणम् । लोकपीडाकरं घोरं तपः केनापि कर्हिचित्

viṣaye mama sarvajña na kartavyaṁ sudāruṇam lokapīḍākaraṁ ghoraṁ tapaḥ kenāpi karhicit

O all-knowing one, no such terrible, world-afflicting austerity should ever be performed by anyone within my realm.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.18.14)

इत्थं निषिध्य तं राजा विश्वामित्रं गृहं ययौ । मनसा क्रोधमाधाय गतोऽसौ कौशिको मुनिः

itthaṁ niṣidhya taṁ rājā viśvāmitraṁ gṛhaṁ yayau manasā krodhamādhāya gato'sau kauśiko muniḥ

Having thus forbidden Vishvamitra, the king returned home; and Kaushika the sage too departed from there, harboring anger in his heart.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.18.15)

स गत्वा चिन्तयामास नृपकृत्यमसाम्प्रतम् । वसिष्ठस्य च संवादं तपसः प्रतिषेधनम्

sa gatvā cintayāmāsa nṛpakṛtyamasāmpratam vasiṣṭhasya ca saṁvādaṁ tapasaḥ pratiṣedhanam

Going there, he pondered on the king's improper conduct, and also on his earlier exchange with Vasishtha and on this fresh forbidding of his austerity.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.18.16)

कोपाविष्टेन मनसा प्रतीकारमथाकरोत् । विचिन्त्य बहुधा चित्ते दानवं घोरविग्रहम्

kopāviṣṭena manasā pratīkāramathākarot vicintya bahudhā citte dānavaṁ ghoravigraham

With a mind filled with wrath, he devised a means of retaliation; pondering long in his mind, he resolved upon a demon of terrifying form.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.18.17)

प्रेषयामास तद्देशं विधाय सूकराकृतिम् । सोऽतिकायो महाकालः कुर्वन्नादं सुदारुणम्

preṣayāmāsa taddeśaṁ vidhāya sūkarākṛtim so'tikāyo mahākālaḥ kurvannādaṁ sudāruṇam

He gave that demon the form of a boar and sent it into that land; huge of body, dark as death itself, uttering the most terrible roar,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.18.18)

राज्ञश्चोपवने प्राप्तस्त्रासयन् रक्षकांस्तदा । मालतीनां च खण्डानि कदम्बानां तथैव च

rājñaścopavane prāptastrāsayan rakṣakāṁstadā mālatīnāṁ ca khaṇḍāni kadambānāṁ tathaiva ca

it arrived in the king's pleasure-garden and began terrifying the guards; it trampled and shook the clusters of jasmine and likewise the kadamba trees,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.18.19)

यूथिकानां च वृन्दानि कम्पयंश्च मुहुर्मुहुः । दन्तेन विलिखन्भूमिं समुन्मूलयते द्रुमान्

yūthikānāṁ ca vṛndāni kampayaṁśca muhurmuhuḥ dantena vilikhanbhūmiṁ samunmūlayate drumān

and again and again it shook the thickets of yuthika-jasmine; digging up the earth with its tusks, it tore up trees by their very roots.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.18.20)

चम्पकान्केतकीखण्डान्मल्लिकानां च पादपान् । करवीरानुशीरांश्च निचखान शुभान्मृदून्

campakānketakīkhaṇḍānmallikānāṁ ca pādapān karavīrānuśīrāṁśca nicakhāna śubhānmṛdūn

It rooted up the champaka trees, the ketaki thickets, the jasmine bushes, and likewise the soft and lovely oleander and vetiver plants.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.18.21)

मुचुकुन्दानशोकांश्च बकुलांस्तिलकांस्तथा । उन्मूल्य कदनं तत्र चकार सूकरो वने

mucukundānaśokāṁśca bakulāṁstilakāṁstathā unmūlya kadanaṁ tatra cakāra sūkaro vane

Uprooting the mucukunda, ashoka, bakula, and tilaka trees as well, that boar wrought utter devastation in the grove.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.18.22)

वाटिकारक्षकाः सर्वे दुद्रुवुः शस्त्रपाणयः । हाहेति चुक्रुशुस्तत्र मालाकारा भृशातुराः

vāṭikārakṣakāḥ sarve dudruvuḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ hāheti cukruśustatra mālākārā bhṛśāturāḥ

All the garden's guards, weapons in hand, fled in terror; the gardeners, thrown into great distress, cried out there, 'Alas, alas!'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.18.23)

बाणैः सन्ताड्यमानोऽपि यदा त्रस्तो न वै मृगः । रक्षकान्पीडयामास कोलः कालसमद्युतिः

bāṇaiḥ santāḍyamāno'pi yadā trasto na vai mṛgaḥ rakṣakānpīḍayāmāsa kolaḥ kālasamadyutiḥ

Even when struck again and again with arrows, that boar, blazing like death itself, showed no fear at all, and instead began to injure the guards.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.18.24)

ते तदातिभयाक्रान्ता राजानं शरणं ययुः । तमूचुस्त्राहि त्राहीति वेपमाना भयाकुलाः

te tadātibhayākrāntā rājānaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ tamūcustrāhi trāhīti vepamānā bhayākulāḥ

Then, overcome with the greatest terror, they went to the king for refuge; trembling and overwhelmed with fear, they cried to him, 'Save us, save us!'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.18.25)

तानागतान्समालोक्य भयार्तान्भूपतिस्तदा । पप्रच्छ किं भयं कस्मान्मां ब्रुवन्तु समागताः

tānāgatānsamālokya bhayārtānbhūpatistadā papraccha kiṁ bhayaṁ kasmānmāṁ bruvantu samāgatāḥ

Seeing them arrived, stricken with fear, the king asked: What is this fear, and of whom? Come and tell me plainly.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.18.26)

नाहं बिभेमि देवेभ्यो राक्षसेभ्यश्च रक्षकाः । कस्माद्भयं समुत्पन्नं तद् ब्रुवन्तु ममाग्रतः

nāhaṁ bibhemi devebhyo rākṣasebhyaśca rakṣakāḥ kasmādbhayaṁ samutpannaṁ tad bruvantu mamāgrataḥ

O guards, I fear neither gods nor demons — so from where has this terror arisen? Tell me here before me.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.18.27)

हन्मि चैकेन बाणेन तं शत्रुं दुर्भगं किल । यो मेऽरातिः समुत्पन्नो लोके पापमतिः खलः

hanmi caikena bāṇena taṁ śatruṁ durbhagaṁ kila yo me'rātiḥ samutpanno loke pāpamatiḥ khalaḥ

Whatever enemy of mine has arisen, that ill-fated, sinful-minded, wicked creature — I shall slay him with a single arrow, without doubt.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.18.28)

देवो वा दानवो वापि तं निहन्मि शरैः शितैः । क्व तिष्ठति कियद्रूपः कियद्बलसमन्वितः

devo vā dānavo vāpi taṁ nihanmi śaraiḥ śitaiḥ kva tiṣṭhati kiyadrūpaḥ kiyadbalasamanvitaḥ

Be he god or demon, I shall strike him down with sharpened arrows — where does he dwell, what form does he bear, and how great is his strength?

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.18.29)

मालाकारा ऊचुः । न देवो न च दैत्योऽस्ति न यक्षो न च किन्नरः । कश्चित्कोलो महाकायो राजंस्तिष्ठति कानने

mālākārā ūcuḥ na devo na ca daityo'sti na yakṣo na ca kinnaraḥ kaścitkolo mahākāyo rājaṁstiṣṭhati kānane

The gardeners said: O king, he is no god, nor a daitya, nor a yaksha, nor a kinnara; a boar of monstrous size dwells in the grove,

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.18.30)

पुष्पवृक्षानतिमृदून्दन्तेनोन्मूलयत्यसौ । विदीर्णं तद्वनं सर्वं सूकरेणातिरंहसा

puṣpavṛkṣānatimṛdūndantenonmūlayatyasau vidīrṇaṁ tadvanaṁ sarvaṁ sūkareṇātiraṁhasā

which with its tusks tears up the most tender flowering trees; by that boar's terrible fury, the whole grove has been laid utterly waste.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.18.31)

विशिखैस्ताडितोऽस्माभिर्दृषद्भिर्लकुटैस्तथा । न बिभेति महाराज हन्तुमस्मानुपाद्रवत्

viśikhaistāḍito'smābhirdṛṣadbhirlakuṭaistathā na bibheti mahārāja hantumasmānupādravat

We struck it with arrows, with stones, and with clubs as well, but, O great king, it feels no fear at all, and has instead charged upon us to kill us.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.18.32)

व्यास उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां राजा कोपसमाकुलः । अश्वमारुह्य तरसा जगामोपवनं प्रति

vyāsa uvāca ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṁ rājā kopasamākulaḥ aśvamāruhya tarasā jagāmopavanaṁ prati

Vyasa said: Hearing their words, the king, filled with anger, at once mounted his horse and set out toward the pleasure-garden.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.18.33)

सैन्येन महता युक्तो गजाश्वरथसंयुतः । पदातिवृन्दसहितः प्रययौ वनमुत्तमम्

sainyena mahatā yukto gajāśvarathasaṁyutaḥ padātivṛndasahitaḥ prayayau vanamuttamam

Accompanied by a mighty army of elephants, horses, and chariots, together with a host of foot-soldiers, he set out toward that splendid grove.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.18.34)

तत्रापश्यन्महाकोलं घुर्घुरन्तं भयानकम् । वनं भग्नं च संवीक्ष्य राजा क्रोधयुतोऽभवत्

tatrāpaśyanmahākolaṁ ghurghurantaṁ bhayānakam vanaṁ bhagnaṁ ca saṁvīkṣya rājā krodhayuto'bhavat

There he saw that monstrous, dreadful boar growling ferociously; and, seeing the devastated grove, the king was filled with fury.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.18.35)

चापे बाणं समारोप्य विकृष्य च शरासनम् । तं हन्तुं सूकरं पापं तरसा समुपाक्रमत्

cāpe bāṇaṁ samāropya vikṛṣya ca śarāsanam taṁ hantuṁ sūkaraṁ pāpaṁ tarasā samupākramat

Fitting an arrow to his bow and drawing back the bowstring, he advanced at once to slay that wicked boar.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.18.36)

समालोक्य च राजानं चापहस्तं रुषाकुलम् । सम्मुखोऽभ्यद्रवत्तूर्णं कुर्वञ्छब्दं सुदारुणम्

samālokya ca rājānaṁ cāpahastaṁ ruṣākulam sammukho'bhyadravattūrṇaṁ kurvañchabdaṁ sudāruṇam

Seeing the king, bow in hand, filled with wrath, that boar at once charged toward him, uttering a most terrible cry.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.18.37)

तमायान्तं समालोक्य वराहं विकृताननम् । मुमोच विशिखं तस्मिन्हन्तुकामो महीपतिः

tamāyāntaṁ samālokya varāhaṁ vikṛtānanam mumoca viśikhaṁ tasminhantukāmo mahīpatiḥ

Seeing that hideous-faced boar bearing down upon him, the king, wishing to kill it, loosed an arrow at it.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.18.38)

वञ्चयित्वाथ तद्बाणं सूकरस्तरसा बलात् । निर्जगाम महावेगात्तमुल्लङ्घ्य नृपं तदा

vañcayitvātha tadbāṇaṁ sūkarastarasā balāt nirjagāma mahāvegāttamullaṅghya nṛpaṁ tadā

But the boar, with tremendous speed and force, dodged that arrow, and, with great swiftness, leaping past the king, it broke away and fled.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.18.39)

गच्छन्तं तं समालोक्य राजा कोपसमन्वितः । मुमोच विशिखांस्तीक्ष्णांश्चापमाकृष्य यत्नतः

gacchantaṁ taṁ samālokya rājā kopasamanvitaḥ mumoca viśikhāṁstīkṣṇāṁścāpamākṛṣya yatnataḥ

Seeing it flee, the king, filled with anger, drew his bow with great effort and loosed a volley of sharp arrows after it.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.18.40)

क्षणं दृष्टिपथं राज्ञः क्षणं चादर्शनं गतः । कुर्वन्बहुविधारावं सूकरं समुपाद्रवत्

kṣaṇaṁ dṛṣṭipathaṁ rājñaḥ kṣaṇaṁ cādarśanaṁ gataḥ kurvanbahuvidhārāvaṁ sūkaraṁ samupādravat

For a moment it stayed within the king's line of sight, then in the next moment vanished from view; uttering all manner of cries, the boar sped on ahead.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.18.41)

हरिश्चन्द्रोऽतिकुपितो मृगस्यानुजगाम ह । अश्वेन वायुवेगेन विकृष्य च शरासनम्

hariścandro'tikupito mṛgasyānujagāma ha aśvena vāyuvegena vikṛṣya ca śarāsanam

Harishchandra, in extreme fury, pursued that beast, mounted upon his wind-swift horse, his bow drawn.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.18.42)

इतस्ततस्ततः सैन्यमगमच्च वनान्तरम् । एकाकी नृपतिः कोलं व्रजन्तं समुपाद्रवत्

itastatastataḥ sainyamagamacca vanāntaram ekākī nṛpatiḥ kolaṁ vrajantaṁ samupādravat

As they scattered here and there, his army became lost within the depths of the forest; and the king alone continued to pursue the fleeing boar.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.7.18.43)

मध्याह्नसमये राजा सम्प्राप्तो विजने वने । तृषितः क्षुधितोऽत्यर्थं बभूव श्रान्तवाहनः

madhyāhnasamaye rājā samprāpto vijane vane tṛṣitaḥ kṣudhito'tyarthaṁ babhūva śrāntavāhanaḥ

At midday the king found himself in a desolate forest, exceedingly thirsty and hungry, his horse now utterly exhausted.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.7.18.44)

सूकरोऽदर्शनं प्राप्तो राजा चिन्तातुरोऽभवत् । मार्गभ्रष्टोऽतिविपिने दारुणे दीनवत्स्थितः

sūkaro'darśanaṁ prāpto rājā cintāturo'bhavat mārgabhraṣṭo'tivipine dāruṇe dīnavatsthitaḥ

The boar had vanished from sight, and the king became consumed with anxiety; having strayed from the path, he stood there in that dreadful, dense forest like one utterly forsaken.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.7.18.45)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि न सहायोऽस्ति मे वने । अज्ञातस्वपथः कुत्र व्रजामीति व्यचिन्तयत्

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi na sahāyo'sti me vane ajñātasvapathaḥ kutra vrajāmīti vyacintayat

What shall I do, where shall I go — I have no companion here in the forest; not knowing my own way, where should I go — thus he began to reflect anxiously.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.7.18.46)

एवं चिन्तयतस्तत्र विपिने जनवर्जिते । राज्ञा चिन्तातुरोऽपश्यन्नदीं सुविमलोदकाम्

evaṁ cintayatastatra vipine janavarjite rājñā cintāturo'paśyannadīṁ suvimalodakām

As he pondered thus in that people-less forest, the anxious king caught sight of a river with the clearest of waters.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.7.18.47)

वीक्ष्य तां मुदितो राजा पाययित्वा तुरङ्गकम् । अश्वादुत्तेर्य विमलं पपौ पानीयमुत्तमम्

vīkṣya tāṁ mudito rājā pāyayitvā turaṅgakam aśvādutterya vimalaṁ papau pānīyamuttamam

Seeing it, the joyful king first gave his horse water to drink, then, dismounting himself, drank of that pure and excellent water.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.7.18.48)

जलं पीत्वा नृपस्तत्र सुखमाप महीपतिः । इत्येष नगरं गन्तुं दिग्भ्रमेणातिमोहितः

jalaṁ pītvā nṛpastatra sukhamāpa mahīpatiḥ ityeṣa nagaraṁ gantuṁ digbhrameṇātimohitaḥ

Having drunk the water, the king found some ease there; but, thoroughly confused as to the directions, he now sought some way back to the city.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.7.18.49)

विश्वामित्रस्तु सम्प्राप्तो वृद्धब्राह्मणरूपधृक् । ननाम वीक्ष्य राजा तं प्रीतिपूर्वं द्विजोत्तमम्

viśvāmitrastu samprāpto vṛddhabrāhmaṇarūpadhṛk nanāma vīkṣya rājā taṁ prītipūrvaṁ dvijottamam

Just then Vishvamitra arrived there in the guise of an aged brahmin; seeing him, the king bowed with affection to that excellent brahmin.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.7.18.50)

तमुवाच गाधिराजः प्रणमन्तं नृपोत्तमम् । स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु महाराज किमर्थमिह चागतः

tamuvāca gādhirājaḥ praṇamantaṁ nṛpottamam svasti te'stu mahārāja kimarthamiha cāgataḥ

To that best of kings, bowing before him, the son of Gadhi (Vishvamitra) said: O great king, may all be well with you — for what purpose have you come here?

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.7.18.51)

एकाकी विजने राजन् किं चिकीर्षितमत्र ते । ब्रूहि सर्वं स्थिरो भूत्वा कारणं नृपसत्तम

ekākī vijane rājan kiṁ cikīrṣitamatra te brūhi sarvaṁ sthiro bhūtvā kāraṇaṁ nṛpasattama

O king, what do you seek to do here alone, in this desolate place? Compose yourself and tell me everything — what is the reason for this, O best of kings?

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.7.18.52)

राजोवाच । सूकरोऽतिमहाकायो बलवान्पुष्पकाननम् । समुपेत्य ममर्दाशु कोमलान्पुष्पपादपान्

rājovāca sūkaro'timahākāyo balavānpuṣpakānanam samupetya mamardāśu komalānpuṣpapādapān

The king said: A boar of enormous size and great strength came to my flower-garden and swiftly trampled its delicate flowering trees.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.7.18.53)

तं निवारयितुं दुष्टं करे कृत्वा च कार्मुकम् । ससैन्योऽहं स्वनगरान्निर्गतो मुनिसत्तम

taṁ nivārayituṁ duṣṭaṁ kare kṛtvā ca kārmukam sasainyo'haṁ svanagarānnirgato munisattama

To stop that wicked creature, bow in hand, O best of sages, I set out from my own city together with my army.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.7.18.54)

गतोऽसौ दृक्पथात्पापो मायावी क्वापि वेगवान् । पृष्ठतोऽहमपि प्राप्तः सैन्यं क्वापि गतं मम

gato'sau dṛkpathātpāpo māyāvī kvāpi vegavān pṛṣṭhato'hamapi prāptaḥ sainyaṁ kvāpi gataṁ mama

That wicked, illusion-wielding creature, exceedingly swift, vanished somewhere from my sight; I too came following after it, and my army was left somewhere behind.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.7.18.55)

क्षुधितस्तृषितश्चाहं सैन्यभ्रष्टस्त्विहागतः । न जाने पुरमार्गं च तथा सैन्यगतिं मुने

kṣudhitastṛṣitaścāhaṁ sainyabhraṣṭastvihāgataḥ na jāne puramārgaṁ ca tathā sainyagatiṁ mune

Hungry and thirsty, separated from my army, I have arrived here; O sage, I know neither the way to the city, nor where my army has gone.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.7.18.56)

पन्थानं दर्शय विभो व्रजामि नगरं प्रति । ममात्र भाग्ययोगेन प्राप्तस्त्वं विजने वने

panthānaṁ darśaya vibho vrajāmi nagaraṁ prati mamātra bhāgyayogena prāptastvaṁ vijane vane

O lord, show me the path, for I must go toward the city; it is by my own good fortune that I have found you here in this desolate forest.

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.7.18.57)

अयोध्यादिपतिश्चाहं हरिश्चन्द्रोऽतिविश्रुतः । राजसूयस्य कर्ता च वाञ्छितार्थप्रदः सदा

ayodhyādipatiścāhaṁ hariścandro'tiviśrutaḥ rājasūyasya kartā ca vāñchitārthapradaḥ sadā

I am the lord of Ayodhya, the widely renowned Harishchandra, performer of the Rajasuya sacrifice, and one who ever grants whatever is desired.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.7.18.58)

धनेच्छा यदि ते ब्रह्मन् यज्ञार्थं द्विजसत्तम । आगन्तव्यमयोध्यायां दास्यामि विपुलं धनम्

dhanecchā yadi te brahman yajñārthaṁ dvijasattama āgantavyamayodhyāyāṁ dāsyāmi vipulaṁ dhanam

O brahmin, O best of the twice-born, if you desire wealth for some sacrifice, come to Ayodhya, and I shall give you abundant wealth.