The King's Resolve to Enter the Fire

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.26.1)

सूत उवाच । ततोऽथ भूपतिः प्राह राज्ञीं स्थित्वा ह्यधोमुखः । अत्रोपविश्यतां बाले पापस्य पुरतो मम

sūta uvāca tato'tha bhūpatiḥ prāha rājñīṁ sthitvā hyadhomukhaḥ atropaviśyatāṁ bāle pāpasya purato mama

Suta said: Then that king, his head bowed, said to the queen: O young woman, sit here before my sin.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.26.2)

शिरस्ते छेदयिष्यामि हन्तुं शक्नोति चेत्करः । एवमुक्त्वा समुद्यम्य खड्गं हन्तुं गतो नृपः

śiraste chedayiṣyāmi hantuṁ śaknoti cetkaraḥ evamuktvā samudyamya khaḍgaṁ hantuṁ gato nṛpaḥ

I shall sever your head, if this hand of mine has the strength to strike. So saying, raising the sword, the king advanced to slay her.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.26.3)

न जानाति नृपः पत्नीं सा न जानाति भूपतिम् । अब्रवीद् भृशदुःखार्ता स्वमृत्युमभिकाङ्क्षति

na jānāti nṛpaḥ patnīṁ sā na jānāti bhūpatim abravīd bhṛśaduḥkhārtā svamṛtyumabhikāṅkṣati

The king does not recognize his own wife, nor does she recognize her own husband; overwhelmed with the deepest sorrow, she spoke, longing for her own death —

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.26.4)

स्त्र्युवाच । चाण्डाल शृणु मे वाक्यं किञ्चित्त्वं यदि मन्यसे । मृतस्तिष्ठति मे पुत्रो नातिदूरे बहिः पुरात्

stryuvāca cāṇḍāla śṛṇu me vākyaṁ kiñcittvaṁ yadi manyase mṛtastiṣṭhati me putro nātidūre bahiḥ purāt

The woman said: O Chandala, listen to my word, if you will heed anything at all; my son lies dead not far outside the city.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.26.5)

तं दहामि हतं यावदानयित्वा तवान्तिकम् । तावत्प्रतीक्ष्यतां पश्चादसिना घातयस्व माम्

taṁ dahāmi hataṁ yāvadānayitvā tavāntikam tāvatpratīkṣyatāṁ paścādasinā ghātayasva mām

Wait until I have gone, brought him here, and performed the cremation of my dead child — afterward, slay me with the sword.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.26.6)

तेनाथ बाढमित्युक्त्वा प्रेषिता बालकं प्रति । सा जगामातिदुःखार्ता विपलन्ती सुदारुणम्

tenātha bāḍhamityuktvā preṣitā bālakaṁ prati sā jagāmātiduḥkhārtā vipalantī sudāruṇam

Then he said, 'Very well,' and sent her toward that child; she went there overwhelmed with the deepest sorrow, lamenting most terribly.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.26.7)

भार्या तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य सर्पदष्टं हि बालकम् । हा पुत्र हा वत्स शिशो इत्येवं वदती मुहुः

bhāryā tasya narendrasya sarpadaṣṭaṁ hi bālakam hā putra hā vatsa śiśo ityevaṁ vadatī muhuḥ

That king's wife arrived at the side of her son, dead from a serpent's bite — 'Alas, my son! Alas, dear one, my child!' — thus she cried again and again.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.26.8)

कृशा विवर्णा मलिना पांसुध्वस्तशिरोरुहा । श्मशानभूमिमागत्य बालं स्थाप्याविशद्भुवि

kṛśā vivarṇā malinā pāṁsudhvastaśiroruhā śmaśānabhūmimāgatya bālaṁ sthāpyāviśadbhuvi

Wasted, pale, unwashed, her hair scattered with dust, she arrived at the cremation-ground, and, going to her child, sat down there upon the earth.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.26.9)

(राजन्नद्य स्वबालं तं पश्यसीह महीतले । रममाणं स्वसखिभिर्दष्टं दुष्टाहिना मृतम् ॥) तस्या विलापशब्दं तमाकर्ण्य स नराधिपः । शवसन्निधिमागत्य वस्त्रमस्याक्षिपत्तदा

(rājannadya svabālaṁ taṁ paśyasīha mahītale ramamāṇaṁ svasakhibhirdaṣṭaṁ duṣṭāhinā mṛtam ) tasyā vilāpaśabdaṁ tamākarṇya sa narādhipaḥ śavasannidhimāgatya vastramasyākṣipattadā

(O king, today you behold, here upon this ground, your very own child, slain by the bite of an evil serpent while at play with his companions.) Hearing the sound of her lament, that king too approached the corpse and lifted aside its cloth.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.26.10)

तां तथा रुदतीं भार्यां नाभिजानाति भूमिपः । चिरप्रवाससन्तप्तां पुनर्जातामिवाबलाम्

tāṁ tathā rudatīṁ bhāryāṁ nābhijānāti bhūmipaḥ cirapravāsasantaptāṁ punarjātāmivābalām

The king could not recognize even his own wife, weeping thus before him — that helpless woman, so scorched by long separation that she seemed born anew, in an altered form.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.26.11)

सापि तं चारुकेशान्तं पुरो दृष्ट्वा जटालकम् । नाभ्यजानान्नृपवरं शुष्कवृक्षत्वचोपमम्

sāpi taṁ cārukeśāntaṁ puro dṛṣṭvā jaṭālakam nābhyajānānnṛpavaraṁ śuṣkavṛkṣatvacopamam

She too, seeing that best of kings standing before her, his hair matted, his form now like the bark of a withered tree, could not recognize him by that once-beautiful head of hair.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.26.12)

भूमौ निपतितं बालं दृष्ट्वाशीविषपीडितम् । नरेन्द्रलक्षणोपेतमचिन्तयदसौ नृपः

bhūmau nipatitaṁ bālaṁ dṛṣṭvāśīviṣapīḍitam narendralakṣaṇopetamacintayadasau nṛpaḥ

Beholding that child, fallen upon the earth, afflicted by the serpent's venom, yet bearing the marks proper to royalty, the king reflected —

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.26.13)

अस्य पूर्णेन्दुवद्वक्त्रं शुभमुन्नसमव्रणम् । दर्पणप्रतिमोत्तुङ्गकपोलयुगशोभितम्

asya pūrṇenduvadvaktraṁ śubhamunnasamavraṇam darpaṇapratimottuṅgakapolayugaśobhitam

His face is like the full moon, auspicious, high of nose, without blemish, adorned with a pair of cheeks that shine like mirrors —

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.26.14)

नीलान्केशान्कुञ्चिताग्रान् सान्द्रान्दीर्घांस्तरङ्गिणः । राजीवसदृशे नेत्रे ओष्ठौ बिम्बफलोपमौ

nīlānkeśānkuñcitāgrān sāndrāndīrghāṁstaraṅgiṇaḥ rājīvasadṛśe netre oṣṭhau bimbaphalopamau

his black hair thick, long, wavy, its ends curled; eyes like lotus petals, lips red as the bimba fruit —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.26.15)

विशालवक्षा दीर्घाक्षो दीर्घबाहून्नतांसकः । विशालपादो गम्भीरःसूक्ष्माङ्गुल्यवनीधरः

viśālavakṣā dīrghākṣo dīrghabāhūnnatāṁsakaḥ viśālapādo gambhīraḥsūkṣmāṅgulyavanīdharaḥ

a broad chest, long eyes, long arms, high shoulders, broad feet, a deep navel, delicate fingers, worthy to bear the very earth —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.26.16)

मृणालपादो गम्भीरनाभिरुद्धतकन्धरः । अहो कष्टं नरेन्द्रस्य कस्याप्येष कुले शिशुः

mṛṇālapādo gambhīranābhiruddhatakandharaḥ aho kaṣṭaṁ narendrasya kasyāpyeṣa kule śiśuḥ

feet soft as a lotus-stalk, a deep navel, a proudly raised neck — alas, what suffering! This must be the child of some king's own lineage,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.26.17)

जातो नीतः कृतान्तेन कालपाशाद्दुरात्मना । सूत उवाच । एवं दृष्ट्वाथ तं बालं मातुरङ्के प्रसारितम्

jāto nītaḥ kṛtāntena kālapāśāddurātmanā sūta uvāca evaṁ dṛṣṭvātha taṁ bālaṁ māturaṅke prasāritam

whom that malevolent Yama, lord of death, has dragged here in the noose of time. Suta said: Beholding thus that boy, stretched out in his mother's lap,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.26.18)

स्मृतिमभ्यागतो राजा हाहेत्यश्रूण्यपातयत् । सोऽप्युवाच च वत्सो मे दशामेतामुपागतः

smṛtimabhyāgato rājā hāhetyaśrūṇyapātayat so'pyuvāca ca vatso me daśāmetāmupāgataḥ

the king was struck by a memory, and he began to shed tears, crying, 'Alas, alas!'; he too said: My own son too has come to just this same plight,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.26.19)

नीतो यदि च घोरेण कृतान्तेनात्मनो वशम् । विचारयित्वा राजासौ हरिश्चन्द्रस्तथा स्थितः

nīto yadi ca ghoreṇa kṛtāntenātmano vaśam vicārayitvā rājāsau hariścandrastathā sthitaḥ

if he too has been seized under the sway of this dreadful lord of death — thus reflecting, King Harishchandra stood there, unable to move.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.26.20)

ततो राज्ञी महादुःखावेशादिदमभाषत । राज्ञ्युवाच । हा वत्स कस्य पापस्य त्वपध्यानादिदं महत्

tato rājñī mahāduḥkhāveśādidamabhāṣata rājñyuvāca hā vatsa kasya pāpasya tvapadhyānādidaṁ mahat

Then that queen too, overwhelmed by the greatest sorrow, spoke thus. The queen said: Alas, dear one, by what sinner's evil eye has this so great

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.26.21)

दुःखमापतितं घोरं तद्रूपं नोपलभ्यते । हा नाथ राजन् भवता मामपास्य सुदुःखिताम्

duḥkhamāpatitaṁ ghoraṁ tadrūpaṁ nopalabhyate hā nātha rājan bhavatā māmapāsya suduḥkhitām

and dreadful sorrow befallen us — its very form defies all understanding. Alas, my lord, O king! Having forsaken me thus, so utterly wretched —

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.26.22)

कस्मिन्संस्थीयते स्थाने विश्रब्धं केन हेतुना । राज्यनाशं सुहृत्त्यागो भार्यातनयविक्रयः

kasminsaṁsthīyate sthāne viśrabdhaṁ kena hetunā rājyanāśaṁ suhṛttyāgo bhāryātanayavikrayaḥ

in what place, and by what resolve, have you left me to dwell? The loss of the kingdom, the abandonment of friends, the selling of wife and son —

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.26.23)

हरिश्चन्द्रस्य राजर्षेः किं विधातः कृतं त्वया । इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा राजा स्थानच्युतस्तदा

hariścandrasya rājarṣeḥ kiṁ vidhātaḥ kṛtaṁ tvayā iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā rājā sthānacyutastadā

O Providence, what is this that you have done to the royal sage Harishchandra? Hearing her words, the king, standing frozen there,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.26.24)

प्रत्यभिज्ञाय देवीं तां पुत्रं च निधनं गतम् । कष्टं ममैव पत्नीयं बालकश्चापि मे सुतः

pratyabhijñāya devīṁ tāṁ putraṁ ca nidhanaṁ gatam kaṣṭaṁ mamaiva patnīyaṁ bālakaścāpi me sutaḥ

recognized that queen and her dead son — alas, this is my very own wife, and this child too is my very own son,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.26.25)

ज्ञात्वा पपात सन्तप्तो मूर्च्छामतिजगाम ह । सा च तं प्रत्यभिज्ञाय तामवस्थामुपागतम्

jñātvā papāta santapto mūrcchāmatijagāma ha sā ca taṁ pratyabhijñāya tāmavasthāmupāgatam

and, knowing this, he fell down, utterly consumed with grief, and lost his senses. That queen too, recognizing him in that plight,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.26.26)

मूर्च्छिता निपपातार्ता निश्चेष्टा धरणीतले । चेतनां प्राप्य राजेन्द्रो राजपत्नी च तौ समम्

mūrcchitā nipapātārtā niśceṣṭā dharaṇītale cetanāṁ prāpya rājendro rājapatnī ca tau samam

fell in a swoon of grief, motionless, upon the earth. Regaining their senses, both the king and the queen together

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.26.27)

विलेपतुः सुसन्तप्तौ शोकभारेण पीडितौ । राजोवाच । हा वत्स सुकुमारं ते वदनं कुञ्चितालकम्

vilepatuḥ susantaptau śokabhāreṇa pīḍitau rājovāca hā vatsa sukumāraṁ te vadanaṁ kuñcitālakam

began to lament, deeply anguished, weighed down by the burden of their grief. The king said: Alas, dear one, that tender face of yours, its curling locks —

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.26.28)

पश्यतो मे मुखं दीनं हृदयं किं न दीर्यते । तात तातेति मधुरं ब्रुवाणं स्वयमागतम्

paśyato me mukhaṁ dīnaṁ hṛdayaṁ kiṁ na dīryate tāta tāteti madhuraṁ bruvāṇaṁ svayamāgatam

even as I gaze upon it, why does my own wretched heart not break apart? You, who used to come to me of your own accord, calling sweetly, 'Father, father' —

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.26.29)

उपगुह्य कदा वक्ष्ये वत्सवत्सेति सौहृदात् । कस्य जानुप्रणीतेन पिङ्गेन क्षितिरेणुना

upaguhya kadā vakṣye vatsavatseti sauhṛdāt kasya jānupraṇītena piṅgena kṣitireṇunā

when shall I ever again embrace you and say, with tenderness, 'Dear one, dear one'? Whose lap, smeared with the yellow dust brought upon your own knees —

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.26.30)

ममोत्तरीयमुत्सङ्गं तथाङ्गं मलमेष्यति । न वालं मम सम्भूतं मनो हृदयनन्दन

mamottarīyamutsaṅgaṁ tathāṅgaṁ malameṣyati na vālaṁ mama sambhūtaṁ mano hṛdayanandana

will now soil my upper garment and my own body? O joy of my heart, no one now will ever again tousle my hair.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.26.31)

(मयासि पितृमान्पित्रा विक्रीतो येन वस्तुवत् ।) गतं राज्यमशेषं मे सबान्धवधनं महत् । (हीनदैवान्नृशंसेन दृष्टो मे तनयस्ततः ।) अहं महाहिदष्टस्य पुत्रस्याननपङ्कजम्

(mayāsi pitṛmānpitrā vikrīto yena vastuvat ) gataṁ rājyamaśeṣaṁ me sabāndhavadhanaṁ mahat (hīnadaivānnṛśaṁsena dṛṣṭo me tanayastataḥ ) ahaṁ mahāhidaṣṭasya putrasyānanapaṅkajam

(Having had you as my father, I was still sold by that very father, as though I were mere property.) My entire kingdom, with all my kinsmen and my great wealth, is gone — (through evil fortune I saw my own son handed over into that pitiless man's hands) — I now behold, of this son of mine, bitten by that great serpent, this lotus-face,

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.26.32)

निरीक्षन्नद्य घोरेण विषेणाधिकृतोऽधुना । एवमुक्त्वा तमादाय बालकं बाष्पगद्गदः

nirīkṣannadya ghoreṇa viṣeṇādhikṛto'dhunā evamuktvā tamādāya bālakaṁ bāṣpagadgadaḥ

overcome this day by that dreadful venom, utterly powerless to help. So saying, lifting up that boy, his voice choked with tears,

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.26.33)

परिष्वज्य च निश्चेष्टो मूर्च्छया निपपात ह । ततस्तं पतितं दृष्ट्वा शैव्या चैवमचिन्तयत्

pariṣvajya ca niśceṣṭo mūrcchayā nipapāta ha tatastaṁ patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā śaivyā caivamacintayat

he embraced him and, all motion gone, fell in a swoon. Then, seeing him fallen thus, Shaivya reflected —

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.26.34)

अयं स पुरुषव्याघ्रः स्वरेणैवोपलक्ष्यते । विद्वज्जनमनश्चन्द्रो हरिश्चन्द्रो न संशयः

ayaṁ sa puruṣavyāghraḥ svareṇaivopalakṣyate vidvajjanamanaścandro hariścandro na saṁśayaḥ

This tiger among men is known by his very voice — this is Harishchandra himself, who delights the minds of the learned as the moon delights the world, without doubt.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.26.35)

तथास्य नासिका तुङ्गा तिलपुष्पोपमा शुभा । दन्ताश्च मुकुलप्रख्याः ख्यातकीर्तेर्महात्मनः

tathāsya nāsikā tuṅgā tilapuṣpopamā śubhā dantāśca mukulaprakhyāḥ khyātakīrtermahātmanaḥ

So too is his nose, high and auspicious, like the flower of the sesame plant, and his teeth, like those of that famed and great-souled man, are like unopened buds.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.26.36)

श्मशानमागतः कस्माद्यद्येवं स नरेश्वरः । विहाय पुत्रशोकं सा पश्यन्ती पतितं पतिम्

śmaśānamāgataḥ kasmādyadyevaṁ sa nareśvaraḥ vihāya putraśokaṁ sā paśyantī patitaṁ patim

But if that king is truly this man, then why has he come to this cremation-ground? Setting aside, for a moment, her grief for her son, and seeing her husband fallen thus,

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.26.37)

प्रहृष्टा विस्मिता दीना भर्तृपुत्रार्तिपीडिता । वीक्षती सा तदापतन्मूर्च्छया धरणीतले

prahṛṣṭā vismitā dīnā bhartṛputrārtipīḍitā vīkṣatī sā tadāpatanmūrcchayā dharaṇītale

filled at once with joy, wonder, and wretchedness, tormented by the sorrow of both husband and son, the moment she beheld him she too fell in a swoon upon the earth.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.26.38)

प्राप्य चेतश्च शनकैः सा गद्गदमभाषत । धिक्त्वां दैव ह्यकरुण निर्मर्याद जुगुप्सित

prāpya cetaśca śanakaiḥ sā gadgadamabhāṣata dhiktvāṁ daiva hyakaruṇa nirmaryāda jugupsita

Slowly regaining her senses, she spoke in a voice choked with grief: Shame upon you, O merciless, boundless, contemptible fate!

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.26.39)

येनायममरप्रख्यो नीतो राजा श्वपाकताम् । राज्यनाशं सुहृत्त्यागं भार्यातनयविक्रयम्

yenāyamamaraprakhyo nīto rājā śvapākatām rājyanāśaṁ suhṛttyāgaṁ bhāryātanayavikrayam

who has brought this king, godlike as he was, down to the condition of a Chandala; the loss of the kingdom, the abandonment of friends, the selling of wife and son —

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.26.40)

प्रापयित्वापि येनाद्य चाण्डालोऽयं कृतो नृपः । नाद्य पश्यामि ते छत्रं सिंहासनमथापि वा

prāpayitvāpi yenādya cāṇḍālo'yaṁ kṛto nṛpaḥ nādya paśyāmi te chatraṁ siṁhāsanamathāpi vā

having brought upon him all of this, you have today, on top of it all, made this king into a Chandala himself! I see today neither your royal parasol, nor your throne,

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.26.41)

चामरव्यजने वापि कोऽयं विधिविपर्ययः । यस्यास्य व्रजतः पूर्वं राजानो भृत्यतां गताः

cāmaravyajane vāpi ko'yaṁ vidhiviparyayaḥ yasyāsya vrajataḥ pūrvaṁ rājāno bhṛtyatāṁ gatāḥ

nor the fly-whisk, nor the fan — what reversal of fate is this? This is the very king before whom other kings once went as his own servants,

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.26.42)

स्वोत्तरीयैः प्रकुर्वन्ति विरजस्कं महीतलम् । सोऽयं कपालसंलग्ने घटीपटनिरन्तरे

svottarīyaiḥ prakurvanti virajaskaṁ mahītalam so'yaṁ kapālasaṁlagne ghaṭīpaṭanirantare

sweeping the very dust from the earth with their own garments — that same king today wanders about, clad in a cloak of skull-bone and broken potsherds strung together,

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.7.26.43)

मृतनिर्माल्यसूत्रान्तर्लग्नकेशसुदारुणे । वसानिष्पन्दसंशुष्कमहापटलमण्डिते

mṛtanirmālyasūtrāntarlagnakeśasudāruṇe vasāniṣpandasaṁśuṣkamahāpaṭalamaṇḍite

his hair tangled in the threads of dead men's garlands, dreadful, adorned with a great sheet dry and lifeless,

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.7.26.44)

भस्माङ्गारार्धदग्धास्थिमज्जासङ्घट्टभीषणे । गृध्रगोमायुनादार्ते पुष्टक्षुद्रविहङ्गमे

bhasmāṅgārārdhadagdhāsthimajjāsaṅghaṭṭabhīṣaṇe gṛdhragomāyunādārte puṣṭakṣudravihaṅgame

amid ash and embers, dreadful with heaps of half-burnt bone and marrow, tormented by the cries of vultures and jackals, thronged with bloated, wretched birds,

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.7.26.45)

चिताधूमायतपटे नीलीकृतदिगन्तरे । कुणपास्वादनमुदा सम्प्रकृष्टनिशाचरे

citādhūmāyatapaṭe nīlīkṛtadigantare kuṇapāsvādanamudā samprakṛṣṭaniśācare

his garment permeated by the smoke of the funeral pyres, the very horizons turned dark, thronged with night-wandering creatures delighting in the flesh of corpses —

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.7.26.46)

चरत्यमेध्ये राजेन्द्रः श्मशाने दुःखपीडितः । एवमुक्त्वाथ संश्लिष्य कण्ठे राज्ञो नृपात्मजा

caratyamedhye rājendraḥ śmaśāne duḥkhapīḍitaḥ evamuktvātha saṁśliṣya kaṇṭhe rājño nṛpātmajā

in this unclean cremation-ground this best of kings now wanders, tormented by sorrow. So saying, clinging to the king's neck, that princess,

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.7.26.47)

कष्टं शोकसमाविष्टा विललापार्तया गिरा । राजन् स्वप्नोऽथ तथ्यं वा यदेतन्मन्यते भवान्

kaṣṭaṁ śokasamāviṣṭā vilalāpārtayā girā rājan svapno'tha tathyaṁ vā yadetanmanyate bhavān

overwhelmed with grief, lamented in a voice of the deepest anguish — O king, whatever this may be, whether you take it for a dream or for truth,

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.7.26.48)

तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग मनो वै मुह्यते मम । यद्येतदेव धर्मज्ञ नास्ति धर्मे सहायता

tatkathyatāṁ mahābhāga mano vai muhyate mama yadyetadeva dharmajña nāsti dharme sahāyatā

tell me this, O fortunate one — my own mind has become entirely bewildered. O knower of dharma, if all this is indeed real, then dharma offers no help anywhere at all,

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.7.26.49)

तथैव विप्रदेवादिपूजने सत्यपालने । नास्ति धर्मः कुतः सत्यं नार्जवं नानृशंसता

tathaiva vipradevādipūjane satyapālane nāsti dharmaḥ kutaḥ satyaṁ nārjavaṁ nānṛśaṁsatā

and likewise there is no help in worshipping brahmins and gods, or in upholding truth; where, then, is dharma, where is truth, where is uprightness, where is compassion,

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.7.26.50)

यत्र त्वं धर्मपरमः स्वराज्यादवरोपितः । सूत उवाच । इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा निःश्वस्योष्णं सगद्गदः

yatra tvaṁ dharmaparamaḥ svarājyādavaropitaḥ sūta uvāca iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā niḥśvasyoṣṇaṁ sagadgadaḥ

if a man so wholly devoted to dharma as you should be cast down even from his own kingdom? Suta said: Hearing her words, sighing hot breaths, his voice choked,

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.7.26.51)

कथयामास तन्वङ्ग्यै यथा प्राप्तः श्वपाकताम् । रुदित्वा सा तु सुचिरं निःश्वस्योष्णं सुदुःखिता

kathayāmāsa tanvaṅgyai yathā prāptaḥ śvapākatām ruditvā sā tu suciraṁ niḥśvasyoṣṇaṁ suduḥkhitā

the king told that delicate woman how he had come to fall into servitude to the Chandala. Weeping for a long while, sighing hot breaths, overwhelmed with sorrow,

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.7.26.52)

स्वपुत्रमरणं भीरुर्यथावत्तं न्यवेदयत् । श्रुत्वा राजा तथा वाक्यं निपपात महीतले

svaputramaraṇaṁ bhīruryathāvattaṁ nyavedayat śrutvā rājā tathā vākyaṁ nipapāta mahītale

that fearful queen too told him, exactly as it had happened, the whole account of her son's death. Hearing this, the king fell down upon the earth,

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.7.26.53)

मृतपुत्रं समानीय जिह्वया विलिहन्मुहुः । हरिश्चन्द्रमथो प्राह शैव्या गद्गदया गिरा

mṛtaputraṁ samānīya jihvayā vilihanmuhuḥ hariścandramatho prāha śaivyā gadgadayā girā

and, drawing his dead son near, licked him again and again with his tongue. Then Shaivya spoke to Harishchandra in a voice choked with tears —

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.7.26.54)

कुरुष्व स्वामिनः प्रेष्यं छेदयित्वा शिरो मम । स्वामिद्रोहो न तेऽस्त्वद्य मासत्यो भव भूपते

kuruṣva svāminaḥ preṣyaṁ chedayitvā śiro mama svāmidroho na te'stvadya māsatyo bhava bhūpate

Do your master's bidding, and sever my head; in this you shall commit no betrayal of your master today — O lord of the earth, do not become false, remain true,

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.7.26.55)

मासत्यं तव राजेन्द्र परद्रोहस्तु पातकम् । एतदाकर्ण्य राजा तु पपात भुवि मूर्च्छितः

māsatyaṁ tava rājendra paradrohastu pātakam etadākarṇya rājā tu papāta bhuvi mūrcchitaḥ

O foremost of kings, to become false is itself sin for you — but harming another is only one further wrong within it. Hearing this, the king again fell in a swoon upon the earth.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.7.26.56)

क्षणेन चेतनां प्राप्य विललापातिदुःखितः । राजोवाच । कथं प्रिये त्वया प्रोक्तं वचनं त्वतिनिष्ठुरम्

kṣaṇena cetanāṁ prāpya vilalāpātiduḥkhitaḥ rājovāca kathaṁ priye tvayā proktaṁ vacanaṁ tvatiniṣṭhuram

Regaining his senses in a moment, he began to lament, overwhelmed with sorrow. The king said: O my beloved, why have you spoken such a harsh word?

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.7.26.57)

यदशक्यं भवेद्वक्तुं तत्कर्म क्रियते कथम् । पत्न्युवाच । मया च पूजिता गौरी देवा विप्रास्तथैव च

yadaśakyaṁ bhavedvaktuṁ tatkarma kriyate katham patnyuvāca mayā ca pūjitā gaurī devā viprāstathaiva ca

That which cannot even be spoken — how could such a deed ever be done? The wife said: I myself have worshipped Gauri, the gods, and the brahmins as well,

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.7.26.58)

भविष्यसि पतिस्त्वं मे ह्यन्यस्मिञ्जन्मनि प्रभो । श्रुत्वा राजा तदा वाक्यं निपपात महीतले

bhaviṣyasi patistvaṁ me hyanyasmiñjanmani prabho śrutvā rājā tadā vākyaṁ nipapāta mahītale

O lord, may you become my husband once again in some other birth. Hearing this word, the king again fell upon the earth,

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.7.26.59)

मृतस्य पुत्रस्य तदा चुचुम्ब दुःखितो मुखम् । राजोवाच । प्रिये न रोचते दीर्घं कालं क्लेशं मयाशितुम्

mṛtasya putrasya tadā cucumba duḥkhito mukham rājovāca priye na rocate dīrghaṁ kālaṁ kleśaṁ mayāśitum

and, sorrow-stricken, kissed the face of his dead son. The king said: O beloved, it does not please me to go on enduring this suffering any longer,

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.7.26.60)

नात्मायत्तोऽहं तन्वङ्गि पश्य मे मन्दभाग्यताम् । चाण्डालेनाननुज्ञातः प्रवेक्ष्ये ज्वलनं यदि

nātmāyatto'haṁ tanvaṅgi paśya me mandabhāgyatām cāṇḍālenānanujñātaḥ pravekṣye jvalanaṁ yadi

O delicate one, I am not master of myself — behold my own ill fortune; if, without the Chandala's leave, I should enter the fire,

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.7.26.61)

चाण्डालदासतां यास्ये पुनरप्यन्यजन्मनि । नरकं च वरं प्राप्य खेदं प्राप्स्यामि दारुणम्

cāṇḍāladāsatāṁ yāsye punarapyanyajanmani narakaṁ ca varaṁ prāpya khedaṁ prāpsyāmi dāruṇam

then in my next birth too I shall obtain nothing but servitude to a Chandala once more; better by far, then, to obtain even hell, however dreadful the torment I must bear there.

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.7.26.62)

तापं प्राप्स्यामि सम्प्राप्य महारौरवरौरवे । मग्नस्य दुःखजलधौ वरं प्राणैर्वियोजनम्

tāpaṁ prāpsyāmi samprāpya mahārauravaraurave magnasya duḥkhajaladhau varaṁ prāṇairviyojanam

Let me arrive at Maharaurava and Raurava and suffer whatever torment awaits — sunk as I am in this ocean of sorrow, the giving up of my very life would be the better course.

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.7.26.63)

एकोऽपि बालको योऽयमासीद्वंशकरः सुतः । मम दैवानुयोगेन मृतो सोऽपि बलीयसा

eko'pi bālako yo'yamāsīdvaṁśakaraḥ sutaḥ mama daivānuyogena mṛto so'pi balīyasā

That one only child of ours, that son who was to carry forward our lineage, he too has died, through the overpowering working of fate —

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.7.26.64)

कथं प्राणान्विमुञ्चामि परायत्तोऽस्मि दुर्गतः । तथापि दुःखबाहुल्यात्त्यक्ष्यामि तु निजां तनुम्

kathaṁ prāṇānvimuñcāmi parāyatto'smi durgataḥ tathāpi duḥkhabāhulyāttyakṣyāmi tu nijāṁ tanum

how then should I give up my life, when I am subject to another, and have fallen into this wretched state? Yet, because of this overwhelming sorrow, I shall surely abandon this body of mine.

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.7.26.65)

त्रैलोक्ये नास्ति तद्दुःखं नासिपत्रवने तथा । वैतरण्यां कुतस्तद्वद्यादृशं पुत्रविप्लवे

trailokye nāsti tadduḥkhaṁ nāsipatravane tathā vaitaraṇyāṁ kutastadvadyādṛśaṁ putraviplave

In the three worlds there is no sorrow like this, nor even in the forest of sword-leaves; how then could there be such sorrow even in the Vaitarani, as there is in the ruin of a son.

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.7.26.66)

सोऽहं सुतशरीरेण दीप्यमाने हुताशने । निपतिष्यामि तन्वङ्गि क्षन्तव्यं तन्ममाधुना

so'haṁ sutaśarīreṇa dīpyamāne hutāśane nipatiṣyāmi tanvaṅgi kṣantavyaṁ tanmamādhunā

Therefore, O delicate one, together with my own son's body, I shall throw myself into the blazing fire; forgive me now for this.

Verse 67 (devibhagavatam.7.26.67)

न वक्तव्य त्वया किञ्चिदतः कमललोचने । मम वाक्यं च तन्वङ्गि निबोधाहतमानसा

na vaktavya tvayā kiñcidataḥ kamalalocane mama vākyaṁ ca tanvaṅgi nibodhāhatamānasā

In this matter you need say nothing at all, O lotus-eyed one; O delicate one, hear well this word of mine, keeping your heart calm.

Verse 68 (devibhagavatam.7.26.68)

अनुज्ञाताथ गच्छ त्वं विप्रवेश्म शुचिस्मिते । यदि दत्तं यदि हुतं गुरवो यदि तोषिताः

anujñātātha gaccha tvaṁ vipraveśma śucismite yadi dattaṁ yadi hutaṁ guravo yadi toṣitāḥ

With my leave, go now, O you of the pure smile, to that brahmin's house; if ever I have given a gift, offered an oblation, or satisfied my elders,

Verse 69 (devibhagavatam.7.26.69)

सङ्गमः परलोके मे निजपुत्रेण चेत्त्वया । इहलोके कुतस्त्वेतद्भविष्यति समीप्सितम्

saṅgamaḥ paraloke me nijaputreṇa cettvayā ihaloke kutastvetadbhaviṣyati samīpsitam

then in the world beyond may I be reunited with you and with our very own son. In this world, where now could such a longed-for reunion ever be possible?

Verse 70 (devibhagavatam.7.26.70)

यन्मया हसता किञ्चिद्रहसि त्वां शुचिस्मिते । अशेषमुक्तं तत्सर्वं क्षन्तव्यं मम यास्यतः

yanmayā hasatā kiñcidrahasi tvāṁ śucismite aśeṣamuktaṁ tatsarvaṁ kṣantavyaṁ mama yāsyataḥ

O you of the pure smile, whatever I may ever have said to you in jest, in some private moment, forgive me all of it now, as I depart, leaving you behind.

Verse 71 (devibhagavatam.7.26.71)

राजपत्नीति गर्वेण नावज्ञेयः स मे द्विजः । सर्वयत्नेन तोष्यं स्यात्स्वामी दैवतवच्छुभे

rājapatnīti garveṇa nāvajñeyaḥ sa me dvijaḥ sarvayatnena toṣyaṁ syātsvāmī daivatavacchubhe

Do not, out of pride at being a king's wife, ever show disrespect to this brahmin; O auspicious one, honor your master as you would a god, and strive with all your effort to keep him content.

Verse 72 (devibhagavatam.7.26.72)

राज्ञ्युवाच । अहमप्यत्र राजर्षे निपतिष्ये हुताशने । दुःखभारासहा देव सह यास्यामि वै त्वया

rājñyuvāca ahamapyatra rājarṣe nipatiṣye hutāśane duḥkhabhārāsahā deva saha yāsyāmi vai tvayā

The queen said: O royal sage, I too shall throw myself here, into this very blazing fire; O lord, this burden of sorrow is unbearable for me too — I shall go together with you.

Verse 73 (devibhagavatam.7.26.73)

त्वया सह मम श्रेयो गमनं नान्यथा भवेत् । सह स्वर्गं च नरकं त्वया भोक्ष्यामि मानद । श्रुत्वा राजा तदोवाच एवमस्तु पतिव्रते

tvayā saha mama śreyo gamanaṁ nānyathā bhavet saha svargaṁ ca narakaṁ tvayā bhokṣyāmi mānada śrutvā rājā tadovāca evamastu pativrate

To go together with you alone is my true good — not otherwise; O giver of honor, be it heaven or be it hell, I shall share it with you alone. Hearing this, the king then said: O faithful wife, so be it.