The Fruit of Hearing the Tale of Harishchandra

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.27.1)

सूत उवाच । ततः कृत्वा चितां राजा आरोप्य तनयं स्वकम् । भार्यया सहितो राजा बद्धाञ्जलिपुटस्तदा

sūta uvāca tataḥ kṛtvā citāṁ rājā āropya tanayaṁ svakam bhāryayā sahito rājā baddhāñjalipuṭastadā

Suta said: Then, having built the funeral pyre and laid his son upon it, the king, together with his wife, with joined palms,

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.27.2)

चिन्तयन्परमेशानीं शताक्षीं जगदीश्वरीम् । पञ्चकोशान्तरगतां पुच्छब्रह्मस्वरूपिणीम्

cintayanparameśānīṁ śatākṣīṁ jagadīśvarīm pañcakośāntaragatāṁ pucchabrahmasvarūpiṇīm

began to meditate upon the Supreme Goddess, Shatakshi, mistress of the universe, who dwells within the five sheaths, whose very form is the culminating truth of the Veda,

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.27.3)

रक्ताम्बरपरीधानां करुणारससागरम् । नानायुधधरामम्बां जगत्पालनतत्पराम्

raktāmbaraparīdhānāṁ karuṇārasasāgaram nānāyudhadharāmambāṁ jagatpālanatatparām

who wears garments of red, who is an ocean of the very essence of compassion, the mother bearing many weapons, ever devoted to the protection of the world.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.27.4)

तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । धर्मं प्रमुखतः कृत्वा समाजग्मुस्त्वरान्विताः

tasya cintayamānasya sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ dharmaṁ pramukhataḥ kṛtvā samājagmustvarānvitāḥ

As he meditated thus, all the gods, together with Indra, with Dharma at their head, gathered there at once with the greatest urgency.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.27.5)

आगत्य सर्वे प्रोचुस्ते राजञ्छ्रुणु महाप्रभो । अहं पितामहः साक्षाद्धर्मश्च भवगान्स्वयम्

āgatya sarve procuste rājañchruṇu mahāprabho ahaṁ pitāmahaḥ sākṣāddharmaśca bhavagānsvayam

Arriving there, they all said: O king, O great lord, listen — I am the Grandsire (Brahma) himself, come in person, and this is the very Lord Dharma himself.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.27.6)

साध्याः सविश्वे मरुतो लोकपालाः सचारणाः । नागाः सिद्धाः सगन्धर्वा रुद्राश्चैव तथाश्विनौ

sādhyāḥ saviśve maruto lokapālāḥ sacāraṇāḥ nāgāḥ siddhāḥ sagandharvā rudrāścaiva tathāśvinau

The Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, the guardians of the quarters together with the charanas, the nagas, the siddhas, the gandharvas, the Rudras, and both the Ashvin twins are all here,

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.27.7)

एते चान्येऽथ बहवो विश्वामित्रस्तथैव च । विश्वत्रयेण यो मैत्रीं कर्तुमिच्छति धर्मतः

ete cānye'tha bahavo viśvāmitrastathaiva ca viśvatrayeṇa yo maitrīṁ kartumicchati dharmataḥ

and many others besides, and Vishvamitra himself is here too. Whoever wishes to establish a rightful friendship with all three worlds,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.27.8)

विश्वामित्रः स तेऽभीष्टमाहर्तुं सम्यगिच्छति । धर्म उवाच । मा राजन् साहसं कार्षीर्धर्मोऽहं त्वामुपागतः

viśvāmitraḥ sa te'bhīṣṭamāhartuṁ samyagicchati dharma uvāca mā rājan sāhasaṁ kārṣīrdharmo'haṁ tvāmupāgataḥ

it is Vishvamitra himself who now truly wishes to secure for you your heart's own desire, in full measure. Dharma said: O king, do not act rashly — I, Dharma himself, have come to you,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.27.9)

तितिक्षादमसत्त्वाद्यैस्त्वद्गुणैः परितोषितः । इन्द्र उवाच । हरिश्चन्द्र महाभाग प्राप्तः शक्रोऽस्मि तेऽन्तिकम्

titikṣādamasattvādyaistvadguṇaiḥ paritoṣitaḥ indra uvāca hariścandra mahābhāga prāptaḥ śakro'smi te'ntikam

I am utterly satisfied by your qualities of endurance, self-restraint, true being, and the like. Indra said: O Harishchandra, O fortunate one, I, Indra, have come here myself, close to you,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.27.10)

त्वयाद्य भार्यापुत्रेण जिता लोकाः सनातनाः । आरोह त्रिदिवं राजन् भार्यापुत्रसमन्वितः

tvayādya bhāryāputreṇa jitā lokāḥ sanātanāḥ āroha tridivaṁ rājan bhāryāputrasamanvitaḥ

today, together with your wife and son, you have conquered the eternal worlds; O king, together with your wife and son, ascend now to the heavenly world —

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.27.11)

सुदुष्प्रापं नरैरन्यैर्जितमात्मीयकर्मभिः । सूत उवाच । ततोऽमृतमयं वर्षमपमृत्युविनाशनम्

suduṣprāpaṁ narairanyairjitamātmīyakarmabhiḥ sūta uvāca tato'mṛtamayaṁ varṣamapamṛtyuvināśanam

a world other men find it exceedingly difficult to attain, even through their own good deeds. Suta said: Thereupon Indra rained down from the sky a shower of nectar, one that destroys untimely death,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.27.12)

इन्द्रः प्रासृजदाकाशाच्चितामध्यगते शिशौ । पुष्पवृष्टिश्च महती दुन्दुभिस्वन एव च

indraḥ prāsṛjadākāśāccitāmadhyagate śiśau puṣpavṛṣṭiśca mahatī dundubhisvana eva ca

upon the boy lying in the midst of the pyre; and a great shower of flowers fell, and the sound of celestial drums resounded.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.27.13)

समुत्तस्थौ मृतः पुत्रो राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः । सुकुमारतनुः स्वस्थः प्रसन्नः प्रीतमानसः

samuttasthau mṛtaḥ putro rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ sukumāratanuḥ svasthaḥ prasannaḥ prītamānasaḥ

That great-souled king's dead son rose up — his body tender once more, sound and whole, joyful, his heart filled with delight.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.27.14)

ततो राजा हरिश्चन्द्रः परिष्वज्य सुतं तदा । सभार्यः स्वश्रिया युक्तो दिव्यमालाम्बरावृतः

tato rājā hariścandraḥ pariṣvajya sutaṁ tadā sabhāryaḥ svaśriyā yukto divyamālāmbarāvṛtaḥ

Then King Harishchandra, embracing his son, together with his wife, radiant with his own splendor, clothed in celestial garlands and garments —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.27.15)

बभूव तत्क्षणादिन्द्रो भूपं चैवमभाषत

babhūva tatkṣaṇādindro bhūpaṁ caivamabhāṣata

at that very moment Indra spoke thus to the king —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.27.16)

सभार्यस्त्वं सपुत्रश्च स्वर्लोकं सद्गतिं पराम् । समारोह महाभाग निजानां कर्मणां फलम्

sabhāryastvaṁ saputraśca svarlokaṁ sadgatiṁ parām samāroha mahābhāga nijānāṁ karmaṇāṁ phalam

Together with your wife and son, O fortunate one, ascend now to that supreme heavenly destination — the very fruit of your own deeds.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.27.17)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । देवराजाननुज्ञातः स्वामिना श्वपचेन हि । अकृत्वा निष्कृतिं तस्य नारोक्ष्ये वै सुरालयम्

hariścandra uvāca devarājānanujñātaḥ svāminā śvapacena hi akṛtvā niṣkṛtiṁ tasya nārokṣye vai surālayam

Harishchandra said: Without the leave of my master, that Chandala, O lord of gods, and without first repaying my debt to him, I shall not ascend to the world of the gods.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.27.18)

धर्म उवाच । तवैवं भाविनं क्लेशमवगम्यात्ममायया । आत्मा श्वपचतां नीतो दर्शितं तच्च पक्कणम्

dharma uvāca tavaivaṁ bhāvinaṁ kleśamavagamyātmamāyayā ātmā śvapacatāṁ nīto darśitaṁ tacca pakkaṇam

Dharma said: Knowing in advance this very trial that awaited you, I myself, through my own divine power, contrived all of this — I myself became that Chandala, and it was I who showed you that settlement,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.27.19)

इन्द्र उवाच । प्रार्थ्यते यत्परं स्थानं समस्तैर्मनुजैर्भुवि । तदारोह हरिश्चन्द्र स्थानं पुण्यकृतां नृणाम्

indra uvāca prārthyate yatparaṁ sthānaṁ samastairmanujairbhuvi tadāroha hariścandra sthānaṁ puṇyakṛtāṁ nṛṇām

Indra said: That supreme abode which every human being on this earth longs for, O Harishchandra, ascend now to that very abode, the destination reserved for men of virtuous deeds.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.27.20)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । देवराज नमस्तुभ्यं वाक्यं चेदं निबोध मे । मच्छोकमग्नमनसः कौसले नगरे नराः

hariścandra uvāca devarāja namastubhyaṁ vākyaṁ cedaṁ nibodha me macchokamagnamanasaḥ kausale nagare narāḥ

Harishchandra said: O lord of the gods, I bow to you — hear this word of mine — in the city of Kosala there dwell people sunk in grief on my account,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.27.21)

तिष्ठन्ति तानपास्यैवं कथं यास्याम्यहं दिवम् । ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं गोवधः स्त्रीवधस्तथा

tiṣṭhanti tānapāsyaivaṁ kathaṁ yāsyāmyahaṁ divam brahmahatyā surāpānaṁ govadhaḥ strīvadhastathā

still living there even now; how could I abandon them and go to heaven? The slaying of a brahmin, the drinking of intoxicants, the killing of a cow, and the killing of a woman —

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.27.22)

तुल्यमेभिर्महत्पापं भक्तत्यागादुदाहृतम् । भजन्तं भक्तमत्याज्यं त्यजतः स्यात्कथं सुखम्

tulyamebhirmahatpāpaṁ bhaktatyāgādudāhṛtam bhajantaṁ bhaktamatyājyaṁ tyajataḥ syātkathaṁ sukham

the abandonment of one's own devotee — this too is declared a sin equal to all of these; a devoted follower who ever holds fast to devotion should never be forsaken — how could happiness ever come to one who forsakes such a one?

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.27.23)

तैर्विना न प्रयास्यामि तस्माच्छक्र दिवं व्रज । यदि ते सहिताः स्वर्गं मया यान्ति सुरेश्वर

tairvinā na prayāsyāmi tasmācchakra divaṁ vraja yadi te sahitāḥ svargaṁ mayā yānti sureśvara

Without them I shall not go; therefore, O Shakra, go you alone to heaven — but if, together with me, all of them may also go to heaven, O lord of gods,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.27.24)

ततोऽहमपि यास्यामि नरकं वापि तैः सह । इन्द्र उवाच । बहूनि पुण्यपापानि तेषां भिन्नानि वै नृप

tato'hamapi yāsyāmi narakaṁ vāpi taiḥ saha indra uvāca bahūni puṇyapāpāni teṣāṁ bhinnāni vai nṛpa

then I too shall go, even should it mean going to hell together with them. Indra said: O king, their merits and their sins are all separate and distinct, each their own,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.27.25)

कथं सङ्घातभोज्यं त्वं भूप स्वर्गमभीप्ससि । हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । भुङ्क्ते शक्र नृपो राज्यं प्रभावात्प्रकृतेध्रुवम्

kathaṁ saṅghātabhojyaṁ tvaṁ bhūpa svargamabhīpsasi hariścandra uvāca bhuṅkte śakra nṛpo rājyaṁ prabhāvātprakṛtedhruvam

so how, O king, could you desire heaven while carrying that whole multitude along with you? Harishchandra said: O Shakra, a king surely enjoys the kingdom of his subjects by virtue of his own royal power,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.27.26)

यजते च महायज्ञैः कर्म पूर्तं करोति च । तच्च तेषां प्रभावेण मया सर्वमनुष्ठितम्

yajate ca mahāyajñaiḥ karma pūrtaṁ karoti ca tacca teṣāṁ prabhāveṇa mayā sarvamanuṣṭhitam

and performs great sacrifices, and also performs deeds of public good; and all of this too I have accomplished, by virtue of their own strength and their contribution.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.27.27)

उपदादान्न सन्त्यक्ष्ये तानहं स्वर्गलिप्सया । तस्माद्यन्मम देवेश किञ्चिदस्ति सुचेष्टितम्

upadādānna santyakṣye tānahaṁ svargalipsayā tasmādyanmama deveśa kiñcidasti suceṣṭitam

Therefore, having benefited from their contribution, I shall not, merely for the sake of desiring heaven, abandon them; therefore, O lord of gods, whatever good deeds are mine —

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.27.28)

दत्तमिष्टमथो जप्तं सामान्यं तैस्तदस्तु नः । बहुकालोपभोज्यं च फलं यन्मम कर्मगम्

dattamiṣṭamatho japtaṁ sāmānyaṁ taistadastu naḥ bahukālopabhojyaṁ ca phalaṁ yanmama karmagam

given, sacrificed, or recited in prayer — let all of that be shared equally with them; and whatever fruit of my deeds is meant to be enjoyed over a long span of time,

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.27.29)

तदस्तु दिनमप्येकं तैः समं त्वप्रसादतः । सूत उवाच । एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा शक्रस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः

tadastu dinamapyekaṁ taiḥ samaṁ tvaprasādataḥ sūta uvāca evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyuktvā śakrastribhuvaneśvaraḥ

let that too, by your grace, be shared with them, even if only for a single day. Suta said: Saying, 'So it shall be,' Indra, lord of the three worlds,

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.27.30)

प्रसन्नचेता धर्मश्च विश्वामित्रश्च गाधिजः । गत्वा तु नगरं सर्वे चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकुलम्

prasannacetā dharmaśca viśvāmitraśca gādhijaḥ gatvā tu nagaraṁ sarve cāturvarṇyasamākulam

his heart delighted, together with Dharma and Vishvamitra, the son of Gadhi, all went together toward that city, thronged with people of all four varnas.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.27.31)

हरिश्चन्द्रस्य निकटे प्रोवाच विबुधाधिपः । आगच्छन्तु जनाः शीघ्रं स्वर्गलोकं सुदुर्लभम्

hariścandrasya nikaṭe provāca vibudhādhipaḥ āgacchantu janāḥ śīghraṁ svargalokaṁ sudurlabham

Arriving near Harishchandra, the lord of the gods (Indra) said: O people, come quickly — the heavenly world, so exceedingly hard to attain,

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.27.32)

धर्मप्रसादात्सम्प्राप्तं सर्वैर्युष्माभिरेव तु । हरिश्चन्द्रोऽपि तान्सर्वाञ्जनान्नगरवासिनः

dharmaprasādātsamprāptaṁ sarvairyuṣmābhireva tu hariścandro'pi tānsarvāñjanānnagaravāsinaḥ

has, through Dharma's own grace, been made attainable for all of you. Harishchandra too, to all those people, the citizens of his own city,

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.27.33)

प्राह राजा धर्मपरो दिवमारुह्यतामिति । सूत उवाच । तदिन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रीतास्तस्य च भूपतेः

prāha rājā dharmaparo divamāruhyatāmiti sūta uvāca tadindrasya vacaḥ śrutvā prītāstasya ca bhūpateḥ

that dharma-devoted king, said: All of you, ascend now to the heavenly world. Suta said: Hearing these words of Indra and of the king, delighted,

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.27.34)

ये संसारेषु निर्विण्णास्ते धुरं स्वसुतेषु वै । कृत्वा प्रहृष्टमनसो दिवमारुरुहुर्जनाः

ye saṁsāreṣu nirviṇṇāste dhuraṁ svasuteṣu vai kṛtvā prahṛṣṭamanaso divamāruruhurjanāḥ

those who had grown weary of this worldly existence, and those who had already set down the burden of their sons upon others, all of them, their hearts filled with joy,

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.27.35)

विमानवरमारूढाः सर्वे भास्वरविग्रहाः । तदा सम्भूतहर्षास्ते हरिश्चन्द्रश्च पार्थिवः

vimānavaramārūḍhāḥ sarve bhāsvaravigrahāḥ tadā sambhūtaharṣāste hariścandraśca pārthivaḥ

mounting upon splendid celestial chariots, their bodies radiant with light, ascended to the heavenly world. Then, together with them all, overcome with great joy, King Harishchandra,

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.27.36)

राज्येऽभिषिच्य तनयं रोहिताख्यं महामनाः । अयोध्याख्ये पुरे रम्ये हृष्टपुष्टजनान्विते

rājye'bhiṣicya tanayaṁ rohitākhyaṁ mahāmanāḥ ayodhyākhye pure ramye hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanānvite

the great-souled, having first consecrated his own son Rohita upon the throne of that beautiful city of Ayodhya, filled with joyful and prosperous people —

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.27.37)

तनयं सुहृदश्चापि प्रतिपूज्याभिनन्द्य च । पुण्येन लभ्यां विपुलां देवादीनां सुदुर्लभाम्

tanayaṁ suhṛdaścāpi pratipūjyābhinandya ca puṇyena labhyāṁ vipulāṁ devādīnāṁ sudurlabhām

having honored and taken leave of his son and his friends, that lord of the earth, having attained that vast fame, attainable only through merit, hard to attain even for the gods,

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.27.38)

सम्प्राप्य कीर्तिमतुलां विमाने स महीपतिः । आसाञ्चक्रे कामगमे क्षुद्रघण्टाविराजिते

samprāpya kīrtimatulāṁ vimāne sa mahīpatiḥ āsāñcakre kāmagame kṣudraghaṇṭāvirājite

and beyond compare, seated himself upon that celestial chariot, moving as swiftly as thought, adorned with tinkling little bells.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.27.39)

ततस्तर्हि समालोक्य श्लोकमन्त्रं तदा जगौ । दैत्याचार्यो महाभागः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित्

tatastarhi samālokya ślokamantraṁ tadā jagau daityācāryo mahābhāgaḥ sarvaśāstrārthatattvavit

Then, beholding all this, the preceptor of the daityas, that fortunate one learned in the meaning and essence of every scripture, Shukracharya, sang forth a verse.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.27.40)

शुक्र उवाच । अहो तितिक्षामाहात्म्यमहो दानफलं महत् । यदागतो हरिश्चन्द्रो महेन्द्रस्य सलोकताम्

śukra uvāca aho titikṣāmāhātmyamaho dānaphalaṁ mahat yadāgato hariścandro mahendrasya salokatām

Shukracharya said: Ah, how great is the majesty of endurance! Ah, how great is the fruit of giving! — that Harishchandra has come to share the very world of great Indra himself.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.27.41)

सूत उवाच । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यानं हरिश्चन्द्रस्य चेष्टितम् । यः शृणोति च दुःखार्तः स सुखं लभतेऽन्वहम्

sūta uvāca etatte sarvamākhyānaṁ hariścandrasya ceṣṭitam yaḥ śṛṇoti ca duḥkhārtaḥ sa sukhaṁ labhate'nvaham

Suta said: This is the entire account of Harishchandra's conduct; whoever, tormented by sorrow, hears it, attains happiness thereafter every day.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.27.42)

स्वर्गार्थी प्राप्नुयात् स्वर्गं सुतार्थी सुतमाप्नुयात् । भार्यार्थी प्राप्नुयाद्भार्यां राज्यार्थीं राज्यमाप्नुयात्

svargārthī prāpnuyāt svargaṁ sutārthī sutamāpnuyāt bhāryārthī prāpnuyādbhāryāṁ rājyārthīṁ rājyamāpnuyāt

One who desires heaven attains heaven, one who desires a son attains a son, one who desires a wife attains a wife, and one who desires a kingdom attains a kingdom.