The Tale of Harishchandra

Verse 1 (markandeya.8.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच । भवद्भिरिदमाख्यातं यथाप्रश्नमनुक्रमात् । महत् कौतूहलं मेऽस्ति हरिश्चन्द्र कथां प्रति ॥ 8.1 ॥

jaiminiruvāca / bhavadbhiridamākhyātaṃ yathāpraśnamanukramāt / mahat kautūhalaṃ me 'sti hariścandra kathāṃ prati // 8.1 //

Jaimini said: This has been narrated by you all, in order, according to my questions. But I have great curiosity regarding the story of Harishchandra.

Verse 2 (markandeya.8.2)

अहो महात्मना तेन प्राप्तं कृच्छ्रमनुत्तमम् । कच्चित् सुखमनुप्राप्तं तादृगेव द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ 8.2 ॥

aho mahātmanā tena prāptaṃ kṛcchramanuttamam / kaccit sukhamanuprāptaṃ tādṛgeva dvijottamāḥ // 8.2 //

Ah, what unsurpassed hardship was undergone by that great soul! Did he, O best of the twice-born, attain a happiness to match it?

Verse 3 (markandeya.8.3)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा स राजा प्रययौ शनैः । शैव्ययानुगतो दुः खी भार्यया बलापुत्रया ॥ 8.3 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā sa rājā prayayau śanaiḥ / śaivyayānugato duḥ khī bhāryayā balāputrayā // 8.3 //

The birds said: Hearing Vishvamitra's words, the king set out slowly, sorrowful, followed by his wife Shaivya together with their young son.

Verse 4 (markandeya.8.4)

स गत्वा वसुधापालो दिव्यां वाराणसीं पुरीम् । नैषा मनुष्यभोग्येति शूलपाणेः परिग्रहः ॥ 8.4 ॥

sa gatvā vasudhāpālo divyāṃ vārāṇasīṃ purīm / naiṣā manuṣyabhogyeti śūlapāṇeḥ parigrahaḥ // 8.4 //

That protector of the earth went to the divine city of Varanasi — a city not meant for the enjoyment of men, for it is the very possession of Shiva, the trident-bearer.

Verse 5 (markandeya.8.5)

जगाम पद्भ्यां दुः खार्तः सह पत्न्यानुकूलया । पुरीप्रवेशे ददृशे विश्वामित्रमुपस्थितम् ॥ 8.5 ॥

jagāma padbhyāṃ duḥ khārtaḥ saha patnyānukūlayā / purīpraveśe dadṛśe viśvāmitramupasthitam // 8.5 //

Tormented with grief, he went on foot together with his devoted wife; and, on entering the city, he saw Vishvamitra standing there.

Verse 6 (markandeya.8.6)

तं दृष्ट्वा समनुप्राप्तं विनयावनतोऽभवत् । प्राह चैवाञ्जलिं कृत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रो महामुनिम् ॥ 8.6 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā samanuprāptaṃ vinayāvanato 'bhavat / prāha caivāñjaliṃ kṛtvā hariścandro mahāmunim // 8.6 //

Seeing him arrived there, Harishchandra bowed low in humility, and, with folded hands, spoke to the great sage.

Verse 7 (markandeya.8.7)

इमे प्राणाः सुतश्चायमियं पत्नी मुने ! मम । येन ते कृत्यमस्त्याशु तद्गृहाणार्घ्यमुत्तमम् ॥ 8.7 ॥

ime prāṇāḥ sutaścāyamiyaṃ patnī mune ! mama / yena te kṛtyamastyāśu tadgṛhāṇārghyamuttamam // 8.7 //

'Here, O sage, is my life itself, here is my son, and here my wife — whatever of these you have immediate need of, take it as my highest offering.'

Verse 8 (markandeya.8.8)

यद्वान्यत् कार्यमस्माभिस्तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥ 8.8 ॥

yadvānyat kāryamasmābhistadanujñātumarhasi // 8.8 //

'Or, whatever other service is to be rendered by us, you should command it.'

Verse 9 (markandeya.8.9)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । पूर्णः स मासो राजर्षे दीयतां मम दक्षिणा । राजसूयनिमित्तं हि स्मर्यते स्ववचो यदि ॥ 8.9 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / pūrṇaḥ sa māso rājarṣe dīyatāṃ mama dakṣiṇā / rājasūyanimittaṃ hi smaryate svavaco yadi // 8.9 //

Vishvamitra said: 'That month is now complete, O royal sage; let my dakshina, due for the rajasuya, be given — if you still remember your own promise.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.8.10)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । ब्राह्मन्नद्यैव सम्पूर्णो मासोऽम्लानतपोधन । तिष्ठत्येतद् दनार्धं यत्तत् प्रतीक्षस्व माचिरम् ॥ 8.10 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / brāhmannadyaiva sampūrṇo māso 'mlānatapodhana / tiṣṭhatyetad danārdhaṃ yattat pratīkṣasva māciram // 8.10 //

Harishchandra said: 'O brahmana of unfading austerity, the month is complete only today; half of this very day yet remains — please wait that little while, without delay.'

Verse 11 (markandeya.8.11)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । एवमस्तु महाराज आगमिष्याम्यहं पुनः । शापं तव प्रदास्यामि न चेदद्य प्रदास्यसि ॥ 8.11 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / evamastu mahārāja āgamiṣyāmyahaṃ punaḥ / śāpaṃ tava pradāsyāmi na cedadya pradāsyasi // 8.11 //

Vishvamitra said: 'So be it, great king; I shall come again. I shall give you my curse if you do not give it to me this very day.'

Verse 12 (markandeya.8.12)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ विप्रो राजा चाचिन्तयत् तदा । कथमस्मै प्रदास्यामि दक्षिणा या प्रतिश्रुता ॥ 8.12 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / ityuktvā prayayau vipro rājā cācintayat tadā / kathamasmai pradāsyāmi dakṣiṇā yā pratiśrutā // 8.12 //

The birds said: Having said this, the brahmana departed; and the king then reflected: 'How shall I give him the dakshina that I promised?'

Verse 13 (markandeya.8.13)

कुतः पुष्टानि मित्राणि कुतोर्ऽथः साम्प्रतं मम । प्रतिग्रहः प्रदुष्टो मे नाहं यायामधः कथम् ॥ 8.13 ॥

kutaḥ puṣṭāni mitrāṇi kutor'thaḥ sāmprataṃ mama / pratigrahaḥ praduṣṭo me nāhaṃ yāyāmadhaḥ katham // 8.13 //

'Where are my prosperous friends now, where is my wealth? My acceptance of his gift has become tainted — how shall I avoid falling into a lower state?'

Verse 14 (markandeya.8.14)

किमु प्राणान् विमुञ्चामि कां दिशं याम्यकिञ्चनः । यदि नाशं गमिष्यामि अप्रदाय प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥ 8.14 ॥

kimu prāṇān vimuñcāmi kāṃ diśaṃ yāmyakiñcanaḥ / yadi nāśaṃ gamiṣyāmi apradāya pratiśrutam // 8.14 //

'Shall I give up my life? To what quarter shall I go, penniless as I am? For I shall surely come to ruin if I fail to give what I have promised.'

Verse 15 (markandeya.8.15)

ब्रह्मस्वहृत्कृमिः पापो भविष्याम्यधमाधमः । अथवा प्रेष्यतां यास्ये वरमेवात्मविक्रयः ॥ 8.15 ॥

brahmasvahṛtkṛmiḥ pāpo bhaviṣyāmyadhamādhamaḥ / athavā preṣyatāṃ yāsye varamevātmavikrayaḥ // 8.15 //

'I shall become a sinful worm feeding on stolen brahmana-property, the vilest of the vile. Better, then, to go into servitude — better to sell myself.'

Verse 16 (markandeya.8.16)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । राजानं व्याकुलं दीनं चिन्तयानमधोमुखम् । प्रत्युवाच तदा पत्नी बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा ॥ 8.16 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / rājānaṃ vyākulaṃ dīnaṃ cintayānamadhomukham / pratyuvāca tadā patnī bāṣpagadgadayā girā // 8.16 //

The birds said: Seeing the king so distraught, wretched, brooding with his head bowed down, his wife then answered him, her voice choked with tears:

Verse 17 (markandeya.8.17)

त्यज चिन्तां महारजा स्वसत्यमनुपालय । श्मशानवद् वर्जनीयो नरः सत्यबहिष्कृतः ॥ 8.17 ॥

tyaja cintāṃ mahārajā svasatyamanupālaya / śmaśānavad varjanīyo naraḥ satyabahiṣkṛtaḥ // 8.17 //

'Abandon this worry, great king; uphold your own truthfulness. A man who has forsaken truth is to be shunned like a cremation ground.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.8.18)

नातः परतरं धर्मं वदन्ति पुरुषस्य तु । यादृशं पुरुषव्याघ्र स्वसत्यपरिपालनम् ॥ 8.18 ॥

nātaḥ parataraṃ dharmaṃ vadanti puruṣasya tu / yādṛśaṃ puruṣavyāghra svasatyaparipālanam // 8.18 //

'They say, O tiger among men, that there is no higher dharma for a man than this — the keeping of one's own word.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.8.19)

अग्निहोत्रमधीतं वा दानाद्याश्चाखिलाः क्रियाः । भजन्ते तस्य वैफल्यं यस्य वाक्यमकारणम् ॥ 8.19 ॥

agnihotramadhītaṃ vā dānādyāścākhilāḥ kriyāḥ / bhajante tasya vaiphalyaṃ yasya vākyamakāraṇam // 8.19 //

'The fire-sacrifice, Vedic study, charity, and every other rite become fruitless for one whose word is without substance.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.8.20)

सत्यमत्यन्तमुदितं धर्मशास्त्रेषु धीमताम् । तारणायानृतं तद्वत् पातनायाकृतात्मनाम् ॥ 8.20 ॥

satyamatyantamuditaṃ dharmaśāstreṣu dhīmatām / tāraṇāyānṛtaṃ tadvat pātanāyākṛtātmanām // 8.20 //

'Truth, the scriptures of dharma declare, is the very means of crossing over for the wise; falsehood, likewise, is declared the means of downfall for those of unsteady soul.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.8.21)

सप्ताश्वमेधानाहृत्य राजसूयं च पार्थिवः । कृतिर्नाम च्युतः स्वर्गादसत्यवचनात् सकृत् ॥ 8.21 ॥

saptāśvamedhānāhṛtya rājasūyaṃ ca pārthivaḥ / kṛtirnāma cyutaḥ svargādasatyavacanāt sakṛt // 8.21 //

'A king named Kriti, having performed seven horse-sacrifices and a rajasuya, once fell from heaven for a single false word.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.8.22)

राजन् जातमपत्यं मे इत्युक्त्वा प्ररुरोद ह । बाष्पाम्बुप्लुतनेत्रान्तामुवाचेदं महीपतिः ॥ 8.22 ॥

rājan jātamapatyaṃ me ityuktvā praruroda ha / bāṣpāmbuplutanetrāntāmuvācedaṃ mahīpatiḥ // 8.22 //

[Then she said,] 'O king, a child has been born to me' — and, saying this, she wept. Seeing her eyes brimming with tears, the king spoke to her thus:

Verse 23 (markandeya.8.23)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । विमुञ्च भद्रे सन्तापमयं तिष्ठति बालकः । उच्यतां वक्तुकामासि यद्वा त्वं गजगामिनि ॥ 8.23 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / vimuñca bhadre santāpamayaṃ tiṣṭhati bālakaḥ / ucyatāṃ vaktukāmāsi yadvā tvaṃ gajagāmini // 8.23 //

Harishchandra said: 'Set aside your distress, good lady — the child is right here, well. Say, O graceful one, whatever it is you wish to tell me.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.8.24)

पत्न्युवाच । राजन् जातमपत्यं मे सतां पुत्रफलाः स्त्रियः । स मां प्रदाय वित्तेन देहि विप्राय दक्षिणाम् ॥ 8.24 ॥

patnyuvāca / rājan jātamapatyaṃ me satāṃ putraphalāḥ striyaḥ / sa māṃ pradāya vittena dehi viprāya dakṣiṇām // 8.24 //

The wife said: 'O king, a child has been born to me — for virtuous women, a son is their reward. Give me away for money, together with him, and pay the brahmana his dakshina.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.8.25)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । एतद्वाक्यमुपश्रुत्य ययौ मोहं महीपतिः । प्रतिलभ्य च संज्ञां स विललापातिदुः खितः ॥ 8.25 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / etadvākyamupaśrutya yayau mohaṃ mahīpatiḥ / pratilabhya ca saṃjñāṃ sa vilalāpātiduḥ khitaḥ // 8.25 //

The birds said: Hearing these words, the king fell senseless; and, on regaining consciousness, he wept in the depths of sorrow.

Verse 26 (markandeya.8.26)

महद्दुः खमिदं भद्रे यत् त्वमेवं ब्रवीषि माम् । किं तव स्मितसंलापा मम पापस्य विस्मृताः ॥ 8.26 ॥

mahadduḥ khamidaṃ bhadre yat tvamevaṃ bravīṣi mām / kiṃ tava smitasaṃlāpā mama pāpasya vismṛtāḥ // 8.26 //

'This is a very great sorrow, good lady, that you should speak to me so. Have you forgotten, O you of the smiling speech, that it is I who am sinful?'

Verse 27 (markandeya.8.27)

हा हा कथं त्वया शक्यं वक्तुमेतत् शुचिस्मिते । दुर्वाच्यमेतद्वचनं कर्तुं शक्नोम्यहं कथम् ॥ 8.27 ॥

hā hā kathaṃ tvayā śakyaṃ vaktumetat śucismite / durvācyametadvacanaṃ kartuṃ śaknomyahaṃ katham // 8.27 //

'Alas, alas, how can you bring yourself to say this, O you of the pure smile? This is a thing not to be spoken — how could I ever bring myself to do it?'

Verse 28 (markandeya.8.28)

इत्युक्त्वा स नरश्रेष्ठो धिग्धिगित्यसकृद् ब्रुवन् । निपपात महीपृष्ठे मूर्च्छयाभिपरिप्लुतः ॥ 8.28 ॥

ityuktvā sa naraśreṣṭho dhigdhigityasakṛd bruvan / nipapāta mahīpṛṣṭhe mūrcchayābhipariplutaḥ // 8.28 //

Having said this, that best of men, crying out 'Shame, shame!' again and again, fell to the ground, overwhelmed by fainting.

Verse 29 (markandeya.8.29)

शयानं भुवि तं दृष्ट्वा हरिश्चन्द्रं महीपतिम् । उवाचेदं सकरुणं राजपत्नी सुदुः खिता ॥ 8.29 ॥

śayānaṃ bhuvi taṃ dṛṣṭvā hariścandraṃ mahīpatim / uvācedaṃ sakaruṇaṃ rājapatnī suduḥ khitā // 8.29 //

Seeing King Harishchandra lying there upon the ground, the king's wife, in great sorrow, spoke these piteous words:

Verse 30 (markandeya.8.30)

पत्न्युवाच । हा महारजा कस्येदमपध्यानमुपस्थितम् । यत् त्वं निपतितो भूमौ राङ्कवास्तरणोचितः ॥ 8.30 ॥

patnyuvāca / hā mahārajā kasyedamapadhyānamupasthitam / yat tvaṃ nipatito bhūmau rāṅkavāstaraṇocitaḥ // 8.30 //

The wife said: 'Alas, great king, whose evil thought has come to rest upon us, that you, worthy of a bed spread with the softest deer-wool, now lie fallen upon the ground?'

Verse 31 (markandeya.8.31)

येन कोट्यग्रगोवित्तं विप्राणामपवर्जितम् । स एष पृथिवीनाथो भूमौ स्वपिति मे पतिः ॥ 8.31 ॥

yena koṭyagragovittaṃ viprāṇāmapavarjitam / sa eṣa pṛthivīnātho bhūmau svapiti me patiḥ // 8.31 //

'He who bestowed upon brahmanas wealth in cattle beyond count — that very lord of the earth, my husband, now sleeps upon the bare ground.'

Verse 32 (markandeya.8.32)

हा कष्टं किं तवानेन कृतं देव ! महीक्षिता । यदिन्द्रोपेन्द्रतुल्योऽयं नीतः प्रस्वापनीं दशाम् ॥ 8.32 ॥

hā kaṣṭaṃ kiṃ tavānena kṛtaṃ deva ! mahīkṣitā / yadindropendratulyo 'yaṃ nītaḥ prasvāpanīṃ daśām // 8.32 //

'Alas, what suffering! What has this king done to you, O god of fate, that one equal to Indra and Upendra has been brought to this state of collapse?'

Verse 33 (markandeya.8.33)

इत्युक्त्वा सापि सुश्रोणी मूर्च्छिता निपपात ह । भर्तृदुः खमहाभारेणासह्येन निपीडिता ॥ 8.33 ॥

ityuktvā sāpi suśroṇī mūrcchitā nipapāta ha / bhartṛduḥ khamahābhāreṇāsahyena nipīḍitā // 8.33 //

Having said this, that fair lady too fell down in a swoon, crushed by the unbearable, immense weight of her husband's sorrow.

Verse 34 (markandeya.8.34)

तौ तथा पतितौ भूमावनाथौ पितरौ शिशुः । दृष्ट्वात्यन्तं क्षुधाविष्टः प्राह वाक्यं सुदुः खितः ॥ 8.34 ॥

tau tathā patitau bhūmāvanāthau pitarau śiśuḥ / dṛṣṭvātyantaṃ kṣudhāviṣṭaḥ prāha vākyaṃ suduḥ khitaḥ // 8.34 //

Seeing his parents thus fallen upon the ground, helpless, the child, overcome with intense hunger, spoke these deeply pained words:

Verse 35 (markandeya.8.35)

तात तात ! ददस्वान्नमम्बाम्ब ! भोजनं दद । क्षुन्मे बलवती जाता जिह्वाग्रं शुष्यते तथा ॥ 8.35 ॥

tāta tāta ! dadasvānnamambāmba ! bhojanaṃ dada / kṣunme balavatī jātā jihvāgraṃ śuṣyate tathā // 8.35 //

'Father, father! Give me food. Mother, mother! Give me something to eat. My hunger has grown fierce, and the tip of my tongue has gone dry.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.8.36)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रो महातपाः । दृष्ट्वा तु तं हरिश्चन्द्रं पतितं भुवि मूर्च्छितम् ॥ 8.36 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / etasminnantare prāpto viśvāmitro mahātapāḥ / dṛṣṭvā tu taṃ hariścandraṃ patitaṃ bhuvi mūrcchitam // 8.36 //

The birds said: Meanwhile, Vishvamitra of great austerity arrived there, and, seeing Harishchandra lying fainted upon the ground —

Verse 37 (markandeya.8.37)

स वारिणा समभ्युक्ष्य राजानमिदमब्रवीत् । उत्तिष्ठोतिष्ठ राजेन्द्र तां ददस्वेष्टदक्षिणाम् ॥ 8.37 ॥

sa vāriṇā samabhyukṣya rājānamidamabravīt / uttiṣṭhotiṣṭha rājendra tāṃ dadasveṣṭadakṣiṇām // 8.37 //

— sprinkled him with water and said to the king: 'Rise, rise, O king of kings, and give me the desired dakshina.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.8.38)

ऋणं धारयतो दुः खमहन्यहनि वर्धन्ते । आप्याय्यमानः स तदा हिमशीतेन वारिणा ॥ 8.38 ॥

ṛṇaṃ dhārayato duḥ khamahanyahani vardhante / āpyāyyamānaḥ sa tadā himaśītena vāriṇā // 8.38 //

'For one who bears a debt, sorrow grows day by day.' Then, being revived by that ice-cold water,

Verse 39 (markandeya.8.39)

अवाप्य चेतनां राजा विश्वामित्रमवेक्ष्य च । पुनर्मोहं समापेदे स च क्रोधं ययौ मुनिः ॥ 8.39 ॥

avāpya cetanāṃ rājā viśvāmitramavekṣya ca / punarmohaṃ samāpede sa ca krodhaṃ yayau muniḥ // 8.39 //

the king regained consciousness; but on beholding Vishvamitra, he fell senseless once more — and the sage grew angry.

Verse 40 (markandeya.8.40)

स समाश्वास्य राजानं वाक्यमाह द्विजोत्तमः । दीयतां दक्षिणा सा मे यदि धर्ममवेक्षसे ॥ 8.40 ॥

sa samāśvāsya rājānaṃ vākyamāha dvijottamaḥ / dīyatāṃ dakṣiṇā sā me yadi dharmamavekṣase // 8.40 //

That best of brahmanas, having comforted the king, spoke these words: 'Let that dakshina of mine be given, if you have regard for dharma.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.8.41)

सत्येनार्कः प्रतपति सत्ये तिष्ठति मेदिनी । सत्यं चोक्तं परो धर्मः स्वर्गः सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ 8.41 ॥

satyenārkaḥ pratapati satye tiṣṭhati medinī / satyaṃ coktaṃ paro dharmaḥ svargaḥ satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ // 8.41 //

'By truth the sun gives forth its heat; by truth the earth stands firm; truth, it is said, is the highest dharma; heaven itself is founded upon truth.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.8.42)

अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम् । अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते ॥ 8.42 ॥

aśvamedhasahasraṃ ca satyaṃ ca tulayā dhṛtam / aśvamedhasahasrāddhi satyameva viśiṣyate // 8.42 //

'A thousand horse-sacrifices on one side, and truth on the other, were once weighed against each other on a scale — and truth alone outweighed the thousand horse-sacrifices.'

Verse 43 (markandeya.8.43)

अथवा किं ममैतेन साम्ना प्रोक्तेन कारणम् । अनार्त्ये पापसङ्कल्पे क्रूरे चानृतवादिनि ॥ 8.43 ॥

athavā kiṃ mamaitena sāmnā proktena kāraṇam / anārtye pāpasaṅkalpe krūre cānṛtavādini // 8.43 //

'But indeed, what use is there in my speaking gently to you, when you are joyless, sinful in intent, cruel, and a speaker of falsehood —'

Verse 44 (markandeya.8.44)

त्वयि राज्ञि प्रभवति सद्भावः श्रूयतामयम् । अद्य मे दक्षिणां राजन् न दास्यति भवान् यदि ॥ 8.44 ॥

tvayi rājñi prabhavati sadbhāvaḥ śrūyatāmayam / adya me dakṣiṇāṃ rājan na dāsyati bhavān yadi // 8.44 //

'— when even in you, a king, no true honesty prevails? Hear this: if you do not give me my dakshina today, O king —'

Verse 45 (markandeya.8.45)

अस्ताचलं प्रयातेर्ऽके शप्स्यामि त्वां ततो ध्रुवम् । इत्युक्त्वा स ययौ विप्रो राजा चासीद्भयातुरः ॥ 8.45 ॥

astācalaṃ prayāter'ke śapsyāmi tvāṃ tato dhruvam / ityuktvā sa yayau vipro rājā cāsīdbhayāturaḥ // 8.45 //

'— then, once the sun has gone to the mountain of its setting, I shall most certainly curse you.' Having said this, the brahmana departed, and the king was overcome with terror.

Verse 46 (markandeya.8.46)

कान्दिग्भूतोऽधमो निः स्वो नृशंसधनिनार्दितः । भार्यास्य भूयः प्राहेदं क्रियतां वचनं मम ॥ 8.46 ॥

kāndigbhūto 'dhamo niḥ svo nṛśaṃsadhaninārditaḥ / bhāryāsya bhūyaḥ prāhedaṃ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama // 8.46 //

Bewildered, wretched, penniless, tormented by that merciless creditor, his wife once more said to him, 'Do as I say.'

Verse 47 (markandeya.8.47)

मा शापानलनिर्दग्धः पञ्चत्वमुपयास्यसि । स तथा चोद्यमानस्तु राजा पत्न्या पुनः पुनः ॥ 8.47 ॥

mā śāpānalanirdagdhaḥ pañcatvamupayāsyasi / sa tathā codyamānastu rājā patnyā punaḥ punaḥ // 8.47 //

'Lest you be burned by the fire of his curse and go to your death' — thus urged again and again by his wife, the king —

Verse 48 (markandeya.8.48)

प्राह भद्रे करोम्येष विक्रयं तव निर्घृणः । नृशंसैरपि यद् कर्तुं न शक्यं तत् करोम्यहम् ॥ 8.48 ॥

prāha bhadre karomyeṣa vikrayaṃ tava nirghṛṇaḥ / nṛśaṃsairapi yad kartuṃ na śakyaṃ tat karomyaham // 8.48 //

— said: 'Good lady, then, merciless as it is, I shall sell you. I am about to do what even cruel men could not bring themselves to do.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.8.49)

यदि मे शक्यते वाणी वक्तुमीदृक् सुदुर्वचः । एवमुक्त्वा ततो भार्यां गत्वा नागरमातुरः । बाष्पापिहितकण्ठाक्षस्ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 8.49 ॥

yadi me śakyate vāṇī vaktumīdṛk sudurvacaḥ / evamuktvā tato bhāryāṃ gatvā nāgaramāturaḥ / bāṣpāpihitakaṇṭhākṣastato vacanamabravīt // 8.49 //

'— if my voice can even bring itself to speak such a terrible word.' Having said this to his wife, he then went, in his anguish, into the city, and, his throat and eyes choked with tears, spoke these words:

Verse 50 (markandeya.8.50)

राजोवाच । भो भो नागरिकाः सर्वे शृणुध्वं वचनं मम । किं मां पृच्छथ कस्त्वं भो नृशंसोऽहममानुषः ॥ 8.50 ॥

rājovāca / bho bho nāgarikāḥ sarve śṛṇudhvaṃ vacanaṃ mama / kiṃ māṃ pṛcchatha kastvaṃ bho nṛśaṃso 'hamamānuṣaḥ // 8.50 //

The king said: 'Hear my words, all you citizens! Why do you ask me who I am? I am inhuman, merciless —'

Verse 51 (markandeya.8.51)

राक्षसो वातिकठिनस्ततः पापतरोऽपि वा । विक्रेतुं दयितां प्राप्तो यो न प्राणांस्त्यजाम्यहम् ॥ 8.51 ॥

rākṣaso vātikaṭhinastataḥ pāpataro 'pi vā / vikretuṃ dayitāṃ prāpto yo na prāṇāṃstyajāmyaham // 8.51 //

'— a rakshasa, or something harder still, or even more sinful than that — I, who have come to sell my beloved wife rather than give up my own life.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.8.52)

यदि वः कस्यचित् कार्यं दास्या प्राणेष्टया मम । स ब्रीवीतु त्वरायुक्तो यावत् सन्धारयाम्यहम् ॥ 8.52 ॥

yadi vaḥ kasyacit kāryaṃ dāsyā prāṇeṣṭayā mama / sa brīvītu tvarāyukto yāvat sandhārayāmyaham // 8.52 //

'If any of you has need of a maidservant as dear to me as my own life, let him speak quickly, while I can still bear to hold myself together.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.8.53)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । अथ वृद्धो द्विजः कश्चिदागत्याह नराधिपम् । समर्पयस्व मे दासीमहं क्रेता धनप्रदः ॥ 8.53 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / atha vṛddho dvijaḥ kaścidāgatyāha narādhipam / samarpayasva me dāsīmahaṃ kretā dhanapradaḥ // 8.53 //

The birds said: Then a certain old brahmana came forward and said to the king: 'Give me the maidservant — I am a buyer, and I shall pay well.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.8.54)

अस्ति मे वित्तमस्तोकं सुकुमारी च मे प्रिया । गृहकर्म न शक्नोति कर्तुमस्मात् प्रयच्छ मे ॥ 8.54 ॥

asti me vittamastokaṃ sukumārī ca me priyā / gṛhakarma na śaknoti kartumasmāt prayaccha me // 8.54 //

'I have no small wealth, and my beloved wife is delicate; she is unable to do the household work — for this reason, give her to me.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.8.55)

कर्मण्यता-वयो-रूप-शीलानां तव योषितः । अनुरूपमिदं वित्तं गृहाणार्पय मेऽबलाम् ॥ 8.55 ॥

karmaṇyatā-vayo-rūpa-śīlānāṃ tava yoṣitaḥ / anurūpamidaṃ vittaṃ gṛhāṇārpaya me 'balām // 8.55 //

'This wealth is fitting for the capability, age, beauty, and character of your wife — take it, and give this woman over to me.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.8.56)

एवमुक्तस्य विप्रेण हरिश्चन्द्रस्य भूपतेः । व्यदीर्यत मनो दुः खान्न चैनं किञ्चिदब्रवीत् ॥ 8.56 ॥

evamuktasya vipreṇa hariścandrasya bhūpateḥ / vyadīryata mano duḥ khānna cainaṃ kiñcidabravīt // 8.56 //

When King Harishchandra was thus addressed by the brahmana, his heart broke with sorrow, and he said nothing to him at all.

Verse 57 (markandeya.8.57)

ततः स विप्रो नृपतेर्वल्कलान्ते दृढं धनम् । बद्ध्वा केशेष्वथादाय नृपपत्नीमकर्षयत् ॥ 8.57 ॥

tataḥ sa vipro nṛpatervalkalānte dṛḍhaṃ dhanam / baddhvā keśeṣvathādāya nṛpapatnīmakarṣayat // 8.57 //

Then that brahmana tied the money firmly to the edge of the king's bark-garment, and, seizing the king's wife by her hair, began to drag her away.

Verse 58 (markandeya.8.58)

रुरोद रोहिताश्वोऽपि दृष्ट्वा कृष्टां तु मातरम् । हस्तेन वस्त्रमाकर्षन् काकपक्षधरः शिशुः ॥ 8.58 ॥

ruroda rohitāśvo 'pi dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṭāṃ tu mātaram / hastena vastramākarṣan kākapakṣadharaḥ śiśuḥ // 8.58 //

Rohitashva too, seeing his mother dragged away, began to weep — the child, with his hair still in a boy's crow-feather locks, clutching at her garment with his hand.

Verse 59 (markandeya.8.59)

राजपत्न्युवाच । मुञ्चार्य मुञ्च तावन्मां यावत्पश्याम्यहं शिशुम् । दुर्लभं दर्शनं तात पुनरस्य भविष्यति ॥ 8.59 ॥

rājapatnyuvāca / muñcārya muñca tāvanmāṃ yāvatpaśyāmyahaṃ śiśum / durlabhaṃ darśanaṃ tāta punarasya bhaviṣyati // 8.59 //

The king's wife said: 'Release me, sir, release me a moment, that I may look upon my child — for it will be hard, father, to see him again.'

Verse 60 (markandeya.8.60)

पश्यैहि वत्स मामेवं मातरं दास्यतां गताम् । मां मा स्प्रार्क्षो राजपुत्र ! अस्पृश्याहं तवाधुना ॥ 8.60 ॥

paśyaihi vatsa māmevaṃ mātaraṃ dāsyatāṃ gatām / māṃ mā sprārkṣo rājaputra ! aspṛśyāhaṃ tavādhunā // 8.60 //

'Come, child, look upon me, your mother, now reduced to servitude. Do not touch me, O prince — I am no longer fit to be touched by you now.'

Verse 61 (markandeya.8.61)

ततः स बालः सहसा दृष्ट्वा कृष्टां तु मातरम् । समभ्यधावदम्बेति रुदन् सास्त्राविलेक्षणः ॥ 8.61 ॥

tataḥ sa bālaḥ sahasā dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṭāṃ tu mātaram / samabhyadhāvadambeti rudan sāstrāvilekṣaṇaḥ // 8.61 //

Then the boy, on seeing his mother dragged away, ran toward her at once, crying 'Mother!', his eyes clouded with tears.

Verse 62 (markandeya.8.62)

तमागतं द्विजः क्रोधाद्वालमभ्याहनत् पदा । वदंस्तथापि सोऽम्बेति नैवामुञ्चत मातरम् ॥ 8.62 ॥

tamāgataṃ dvijaḥ krodhādvālamabhyāhanat padā / vadaṃstathāpi so 'mbeti naivāmuñcata mātaram // 8.62 //

As he approached, the brahmana, in anger, struck the boy with his foot; but the child, still crying 'Mother!', would not let go of her.

Verse 63 (markandeya.8.63)

राजपत्न्युवाच । प्रसादं कुरु में नाथ क्रीणीष्वेमं च बालकम् । क्रीतापि नाहं भवतो विनैनं कार्यसाधिका ॥ 8.63 ॥

rājapatnyuvāca / prasādaṃ kuru meṃ nātha krīṇīṣvemaṃ ca bālakam / krītāpi nāhaṃ bhavato vinainaṃ kāryasādhikā // 8.63 //

The king's wife said: 'Show me your favor, my lord — buy this child too. Even bought, I shall not be able to serve you well without him.'

Verse 64 (markandeya.8.64)

इत्थं ममाल्पभाग्यायाः प्रसादसुमुखो भव । मां संयोजय बालेन वत्सेनेव पयस्विनीम् ॥ 8.64 ॥

itthaṃ mamālpabhāgyāyāḥ prasādasumukho bhava / māṃ saṃyojaya bālena vatseneva payasvinīm // 8.64 //

'Thus, be gracious to me, ill-fated as I am; unite me with my child, as a milk-cow is united with her calf.'

Verse 65 (markandeya.8.65)

ब्राह्मण उवाच । गृह्यतां वित्तमेतत् ते दीयतां बालको मम । स्त्रीपुंसोर्धर्मशास्त्रज्ञैः कृतमेव हि वेतनम् । शतं सहस्रं लक्षं च कोटिमूल्यं तथा परैः ॥ 8.65 ॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca / gṛhyatāṃ vittametat te dīyatāṃ bālako mama / strīpuṃsordharmaśāstrajñaiḥ kṛtameva hi vetanam / śataṃ sahasraṃ lakṣaṃ ca koṭimūlyaṃ tathā paraiḥ // 8.65 //

The brahmana said: 'Take this money, and give the child to me. The knowers of the scriptures of dharma have themselves fixed the price of a man or a woman — a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand, and others a crore.'

Verse 66 (markandeya.8.66)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । तथैव तस्य तद्वित्तं बद्ध्वोत्तरपटे ततः । प्रगृह्य बालकं मात्रा सहैकस्थमबन्धयत् ॥ 8.66 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / tathaiva tasya tadvittaṃ baddhvottarapaṭe tataḥ / pragṛhya bālakaṃ mātrā sahaikasthamabandhayat // 8.66 //

The birds said: Just so, having tied that further sum into his upper garment, he took hold of the child and bound him together with his mother, both in one place.

Verse 67 (markandeya.8.67)

नीयमानौ तु तौ दृष्ट्वा भार्या-पुत्रौ स पार्थिवः । विललाप सुदुः खार्तो निः श्वस्योष्णं पुनः पुनः ॥ 8.67 ॥

nīyamānau tu tau dṛṣṭvā bhāryā-putrau sa pārthivaḥ / vilalāpa suduḥ khārto niḥ śvasyoṣṇaṃ punaḥ punaḥ // 8.67 //

Seeing his wife and son thus being led away, the king wept in bitter sorrow, sighing hot breaths again and again.

Verse 68 (markandeya.8.68)

यां न वायुर्न चादित्यो नेन्दुर्न च पृथग्जनः । दृष्टवन्तः पुरा पत्नीं सेयं दासीत्वमागता ॥ 8.68 ॥

yāṃ na vāyurna cādityo nendurna ca pṛthagjanaḥ / dṛṣṭavantaḥ purā patnīṃ seyaṃ dāsītvamāgatā // 8.68 //

'She, my wife, whom neither the wind, nor the sun, nor the moon, nor any common person had ever before beheld — she has now come to the state of a slave!'

Verse 69 (markandeya.8.69)

सूर्यवंशप्रसूतोऽयं सुकुमारकराङ्गुलिः । सम्प्राप्तो विक्रयं बालो धिङ्मामस्तु सुदुर्मतिम् ॥ 8.69 ॥

sūryavaṃśaprasūto 'yaṃ sukumārakarāṅguliḥ / samprāpto vikrayaṃ bālo dhiṅmāmastu sudurmatim // 8.69 //

'This child, born of the solar dynasty, his fingers so delicate — he too has been sold. Shame, shame upon me, so wretched of mind!'

Verse 70 (markandeya.8.70)

हा प्रिये ! हा शिशो ! नत्स ! ममानार्यस्य दुर्नयैः । दैवाधीनां दशां प्राप्तो न मृतोऽस्मि तथापि धिक् ॥ 8.70 ॥

hā priye ! hā śiśo ! natsa ! mamānāryasya durnayaiḥ / daivādhīnāṃ daśāṃ prāpto na mṛto 'smi tathāpi dhik // 8.70 //

'Alas, my beloved! Alas, my little child! Through my own base misdeeds, and through fate's decree, I have come to this state — yet I have not died. Shame upon me!'

Verse 71 (markandeya.8.71)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । एवं विलपतो राज्ञः स विप्रोऽन्तरधीयत । वृक्षगेहादिभिस्तुङ्गैस्तावादाय त्वरान्वितः ॥ 8.71 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / evaṃ vilapato rājñaḥ sa vipro 'ntaradhīyata / vṛkṣagehādibhistuṅgaistāvādāya tvarānvitaḥ // 8.71 //

The birds said: As the king lamented thus, that brahmana vanished from sight, hurrying away past tall trees and dwellings.

Verse 72 (markandeya.8.72)

विश्वामित्रस्ततः प्राप्तो नृपं वित्तमयाचत । तस्मै समर्पयामास हरिश्चन्द्रोऽपि तद्धनम् ॥ 8.72 ॥

viśvāmitrastataḥ prāpto nṛpaṃ vittamayācata / tasmai samarpayāmāsa hariścandro 'pi taddhanam // 8.72 //

Then Vishvamitra arrived and asked the king for the money; and Harishchandra gave that wealth over to him.

Verse 73 (markandeya.8.73)

तद्वित्तं स्तोकमालोक्य दारविक्रयसम्भवम् । शोकाभिभूतं राजानं कुपितः कौशिकोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 8.73 ॥

tadvittaṃ stokamālokya dāravikrayasambhavam / śokābhibhūtaṃ rājānaṃ kupitaḥ kauśiko 'bravīt // 8.73 //

Seeing that the money, come from the sale of his wife, was but a small sum, Kaushika, angered, said to the grief-stricken king:

Verse 74 (markandeya.8.74)

क्षत्रबन्धो ! ममेमां त्वं सदृशीं यज्ञदक्षिणाम् । मन्यसे यदि तत् क्षिप्रं पश्य त्वं मे बलं परम् ॥ 8.74 ॥

kṣatrabandho ! mamemāṃ tvaṃ sadṛśīṃ yajñadakṣiṇām / manyase yadi tat kṣipraṃ paśya tvaṃ me balaṃ param // 8.74 //

'O base kshatriya! If you think this a fitting sacrificial fee for me, then behold now my supreme power!'

Verse 75 (markandeya.8.75)

तपसोऽत्र सुतप्तस्य ब्राह्मण्यस्यामलस्य च । मत्प्रभावस्य चोग्रस्य शुद्धस्याध्ययनस्य च ॥ 8.75 ॥

tapaso 'tra sutaptasya brāhmaṇyasyāmalasya ca / matprabhāvasya cograsya śuddhasyādhyayanasya ca // 8.75 //

'Behold the power of this severe austerity of mine, of my spotless brahmanahood, of my terrible might, and of my pure Vedic learning!'

Verse 76 (markandeya.8.76)

अन्यां दास्यामि भगवन् ! कालः कश्चित्प्रतीक्ष्यताम् । साम्प्रतं नास्ति विक्रीता पत्नी पुत्रश्च बालकः ॥ 8.76 ॥

anyāṃ dāsyāmi bhagavan ! kālaḥ kaścitpratīkṣyatām / sāmprataṃ nāsti vikrītā patnī putraśca bālakaḥ // 8.76 //

[Harishchandra said:] 'I shall give you another sum, O lord! Grant me a little more time — for now I have nothing, since my wife and my young son have both been sold.'

Verse 77 (markandeya.8.77)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । चतुर्भागः स्थितो योऽयं दिवसस्य नराधिप । एष एव प्रतीक्ष्यो मे वक्तव्यं नोत्तरं त्वया ॥ 8.77 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / caturbhāgaḥ sthito yo 'yaṃ divasasya narādhipa / eṣa eva pratīkṣyo me vaktavyaṃ nottaraṃ tvayā // 8.77 //

Vishvamitra said: 'Only a quarter of the day now remains, O king. That alone shall I wait — and you have no answer left to give me.'

Verse 78 (markandeya.8.78)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । तमेवमुक्त्वा राजेन्द्रं निष्ठुरं निर्घृणं वचः । तदादाय धनं तूर्णं कुपितः कौशिको ययौ ॥ 8.78 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / tamevamuktvā rājendraṃ niṣṭhuraṃ nirghṛṇaṃ vacaḥ / tadādāya dhanaṃ tūrṇaṃ kupitaḥ kauśiko yayau // 8.78 //

The birds said: Having spoken these harsh, merciless words to the king, angry Kaushika quickly took that money and departed.

Verse 79 (markandeya.8.79)

विश्वामित्रे गते राजा भयशोकाब्धिमध्यगः । सर्वाकारं विनिश्चित्य प्रोवाचोच्चैरधोमुखः ॥ 8.79 ॥

viśvāmitre gate rājā bhayaśokābdhimadhyagaḥ / sarvākāraṃ viniścitya provācoccairadhomukhaḥ // 8.79 //

When Vishvamitra had gone, the king, adrift in the midst of an ocean of fear and grief, having weighed every possibility, cried out aloud, his head bowed low:

Verse 80 (markandeya.8.80)

वित्तक्रीतेन यो ह्यर्थो मया प्रेष्येण मानवः । स ब्रवीतु त्वरायुक्तो यावत् तपति भास्करः ॥ 8.80 ॥

vittakrītena yo hyartho mayā preṣyeṇa mānavaḥ / sa bravītu tvarāyukto yāvat tapati bhāskaraḥ // 8.80 //

'Whoever has need of a man bought for money, to be his servant, let him speak now, quickly, while the sun still gives its heat.'

Verse 81 (markandeya.8.81)

अथाजगाम त्वरितो धर्मश्चण्डालरूपधृक् । दुर्गन्धो विकृतो रूक्षः श्मश्रुलो दन्तुरो घृणी ॥ 8.81 ॥

athājagāma tvarito dharmaścaṇḍālarūpadhṛk / durgandho vikṛto rūkṣaḥ śmaśrulo danturo ghṛṇī // 8.81 //

Then Dharma came hurrying up, having taken on the form of a chandala — foul-smelling, misshapen, rough, bearded, snaggle-toothed, repulsive,

Verse 82 (markandeya.8.82)

कृष्णो लम्बोदरः पिङ्गरूक्षाक्षः परुषाक्षरः । गृहीतपक्षिपुञ्जश्च शवमाल्यैरलङ्कृतः ॥ 8.82 ॥

kṛṣṇo lambodaraḥ piṅgarūkṣākṣaḥ paruṣākṣaraḥ / gṛhītapakṣipuñjaśca śavamālyairalaṅkṛtaḥ // 8.82 //

black, pot-bellied, tawny and rough-eyed, harsh of speech, a bundle of dead birds in hand, adorned with garlands taken from corpses,

Verse 83 (markandeya.8.83)

कपालहस्तो दीर्घास्यो भैरवोऽतिवदन् मुहुः । श्वगणाभिवृतो घोरो यष्टिहस्तो निराकृतिः ॥ 8.83 ॥

kapālahasto dīrghāsyo bhairavo 'tivadan muhuḥ / śvagaṇābhivṛto ghoro yaṣṭihasto nirākṛtiḥ // 8.83 //

a skull in his hand, long-faced, terrifying, ranting on and on, surrounded by a pack of dogs, dreadful, a staff in hand, utterly hideous of form.

Verse 84 (markandeya.8.84)

चण्डाल उवाच । अहमर्थो त्वया शीघ्रं कथयस्वात्मवेतनम् । स्तोकेन बहुना वापि येन वै लभ्यते भवान् ॥ 8.84 ॥

caṇḍāla uvāca / ahamartho tvayā śīghraṃ kathayasvātmavetanam / stokena bahunā vāpi yena vai labhyate bhavān // 8.84 //

The chandala said: 'I am the one in need. Tell me quickly your price — be it little or much — by which you may be obtained.'

Verse 85 (markandeya.8.85)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । तं तादृशमथालक्ष्य क्रूरदृष्टिं सुनिष्ठुरम् । वदन्तमतिदुः शीलं कस्त्वमित्याह पार्थिवः ॥ 8.85 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / taṃ tādṛśamathālakṣya krūradṛṣṭiṃ suniṣṭhuram / vadantamatiduḥ śīlaṃ kastvamityāha pārthivaḥ // 8.85 //

The birds said: Beholding one of such a kind, cruel of gaze and utterly merciless, speaking with so vile a manner, the king said, 'Who are you?'

Verse 86 (markandeya.8.86)

चण्डाल उवाच । चण्डालोऽहमिहाख्यातः प्रवीरेति पुरोत्तमे । विख्यातो वध्यवधको मृतकम्बलहारकः ॥ 8.86 ॥

caṇḍāla uvāca / caṇḍālo 'hamihākhyātaḥ pravīreti purottame / vikhyāto vadhyavadhako mṛtakambalahārakaḥ // 8.86 //

The chandala said: 'I am a chandala, known here in this foremost of cities by the name Pravira — famed as the executioner of the condemned, and as the one who takes the shrouds of the dead.'

Verse 87 (markandeya.8.87)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । नाहं चण्डालदासत्वमिच्छेयं सुविगर्हितम् । वरं सापाग्निना दग्धो न चण्डालवशं गतः ॥ 8.87 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / nāhaṃ caṇḍāladāsatvamiccheyaṃ suvigarhitam / varaṃ sāpāgninā dagdho na caṇḍālavaśaṃ gataḥ // 8.87 //

Harishchandra said: 'I would not wish for the utterly despicable state of a chandala's slave. Better to be burned by the fire of a curse than to fall under a chandala's power.'

Verse 88 (markandeya.8.88)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । तस्यैवं वदतः प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रस्तपोनिधिः । कोपामर्षविवृताक्षः प्राह चेदं नराधैपम् ॥ 8.88 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / tasyaivaṃ vadataḥ prāpto viśvāmitrastaponidhiḥ / kopāmarṣavivṛtākṣaḥ prāha cedaṃ narādhaipam // 8.88 //

The birds said: As he was speaking thus, Vishvamitra, that treasury of austerity, arrived, his eyes wide with fury and impatience, and said to the king:

Verse 89 (markandeya.8.89)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । चण्डालोऽयमनल्पं ते दातुं वित्तमुपस्थितः । कस्मान्न दीयते मह्यमशेषा यज्ञदक्षिणा ॥ 8.89 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / caṇḍālo 'yamanalpaṃ te dātuṃ vittamupasthitaḥ / kasmānna dīyate mahyamaśeṣā yajñadakṣiṇā // 8.89 //

Vishvamitra said: 'Here is this chandala, ready to give you no small sum — why, then, is my sacrificial fee, in full, not given to me?'

Verse 90 (markandeya.8.90)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । भगवन् ! सूर्यवंशोत्थमात्मानं वेद्मे कौशिक । कथं चण्डालदासत्वं गमिष्ये वित्तकामुकः ॥ 8.90 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / bhagavan ! sūryavaṃśotthamātmānaṃ vedme kauśika / kathaṃ caṇḍāladāsatvaṃ gamiṣye vittakāmukaḥ // 8.90 //

Harishchandra said: 'O lord, I know myself, Kaushika, to be born of the solar dynasty — how could I, even out of greed for wealth, go into servitude to a chandala?'

Verse 91 (markandeya.8.91)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । यदि चण्डालवित्तं त्वमात्मविक्रयजं मम । न प्रदास्यसि कालेन शाप्स्यामि त्वामसंशयम् ॥ 8.91 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / yadi caṇḍālavittaṃ tvamātmavikrayajaṃ mama / na pradāsyasi kālena śāpsyāmi tvāmasaṃśayam // 8.91 //

Vishvamitra said: 'If you do not, in time, give me this chandala's money, earned by the sale of yourself, I shall most certainly curse you.'

Verse 92 (markandeya.8.92)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । हरिश्चन्द्रस्ततो राजा चिन्तावस्थितजीवितः । प्रसीदेति वदन् पादावृषेर्जग्राह विह्वलः ॥ 8.92 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / hariścandrastato rājā cintāvasthitajīvitaḥ / prasīdeti vadan pādāvṛṣerjagrāha vihvalaḥ // 8.92 //

The birds said: Then King Harishchandra, his very life hanging by a thread of anxiety, overwhelmed, seized the sage's feet, crying 'Have mercy!'

Verse 93 (markandeya.8.93)

दासोऽस्म्यार्तोऽस्मि भीतोऽस्मि त्वद्भक्तश्च विशेषतः । कुरु प्रसादं विप्रर्षे कष्टश्चण्डालसङ्करः ॥ 8.93 ॥

dāso 'smyārto 'smi bhīto 'smi tvadbhaktaśca viśeṣataḥ / kuru prasādaṃ viprarṣe kaṣṭaścaṇḍālasaṅkaraḥ // 8.93 //

'I am your slave, I am afflicted, I am afraid, and above all I am your devotee. Show me your favor, O sage — union with a chandala is a fearful thing.'

Verse 94 (markandeya.8.94)

भवेयं वित्तशेषेण सर्वकर्मकरो वशः । तवैव मुनिशार्दूल ! प्रेष्यश्चित्तानुवर्तकः ॥ 8.94 ॥

bhaveyaṃ vittaśeṣeṇa sarvakarmakaro vaśaḥ / tavaiva muniśārdūla ! preṣyaścittānuvartakaḥ // 8.94 //

'Let me, for whatever remains of your fee, become instead your own bondsman, O tiger among sages, doer of every task, your servant obedient to your very thought.'

Verse 95 (markandeya.8.95)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । यदि प्रेष्यो मम भवान् चण्डालाय ततो मया । दासभावमनुप्राप्तो दत्तो वित्तार्बुदेन वै ॥ 8.95 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / yadi preṣyo mama bhavān caṇḍālāya tato mayā / dāsabhāvamanuprāpto datto vittārbudena vai // 8.95 //

Vishvamitra said: 'If you are my servant, then it is I who shall give you over to the chandala, having brought you to the state of a slave — for a sum of a hundred million.'

Verse 96 (markandeya.8.96)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । एकमुक्ते तदा तेन श्वपाको हृष्टमानसः । विश्वामित्राय तद्द्रव्यं दत्त्वा बद्ध्वा नरेश्वरम् ॥ 8.96 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / ekamukte tadā tena śvapāko hṛṣṭamānasaḥ / viśvāmitrāya taddravyaṃ dattvā baddhvā nareśvaram // 8.96 //

The birds said: As soon as this was said, the dog-cooker, his heart delighted, gave that wealth to Vishvamitra, bound the lord of men,

Verse 97 (markandeya.8.97)

दण्डप्रहारसम्भ्रान्तमतीव व्याकुलेन्द्रियम् । इष्टबन्धुवियोगार्तमनयन्निजपत्तनम् ॥ 8.97 ॥

daṇḍaprahārasambhrāntamatīva vyākulendriyam / iṣṭabandhuviyogārtamanayannijapattanam // 8.97 //

and, striking him with blows of his staff so that his senses reeled, and tormented by separation from his beloved kin, led him off to his own quarters.

Verse 98 (markandeya.8.98)

हरिश्चन्द्रस्ततो राजा वसंश्चण्डालपत्तने । प्रातर्मध्याह्नसमये सायञ्चैतदगायत ॥ 8.98 ॥

hariścandrastato rājā vasaṃścaṇḍālapattane / prātarmadhyāhnasamaye sāyañcaitadagāyata // 8.98 //

Thereafter King Harishchandra, dwelling in the chandala's quarters, sang this, morning, noon, and evening:

Verse 99 (markandeya.8.99)

बाला दीनमुखी दृष्ट्वा बालं दीनमुखं पुरः । मां स्मरत्यसुखाविष्टा मोचयिष्यति नौ नृपः ॥ 8.99 ॥

bālā dīnamukhī dṛṣṭvā bālaṃ dīnamukhaṃ puraḥ / māṃ smaratyasukhāviṣṭā mocayiṣyati nau nṛpaḥ // 8.99 //

'That young woman, her face wretched, seeing her wretched-faced child before her, overcome with misery, remembers me — thinking, the king will yet free us both.'

Verse 100 (markandeya.8.100)

उपात्तवित्तो विप्राय दत्त्वा वित्तमतोऽधिकम् । न सा मां मृगशावाक्षी वेत्ति पापतरं कृतम् ॥ 8.100 ॥

upāttavitto viprāya dattvā vittamato 'dhikam / na sā māṃ mṛgaśāvākṣī vetti pāpataraṃ kṛtam // 8.100 //

'Having received the money and given even more than that to the brahmana — she, that fawn-eyed one, does not know that I have done something even more sinful still.'

Verse 101 (markandeya.8.101)

राज्यनाशः सुहृत्त्यागो भर्यातनयविक्रयः । प्राप्ता चण्डालता चेयमहो दुः खपरम्परा ॥ 8.101 ॥

rājyanāśaḥ suhṛttyāgo bharyātanayavikrayaḥ / prāptā caṇḍālatā ceyamaho duḥ khaparamparā // 8.101 //

'The loss of my kingdom, the forsaking of my friends, the selling of my wife and son, and now this — becoming a chandala's own — ah, what an unbroken chain of sorrow!'

Verse 102 (markandeya.8.102)

एवं स निवसन् नित्यं सस्मार दयितं सुतम् । आर्याञ्चात्मसमाविष्टां हृतसर्वस्व आतुरः ॥ 8.102 ॥

evaṃ sa nivasan nityaṃ sasmāra dayitaṃ sutam / āryāñcātmasamāviṣṭāṃ hṛtasarvasva āturaḥ // 8.102 //

Thus dwelling there, day after day, stripped of all he had, he remembered constantly his beloved son and his noble wife, who was as dear to him as his own self, and grieved.

Verse 103 (markandeya.8.103)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य मृतचेलापहारकः । हरिश्चन्द्रोऽभवद्राजा श्मशाने तद्वशानुगः ॥ 8.103 ॥

kasyacittvatha kālasya mṛtacelāpahārakaḥ / hariścandro 'bhavadrājā śmaśāne tadvaśānugaḥ // 8.103 //

After some time, King Harishchandra, now under that chandala's command, became the one who takes the shrouds of the dead, in the cremation ground.

Verse 104 (markandeya.8.104)

चण्डालेनानुशिष्टश्व मृतचेलापहारिणा । शवागमनमन्विच्छन्निह तिष्ठ दिवानिशम् ॥ 8.104 ॥

caṇḍālenānuśiṣṭaśva mṛtacelāpahāriṇā / śavāgamanamanvicchanniha tiṣṭha divāniśam // 8.104 //

Instructed by the chandala, that taker of dead men's shrouds, he was told: 'Stay here day and night, watching for the arrival of corpses.'

Verse 105 (markandeya.8.105)

इदं राज्ञेऽपि देयञ्च षड्भागन्तु शवं प्रति । त्रयस्तु मम भागाः स्युर्द्वो भागौ तव वेतनम् ॥ 8.105 ॥

idaṃ rājñe 'pi deyañca ṣaḍbhāgantu śavaṃ prati / trayastu mama bhāgāḥ syurdvo bhāgau tava vetanam // 8.105 //

'For every corpse, this is what is due to the king too: of six shares, three shall be mine, and two shares shall be your wage.'

Verse 106 (markandeya.8.106)

इति प्रतिसमादिष्टो जगाम शवमन्दिरम् । दिशन्तु दक्षिणां यत्र वाराणस्यां स्थितं तदा ॥ 8.106 ॥

iti pratisamādiṣṭo jagāma śavamandiram / diśantu dakṣiṇāṃ yatra vārāṇasyāṃ sthitaṃ tadā // 8.106 //

Thus instructed, he went to the abode of the dead, there in Varanasi, which lies as it were toward the southern quarter.

Verse 107 (markandeya.8.107)

श्मशानं घोरसंनादं शिवाशतसमाकुलम् । शवमौलिसमाकीर्णं दुर्गन्धं बहुधूमकम् ॥ 8.107 ॥

śmaśānaṃ ghorasaṃnādaṃ śivāśatasamākulam / śavamaulisamākīrṇaṃ durgandhaṃ bahudhūmakam // 8.107 //

That cremation ground, filled with dreadful howling, thronged with hundreds of jackals, strewn with the heads of corpses, foul-smelling, thick with smoke —

Verse 108 (markandeya.8.108)

पिशाच-भूत-वेताल-डाकिनी-यक्षसङ्कुलम् । गृध्रगोमायुसङ्कीर्णं श्ववृन्दपरिवारितम् ॥ 8.108 ॥

piśāca-bhūta-vetāla-ḍākinī-yakṣasaṅkulam / gṛdhragomāyusaṅkīrṇaṃ śvavṛndaparivāritam // 8.108 //

— crowded with pishachas, bhutas, vetalas, dakinis, and yakshas, teeming with vultures and jackals, surrounded by packs of dogs,

Verse 109 (markandeya.8.109)

अस्थिसंघातसङ्कीर्णं महादुर्गन्धसंकुलम् । नानामृतसुहृन्नाद-रौद्रकोलाहलायुतम् ॥ 8.109 ॥

asthisaṃghātasaṅkīrṇaṃ mahādurgandhasaṃkulam / nānāmṛtasuhṛnnāda-raudrakolāhalāyutam // 8.109 //

strewn with heaps of bones, filled with an overpowering stench, ringing with the terrible wailing of the various kinsfolk of the dead —

Verse 110 (markandeya.8.110)

हा पुत्र ! मित्र ! हा बन्धो ! भ्रातर्वत्स ! प्रियाद्य मे । हा पते ! भगिनि ! मातर्हा मातुल ! पितामह ॥ 8.110 ॥

hā putra ! mitra ! hā bandho ! bhrātarvatsa ! priyādya me / hā pate ! bhagini ! mātarhā mātula ! pitāmaha // 8.110 //

'Alas, my son! My friend! Alas, my kinsman! My brother, my child, my beloved — oh! Alas, my husband! My sister! My mother! Alas, my uncle! My grandfather!'

Verse 111 (markandeya.8.111)

मातामह ! पितः ! क्व गतोऽस्येहि बान्धव । इत्येवं वदतां यत्र ध्वनिः संश्रुयते महान् ॥ 8.111 ॥

mātāmaha ! pitaḥ ! kva gato 'syehi bāndhava / ityevaṃ vadatāṃ yatra dhvaniḥ saṃśruyate mahān // 8.111 //

'My grandfather! My father! Where have you gone? Come back, kinsman!' — a great clamor of such cries was to be heard there on every side.

Verse 112 (markandeya.8.112)

ज्वलन्मांस-वसा-मेदच्छमच्छमितसंकुलम् ॥ 8.112 ॥

jvalanmāṃsa-vasā-medacchamacchamitasaṃkulam // 8.112 //

The ground was thick with the hissing crackle of burning flesh, fat, and marrow —

Verse 113 (markandeya.8.113)

अर्धदग्धाः शवाः श्यामा विकसद्दन्तपङ्क्तयः । हसन्तीवाग्निमध्यस्थाः कायस्येयं दशा त्विति ॥ 8.113 ॥

ardhadagdhāḥ śavāḥ śyāmā vikasaddantapaṅktayaḥ / hasantīvāgnimadhyasthāḥ kāyasyeyaṃ daśā tviti // 8.113 //

— half-burned corpses, blackened, their rows of teeth bared, seeming almost to laugh from amid the flames, as if to say, 'This is what becomes of the body!'

Verse 114 (markandeya.8.114)

अग्नेश्चटचटाशब्दो वयसामस्थिपङ्क्तिषु । बान्धवाक्रान्दशब्दश्च पुक्कसेषु प्रहर्षजः ॥ 8.114 ॥

agneścaṭacaṭāśabdo vayasāmasthipaṅktiṣu / bāndhavākrāndaśabdaśca pukkaseṣu praharṣajaḥ // 8.114 //

The crackling of fire among rows of bones where birds perched, the wailing cries of grieving kinsfolk, and, among the corpse-attendants, sounds born of a grim delight —

Verse 115 (markandeya.8.115)

गायतां भूत-वेताल-पिशाचगणः रक्षसाम् । श्रूयते सुमहान् घोरः कल्पान्त इव निः स्वनः ॥ 8.115 ॥

gāyatāṃ bhūta-vetāla-piśācagaṇaḥ rakṣasām / śrūyate sumahān ghoraḥ kalpānta iva niḥ svanaḥ // 8.115 //

— and the singing of hosts of bhutas, vetalas, pishachas, and rakshasas — a vast, terrible din was to be heard there, as if it were the very dissolution of the world.

Verse 116 (markandeya.8.116)

महामहिषकारीष-गोशकृद्राशिसङ्कुलम् । तदुत्थभस्मकूटैश्च वृतं सास्थिभिरुन्नतैः ॥ 8.116 ॥

mahāmahiṣakārīṣa-gośakṛdrāśisaṅkulam / tadutthabhasmakūṭaiśca vṛtaṃ sāsthibhirunnataiḥ // 8.116 //

The ground was littered with heaps of dried buffalo- and cow-dung, surrounded by mounds of ash risen from them, and by piles of jutting bones —

Verse 117 (markandeya.8.117)

नानोपहारस्त्रग्दीप-काकविक्षेपकालिकम् । अनेकशब्दबहुलं श्मशानं नरकायते ॥ 8.117 ॥

nānopahārastragdīpa-kākavikṣepakālikam / anekaśabdabahulaṃ śmaśānaṃ narakāyate // 8.117 //

— darkened by scattered funeral offerings, garlands, and lamps knocked about by crows, loud with a multitude of sounds — that cremation ground seemed nothing less than hell itself.

Verse 118 (markandeya.8.118)

सवह्निगर्भैरशिवैः शिवारुतैर् । निनादितं भीषणरावगह्वरम् । भयं भयस्याप्युपसञ्जनैर्भृशं । श्मशानमाक्रन्दविरावदारुणम् ॥ 8.118 ॥

savahnigarbhairaśivaiḥ śivārutair / nināditaṃ bhīṣaṇarāvagahvaram / bhayaṃ bhayasyāpyupasañjanairbhṛśaṃ / śmaśānamākrandavirāvadāruṇam // 8.118 //

Resounding with the inauspicious howling of jackals mixed with the crackle of fire, echoing with terrifying, cavernous cries — a place that struck fear even into fear itself — that cremation ground was dreadful with its wailing and its shrieking.

Verse 119 (markandeya.8.119)

स राजा तत्र सम्प्राप्तो दुः खितः शोचनोद्यतः । हा भृत्या मन्त्रिणो विप्राः तद्राज्यं विधे गतम् ॥ 8.119 ॥

sa rājā tatra samprāpto duḥ khitaḥ śocanodyataḥ / hā bhṛtyā mantriṇo viprāḥ tadrājyaṃ vidhe gatam // 8.119 //

There the king, arrived at that place, sorrowful, given over to grief, cried out: 'Alas, my servants, my ministers, my brahmanas — O fate, my kingdom is gone!'

Verse 120 (markandeya.8.120)

हा शैव्ये पुत्र हा बाल मां त्यक्त्वा मन्दभाग्यकम् । विश्वामित्रस्य दोषेण गताः कुत्रापि ते मम ॥ 8.120 ॥

hā śaivye putra hā bāla māṃ tyaktvā mandabhāgyakam / viśvāmitrasya doṣeṇa gatāḥ kutrāpi te mama // 8.120 //

'Alas, Shaivya! My child, alas! Having left me, so unfortunate as I am — through Vishvamitra's doing, where have you gone from me, all of you?'

Verse 121 (markandeya.8.121)

इत्येवं चिन्तयंस्तत्र चण्डालोक्तं पुनः पुनः । मलिनो रूक्षसर्वाङ्गः केशवान् गन्धवान् ध्वजी ॥ 8.121 ॥

ityevaṃ cintayaṃstatra caṇḍāloktaṃ punaḥ punaḥ / malino rūkṣasarvāṅgaḥ keśavān gandhavān dhvajī // 8.121 //

Thinking thus, there, and repeating the chandala's instructions again and again, filthy, his whole body rough and unwashed, his hair matted, reeking, carrying a banner —

Verse 122 (markandeya.8.122)

लकुटी कालकल्पश्च धावंश्चापि ततस्ततः । अस्मिन् शव इदं मूल्यं प्राप्तं प्राप्स्यामि चाप्युत ॥ 8.122 ॥

lakuṭī kālakalpaśca dhāvaṃścāpi tatastataḥ / asmin śava idaṃ mūlyaṃ prāptaṃ prāpsyāmi cāpyuta // 8.122 //

— staff in hand, resembling Death himself, running back and forth, he would say: 'For this corpse, this is the fee I have received — and this too I shall yet receive.'

Verse 123 (markandeya.8.123)

इदं मम इदं राज्ञे मुख्यचण्डालके त्विदम् । इति धावन् दिशो राजा जीवन् योन्यन्तरं गतः ॥ 8.123 ॥

idaṃ mama idaṃ rājñe mukhyacaṇḍālake tvidam / iti dhāvan diśo rājā jīvan yonyantaraṃ gataḥ // 8.123 //

'This share is mine, this is the king's, and this belongs to the chief chandala' — thus running about in every direction, the king, though still alive, had come as if into another existence entirely.

Verse 124 (markandeya.8.124)

जीर्णकर्पण्टसुग्रन्थि-कृतकन्थापरिग्रहः चिताभस्मरजोलिप्त-मुखबाहूदराङिघ्रकः ॥ 8.124 ॥

jīrṇakarpaṇṭasugranthi-kṛtakanthāparigrahaḥ citābhasmarajolipta-mukhabāhūdarāṅighrakaḥ // 8.124 //

Clad in a patched garment of tattered, tightly-knotted rags, his face, arms, belly, and feet smeared with the dust of the pyre's ashes,

Verse 125 (markandeya.8.125)

नानामेदो-वसा-मज्जा लिप्तपाण्यङ्गुलिः श्वसन् । नानाशवोदनकृता-हारतृप्तिपरायणः ॥ 8.125 ॥

nānāmedo-vasā-majjā liptapāṇyaṅguliḥ śvasan / nānāśavodanakṛtā-hāratṛptiparāyaṇaḥ // 8.125 //

his fingers smeared with the fat, marrow, and grease of all manner of corpses, breathing hard, sustaining himself only on food received for handling the many corpses,

Verse 126 (markandeya.8.126)

तदीयमाल्यसंश्लेषकृतमस्तकमण्डनः । न रात्रौ न दिवा शेते हा हेति प्रवदन् मुहुः ॥ 8.126 ॥

tadīyamālyasaṃśleṣakṛtamastakamaṇḍanaḥ / na rātrau na divā śete hā heti pravadan muhuḥ // 8.126 //

his head adorned only with the garlands stripped from the dead, he slept neither by night nor by day, crying out again and again, 'Alas, alas!'

Verse 127 (markandeya.8.127)

एवं द्वादशमासास्तु नीताः शतसमोपमाः । स कदाचिन्नृपश्रेष्ठः श्रान्तो बन्धुवियोगवान् ॥ 8.127 ॥

evaṃ dvādaśamāsāstu nītāḥ śatasamopamāḥ / sa kadācinnṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ śrānto bandhuviyogavān // 8.127 //

Thus twelve months passed, each feeling like a hundred years. Then once, that best of kings, exhausted, still stricken by separation from his kin —

Verse 128 (markandeya.8.128)

निद्राभिभूतो रूक्षाङ्गो निश्चेष्टः सुप्त एव च । तत्रापि शयनीये स दृष्टवानद्भुतं हमत् ॥ 8.128 ॥

nidrābhibhūto rūkṣāṅgo niśceṣṭaḥ supta eva ca / tatrāpi śayanīye sa dṛṣṭavānadbhutaṃ hamat // 8.128 //

— overcome by sleep, his body worn rough, motionless, fast asleep — even there, upon his makeshift bed, he beheld something wondrous and great.

Verse 129 (markandeya.8.129)

श्मशानाभ्यासयोगेन दैवस्य बलवत्तया । अन्यदेहेन दत्त्वा तु गुरवे गुरुदक्षिणाम् ॥ 8.129 ॥

śmaśānābhyāsayogena daivasya balavattayā / anyadehena dattvā tu gurave gurudakṣiṇām // 8.129 //

Through his long dwelling in the cremation ground, and through the overwhelming power of fate, he saw himself, in another body, having paid the guru's fee to his teacher —

Verse 130 (markandeya.8.130)

तदा द्वादश वर्षाणि दुः खदानात्तु निष्कृतिः । आत्मानं स ददर्शाथ पुक्कसीगर्भसम्भवम् ॥ 8.130 ॥

tadā dvādaśa varṣāṇi duḥ khadānāttu niṣkṛtiḥ / ātmānaṃ sa dadarśātha pukkasīgarbhasambhavam // 8.130 //

— that fee being twelve years of suffering, given as expiation — and he then saw himself as one born from the womb of a pukkasi woman.

Verse 131 (markandeya.8.131)

तत्रस्थश्चाप्यसौ राजा सोऽचिन्तयदिदं तदा । इतो निष्क्रान्तमात्रो हि दानधर्मं करोम्यहम् ॥ 8.131 ॥

tatrasthaścāpyasau rājā so 'cintayadidaṃ tadā / ito niṣkrāntamātro hi dānadharmaṃ karomyaham // 8.131 //

And the king, present there in that vision, then thought this: 'As soon as I am free of this state, I shall practice the dharma of giving.'

Verse 132 (markandeya.8.132)

अनन्तरं स जातस्तु तदा पुक्कसबालकः । श्मशानमृतसंस्कार-करणेषु सदोद्यतः ॥ 8.132 ॥

anantaraṃ sa jātastu tadā pukkasabālakaḥ / śmaśānamṛtasaṃskāra-karaṇeṣu sadodyataḥ // 8.132 //

Thereafter he was born as a pukkasa child, ever occupied in the cremation ground with the funeral rites of the dead.

Verse 133 (markandeya.8.133)

प्राप्ते तु सप्तमे वर्षे श्मशानेऽथ मृतो द्विजः । आनीतो बन्धुभिर्दृष्टस्तेन तत्राधनो गुणी ॥ 8.133 ॥

prāpte tu saptame varṣe śmaśāne 'tha mṛto dvijaḥ / ānīto bandhubhirdṛṣṭastena tatrādhano guṇī // 8.133 //

When he had reached his seventh year, a dead brahmana was brought to the cremation ground by his kinsfolk; and he, though of good qualities, was penniless.

Verse 134 (markandeya.8.134)

मूल्यार्थिना तु तेनापि परिभूतास्तु ब्राह्मणाः । ऊचुस्ते ब्राह्मणास्तत्र विश्वामित्रस्य चेष्टितम् ॥ 8.134 ॥

mūlyārthinā tu tenāpi paribhūtāstu brāhmaṇāḥ / ūcuste brāhmaṇāstatra viśvāmitrasya ceṣṭitam // 8.134 //

Being pressed by him for his fee, those brahmanas felt themselves affronted; and those brahmanas there spoke of Vishvamitra's own doing:

Verse 135 (markandeya.8.135)

पापिष्ठमशुभं कर्म कुरु त्वं पापकारक । हरिश्चन्द्रः पुरा राजा विश्वामित्रेण पुक्कसः ॥ 8.135 ॥

pāpiṣṭhamaśubhaṃ karma kuru tvaṃ pāpakāraka / hariścandraḥ purā rājā viśvāmitreṇa pukkasaḥ // 8.135 //

'You commit the most sinful, inauspicious deed, you doer of evil! Long ago, King Harishchandra was made a pukkasa by Vishvamitra,'

Verse 136 (markandeya.8.136)

कृतः पुण्यविनाशेन ब्राह्मणस्वापनाशनात् । यदा न क्षमते तेषां तैः स शप्तो रुषा तदा ॥ 8.136 ॥

kṛtaḥ puṇyavināśena brāhmaṇasvāpanāśanāt / yadā na kṣamate teṣāṃ taiḥ sa śapto ruṣā tadā // 8.136 //

'— brought to that state through the loss of his merit, for having withheld brahmana-property. And when he could not obtain their forgiveness for it, they cursed him then in their fury:'

Verse 137 (markandeya.8.137)

गच्छ त्वं नरकं घोरमधुनैव नराधम । इत्युक्तमात्रे वचने स्वप्नस्थः स नृपस्तदा ॥ 8.137 ॥

gaccha tvaṃ narakaṃ ghoramadhunaiva narādhama / ityuktamātre vacane svapnasthaḥ sa nṛpastadā // 8.137 //

'Go, this instant, vilest of men, to dreadful hell!' — and no sooner were these words spoken than the king, there in his dream,

Verse 138 (markandeya.8.138)

अपश्यद्यमदूतान् वै पाशहस्तान् भयावहान् । तैः संगृहीतमात्मानं नीयमानं तदा बलात् ॥ 8.138 ॥

apaśyadyamadūtān vai pāśahastān bhayāvahān / taiḥ saṃgṛhītamātmānaṃ nīyamānaṃ tadā balāt // 8.138 //

beheld Yama's messengers, nooses in hand, terrifying to behold; and saw himself seized by them and dragged away by force.

Verse 139 (markandeya.8.139)

पश्यति स्म भृशं खिन्नो हा मातः पितरद्य मे । एवंवादी स नरके तैलद्रोण्यां निपातितः ॥ 8.139 ॥

paśyati sma bhṛśaṃ khinno hā mātaḥ pitaradya me / evaṃvādī sa narake tailadroṇyāṃ nipātitaḥ // 8.139 //

He watched, utterly wretched — 'Alas, my mother! My father!' he cried — and, crying out thus, he was cast down into a great vat of boiling oil in that hell.

Verse 140 (markandeya.8.140)

क्रकचैः पाट्यमानस्तु क्षुरधाराभिरप्यधः । अन्धे तमसि दुः खार्तः पूयशोणितभोजनः ॥ 8.140 ॥

krakacaiḥ pāṭyamānastu kṣuradhārābhirapyadhaḥ / andhe tamasi duḥ khārtaḥ pūyaśoṇitabhojanaḥ // 8.140 //

He was sawn asunder by saws, and below, by razor-edged blades; tormented in blind darkness, forced to feed on pus and blood.

Verse 141 (markandeya.8.141)

सप्तवर्षं मृतात्मानं पुक्कसत्वे ददर्श ह । दिनं दिनन्तु नरके दह्यते पच्यतेऽन्यतः ॥ 8.141 ॥

saptavarṣaṃ mṛtātmānaṃ pukkasatve dadarśa ha / dinaṃ dinantu narake dahyate pacyate 'nyataḥ // 8.141 //

He beheld himself thus, dead, seven years old, suffering in that outcaste state; and day by day in hell he was burned, and, elsewhere, cooked,

Verse 142 (markandeya.8.142)

खिद्यते क्षोभ्यतेऽन्यत्र मार्यते पाट्यतेऽन्यतः । क्षार्यते दीप्यतेऽन्यत्र शीतवाताहतोऽन्यतः ॥ 8.142 ॥

khidyate kṣobhyate 'nyatra māryate pāṭyate 'nyataḥ / kṣāryate dīpyate 'nyatra śītavātāhato 'nyataḥ // 8.142 //

tormented, and elsewhere battered, slain, and elsewhere cut apart, scalded with caustic, and elsewhere set aflame, and elsewhere struck by icy winds.

Verse 143 (markandeya.8.143)

एवं दिनं वर्षशत-प्रमाणं नरकेऽभवत् । तथा वर्षशतं तत्र श्रीवितं नरके भटैः ॥ 8.143 ॥

evaṃ dinaṃ varṣaśata-pramāṇaṃ narake 'bhavat / tathā varṣaśataṃ tatra śrīvitaṃ narake bhaṭaiḥ // 8.143 //

Thus each day in that hell equaled the measure of a hundred years; and for a hundred such years he was kept there by Yama's warriors.

Verse 144 (markandeya.8.144)

ततो निपातितो भूमौ विष्ठाशी श्वा व्यजायत । वान्ताशी शीतदग्धश्च मासमात्रे मृतोऽपि सः ॥ 8.144 ॥

tato nipātito bhūmau viṣṭhāśī śvā vyajāyata / vāntāśī śītadagdhaśca māsamātre mṛto 'pi saḥ // 8.144 //

Then, cast down upon the earth, he was born as a dog that eats filth; feeding on vomit, scorched by the cold, he died again within a single month.

Verse 145 (markandeya.8.145)

अथापश्यत् खरं देहं हस्तिनं वानरं पशुम् । छागं विडालं कङ्कञ्च गामविं पक्षिणं कृमिम् ॥ 8.145 ॥

athāpaśyat kharaṃ dehaṃ hastinaṃ vānaraṃ paśum / chāgaṃ viḍālaṃ kaṅkañca gāmaviṃ pakṣiṇaṃ kṛmim // 8.145 //

Then he saw himself take the body of a donkey, an elephant, a monkey, a beast, a goat, a cat, a heron, a cow, a sheep, a bird, a worm,

Verse 146 (markandeya.8.146)

मत्स्यं कूर्मं वराहञ्च श्वाविधं कुक्कुटं शुकम् । शारिकां स्थावरांश्चैव सर्पमन्यांश्व देहिनः ॥ 8.146 ॥

matsyaṃ kūrmaṃ varāhañca śvāvidhaṃ kukkuṭaṃ śukam / śārikāṃ sthāvarāṃścaiva sarpamanyāṃśva dehinaḥ // 8.146 //

a fish, a tortoise, a boar, a porcupine, a rooster, a parrot, a myna bird, and likewise a plant, a serpent, and other embodied creatures —

Verse 147 (markandeya.8.147)

दिवसे दिवसे जन्म प्राणिनः प्राणिनस्तदा । अपश्यद् दुः खसन्तप्तो दिनं वर्षशतं तथा ॥ 8.147 ॥

divase divase janma prāṇinaḥ prāṇinastadā / apaśyad duḥ khasantapto dinaṃ varṣaśataṃ tathā // 8.147 //

— a birth as a different creature every single day — thus he beheld himself, tormented with suffering, for as long as each day again equaled a hundred years.

Verse 148 (markandeya.8.148)

एवं वर्षशतं पूर्णं गतं तत्र कुयोनिषु । अपश्यच्च कदाचित् स राजा तत् स्वकुलोद्भवम् ॥ 8.148 ॥

evaṃ varṣaśataṃ pūrṇaṃ gataṃ tatra kuyoniṣu / apaśyacca kadācit sa rājā tat svakulodbhavam // 8.148 //

Thus a full hundred years passed there among those degraded births; and then the king once beheld himself born again in his own royal lineage.

Verse 149 (markandeya.8.149)

तत्र स्थितस्य तस्यापि राज्यं द्यूतेन हारितम् । भार्या हृता च पुत्रश्च स चैकाकी वनं गतः ॥ 8.149 ॥

tatra sthitasya tasyāpi rājyaṃ dyūtena hāritam / bhāryā hṛtā ca putraśca sa caikākī vanaṃ gataḥ // 8.149 //

Even there, dwelling as that man, his kingdom was lost to him at dice; his wife and son were seized from him, and he went alone into the forest.

Verse 150 (markandeya.8.150)

तत्रापश्यत स सिंहं वै व्यादितास्यं भयावहम् । बिभक्षयिषुमायातं शरभेण समन्वितम् ॥ 8.150 ॥

tatrāpaśyata sa siṃhaṃ vai vyāditāsyaṃ bhayāvaham / bibhakṣayiṣumāyātaṃ śarabheṇa samanvitam // 8.150 //

There he saw a lion, its jaws gaping wide, terrifying, coming toward him to devour him, accompanied by a sharabha.

Verse 151 (markandeya.8.151)

पुनश्च भक्षितः सोऽपि भार्यां शोचितुमुद्यतः । हा शैव्ये ! क्व गतास्यद्य मामिहापास्य दुः खितम् ॥ 8.151 ॥

punaśca bhakṣitaḥ so 'pi bhāryāṃ śocitumudyataḥ / hā śaivye ! kva gatāsyadya māmihāpāsya duḥ khitam // 8.151 //

And, being devoured, he yet found himself grieving for his wife: 'Alas, Shaivya! Where have you gone today, having abandoned me here in my sorrow?'

Verse 152 (markandeya.8.152)

अपश्यत् पुनरेवापि भार्यां स्वं सहपुत्रकाम् । त्रायस्व त्वं हरिश्चन्द्र किं द्यूतेन तव प्रभो ॥ 8.152 ॥

apaśyat punarevāpi bhāryāṃ svaṃ sahaputrakām / trāyasva tvaṃ hariścandra kiṃ dyūtena tava prabho // 8.152 //

Then he saw once more his own wife together with their child, crying: 'Save us, Harishchandra! What was the good of your gambling, my lord?'

Verse 153 (markandeya.8.153)

पुत्रस्ते शोच्यतां प्राप्तो भर्यंया शैव्यया सह । स नापश्यत् पुनरपि धावमानः पुनः पुनः ॥ 8.153 ॥

putraste śocyatāṃ prāpto bharyaṃyā śaivyayā saha / sa nāpaśyat punarapi dhāvamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ // 8.153 //

'Your son has come to a state deserving of grief, together with your wife Shaivya' — but, running about again and again, he could no longer see them at all.

Verse 154 (markandeya.8.154)

अथापश्यत् पुनरपि स्वर्गस्थः स नराधिपः । नीयते मुक्तकेशी सा दीना विवसना बलात् ॥ 8.154 ॥

athāpaśyat punarapi svargasthaḥ sa narādhipaḥ / nīyate muktakeśī sā dīnā vivasanā balāt // 8.154 //

Then, as if stationed in the heavens, that king saw again — she was being dragged away by force, her hair unbound, wretched, stripped of her garments,

Verse 155 (markandeya.8.155)

हाहावाक्यं प्रमुञ्चन्ती त्रायस्वेत्यसकृत्स्वना । अथापश्यत् पुनस्तत्र धर्मराजस्य शासनात् ॥ 8.155 ॥

hāhāvākyaṃ pramuñcantī trāyasvetyasakṛtsvanā / athāpaśyat punastatra dharmarājasya śāsanāt // 8.155 //

crying out again and again, 'Alas! Save me!' Then he saw again, there, by the command of the King of Dharma:

Verse 156 (markandeya.8.156)

आक्रान्दन्त्यन्तरीक्षस्था आगच्छेह नराधिप । विश्वामित्रेण विज्ञप्तो यमो राजंस्तवार्थतः ॥ 8.156 ॥

ākrāndantyantarīkṣasthā āgaccheha narādhipa / viśvāmitreṇa vijñapto yamo rājaṃstavārthataḥ // 8.156 //

'— she, wailing in the sky, cried, Come here, O king! Vishvamitra has petitioned Yama on your account, O king!'

Verse 157 (markandeya.8.157)

इत्युक्त्वा सर्पपाशैस्तु नीयते बलवद्विभुः । श्राद्धदेवेन कथितं विश्वामित्रस्य चेष्टितम् ॥ 8.157 ॥

ityuktvā sarpapāśaistu nīyate balavadvibhuḥ / śrāddhadevena kathitaṃ viśvāmitrasya ceṣṭitam // 8.157 //

Having said this, she, mighty as she was, was dragged off by serpent-nooses. Yama, the god of the ancestral rites, related to him Vishvamitra's own doing.

Verse 158 (markandeya.8.158)

तत्रापि तस्य विकृतिर्नाधर्मोत्था व्यवर्धत । एताः सर्वा दशास्तस्य याः स्वप्ने सम्प्रदर्शिताः ॥ 8.158 ॥

tatrāpi tasya vikṛtirnādharmotthā vyavardhata / etāḥ sarvā daśāstasya yāḥ svapne sampradarśitāḥ // 8.158 //

Even there, no distress born of any wrongdoing of his own arose in him. All these were the states shown to him, one after another, in that dream.

Verse 159 (markandeya.8.159)

सर्वास्तास्तेन सम्भुक्ता यावद्वर्षाणि द्वादश । अतीते द्वादशे वर्ष नीयमानो भटैर्बलात् ॥ 8.159 ॥

sarvāstāstena sambhuktā yāvadvarṣāṇi dvādaśa / atīte dvādaśe varṣa nīyamāno bhaṭairbalāt // 8.159 //

All of these he experienced, for as long as twelve years; and when the twelfth year had passed, being dragged along by force by Yama's warriors,

Verse 160 (markandeya.8.160)

यमं सोऽपश्यदाकारादुवाच च नराधिपम् । विश्वामित्रस्य कोपोऽयं दुर्निवार्यो महात्मनः ॥ 8.160 ॥

yamaṃ so 'paśyadākārāduvāca ca narādhipam / viśvāmitrasya kopo 'yaṃ durnivāryo mahātmanaḥ // 8.160 //

he beheld Yama, who, from his very appearance, spoke to the king: 'This wrath of the great-souled Vishvamitra is impossible even for me to avert.'

Verse 161 (markandeya.8.161)

पुत्रस्य ते मृत्युमपि प्रदास्यति स कौशिकः । गच्छ त्वं मानुषं लोकं दुः खशेषञ्च भुङ्क्ष्व वै । गतस्य तत्र राजेन्द्र श्रेयस्तव भविष्यति ॥ 8.161 ॥

putrasya te mṛtyumapi pradāsyati sa kauśikaḥ / gaccha tvaṃ mānuṣaṃ lokaṃ duḥ khaśeṣañca bhuṅkṣva vai / gatasya tatra rājendra śreyastava bhaviṣyati // 8.161 //

'That Kaushika will grant even the death of your son. Go now to the world of men, and undergo the remainder of your sorrow there — for, once you have gone there, O king, your good fortune shall follow.'

Verse 162 (markandeya.8.162)

व्यतीते द्वादशे वर्षे दुः खस्यान्ते नराधिपः । अन्तरीक्षाच्च पतितो यमदूतैः प्रणोदितः ॥ 8.162 ॥

vyatīte dvādaśe varṣe duḥ khasyānte narādhipaḥ / antarīkṣācca patito yamadūtaiḥ praṇoditaḥ // 8.162 //

When the twelfth year had passed, at the end of that suffering, the king, thrust down by Yama's messengers, fell from the sky —

Verse 163 (markandeya.8.163)

पतितो यमलोकाच्च विबुद्धो भयसम्भ्रमात् । अहो कष्टमिति ध्यात्वा क्षते क्षारावसेवनम् ॥ 8.163 ॥

patito yamalokācca vibuddho bhayasambhramāt / aho kaṣṭamiti dhyātvā kṣate kṣārāvasevanam // 8.163 //

— fallen, as it were, from Yama's own realm — and awoke in a fit of terror. 'Alas, what suffering!' he thought, as if caustic salt had been rubbed into an open wound.

Verse 164 (markandeya.8.164)

स्वप्ने दुः खं महद्दृष्टं यस्यान्तो नोपलभ्यते । स्वप्ने दृष्टं मया यत्तु किं नु मे द्वादशाः समाः ॥ 8.164 ॥

svapne duḥ khaṃ mahaddṛṣṭaṃ yasyānto nopalabhyate / svapne dṛṣṭaṃ mayā yattu kiṃ nu me dvādaśāḥ samāḥ // 8.164 //

'What a great sorrow I have witnessed in this dream, one whose end could not be found! But could it be that what I saw in my dream — could twelve years really have passed?'

Verse 165 (markandeya.8.165)

गतेत्यपृच्छत् तत्रस्थान् पुक्कसांस्तु स सम्भ्रमात् । नेत्युचुः केचित् तत्रस्था एवमेवापरेऽब्रुवन् ॥ 8.165 ॥

gatetyapṛcchat tatrasthān pukkasāṃstu sa sambhramāt / netyucuḥ kecit tatrasthā evamevāpare 'bruvan // 8.165 //

— thus, in his confusion, he asked the pukkasas standing there. 'No,' said some who stood there; and others said the very same.

Verse 166 (markandeya.8.166)

श्रुत्वा दुः खी तदा राजा देवान् शरणमीयिवान् । स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु मे देवाः शैव्याया बालकस्य च ॥ 8.166 ॥

śrutvā duḥ khī tadā rājā devān śaraṇamīyivān / svasti kurvantu me devāḥ śaivyāyā bālakasya ca // 8.166 //

Hearing this, the king, sorrowful, took refuge in the gods: 'May the gods grant well-being to me, and to Shaivya, and to our child.'

Verse 167 (markandeya.8.167)

नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे । परावराय शुद्धाय पुराणायाव्ययाय च ॥ 8.167 ॥

namo dharmāya mahate namaḥ kṛṣṇāya vedhase / parāvarāya śuddhāya purāṇāyāvyayāya ca // 8.167 //

'Homage to great Dharma; homage to dark Krishna, the ordainer, the highest and the lowest, the pure, the ancient, the imperishable —'

Verse 168 (markandeya.8.168)

नमो बृहस्पते तुभ्यं नमस्ते वासवाय च । एवमुक्त्वा स राजा तु युक्तः पुक्कसकर्मणि ॥ 8.168 ॥

namo bṛhaspate tubhyaṃ namaste vāsavāya ca / evamuktvā sa rājā tu yuktaḥ pukkasakarmaṇi // 8.168 //

'— homage to you, Brihaspati; homage to you, Vasava.' Having said this, the king, still bound to his outcaste's labor,

Verse 169 (markandeya.8.169)

शवानां मूल्यकरणे पुनर्नष्टस्मृतिर्यथा । मलिनो जटिलः कृष्णो लकुटी विह्वलो नृपः ॥ 8.169 ॥

śavānāṃ mūlyakaraṇe punarnaṣṭasmṛtiryathā / malino jaṭilaḥ kṛṣṇo lakuṭī vihvalo nṛpaḥ // 8.169 //

took up again the collecting of fees from the dead, as if his memory had once more been lost — filthy, matted-haired, dark, staff in hand, that bewildered king,

Verse 170 (markandeya.8.170)

नैव पुत्रो न भार्या तु तस्य वै स्मृतिगोचरे । नष्टोत्साहो राज्यनाशात् श्मशाने निवसंस्तदा ॥ 8.170 ॥

naiva putro na bhāryā tu tasya vai smṛtigocare / naṣṭotsāho rājyanāśāt śmaśāne nivasaṃstadā // 8.170 //

— neither his son nor his wife any longer within the reach of his memory — his spirit broken by the loss of his kingdom, dwelling there in the cremation ground.

Verse 171 (markandeya.8.171)

अथाजगाम स्वसुतं मृतमादाय लापिनी । भार्या तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य सर्पदष्टं हि बालकम् ॥ 8.171 ॥

athājagāma svasutaṃ mṛtamādāya lāpinī / bhāryā tasya narendrasya sarpadaṣṭaṃ hi bālakam // 8.171 //

Then there came, carrying her own dead son, a woman wailing — she was the wife of that lord of men — for the boy had died of a serpent's bite.

Verse 172 (markandeya.8.172)

हा वत्स ! हा पुत्र ! शिशो ! इत्येवं वदती मुहुः । कृशा विवर्णा विमनाः पांशुध्वस्तशिरोरुहा ॥ 8.172 ॥

hā vatsa ! hā putra ! śiśo ! ityevaṃ vadatī muhuḥ / kṛśā vivarṇā vimanāḥ pāṃśudhvastaśiroruhā // 8.172 //

'Alas, my child! Alas, my son! My little one!' — crying thus again and again, emaciated, pale, distraught, her hair caked with dust —

Verse 173 (markandeya.8.173)

राजपत्न्युवाच । हा राजन्नद्य बालं त्वं पश्य सोमं महीतले । रममाणं पुरा दृष्टं दुष्टाहिना मृतम् ॥ 8.173 ॥

rājapatnyuvāca / hā rājannadya bālaṃ tvaṃ paśya somaṃ mahītale / ramamāṇaṃ purā dṛṣṭaṃ duṣṭāhinā mṛtam // 8.173 //

the king's wife cried: 'Alas, O king, behold today your son Soma, once seen at play upon the earth — dead now, from a wicked serpent's bite!'

Verse 174 (markandeya.8.174)

तस्या विलापशब्दं तमाकर्ण्य स नराधिपः । जगाम त्वरितोऽत्रेति भविता मृतकम्बलः ॥ 8.174 ॥

tasyā vilāpaśabdaṃ tamākarṇya sa narādhipaḥ / jagāma tvarito 'treti bhavitā mṛtakambalaḥ // 8.174 //

Hearing the sound of her wailing, the king went there quickly, thinking, 'There must be a dead man's shroud to be had here.'

Verse 175 (markandeya.8.175)

स तां रोरुदतीं भार्यां नाभ्यजानात्तु पार्थिवः । चिरप्रवाससन्तप्तां पुनर्जातामिवाबलाम् ॥ 8.175 ॥

sa tāṃ rorudatīṃ bhāryāṃ nābhyajānāttu pārthivaḥ / cirapravāsasantaptāṃ punarjātāmivābalām // 8.175 //

But the king did not recognize his own weeping wife, worn down by long separation, that woman who seemed as if born anew in her suffering.

Verse 176 (markandeya.8.176)

सापि तं चारुकेशान्तं पुरा दृष्ट्वा जटालकम् । नाभ्यजानान्नृपसुता शुष्कवृक्षोपमं नृपम् ॥ 8.176 ॥

sāpi taṃ cārukeśāntaṃ purā dṛṣṭvā jaṭālakam / nābhyajānānnṛpasutā śuṣkavṛkṣopamaṃ nṛpam // 8.176 //

Nor did she, the princess, who had once seen him with his beautiful head of hair, recognize the king now, matted-haired, resembling a withered tree.

Verse 177 (markandeya.8.177)

सोऽपि कृष्णपटे बालं दृष्ट्वाशीविषपीडितम् । नरेन्द्रलक्षणोपेतं चिन्तामाप नरेश्वरः ॥ 8.177 ॥

so 'pi kṛṣṇapaṭe bālaṃ dṛṣṭvāśīviṣapīḍitam / narendralakṣaṇopetaṃ cintāmāpa nareśvaraḥ // 8.177 //

And he, seeing that child laid upon a black cloth, stricken by a venomous serpent, yet bearing the marks of royalty — that lord of men fell into deep thought:

Verse 178 (markandeya.8.178)

अहो कष्टं नरेन्द्रस्य कस्याप्येष कुले शिशुः । जातो नीतः कृतान्तेन कामप्याशां दुरात्मना ॥ 8.178 ॥

aho kaṣṭaṃ narendrasya kasyāpyeṣa kule śiśuḥ / jāto nītaḥ kṛtāntena kāmapyāśāṃ durātmanā // 8.178 //

'Ah, what suffering! This child, born in the family of some king, has been carried off by Death, that evil-souled one, snatching away some cherished hope.'

Verse 179 (markandeya.8.179)

एवं दृष्ट्वा हि मे बालं मातुरुत्सङ्गशायिनम् । स्मृतिमभ्यागतो बालो रोहिताश्वोऽब्जलोचनः ॥ 8.179 ॥

evaṃ dṛṣṭvā hi me bālaṃ māturutsaṅgaśāyinam / smṛtimabhyāgato bālo rohitāśvo 'bjalocanaḥ // 8.179 //

'Seeing this child of mine lying in his mother's lap in this way, I am reminded of my own boy, lotus-eyed Rohitashva —'

Verse 180 (markandeya.8.180)

सोऽप्येतामेव मे वत्सो वयोऽवस्थामुपागतः । नीतो यदि न घोरेण कृतान्तेनात्मनो वशम् ॥ 8.180 ॥

so 'pyetāmeva me vatso vayo 'vasthāmupāgataḥ / nīto yadi na ghoreṇa kṛtāntenātmano vaśam // 8.180 //

'— my own child, too, if he has not been carried off into the power of that terrible Death, would by now have reached just this same age.'

Verse 181 (markandeya.8.181)

राजपत्न्युवाच । हा वत्स ! कस्य पापस्य अपध्यानादिदं महत् । दुः खमापतितं घोरं यस्यान्तो नोपलभ्यते ॥ 8.181 ॥

rājapatnyuvāca / hā vatsa ! kasya pāpasya apadhyānādidaṃ mahat / duḥ khamāpatitaṃ ghoraṃ yasyānto nopalabhyate // 8.181 //

The king's wife said: 'Alas, my child! Through whose sin, whose evil design, has this vast and terrible sorrow befallen us, a sorrow whose end cannot be found?'

Verse 182 (markandeya.8.182)

हा नाथ ! राजन् ! भवता मामनाश्वास्य दुः खिताम् । क्वापि सन्तिष्ठता स्थाने विश्रब्धं स्थीयते कथम् ॥ 8.182 ॥

hā nātha ! rājan ! bhavatā māmanāśvāsya duḥ khitām / kvāpi santiṣṭhatā sthāne viśrabdhaṃ sthīyate katham // 8.182 //

'Alas, my lord, my king! Having left me, sorrowing, without comfort, and remaining yourself in some other place, how can I stay here trusting that all will be well?'

Verse 183 (markandeya.8.183)

राज्यनाशः सुहृत्त्यागो भार्यातनयविक्रयः । हरिश्चन्द्रस्य राजर्षेः किं विधे ! न कृतं त्वया ॥ 8.183 ॥

rājyanāśaḥ suhṛttyāgo bhāryātanayavikrayaḥ / hariścandrasya rājarṣeḥ kiṃ vidhe ! na kṛtaṃ tvayā // 8.183 //

'The loss of the kingdom, the forsaking of friends, the sale of wife and son — what, O fate, have you not done to royal sage Harishchandra!'

Verse 184 (markandeya.8.184)

इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा राजा स्वस्थानतश्च्युतः । प्रत्यभिज्ञाय दयितां पुत्रञ्च निधनं गतम् ॥ 8.184 ॥

iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā rājā svasthānataścyutaḥ / pratyabhijñāya dayitāṃ putrañca nidhanaṃ gatam // 8.184 //

Hearing these words of hers, the king, shaken from his very composure, recognized at last his beloved wife, and his son, now dead —

Verse 185 (markandeya.8.185)

कष्टं शैव्येयमेषा हि स बालोऽयमितीरयन् । रुरोद दुः खसन्तप्तो मूर्च्छामभिजगाम च ॥ 8.185 ॥

kaṣṭaṃ śaivyeyameṣā hi sa bālo 'yamitīrayan / ruroda duḥ khasantapto mūrcchāmabhijagāma ca // 8.185 //

— crying out, 'What suffering! This is indeed Shaivya, and this is that very child!' — he wept, tormented with grief, and fell into a swoon.

Verse 186 (markandeya.8.186)

सा च तं प्रत्यभिज्ञाय तामवस्थामुपागतम् । मूर्च्छिता निपपातार्ता निश्चेष्टा धरणीतले ॥ 8.186 ॥

sā ca taṃ pratyabhijñāya tāmavasthāmupāgatam / mūrcchitā nipapātārtā niśceṣṭā dharaṇītale // 8.186 //

And she too, recognizing him now, come to such a state, fell down in a swoon, stricken, motionless, upon the ground.

Verse 187 (markandeya.8.187)

चेतः सम्प्राप्य राजेन्द्रो राजपत्नी च तै समम् । विलेपतुः सुसन्तप्तौ शोकभारावपीडितौ ॥ 8.187 ॥

cetaḥ samprāpya rājendro rājapatnī ca tai samam / vilepatuḥ susantaptau śokabhārāvapīḍitau // 8.187 //

Regaining their senses, the king and his queen together wept bitterly, both crushed beneath the weight of their grief.

Verse 188 (markandeya.8.188)

राजोवाच । हा वत्स ! सुकुमारं ते स्वक्षिभ्रूनासिकालकम् । पश्यतो मे मुखं दीनं हृदयं किं न दीर्यते ॥ 8.188 ॥

rājovāca / hā vatsa ! sukumāraṃ te svakṣibhrūnāsikālakam / paśyato me mukhaṃ dīnaṃ hṛdayaṃ kiṃ na dīryate // 8.188 //

The king said: 'Alas, my child! Looking now upon your once-delicate eyes, brows, and nose, now this wretched face — how does my heart not break in two?'

Verse 189 (markandeya.8.189)

तात ! तातेति मधुरं ब्रुवाणं स्वयमागतम् । उपगुह्य वदिष्ये कं वत्स ! वत्सेति सौहृदात् ॥ 8.189 ॥

tāta ! tāteti madhuraṃ bruvāṇaṃ svayamāgatam / upaguhya vadiṣye kaṃ vatsa ! vatseti sauhṛdāt // 8.189 //

'Whom now shall I embrace, who once came running to me himself, calling sweetly, Father, father! — to whom shall I say, in love, My child, my child?'

Verse 190 (markandeya.8.190)

कस्य जानुप्रणीतेन पिङ्गेन क्षितिरेणुना । ममोत्तरीयमुत्सङ्गं तथाङ्गं मलमेष्यति ॥ 8.190 ॥

kasya jānupraṇītena piṅgena kṣitireṇunā / mamottarīyamutsaṅgaṃ tathāṅgaṃ malameṣyati // 8.190 //

'Whose knees, brought to my lap, whose tawny dust of the earth, will ever again soil my upper garment and my very limbs?'

Verse 191 (markandeya.8.191)

अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसम्भूतो मनोहृदयनन्दनः । मया कुपित्रा हा वत्स ! विक्रीतो येन वस्तुवत् ॥ 8.191 ॥

aṅgapratyaṅgasambhūto manohṛdayanandanaḥ / mayā kupitrā hā vatsa ! vikrīto yena vastuvat // 8.191 //

'That delight of my heart and mind, born of my own body, limb by limb — alas, my child, sold by me, his wretched father, as if he were mere goods!'

Verse 192 (markandeya.8.192)

हृत्वा राज्यमशेषं मे ससाधनधनं महत् । दैवाहिना नृशंसेन दष्टो मे तनयस्ततः ॥ 8.192 ॥

hṛtvā rājyamaśeṣaṃ me sasādhanadhanaṃ mahat / daivāhinā nṛśaṃsena daṣṭo me tanayastataḥ // 8.192 //

'Having stripped from me my entire kingdom, with all its great wealth and resources, cruel Fate, in the form of a serpent, has now bitten my son besides.'

Verse 193 (markandeya.8.193)

अहं दैवाहिदष्टस्य पुत्रस्याननपङ्कजम् । निरीक्षन्नपि घोरेण विषेणान्धीकृतोऽधुना ॥ 8.193 ॥

ahaṃ daivāhidaṣṭasya putrasyānanapaṅkajam / nirīkṣannapi ghoreṇa viṣeṇāndhīkṛto 'dhunā // 8.193 //

'Even as I gaze now upon the lotus face of my son, bitten by Fate's own serpent, I am, as it were, blinded by that same terrible venom.'

Verse 194 (markandeya.8.194)

एकमुक्त्तवा तमादाय बालकं बाष्पगद्गदः । परिष्वज्य च निश्चेष्टो मूर्च्छया निपपात ह ॥ 8.194 ॥

ekamukttavā tamādāya bālakaṃ bāṣpagadgadaḥ / pariṣvajya ca niśceṣṭo mūrcchayā nipapāta ha // 8.194 //

Having said this much, choked with tears, he took up the child, embraced him, and fell down motionless in a swoon.

Verse 195 (markandeya.8.195)

राजपत्न्युवाच । अयं स पुरुषव्याघ्रः स्वरेणैवोपलक्ष्यते । विद्वज्जनमनश्चन्द्रो हरिश्चन्द्रो न संशयः ॥ 8.195 ॥

rājapatnyuvāca / ayaṃ sa puruṣavyāghraḥ svareṇaivopalakṣyate / vidvajjanamanaścandro hariścandro na saṃśayaḥ // 8.195 //

The king's wife said: 'This is that very tiger among men — I know him by his voice alone! He is, beyond doubt, Harishchandra, the moon that delights the hearts of the wise.'

Verse 196 (markandeya.8.196)

तथास्य नासिका तुङ्गा अग्रतोऽधोमुखं गता । दन्ताश्च मुकुलप्रख्याः ख्यातकीर्तेर्महात्मनः ॥ 8.196 ॥

tathāsya nāsikā tuṅgā agrato 'dhomukhaṃ gatā / dantāśca mukulaprakhyāḥ khyātakīrtermahātmanaḥ // 8.196 //

'And there, that high, fine nose of his, curving slightly downward at its tip, and those teeth like opening buds — they belong to that great soul of famous renown.'

Verse 197 (markandeya.8.197)

श्मशानमागतः कस्मादद्यैष स नरेश्वरः । अपहाय पुत्रशोकं सापश्यत् पतितं पतिम् ॥ 8.197 ॥

śmaśānamāgataḥ kasmādadyaiṣa sa nareśvaraḥ / apahāya putraśokaṃ sāpaśyat patitaṃ patim // 8.197 //

'But why has this lord of men come to a cremation ground?' — and, setting aside her grief for her son, she looked upon her husband, fallen there.

Verse 198 (markandeya.8.198)

प्रकृष्टा विस्मिता दीना भर्तृपुत्राधिपीडिता । वीक्षन्ती सा ततोऽपश्यद् भर्तृदण्डं जुगुप्सितम् ॥ 8.198 ॥

prakṛṣṭā vismitā dīnā bhartṛputrādhipīḍitā / vīkṣantī sā tato 'paśyad bhartṛdaṇḍaṃ jugupsitam // 8.198 //

Overwhelmed, astonished, wretched, tormented by grief for both husband and son, gazing upon him, she then saw the loathsome badge of servitude her husband carried.

Verse 199 (markandeya.8.199)

श्वपाकार्हमतो मोहं जगामायतलोचना । प्राप्य चेतश्च शनकैः सगद्गदमभाषत ॥ 8.199 ॥

śvapākārhamato mohaṃ jagāmāyatalocanā / prāpya cetaśca śanakaiḥ sagadgadamabhāṣata // 8.199 //

Realizing then that he had become worthy of the dog-cooker's station, that large-eyed woman fainted; and, slowly regaining her senses, she spoke, her voice choked with tears:

Verse 200 (markandeya.8.200)

धिक् त्वां दैवातिकरुणां निर्मर्यादं जुगुप्सितम् । येनायममरप्रख्यो नीतो राजा श्वपाकताम् ॥ 8.200 ॥

dhik tvāṃ daivātikaruṇāṃ nirmaryādaṃ jugupsitam / yenāyamamaraprakhyo nīto rājā śvapākatām // 8.200 //

'Shame upon you, O merciless Fate, boundless and loathsome, by whom this king, resplendent as an immortal, has been brought to the state of a dog-cooker!'

Verse 201 (markandeya.8.201)

राज्यनाशं सुहृत्त्यागं भार्या-तनयविक्रयम् । प्रापयित्वापि नो कुक्तश्चण्डालोऽयं कृतो नृपः ॥ 8.201 ॥

rājyanāśaṃ suhṛttyāgaṃ bhāryā-tanayavikrayam / prāpayitvāpi no kuktaścaṇḍālo 'yaṃ kṛto nṛpaḥ // 8.201 //

'Not content with bringing upon him the loss of his kingdom, the forsaking of his friends, and the sale of his wife and son — you have made this king, too, a chandala!'

Verse 202 (markandeya.8.202)

हा राजन् ! जातसन्तापामित्थं मां धरणीतलात् । उत्थाप्य नाद्य पर्यङ्कमारोहेति किमुच्यते ॥ 8.202 ॥

hā rājan ! jātasantāpāmitthaṃ māṃ dharaṇītalāt / utthāpya nādya paryaṅkamāroheti kimucyate // 8.202 //

'Alas, O king, why do you not, as before, raise me up from the bare ground and say, Come, my grief-stricken one, ascend now to your couch?'

Verse 203 (markandeya.8.203)

नाद्य पश्यामि ते छत्रं भृङ्गारमथवा पुनः । चामरं व्यजनञ्चापि कोऽयं विधिविपर्ययः ॥ 8.203 ॥

nādya paśyāmi te chatraṃ bhṛṅgāramathavā punaḥ / cāmaraṃ vyajanañcāpi ko 'yaṃ vidhiviparyayaḥ // 8.203 //

'No longer do I see your royal umbrella, nor your golden water-vessel, nor your yak-tail whisk, nor your fan — what reversal of fate is this?'

Verse 204 (markandeya.8.204)

यस्याग्रे व्रजतः पूर्वं राजानो भृत्यतां गताः । स्वोत्तरीयैरकुर्वन्त नीरजस्कं महीतलम् ॥ 8.204 ॥

yasyāgre vrajataḥ pūrvaṃ rājāno bhṛtyatāṃ gatāḥ / svottarīyairakurvanta nīrajaskaṃ mahītalam // 8.204 //

'He before whom other kings once walked as servants, sweeping the very ground free of dust with their own upper garments —'

Verse 205 (markandeya.8.205)

सोऽयं कपालसंलग्न-घटीघटनिरन्तरे । मृतनिर्माल्यसूत्रान्तर्गूग्केशे सुदारुणे ॥ 8.205 ॥

so 'yaṃ kapālasaṃlagna-ghaṭīghaṭanirantare / mṛtanirmālyasūtrāntargūgkeśe sudāruṇe // 8.205 //

'— that very man now dwells, in this most dreadful place, unceasingly among rows of skulls set upon jars, among the discarded garlands and threads of the dead,'

Verse 206 (markandeya.8.206)

वसानिस्यन्दसंशुष्क-महीपुटकमण्डिते । भस्माङ्गारार्धदग्धास्थि-मज्जासङ्घट्टभीषणे ॥ 8.206 ॥

vasānisyandasaṃśuṣka-mahīpuṭakamaṇḍite / bhasmāṅgārārdhadagdhāsthi-majjāsaṅghaṭṭabhīṣaṇe // 8.206 //

'— a ground caked hard with dried, oozing fat, terrible with the clash of ashes, embers, half-burned bones, and marrow,'

Verse 207 (markandeya.8.207)

गृध्र-गोमायुनादार्तनष्टक्षुद्रविहङ्गमे । चिताधूमाततिरुचा नीलीकृतदिगन्तरे ॥ 8.207 ॥

gṛdhra-gomāyunādārtanaṣṭakṣudravihaṅgame / citādhūmātatirucā nīlīkṛtadigantare // 8.207 //

'— where small birds flee in terror at the cries of vultures and jackals, where the very horizon is dyed blue by the spreading smoke of the pyres,'

Verse 208 (markandeya.8.208)

कुणपास्वादनमुदा सम्प्रहृष्टनिशाचरे । चरत्यमेध्ये राजेन्द्रः श्मशाने दुः खपीडितः ॥ 8.208 ॥

kuṇapāsvādanamudā samprahṛṣṭaniśācare / caratyamedhye rājendraḥ śmaśāne duḥ khapīḍitaḥ // 8.208 //

'— where night-wandering spirits take a grim delight in tasting corpse-flesh — there, in that impure cremation ground, the king of kings now moves about, crushed by sorrow!'

Verse 209 (markandeya.8.209)

एवमुक्त्वा समाश्लिष्य कण्ठं राज्ञो नृपात्मजा । कष्टशोकशताधारा विललापार्तया गिरा ॥ 8.209 ॥

evamuktvā samāśliṣya kaṇṭhaṃ rājño nṛpātmajā / kaṣṭaśokaśatādhārā vilalāpārtayā girā // 8.209 //

Having said this, the princess embraced the king's neck, and, streaming with a hundredfold flood of anguished sorrow, wept aloud in a voice of utter distress.

Verse 210 (markandeya.8.210)

राजपत्न्युवाच । राजन् ! स्वप्नोऽथ तथ्यं वा यदेतन्मन्यते भवान् । तत् कथ्यतां महाभाग मनो वै मुह्यते मम ॥ 8.210 ॥

rājapatnyuvāca / rājan ! svapno 'tha tathyaṃ vā yadetanmanyate bhavān / tat kathyatāṃ mahābhāga mano vai muhyate mama // 8.210 //

The king's wife said: 'O king, whatever you believe this to be — a dream, or the truth — tell it to me, O illustrious one; my mind is utterly bewildered.'

Verse 211 (markandeya.8.211)

यद्येतदेवं धर्मज्ञ नास्ति धर्मे सहायता । तथैव विप्रदेवादिपूजने पालने भुवः ॥ 8.211 ॥

yadyetadevaṃ dharmajña nāsti dharme sahāyatā / tathaiva vipradevādipūjane pālane bhuvaḥ // 8.211 //

'If it is truly so, O knower of dharma, then there is no help to be had in dharma, nor in the worship of brahmanas and gods, nor in the protection of the earth,'

Verse 212 (markandeya.8.212)

नास्ति धर्मः कुतः सत्यमार्जवं चानृशंसता । यत्र त्वं धर्मपरमः स्वराज्यादवरोपितः ॥ 8.212 ॥

nāsti dharmaḥ kutaḥ satyamārjavaṃ cānṛśaṃsatā / yatra tvaṃ dharmaparamaḥ svarājyādavaropitaḥ // 8.212 //

'— there is no dharma, nor truth, nor honesty, nor freedom from cruelty, to be found anywhere — since you, who held dharma supreme, have been cast down from your own kingdom!'

Verse 213 (markandeya.8.213)

इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा निश्वस्योष्णं सगद्गदम् । कथयामास तन्वङ्ग्या यथा प्राप्ता श्वपाकता ॥ 8.213 ॥

iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā niśvasyoṣṇaṃ sagadgadam / kathayāmāsa tanvaṅgyā yathā prāptā śvapākatā // 8.213 //

Hearing these words of hers, sighing hot breaths, his voice choked, he related to that slender-limbed woman all that had brought him to this state of a dog-cooker.

Verse 214 (markandeya.8.214)

रुदित्वा सापि सुचिरं निश्वस्योष्णञ्च दुः खिता । स्वपुत्रमरणं भीरुर्यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत् ॥ 8.214 ॥

ruditvā sāpi suciraṃ niśvasyoṣṇañca duḥ khitā / svaputramaraṇaṃ bhīruryathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat // 8.214 //

And she too, having wept for a long while, sighing hot breaths in her sorrow, that timid woman told him, in turn, just how their son's death had come about.

Verse 215 (markandeya.8.215)

राजोवाच । प्रिये ! न रोचये दीर्घं कालं क्लेशमुपासितुम् । नात्मायत्तश्च तन्वङ्गि पश्य मे मन्दभाग्यताम् ॥ 8.215 ॥

rājovāca / priye ! na rocaye dīrghaṃ kālaṃ kleśamupāsitum / nātmāyattaśca tanvaṅgi paśya me mandabhāgyatām // 8.215 //

The king said: 'Beloved, I have no wish to go on enduring this suffering for a long time more; nor is anything left within my own control — behold, slender one, my sheer misfortune!'

Verse 216 (markandeya.8.216)

चण्डालेनाननुज्ञातः प्रवेक्ष्ये ज्वलनं यदि । चण्डालदासतां यास्ये पुनरप्यन्यजन्मनि ॥ 8.216 ॥

caṇḍālenānanujñātaḥ pravekṣye jvalanaṃ yadi / caṇḍāladāsatāṃ yāsye punarapyanyajanmani // 8.216 //

'If, without leave from the chandala, I were to enter the fire, then in yet another birth I would again become a chandala's slave.'

Verse 217 (markandeya.8.217)

नरके च तपिष्यामि कोटकः कृमिभोजनः । वैतरण्यां महापूय-वसासृक्-स्नायुपिच्छिले ॥ 8.217 ॥

narake ca tapiṣyāmi koṭakaḥ kṛmibhojanaḥ / vaitaraṇyāṃ mahāpūya-vasāsṛk-snāyupicchile // 8.217 //

'And I would suffer torment in hell, a mere worm devoured by worms, in the river Vaitarani, slimy with a vast filth of pus, fat, blood, and sinew,'

Verse 218 (markandeya.8.218)

असिपत्रवने प्राप्य छेदं प्राप्स्यामि दारुणम् । तापं प्राप्स्यामि वा प्राप्य महारौरवरौरवौ ॥ 8.218 ॥

asipatravane prāpya chedaṃ prāpsyāmi dāruṇam / tāpaṃ prāpsyāmi vā prāpya mahārauravarauravau // 8.218 //

'— and, coming to the forest of sword-blade leaves, I would suffer dreadful mutilation, or, coming to the great Raurava and Raurava hells, I would suffer burning.'

Verse 219 (markandeya.8.219)

मग्नस्य दुः खजलधौ पारः प्राणवियोजनम् । एकोऽपि बालको योऽयमासीद्वंशकरः सुतः ॥ 8.219 ॥

magnasya duḥ khajaladhau pāraḥ prāṇaviyojanam / eko 'pi bālako yo 'yamāsīdvaṃśakaraḥ sutaḥ // 8.219 //

'For one drowning in an ocean of sorrow, the only shore is the parting from one's own life — but this only child, who was to carry on our lineage —'

Verse 220 (markandeya.8.220)

मम दैवाम्बुवेगेन मग्नः सोऽपि बलीयसा । कथं प्राणान् विमुञ्चामि परायत्तोऽस्मि दुर्गतः ॥ 8.220 ॥

mama daivāmbuvegena magnaḥ so 'pi balīyasā / kathaṃ prāṇān vimuñcāmi parāyatto 'smi durgataḥ // 8.220 //

'— he too has been swept under by the mighty flood-tide of my own fate. How, then, can I give up my life, when I remain, in my wretchedness, not even master of myself?'

Verse 221 (markandeya.8.221)

अथवा नार्तिना क्लिष्टो नरः पापमवेक्षते । तिर्यक्त्वे नास्ति तद्दुः शं नासिपत्रवने तथा ॥ 8.221 ॥

athavā nārtinā kliṣṭo naraḥ pāpamavekṣate / tiryaktve nāsti tadduḥ śaṃ nāsipatravane tathā // 8.221 //

'Or rather — a man tormented by grief does not weigh his sin. There is no suffering, even in the state of an animal, or even in the forest of sword-blade leaves —'

Verse 222 (markandeya.8.222)

वैतरण्याङ्कुतस्तादृग् यादृशं पुत्रविप्लवे । सोऽहं सुतशिरीरेण दीप्यमाने हुताशने ॥ 8.222 ॥

vaitaraṇyāṅkutastādṛg yādṛśaṃ putraviplave / so 'haṃ sutaśirīreṇa dīpyamāne hutāśane // 8.222 //

'— nor even in the Vaitarani, that could equal the suffering of a father's ruin at the loss of a son. So I, together with my son's body, shall cast myself into the blazing fire,'

Verse 223 (markandeya.8.223)

निपतिष्यामि तन्वङ्गि क्षन्तव्यं कुकृतं मम । अनुज्ञाता च गच्छ त्वं विप्रवेश्म सुछिस्मिते ॥ 8.223 ॥

nipatiṣyāmi tanvaṅgi kṣantavyaṃ kukṛtaṃ mama / anujñātā ca gaccha tvaṃ vipraveśma suchismite // 8.223 //

'— slender one; forgive me this evil deed of mine. And you, with my leave, go back to the brahmana's house, O you of the lovely smile.'

Verse 224 (markandeya.8.224)

मम वाक्यञ्च तन्वङ्गि निबोधादृतमानसा । यदि दत्तं यदि हुतं गुरवो यदि तोषिताः ॥ 8.224 ॥

mama vākyañca tanvaṅgi nibodhādṛtamānasā / yadi dattaṃ yadi hutaṃ guravo yadi toṣitāḥ // 8.224 //

'And hear this word of mine too, slender one, with an attentive heart: if I have given gifts, if I have offered oblations, if I have brought contentment to my elders —'

Verse 225 (markandeya.8.225)

परत्र सङ्गमो भूयात् पुत्रेण सह च त्वया । इह लोके कुतस्त्वेतद् भविष्यति ममेङ्गितम् ॥ 8.225 ॥

paratra saṅgamo bhūyāt putreṇa saha ca tvayā / iha loke kutastvetad bhaviṣyati mameṅgitam // 8.225 //

'— then may I be reunited, in the world beyond, with both our son and with you. As for this world — how could such a wish of mine ever come to pass in it?'

Verse 226 (markandeya.8.226)

त्वया सह मम श्रेयो गमनं पुत्रमार्गणे । यन्मया हसता किञ्चिद्रहस्ये वा शुचिस्मिते ॥ 8.226 ॥

tvayā saha mama śreyo gamanaṃ putramārgaṇe / yanmayā hasatā kiñcidrahasye vā śucismite // 8.226 //

'It would be far better for me to go, together with you, in search of our son. And whatever, in jest or in private, O pure-smiling one —'

Verse 227 (markandeya.8.227)

अश्लीलमुक्तं तत् सर्वं क्षन्तव्यं मम याचतः । राजपत्नीति गर्वेण नावज्ञेयः स ते द्विजः । सर्वयत्नेन ते तोष्यः स्वामिदैवतवच्छुभे ॥ 8.227 ॥

aślīlamuktaṃ tat sarvaṃ kṣantavyaṃ mama yācataḥ / rājapatnīti garveṇa nāvajñeyaḥ sa te dvijaḥ / sarvayatnena te toṣyaḥ svāmidaivatavacchubhe // 8.227 //

'— unseemly word I may have spoken to you, forgive it all, I beg of you. And do not, out of the pride of once being a queen, ever look down upon that brahmana; with all your effort, O blessed one, honor him as you would your own lord and deity.'

Verse 228 (markandeya.8.228)

राजपत्न्युवाच । अहमप्यत्र राजर्षे दीप्यमाने हुताशने । दुः खभारासहाद्यैव सह यास्यामि वै त्वया ॥ 8.228 ॥

rājapatnyuvāca / ahamapyatra rājarṣe dīpyamāne hutāśane / duḥ khabhārāsahādyaiva saha yāsyāmi vai tvayā // 8.228 //

The king's wife said: 'I too, O royal sage, unable to bear this crushing weight of sorrow any longer, shall this very day enter that blazing fire together with you.'

Verse 229 (markandeya.8.229)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । ततः कृत्वा चितां राजा आरोप्य तनयं स्वकम् । भार्यया सहितश्चासौ बद्धाञ्जलिपुटस्तदा ॥ 8.229 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / tataḥ kṛtvā citāṃ rājā āropya tanayaṃ svakam / bhāryayā sahitaścāsau baddhāñjalipuṭastadā // 8.229 //

The birds said: Then the king, having built a funeral pyre, and having laid his own son upon it, together with his wife, joining his hands in reverence,

Verse 230 (markandeya.8.230)

चिन्तयन् परमात्मानमीशं नारायणं हरिम् । हृत्कोटरगुहासीनं वासुदेवं सुरेश्वरम् । अनादिनिधनं ब्रह्म कृष्णं पीताम्बरं शुभम् ॥ 8.230 ॥

cintayan paramātmānamīśaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ harim / hṛtkoṭaraguhāsīnaṃ vāsudevaṃ sureśvaram / anādinidhanaṃ brahma kṛṣṇaṃ pītāmbaraṃ śubham // 8.230 //

meditating upon the Supreme Self, the Lord, Narayana, Hari — Vasudeva, seated in the hidden cave of the heart, ruler of the gods, the beginningless and endless Brahman, dark Krishna, clad in yellow, the auspicious one —

Verse 231 (markandeya.8.231)

तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । धर्मं प्रमुखतः कृत्वा समाजग्मुस्त्वरान्विताः ॥ 8.231 ॥

tasya cintayamānasya sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ / dharmaṃ pramukhataḥ kṛtvā samājagmustvarānvitāḥ // 8.231 //

— while he was thus meditating, all the gods, with Vasava among them, placing Dharma at their head, came there in great haste.

Verse 232 (markandeya.8.232)

आगत्य सर्वे प्रोचुस्ते भो भो राजन् ! शृणु प्रभो । अयं पितामहः साक्षाद्धर्मश्च भगवान् स्वयम् ॥ 8.232 ॥

āgatya sarve procuste bho bho rājan ! śṛṇu prabho / ayaṃ pitāmahaḥ sākṣāddharmaśca bhagavān svayam // 8.232 //

Having arrived, they all said: 'O king, O lord, hear us! Here is the grandsire himself, and here Bhagavan Dharma in person,'

Verse 233 (markandeya.8.233)

साध्याश्च विश्वे मरुतो लोकपालाः सवाहनाः । नागाः सिद्धाः सगन्धर्वा रुद्राश्चैव तथाश्विनौ ॥ 8.233 ॥

sādhyāśca viśve maruto lokapālāḥ savāhanāḥ / nāgāḥ siddhāḥ sagandharvā rudrāścaiva tathāśvinau // 8.233 //

'— and the Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, the guardians of the world with their mounts, the Nagas, the Siddhas, the Gandharvas, the Rudras, and the two Ashvins as well,'

Verse 234 (markandeya.8.234)

एते चान्ये च बहवो विश्वामित्रस्तथैव च । विश्वत्रयेण यो मित्रं कर्तुं न शकितः पुरा ॥ 8.234 ॥

ete cānye ca bahavo viśvāmitrastathaiva ca / viśvatrayeṇa yo mitraṃ kartuṃ na śakitaḥ purā // 8.234 //

'— these and many others besides, and Vishvamitra too — he who once could not, by all three worlds combined, be brought to friendship —'

Verse 235 (markandeya.8.235)

विश्वामित्रस्तु ते मैत्रीमिष्टञ्चाहर्तुमिच्छति । आरुरोह ततः प्राप्तो धर्मः शक्रोऽथ गाधिजः ॥ 8.235 ॥

viśvāmitrastu te maitrīmiṣṭañcāhartumicchati / āruroha tataḥ prāpto dharmaḥ śakro 'tha gādhijaḥ // 8.235 //

'— that very Vishvamitra now wishes to bring you his friendship and his blessing.' Then Dharma approached, and Indra, and Gadhi's son Vishvamitra as well, and rose up before him.

Verse 236 (markandeya.8.236)

धर्मि उवाच । मा राजन् ! साहसं कार्षोर्धर्मोऽहं त्वामुपागतः । तितिक्षा-दम-सत्याद्यैः स्वगुणैः परितोषितः ॥ 8.236 ॥

dharmi uvāca / mā rājan ! sāhasaṃ kārṣordharmo 'haṃ tvāmupāgataḥ / titikṣā-dama-satyādyaiḥ svaguṇaiḥ paritoṣitaḥ // 8.236 //

Dharma said: 'Do not, O king, do this rash deed! I, Dharma, have come to you, well pleased by your own virtues — your endurance, your self-restraint, your truthfulness, and the rest.'

Verse 237 (markandeya.8.237)

इन्द्र उवाच । हरिश्चन्द्र माहभाग ! प्राप्तः शक्रोऽस्मितेऽन्तिकम् । त्वया सभार्यपुत्रेण जिता लोकाः सनातनाः ॥ 8.237 ॥

indra uvāca / hariścandra māhabhāga ! prāptaḥ śakro 'smite 'ntikam / tvayā sabhāryaputreṇa jitā lokāḥ sanātanāḥ // 8.237 //

Indra said: 'Harishchandra, O illustrious one! Here is Shakra come near to you. By you, together with your wife and son, the eternal worlds have been won.'

Verse 238 (markandeya.8.238)

आरोह त्रिदिवं राजन् ! भार्यापुत्रसमन्वितः । सुदुष्प्राप्तं नरैरन्यैर्जितमात्मीयकर्मभिः ॥ 8.238 ॥

āroha tridivaṃ rājan ! bhāryāputrasamanvitaḥ / suduṣprāptaṃ narairanyairjitamātmīyakarmabhiḥ // 8.238 //

'Ascend to the triple heaven, O king, together with your wife and son — a realm exceedingly hard for other men to attain, won now by your own deeds.'

Verse 239 (markandeya.8.239)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । ततोऽमृतमयं वर्षमपमृत्युविनाशनम् । इन्द्रः प्रासृजदाकाशाच्चितास्थानगतः प्रभुः ॥ 8.239 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / tato 'mṛtamayaṃ varṣamapamṛtyuvināśanam / indraḥ prāsṛjadākāśāccitāsthānagataḥ prabhuḥ // 8.239 //

The birds said: Then Indra, mighty lord, standing above that place of the pyre, poured down from the sky a rain of nectar, dispelling untimely death —

Verse 240 (markandeya.8.240)

पुष्पवर्षञ्च सुमहद्देवदुन्दुभिनिस्वनम् । ततस्ततो वर्तमाने समाजे देवसंकुले ॥ 8.240 ॥

puṣpavarṣañca sumahaddevadundubhinisvanam / tatastato vartamāne samāje devasaṃkule // 8.240 //

— and a great shower of flowers, and the sound of the gods' own drums; and, amid that assembly, thronged with gods on every side,

Verse 241 (markandeya.8.241)

समुत्तस्थौ ततः पुत्रो राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः । सुकुमारतनुः सुस्थः प्रसन्नेन्द्रियमानसः ॥ 8.241 ॥

samuttasthau tataḥ putro rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ / sukumāratanuḥ susthaḥ prasannendriyamānasaḥ // 8.241 //

the son of that great-souled king rose up again — his body once more delicate, whole and well, his senses and his mind at peace.

Verse 242 (markandeya.8.242)

ततो राजा हरिश्चन्द्रः परिष्वज्य सुतं क्षणात् । सभार्यः स श्रिया युक्तो दिव्यमाल्याम्बरान्वितः ॥ 8.242 ॥

tato rājā hariścandraḥ pariṣvajya sutaṃ kṣaṇāt / sabhāryaḥ sa śriyā yukto divyamālyāmbarānvitaḥ // 8.242 //

Then King Harishchandra, embracing his son in an instant, together with his wife, was clothed at once in radiant splendor, adorned with divine garlands and garments,

Verse 243 (markandeya.8.243)

सुस्थः सम्पूर्णहृदयो मुदा परमया युतः । बभूव तत्क्षणादिन्द्रो भूयश्चैनमभाषत ॥ 8.243 ॥

susthaḥ sampūrṇahṛdayo mudā paramayā yutaḥ / babhūva tatkṣaṇādindro bhūyaścainamabhāṣata // 8.243 //

whole and well, his heart made complete, filled with supreme joy. And Indra spoke to him once more:

Verse 244 (markandeya.8.244)

सभार्यस्त्वं सपुत्रश्च प्राप्स्यसे सद्गतिं पराम् । समारोह माहभाग निजानां कर्मणां फलैः ॥ 8.244 ॥

sabhāryastvaṃ saputraśca prāpsyase sadgatiṃ parām / samāroha māhabhāga nijānāṃ karmaṇāṃ phalaiḥ // 8.244 //

'You, together with your wife and son, shall attain the supreme and blessed state. Ascend now, illustrious one, by the fruits of your own deeds.'

Verse 245 (markandeya.8.245)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । देवराजाननुज्ञातः स्वामिना श्वपचेन वै । अगत्वा निष्कृतिं तस्य नारोक्ष्येऽहं सुरालयम् ॥ 8.245 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / devarājānanujñātaḥ svāminā śvapacena vai / agatvā niṣkṛtiṃ tasya nārokṣye 'haṃ surālayam // 8.245 //

Harishchandra said: 'O king of the gods, without leave from my master, the dog-cooker, and without first repaying my debt to him, I shall not ascend to the abode of the gods.'

Verse 246 (markandeya.8.246)

धर्म उवाच । तवैनं भाविनं क्लेशमवगम्यात्ममायया । आत्मा श्वपाकतां नीतो दर्शितं तच्च चापलम् ॥ 8.246 ॥

dharma uvāca / tavainaṃ bhāvinaṃ kleśamavagamyātmamāyayā / ātmā śvapākatāṃ nīto darśitaṃ tacca cāpalam // 8.246 //

Dharma said: 'Foreseeing this trial that was destined for you, I myself, by my own power of illusion, took on the form of the dog-cooker; and this was displayed only to show your unshaken constancy.'

Verse 247 (markandeya.8.247)

इन्द्र उवाच । प्रार्थ्यते यत् परं स्थानं समस्तैर्मनुजैर्भुवि । तदारोह हरिश्चन्द्र स्थानं पुण्यकृतां नृणाम् ॥ 8.247 ॥

indra uvāca / prārthyate yat paraṃ sthānaṃ samastairmanujairbhuvi / tadāroha hariścandra sthānaṃ puṇyakṛtāṃ nṛṇām // 8.247 //

Indra said: 'Ascend now, Harishchandra, to that supreme abode which all men on earth pray for — the abode reserved for men of righteous deeds.'

Verse 248 (markandeya.8.248)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । देवाराज ! नमस्तुभ्यं वाक्यञ्चैतन्निबोध मे । प्रसादसुमुखं यत् त्वां ब्रवीमि प्रश्रयान्वितः ॥ 8.248 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / devārāja ! namastubhyaṃ vākyañcaitannibodha me / prasādasumukhaṃ yat tvāṃ bravīmi praśrayānvitaḥ // 8.248 //

Harishchandra said: 'O king of the gods, homage to you; but hear this word of mine, which, in all humility, and hoping for your favor, I now speak.'

Verse 249 (markandeya.8.249)

मच्छोकमग्नमनसः कोशलानगरे जनाः । तिष्ठन्ति तानपोह्याद्य कथं यास्याम्यहं दिवम् ॥ 8.249 ॥

macchokamagnamanasaḥ kośalānagare janāḥ / tiṣṭhanti tānapohyādya kathaṃ yāsyāmyahaṃ divam // 8.249 //

'The people of my city of Kosala remain there, their hearts sunk in grief for me — how, having cast them aside, could I go today to heaven?'

Verse 250 (markandeya.8.250)

ब्रह्महत्या गुरोर्घातो गोवधः स्त्रीवधस्तथा । तुल्यमेभिर्महापापं भक्तत्यागेऽप्युदाहृतम् ॥ 8.250 ॥

brahmahatyā gurorghāto govadhaḥ strīvadhastathā / tulyamebhirmahāpāpaṃ bhaktatyāge 'pyudāhṛtam // 8.250 //

'The slaying of a brahmana, the killing of one's guru, the killing of a cow, and likewise the killing of a woman — a sin equal to all of these is declared to lie also in the forsaking of a devotee.'

Verse 251 (markandeya.8.251)

भजन्तं भक्तमत्याज्यमदुष्टं त्यजतः सुखम् । नेह नामुत्र पश्यामि तस्माच्छक्र ! दिवं व्रज ॥ 8.251 ॥

bhajantaṃ bhaktamatyājyamaduṣṭaṃ tyajataḥ sukham / neha nāmutra paśyāmi tasmācchakra ! divaṃ vraja // 8.251 //

'For one who forsakes a devotee — one who is loyal, blameless, and not to be abandoned — I see no happiness, neither in this world nor in the next. Therefore, O Shakra, go on to heaven yourself.'

Verse 252 (markandeya.8.252)

यदि ते सहिताः स्वर्गं मया यान्ति सुरेश्वर । ततोऽहमपि यास्यामि नरकं वापि तैः सह ॥ 8.252 ॥

yadi te sahitāḥ svargaṃ mayā yānti sureśvara / tato 'hamapi yāsyāmi narakaṃ vāpi taiḥ saha // 8.252 //

'If they go to heaven along with me, O lord of the gods, then I too shall go — or to hell as well, together with them.'

Verse 253 (markandeya.8.253)

इन्द्र उवाच । बहूनि पुण्यपापानि तेषां भिन्नानि वै पृथक् । कथं सङ्घातभोग्यं त्वं भूयः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि ॥ 8.253 ॥

indra uvāca / bahūni puṇyapāpāni teṣāṃ bhinnāni vai pṛthak / kathaṃ saṅghātabhogyaṃ tvaṃ bhūyaḥ svargamavāpsyasi // 8.253 //

Indra said: 'Their good and evil deeds are many, and distinct, each one separate from the other. How could you again attain heaven as a thing to be enjoyed collectively, all together?'

Verse 254 (markandeya.8.254)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । शक्र भुङ्क्ते नृपो राज्यं प्रभावेण कुटुम्बिनाम् । यजते च महायज्ञैः कर्म पौर्तं करोति च ॥ 8.254 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / śakra bhuṅkte nṛpo rājyaṃ prabhāveṇa kuṭumbinām / yajate ca mahāyajñaiḥ karma paurtaṃ karoti ca // 8.254 //

Harishchandra said: 'O Shakra, a king enjoys his kingdom only through the strength of his subjects; and it is by that same strength that he performs great sacrifices and does works of public charity.'

Verse 255 (markandeya.8.255)

तच्च तेषां प्रभावेण मया सर्वमनुष्ठितम् । उपकर्तॄन् न सन्त्यक्ष्ये तानहं स्वर्गलिप्सया ॥ 8.255 ॥

tacca teṣāṃ prabhāveṇa mayā sarvamanuṣṭhitam / upakartṝn na santyakṣye tānahaṃ svargalipsayā // 8.255 //

'All of this was accomplished by me only through their support; I shall not abandon those who have thus helped me, merely out of a longing for heaven.'

Verse 256 (markandeya.8.256)

तस्माद्यन्मम देवेश किञ्चिदस्ति सुचेष्टितम् । दत्तमिष्टमथो जप्तं सामान्यं तैस्तदस्तु नः ॥ 8.256 ॥

tasmādyanmama deveśa kiñcidasti suceṣṭitam / dattamiṣṭamatho japtaṃ sāmānyaṃ taistadastu naḥ // 8.256 //

'Therefore, O lord of the gods, whatever good deed is mine — whatever I have given, sacrificed, or recited in prayer — let that be shared in common between them and me.'

Verse 257 (markandeya.8.257)

बहुकालोपभोग्यं हि फलं यन्मम कर्मणः । तदस्तु दिनमप्येकं तैः समं त्वत्प्रसादतः ॥ 8.257 ॥

bahukālopabhogyaṃ hi phalaṃ yanmama karmaṇaḥ / tadastu dinamapyekaṃ taiḥ samaṃ tvatprasādataḥ // 8.257 //

'Whatever fruit of my deeds is meant to be enjoyed over a long span of time — let it, by your grace, be enjoyed by them together with me, if only for a single day.'

Verse 258 (markandeya.8.258)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा शक्रस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । प्रसन्नचेता धर्मश्च विश्वामित्रश्च गाधिजः ॥ 8.258 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / evaṃ bhaviṣyatītyuktvā śakrastribhuvaneśvaraḥ / prasannacetā dharmaśca viśvāmitraśca gādhijaḥ // 8.258 //

The birds said: Saying 'So shall it be,' Shakra, lord of the three worlds, and Dharma, and Gadhi's son Vishvamitra, all with hearts well pleased,

Verse 259 (markandeya.8.259)

विमानकोटिसम्बद्धं स्वर्गलोकान्महीतलम् । गत्वायोध्याजनं प्राह दिवमारुह्यतामिति ॥ 8.259 ॥

vimānakoṭisambaddhaṃ svargalokānmahītalam / gatvāyodhyājanaṃ prāha divamāruhyatāmiti // 8.259 //

— joined the world of heaven to the earth with a hundred million celestial chariots, and, going to the people of Ayodhya, said, 'Ascend now to heaven.'

Verse 260 (markandeya.8.260)

तदिन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रीत्या तस्य च भूपतेः । आनीय रोहिताश्चञ्च विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ॥ 8.260 ॥

tadindrasya vacaḥ śrutvā prītyā tasya ca bhūpateḥ / ānīya rohitāścañca viśvāmitro mahātapāḥ // 8.260 //

Hearing these words of Indra, and out of affection for that king, Vishvamitra of great austerity brought Rohitashva forward,

Verse 261 (markandeya.8.261)

अयोध्याख्ये पुरे रम्ये सोऽभ्यसिञ्चन्नृपात्मजम् । देवैश्च मुनिभिः सिद्धैरभिषिच्य नराधिपम् ॥ 8.261 ॥

ayodhyākhye pure ramye so 'bhyasiñcannṛpātmajam / devaiśca munibhiḥ siddhairabhiṣicya narādhipam // 8.261 //

and, in the lovely city called Ayodhya, consecrated the king's son; together with the gods, the sages, and the siddhas, he anointed him as king.

Verse 262 (markandeya.8.262)

राज्ञा सह तदा सर्वे हृष्टपुष्टसुहृज्जनाः । सपुत्रभृत्यदारास्ते दिवमारुरुहुर्जनाः ॥ 8.262 ॥

rājñā saha tadā sarve hṛṣṭapuṣṭasuhṛjjanāḥ / saputrabhṛtyadārāste divamāruruhurjanāḥ // 8.262 //

Then, together with the king, all the people, joyful and thriving, together with their sons, servants, and wives, ascended to heaven.

Verse 263 (markandeya.8.263)

पदे पदे विमानात् ते विमानमगमन् नराः । तदा सम्भूतहर्षोऽसौ हरिश्चन्द्रश्च पार्थिवः ॥ 8.263 ॥

pade pade vimānāt te vimānamagaman narāḥ / tadā sambhūtaharṣo 'sau hariścandraśca pārthivaḥ // 8.263 //

Those people passed, step by step, from one celestial chariot to the next; and then King Harishchandra, filled with joy,

Verse 264 (markandeya.8.264)

सम्प्राप्य भूतिमतुलां विमानैः स महीपतिः । आसाञ्चक्रे पुराकारे वप्रप्राकारसंवृते ॥ 8.264 ॥

samprāpya bhūtimatulāṃ vimānaiḥ sa mahīpatiḥ / āsāñcakre purākāre vapraprākārasaṃvṛte // 8.264 //

having attained, by those celestial chariots, splendor beyond compare, took up his abode there, in a city walled about with ramparts and towers.

Verse 265 (markandeya.8.265)

ततस्तस्यर्धिमालोक्य श्लोकं तत्रोशना जगौ । दैत्याचार्यो महाभागः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित् ॥ 8.265 ॥

tatastasyardhimālokya ślokaṃ tatrośanā jagau / daityācāryo mahābhāgaḥ sarvaśāstrārthatattvavit // 8.265 //

Then, beholding his glory, Ushanas, the illustrious teacher of the daityas, versed in the truth of the meaning of every scripture, sang this verse there:

Verse 266 (markandeya.8.266)

शुक्र उवाच । हरिश्चन्द्रसमो राजा न भूतो न भविष्यति । यः शृणोति स्वदुः खार्तः स सुखं महदाप्नुयात् ॥ 8.266 ॥

śukra uvāca / hariścandrasamo rājā na bhūto na bhaviṣyati / yaḥ śṛṇoti svaduḥ khārtaḥ sa sukhaṃ mahadāpnuyāt // 8.266 //

Shukra said: 'There has never been, nor shall there ever be, a king equal to Harishchandra. Whoever, afflicted by his own sorrow, hears this story, shall attain great happiness.'

Verse 267 (markandeya.8.267)

स्वर्गार्थोप्राप्नुयात् स्वर्गं पुत्रार्थो पुत्रमाप्नुयात् । भार्यार्थो प्राप्नुयाद्भार्यां राज्यार्थो राज्यमाप्नुयात् ॥ 8.267 ॥

svargārthoprāpnuyāt svargaṃ putrārtho putramāpnuyāt / bhāryārtho prāpnuyādbhāryāṃ rājyārtho rājyamāpnuyāt // 8.267 //

'He who desires heaven shall attain heaven; he who desires a son shall attain a son; he who desires a wife shall attain a wife; he who desires a kingdom shall attain a kingdom.'

Verse 268 (markandeya.8.268)

अहो तितिक्षामाहात्म्यमहो दानफलं महत् । यदागतो हरिश्चन्द्रः पुरीञ्चेन्द्रत्वमाप्तवान् ॥ 8.268 ॥

aho titikṣāmāhātmyamaho dānaphalaṃ mahat / yadāgato hariścandraḥ purīñcendratvamāptavān // 8.268 //

'Ah, the greatness of forbearance! Ah, the mighty fruit of charity! For, having come to this state, Harishchandra has attained even the very rank of Indra!'

Verse 269 (markandeya.8.269)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं हरिश्चन्द्रविचेष्टितम् । अतः परं कथाशेषः श्रूयतां मुनिसत्तम ॥ 8.269 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / etat te sarvamākhyātaṃ hariścandraviceṣṭitam / ataḥ paraṃ kathāśeṣaḥ śrūyatāṃ munisattama // 8.269 //

The birds said: All the conduct of Harishchandra has now been told to you; hear now, best of sages, the remainder of the story.

Verse 270 (markandeya.8.270)

विपाको राजसूयस्य पृथिवीक्षयकारणम् । तद्विपाकनिमित्तञ्च युद्धमाडिबकं महत् ॥ 8.270 ॥

vipāko rājasūyasya pṛthivīkṣayakāraṇam / tadvipākanimittañca yuddhamāḍibakaṃ mahat // 8.270 //

Hear the ripening of that rajasuya sacrifice, which became the cause of the earth's near-destruction; and, arising from that very ripening, the great war of Adi and Baka.