Harishchandra Gains the Kingdom

Verse 1 (skanda.6.3.1)

सूत उवाच। ततः प्रणम्य भूयः स वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम्। ययौ तत्र सुतास्तस्य यत्र ते शतसंख्यकाः

sūta uvāca| tataḥ praṇamya bhūyaḥ sa vasiṣṭhaṁ munipuṁgavam| yayau tatra sutāstasya yatra te śatasaṁkhyakāḥ

Suta said: Then, having bowed once more to Vasishtha, foremost among sages, the king went to where that sage's hundred sons were.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.3.2)

तानपि प्राह नत्वा स तमेवार्थं नराधिपः। वसिष्ठवचनं कृत्स्नं तस्य तैरपि शंसितम्

tānapi prāha natvā sa tamevārthaṁ narādhipaḥ| vasiṣṭhavacanaṁ kṛtsnaṁ tasya tairapi śaṁsitam

Bowing to them too, the king spoke to them of that very matter; and they in turn repeated to him Vasishtha's entire reply.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.3.3)

ततस्तान्स पुनः प्राह युष्माकं जनकोऽधुना। अशक्तो मा दिवं नेतुं सशरीरं विसर्जितः

tatastānsa punaḥ prāha yuṣmākaṁ janako'dhunā| aśakto mā divaṁ netuṁ saśarīraṁ visarjitaḥ

Then he said to them again: 'Your father has just now declared himself unable to lead me to heaven in this very body, and has sent me away.'

Verse 4 (skanda.6.3.4)

तस्माद्यदि न मां यूयं याजयिष्यथ सांप्रतम्। परित्यज्य करिष्यामि शीघ्रमन्यं पुरोहितम्

tasmādyadi na māṁ yūyaṁ yājayiṣyatha sāṁpratam| parityajya kariṣyāmi śīghramanyaṁ purohitam

'Therefore, if you too will not now have me perform this sacrifice, I shall abandon you and swiftly appoint another as my priest —'

Verse 5 (skanda.6.3.5)

यो मां यज्ञप्रभावेन नयिष्यति सुरालयम्। अनेनैव शरीरेण सहितं गुरुपुत्रकाः

yo māṁ yajñaprabhāvena nayiṣyati surālayam| anenaiva śarīreṇa sahitaṁ guruputrakāḥ

'— one who, through the power of a sacrifice, O sons of my preceptor, will lead me to the abode of the gods together with this very body.'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.3.6)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते मुनिसत्तमाः। परं कोपं समाविष्टास्तमूचुः परुषाक्षरैः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sarve te munisattamāḥ| paraṁ kopaṁ samāviṣṭāstamūcuḥ paruṣākṣaraiḥ

Having heard those words of his, all those best of sages, filled with great anger, spoke to him in harsh words.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.3.7)

यस्मात्त्वया गुरुस्त्यक्तो हितकृत्पापवानसि। तस्माद्भवाधुना पाप चंडालो लोकनिंदितः

yasmāttvayā gurustyakto hitakṛtpāpavānasi| tasmādbhavādhunā pāpa caṁḍālo lokaniṁditaḥ

'Since you, sinner, have rejected your preceptor who acted for your good, become at once, O sinner, an outcaste condemned by the world!'

Verse 8 (skanda.6.3.8)

अथ तद्वचनांते स तत्क्षणात्पृथिवीपतिः। बभूवांत्यजरूपाढ्यो विकृताकारदेहभृत्

atha tadvacanāṁte sa tatkṣaṇātpṛthivīpatiḥ| babhūvāṁtyajarūpāḍhyo vikṛtākāradehabhṛt

Then, at the very end of that utterance, the lord of the earth instantly took on the form of an outcaste, bearing a body of misshapen appearance.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.3.9)

यवमध्यः कृशग्रीवः पिंगाक्षो भुग्ननासिकः। कृष्णांगः शंकुवर्णश्च दुर्गंधेन समावृतः

yavamadhyaḥ kṛśagrīvaḥ piṁgākṣo bhugnanāsikaḥ| kṛṣṇāṁgaḥ śaṁkuvarṇaśca durgaṁdhena samāvṛtaḥ

He became narrow in the middle like a barleycorn, thin-necked, tawny-eyed, with a bent nose, black-limbed, dark as a wooden stake in color, and enveloped in a foul stench.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.3.10)

अथात्मानं समालोक्य विकृतं स नराधिपः। चण्डालधर्मिणं सद्यो लज्जयाऽधोमुखः स्थितः

athātmānaṁ samālokya vikṛtaṁ sa narādhipaḥ| caṇḍāladharmiṇaṁ sadyo lajjayā'dhomukhaḥ sthitaḥ

Then, beholding himself thus deformed and instantly reduced to the condition of a chandala, the king stood with his face bowed down in shame.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.3.11)

याहियाहीति विप्रैस्तैर्भर्त्स्यमानो मुहुर्मुहुः। सर्वतः सारमेयैश्च क्लिश्यमानो निरर्गलैः। काककोकिलसंकाशो जीर्णवस्त्रावगुंठितः

yāhiyāhīti vipraistairbhartsyamāno muhurmuhuḥ| sarvataḥ sārameyaiśca kliśyamāno nirargalaiḥ| kākakokilasaṁkāśo jīrṇavastrāvaguṁṭhitaḥ

Rebuked again and again by those brahmins with cries of 'Away, away!', harried on every side by unrestrained dogs, dark as a crow, and wrapped in tattered rags —

Verse 12 (skanda.6.3.12)

ततः स चिन्तयामास दुःखेन महता वृतः। किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं शांतिर्भविष्यति

tataḥ sa cintayāmāsa duḥkhena mahatā vṛtaḥ| kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi kathaṁ śāṁtirbhaviṣyati

— he, overwhelmed with great sorrow, then thought: 'What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will peace ever come to me?'

Verse 13 (skanda.6.3.13)

किं मयैतत्सुमूर्खेण वांछितं दुर्लभं पदम्। तत्प्रभावेन विभ्रष्टः कुलधर्मोऽपि मे स्वकः

kiṁ mayaitatsumūrkheṇa vāṁchitaṁ durlabhaṁ padam| tatprabhāvena vibhraṣṭaḥ kuladharmo'pi me svakaḥ

'What a fool I was to have desired that state so hard to attain! Because of it, even the sacred duty of my own lineage has been ruined for me.'

Verse 14 (skanda.6.3.14)

किं जलं प्रविशाम्यद्य किं वा दीप्तं हुताशनम्। भक्षयामि विषं किं वा कथं स्यान्मृत्युरद्य मे

kiṁ jalaṁ praviśāmyadya kiṁ vā dīptaṁ hutāśanam| bhakṣayāmi viṣaṁ kiṁ vā kathaṁ syānmṛtyuradya me

'Shall I enter the water today, or the blazing fire? Shall I swallow poison? How may death come to me this very day?'

Verse 15 (skanda.6.3.15)

अनेन वपुषा दारान्वीक्षयिष्यामि तान्कथम्। तादृशेन शरीरेण याभिः संक्रीडितं मया

anena vapuṣā dārānvīkṣayiṣyāmi tānkatham| tādṛśena śarīreṇa yābhiḥ saṁkrīḍitaṁ mayā

'How shall I ever let my wives look upon me with this body, when it was with a very different body that I once shared my joys with them?'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.3.16)

कथं पुत्रांस्तथा पौत्रान्सुहृत्संबंधिबांधवान्। वीक्षयिष्यामि तान्भूयस्तथान्यं सेवकं जनम्

kathaṁ putrāṁstathā pautrānsuhṛtsaṁbaṁdhibāṁdhavān| vīkṣayiṣyāmi tānbhūyastathānyaṁ sevakaṁ janam

'How shall I ever again show myself to my sons and grandsons, to my friends, kinsmen and relatives, or to my servants and attendants?'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.3.17)

ये मया निर्जिताः सर्वे रिपवः संगरे पुरा। तेऽद्य मामीदृशं श्रुत्वा हर्षं यास्यंति निर्भयाः

ye mayā nirjitāḥ sarve ripavaḥ saṁgare purā| te'dya māmīdṛśaṁ śrutvā harṣaṁ yāsyaṁti nirbhayāḥ

'All those enemies whom I once conquered in battle will now, hearing of my present state, rejoice without fear.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.3.18)

ये मया तर्पिता दानैर्ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। तेऽद्य मामीदृशं श्रुत्वा संभविष्यंति दुःखिताः

ye mayā tarpitā dānairbrāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ| te'dya māmīdṛśaṁ śrutvā saṁbhaviṣyaṁti duḥkhitāḥ

'Those brahmins learned in the Vedas, whom I once satisfied with gifts, will now grieve on hearing of my present condition.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.3.19)

तथा ये सुहृदोऽभीष्टा नित्यं मम हिते रताः। कामवस्थां प्रयास्यन्ति दृष्ट्वा मां स्थितमीदृशम्

tathā ye suhṛdo'bhīṣṭā nityaṁ mama hite ratāḥ| kāmavasthāṁ prayāsyanti dṛṣṭvā māṁ sthitamīdṛśam

'And those beloved friends who were ever devoted to my welfare will fall into utter despair on seeing me reduced to this state.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.3.20)

भद्रजात्या गजा ये मे मदान्धाः षष्टिहायनाः। मया विना मिथो युद्धे कस्तानद्य नियोक्ष्यति

bhadrajātyā gajā ye me madāndhāḥ ṣaṣṭihāyanāḥ| mayā vinā mitho yuddhe kastānadya niyokṣyati

'Who now, without me, will set to mutual combat my sixty-year-old, rut-maddened elephants of noble breed?'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.3.21)

अश्वास्तित्तिरकल्माषाः सुदांताः सादिभिर्दृढैः। कस्तांश्चित्रपदन्यासैर्नियाम्यति मया विना

aśvāstittirakalmāṣāḥ sudāṁtāḥ sādibhirdṛḍhaiḥ| kastāṁścitrapadanyāsairniyāmyati mayā vinā

'Who, without me, will guide my well-trained horses, dappled like partridges, through their intricate gaits, together with their steady riders?'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.3.22)

तथा मे भृत्यवर्गास्ते कुलीना युद्धदुर्मदाः। मां विना कस्य यास्यंति समीपेऽद्य सुदुःखिताः

tathā me bhṛtyavargāste kulīnā yuddhadurmadāḥ| māṁ vinā kasya yāsyaṁti samīpe'dya suduḥkhitāḥ

'And my well-born servants, fierce in battle — to whose side will they now go, sorrowing greatly, without me?'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.3.23)

संख्याहीनस्तथा कोशस्तादृङ्मे बहुरत्नभाक्। कस्य यास्यति संभोगं मया हीनस्तु रक्षितः

saṁkhyāhīnastathā kośastādṛṅme bahuratnabhāk| kasya yāsyati saṁbhogaṁ mayā hīnastu rakṣitaḥ

'And my treasury, beyond counting, rich in many jewels, guarded by me alone — into whose enjoyment will it now pass, once I am gone?'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.3.24)

तथा मे संख्यया हीनं धान्यं गोजाविकं महत्। भविष्यति कथं हीनं मयाभीष्टैस्तु रक्षितम्

tathā me saṁkhyayā hīnaṁ dhānyaṁ gojāvikaṁ mahat| bhaviṣyati kathaṁ hīnaṁ mayābhīṣṭaistu rakṣitam

'And my vast, uncounted stores of grain, and my cattle, goats and sheep, which I lovingly protected — what will become of them once I am gone?'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.3.25)

एवं बहुविधं राजा स विलप्य च दुःखितः। जगाम नगराभ्याशं पद्भ्यामेव शनैःशनैः

evaṁ bahuvidhaṁ rājā sa vilapya ca duḥkhitaḥ| jagāma nagarābhyāśaṁ padbhyāmeva śanaiḥśanaiḥ

Lamenting thus in many ways, the sorrowing king made his way slowly, on foot, toward the vicinity of his city.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.3.26)

ततो रात्रौ समासाद्य स्वं पुरं जनवर्जितम्। द्वारे स्थित्वा समाहूय पुत्रं मंत्रिभिरन्वितम्

tato rātrau samāsādya svaṁ puraṁ janavarjitam| dvāre sthitvā samāhūya putraṁ maṁtribhiranvitam

Then, reaching his own city by night when it was empty of people, he stood at the gate and summoned his son, along with his ministers.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.3.27)

कथयामास वृत्तांतं सर्वं शापसमुद्भवम्। दूरे स्थितः स पुत्राणां वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः

kathayāmāsa vṛttāṁtaṁ sarvaṁ śāpasamudbhavam| dūre sthitaḥ sa putrāṇāṁ vasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ

Standing at a distance, he told them the whole account of how the curse had arisen from the sons of the great sage Vasishtha.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.3.28)

वज्रपातोपमं वाक्यं तेऽपि तस्य निशम्य तत्। बाष्पपर्याकुलैरास्यै रुरुदुः शोकसंयुताः

vajrapātopamaṁ vākyaṁ te'pi tasya niśamya tat| bāṣpaparyākulairāsyai ruruduḥ śokasaṁyutāḥ

Hearing those words of his, like the fall of a thunderbolt, they too wept, overcome with grief, their faces streaming with tears.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.3.29)

हा नाथ हा महाराज हा नित्यं धर्मवत्सल। त्वया हीना भविष्यामः कथमद्य सुदुःखिताः

hā nātha hā mahārāja hā nityaṁ dharmavatsala| tvayā hīnā bhaviṣyāmaḥ kathamadya suduḥkhitāḥ

'Alas, our lord! Alas, great king! Alas, ever devoted to dharma! How shall we, in such deep sorrow, live now deprived of you?'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.3.30)

किमेतद्युज्यते तेषां वासिष्ठानां दुरात्मनाम्। शापं ददुः स्वयाज्यस्य विशेषाद्विनतस्य च

kimetadyujyate teṣāṁ vāsiṣṭhānāṁ durātmanām| śāpaṁ daduḥ svayājyasya viśeṣādvinatasya ca

'How is it fitting for those evil-minded sons of Vasishtha to have cursed their own patron so severely, and one who had bowed before them?'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.3.31)

ते वयं राजशार्दूल परित्यज्य गृहादिकम्। अन्त्यजत्वं गमिष्यामस्त्वया सार्धमसंशयम्

te vayaṁ rājaśārdūla parityajya gṛhādikam| antyajatvaṁ gamiṣyāmastvayā sārdhamasaṁśayam

'O tiger among kings, we too shall abandon our homes and everything else, and shall without doubt become outcastes together with you.'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.3.32)

त्रिशंकुरुवाच। भक्तिश्चेदस्ति युष्माकं ममोपरि निरर्गल। तन्मे पुत्रस्य मंत्रित्वं सर्वे कुरुत सांप्रतम्

triśaṁkuruvāca| bhaktiścedasti yuṣmākaṁ mamopari nirargala| tanme putrasya maṁtritvaṁ sarve kuruta sāṁpratam

Trishanku said: If your devotion to me is truly boundless, then let all of you now become ministers to my son instead.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.3.33)

हरिश्चंद्रः सुपुत्रोयं मम ज्येष्ठः सुवल्लभः। नियोजयध्वमव्यग्राः पदव्यां मम सत्वरम्

hariścaṁdraḥ suputroyaṁ mama jyeṣṭhaḥ suvallabhaḥ| niyojayadhvamavyagrāḥ padavyāṁ mama satvaram

'This good son of mine, Harishchandra, my eldest and most beloved, do you at once and without hesitation install him in my place.'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.3.34)

अहं पुनः करिष्यामि यन्मे मनसि संस्थितम्। मृत्युं वा संप्रयास्यामि सदेहो वा सुरालयम्

ahaṁ punaḥ kariṣyāmi yanme manasi saṁsthitam| mṛtyuṁ vā saṁprayāsyāmi sadeho vā surālayam

'As for me, I shall do what is fixed in my mind — I shall go either to death, or to the abode of the gods with this very body.'

Verse 35 (skanda.6.3.35)

एवमुक्त्वा परित्यज्य सर्वांस्तान्स महीपतिः। जगामारण्यमाश्रित्य पद्भ्यामेव शनैः शनैः

evamuktvā parityajya sarvāṁstānsa mahīpatiḥ| jagāmāraṇyamāśritya padbhyāmeva śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Having said this, the king, leaving them all behind, went slowly on foot, taking refuge in the forest.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.3.36)

तेपि सन्मंत्रिणस्तूर्णं पुत्रं तस्य सुसम्मतम्। राज्ये नियोजयासमासुर्नादवादित्रनिःस्वनैः

tepi sanmaṁtriṇastūrṇaṁ putraṁ tasya susammatam| rājye niyojayāsamāsurnādavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ

And those good ministers swiftly installed his well-esteemed son upon the throne, amid the resounding music of drums and instruments.