उपासते च संहृष्टा ब्रह्माणममितौजसम्। राक्षसाश्च पिशाचाश्च दानवा गुह्यकास्तथा
With joy, they worship Brahmā of immeasurable energy; likewise, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Dānavas, and Guhyakas do so.
नागाः सुपर्णाः पशवः पितामहमुपासते। स्थावरा जङ्गमाश्चैव महाभूतास्तथाऽपरे
Nāgas, Suparṇas, animals, and Pitāmaha are worshipped; both immobile and mobile beings, as well as other great elements.
पुरन्दरश्च देवेन्द्रो वरुणो धनदो यमः। महादेवः सहोमोऽत्र सदा गच्छति सर्वशः
Purandara, the lord of the gods, Varuṇa, Dhanada, Yama, and Mahādeva with Homa always go there in every way.
महासेनश्च राजेन्द्र सदोपास्ते पितामहम्। देवो नारायणस्तस्यां तथा देवर्षयश्च ये
Mahāsena, O king, always worships Pitāmaha there; likewise, the god Nārāyaṇa and the divine sages.
ऋषयो वालखिल्याश्च योनिजायोनिजास्तथा। यच्च किञ्चित्रिलोकेऽस्मिन्दृश्यते स्थाणु जङ्गमम्। सर्वं तस्यां मया दृष्टमिति विद्धि नराधिप
The Vālakhilya sages, those born of womb and not of womb, and whatever is seen in these three worlds, whether stationary or moving—all this I have seen there, know this, O king of men.
अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि ऋषीणामूर्ध्वरेतसाम्। प्रजावतां च पञ्चाशदृषीणामपि पाण्डव
There are eighty-eight thousand sages of pure celibacy, and fifty sages with offspring, O Pāṇḍava.
ते स्म तत्र यथाकामं दृष्ट्वा सर्वे दिवौकसः। प्रणम्य शिरसा तस्मै सर्वे यान्ति यथागमम्
All the celestial beings there, having seen them as they wished, bow their heads to him and depart as is proper.
अतिथीनागतान्देवान्दैत्यान्नागांस्तथा द्विजान्। यक्षान्मुपर्णान्कालेयान्गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा
The gods, demons, nāgas, twice-born, yakṣas, suparṇas, kāleyas, gandharvas, and apsarases who arrive as guests—
महाभागानमितधीर्ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। दयावान्सर्वभूतेषु यथार्हं प्रतिपद्यते
To these greatly fortunate and steadfast ones, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, who is compassionate to all beings, gives as is fitting.
प्रतिगृह्य तु विश्वात्मा स्वयं स्वयम्भूरमितद्युतिः। सान्त्वमानार्थसम्भोगैर्युनक्ति मनुजाधिप
Having received them, the all-pervading, self-born one of boundless radiance himself unites them, O king, with gentle words, gifts, and enjoyments.
तथा तैरुपयातैश्च प्रतियद्भिश्च भारत। आकुला सा सभातात भवति स्म सुखप्रदा
Thus, with those who have arrived and those who are departing, O Bhārata, that assembly becomes crowded, O father, and brings great joy.
सर्वतेजोमयी दिव्या ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेविता। ब्राहया श्रिया दीप्यमाना शुशुभे विगतक्लमा
That divine assembly, pervaded by all brilliance, attended by hosts of Brahmarṣis, shone resplendent, radiant with prosperity, and free from fatigue.
सा सभा तादृशी दृष्टा मया लोकेषु दुर्लभा। सभेयं राजशार्दूल मनुष्येषु यथा तव
Such an assembly I saw, rare even among the worlds; O tiger among kings, such is your assembly among men.
एता मया दृष्टपूर्वाः सभा देवेषु भारत। सभेयं मानुषे लोके सर्वश्रेष्ठतमा तव
These assemblies I have seen before among the gods, O Bhārata; but among humans, your assembly is the very best.
प्रायशो राजलोकस्ते कथितो वदतां वर। वैवस्वतसभायां तु यथा वदसि मे प्रभो
O best of speakers, you have mostly described the royal attendants as they are in the assembly of Vaivasvata; now, lord, tell me as you know.
वरुणस्य सभायां तु नागास्ते कथिता विभो। दैत्येन्द्राश्चापि भूयिष्ठाः सरितः सागरास्तथा
In the assembly of Varuna, you have described the Nagas, O illustrious one, and also the great Daitya lords, the rivers, and the oceans.
तथा धनपतेर्यक्षा गुह्यका राक्षसास्तथा। गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव भगवांश्च वृषध्वजः
Likewise, in the assembly of the Lord of Wealth, you mentioned the Yakshas, Guhyakas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, and the blessed bull-bannered god.
पितामहसभायां तु कथितास्ते महर्षभः। सर्वे देवनिकायाश्च सर्वशास्त्राणि वैव ह
In the assembly of the Grandsire, O great sage, you described all the hosts of gods and all the scriptures as well.
शक्रस्य तु सभायां तु देवाः सङ्कीर्तिता मुने। उद्देशतश्च गन्धर्वा विविधाश्च महर्षयः
In the assembly of Shakra, O sage, you recounted the gods, and in brief, the Gandharvas and the various great sages.
एक एव तु राजर्षिर्हरिश्चन्द्रो महामुने। कथितस्ते सभायां वै देवेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः
But only one royal sage, Harishchandra, O great sage, was mentioned by you as present in the assembly of the mighty Indra.
किं कर्म तेनाचरितं तपो वा नियतव्रत। येनासौ सह शक्रेण स्पर्धदे सुमहायशाः
What deed did he perform, or what austerity or firm vow, by which that greatly renowned one competed with Shakra?
पितृलोकगतश्चैव त्वया विप्र पिता मम। दृष्टः पाण्डुर्महाभागः कथं वाऽपि समागतः
And, O Brahmin, you saw my father Pandu, the illustrious one, who has gone to the world of the ancestors; how did he come there, or in what manner?
किमुक्तवांश्च भगवंस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रत। त्वत्तः श्रोतुं सर्वमिदं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
And what did the blessed one say? Tell me that, O steadfast one. I have the highest curiosity to hear all this from you.
यन्मां पृच्छसि राजेन्द्र हरिश्चन्द्रं प्रति प्रभो। तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तस्य धीमतः
O king, what you ask me concerning Harishchandra, I shall now tell you—the greatness of that wise one.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातस्त्रिशङ्कुर्नाम पार्थिवः। अयोध्याधिपतिर्वीरो विश्वामित्रेण संस्थितः
In the lineage of the Ikshvakus, there was born a king named Trishanku, lord of Ayodhya, a valiant one, who was associated with Vishvamitra.
तस्य सत्यवती नाम पत्नी केकयवंशजा। तस्यां गर्भः समभवद्धर्मेण कुरुनन्दन
His wife was named Satyavati, born in the Kekaya line; in her, O joy of the Kurus, a son was conceived in righteousness.
सा च काले महाभागा राजन्मासं प्रविश्य च। कुमारं जनयामास हरिश्चन्द्रमकल्मषम्। स वै राजा हरिश्चन्द्रस्त्रैशङ्कव इति स्मृतः
And in due time, O king, that blessed lady, having completed her term, gave birth to a son, sinless Harishchandra; that king is remembered as Harishchandra, son of Trishanku.
स राजा बलवानासीत्सम्राट् सर्वमहीक्षिताम्। तस्य सर्वे महीपालाः शासनावनताः स्थिताः
That king was powerful, the emperor of all the earth’s rulers; all the kings stood bowed to his commands.
तेनैकं रथमास्थाय जैत्रं हेमविभूषितम्। शस्त्रप्रतापेन जिता द्वीपाः सप्त जनेश्वर
Mounting a single victorious chariot adorned with gold, he conquered the seven islands, O lord of men, by the might of his weapons.
स निर्जित्य महीं कृत्स्नां सशैलवनकाननाम्। आजहार महाराज राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्
Having conquered the whole earth with its mountains, forests, and groves, the great king performed the great Rajasuya sacrifice.