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.
तस्य सर्वे महीपाला धनान्याजह्रुराज्ञया। द्विजानां परिवेष्टारस्तस्मिन्यज्ञे च तेऽभवन्
All the kings, by his command, brought wealth for him; and in that sacrifice, they became servers of the Brahmins.
समाप्तयज्ञो विधिवद्धरिश्चन्द्रः प्रतापवान्। अभिषिक्तश्च शुशुभे साम्राज्येन नराधिपः
When the sacrifice was duly completed, the glorious Harishchandra, anointed, shone as the sovereign among men.
राजसूयेऽभिषिक्तश्च समाप्तवरदक्षिणे
And when he had been consecrated at the Rājasūya, and the desired gifts and fees had been completed,
प्रादाच्च द्रविणं प्रीत्या याचकानां नरेश्वरः। यथोक्तवन्तस्ते तस्मिंस्ततः पञ्चगुणाधिकम्
the lord of men gladly gave wealth to the petitioners; and as they had requested, he gave them five times as much.
अतर्पयच्च विविधैर्वसुभिर्ब्राह्मणांस्तदा। प्रसर्पकाले सम्प्राप्ते नानादिग्भ्यः समागतान्
Then he satisfied the Brāhmaṇas with various kinds of riches, who had come from many directions at the time of distribution.
भक्ष्यभोज्यैश्च विविधैर्यथाकामपुरस्कृतैः। रत्नौघतर्पितैस्तुष्टैर्द्विजैश्च समुदाहृतम्। तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च नृपेभ्योऽभ्यधिकोऽभवत्
He honored them with all sorts of foods and delicacies, according to their wishes, and with treasures in abundance, so that the delighted twice-born proclaimed that he, full of energy and fame, surpassed other kings.
एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्हरिश्चन्द्रो विराजते। तेभ्यो राजसहस्रेभ्यस्तद्विद्वि भरतर्षभ
For this reason, O King, Hariścandra shines forth; among thousands of kings, he is renowned, O bull of the Bharatas.
समाप्य च हरिश्चन्द्रो महायज्ञं प्रतापवान्। अभिषिक्तश्च शुशुभे साम्राज्येन नराधिप
And having completed the great sacrifice, the mighty Hariścandra, consecrated as emperor, shone among men.
ये चान्ये च महीपाला राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्। यजन्ते ते सहेन्द्रेण मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ
And all other rulers of the earth who perform the great Rājasūya sacrifice rejoice together with Indra, O best of the Bharatas.
ये चापि नि नं प्राप्ताः सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनः। ते तत्सदनम् ताद्य मोन्दते भरतर्षभ
And those who, though defeated, did not flee in battle, now rejoice in that assembly, O best of the Bharatas.
तपसा ये च तीव्रेण त्यजन्तीह कलेवरम्। ते तत्स्थानं समासाद्य श्रीमन्तो भान्ति नित्यशः
And those who, through intense austerity, give up their bodies in this world, attain that place and shine forth, ever glorious.
पिता च त्वाऽऽह कौन्तेय पाण्डुः कौरवनन्दन। हरिश्चन्द्रे श्रियं दृष्ट्वा नृपतौ जातविस्मयः
And your father, O son of Kuntī, Pāṇḍu, the joy of the Kurus, was amazed when he saw the prosperity of King Hariścandra.
विज्ञाय मानुषं लोकमायान्तं मां नराधिप। प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा वदेथास्त्वं युधिष्ठिरम्
Knowing that I was coming to the world of men, the king, bowing down, said to me: 'You must tell Yudhiṣṭhira this.'
समर्थोऽसि महीं जेतुं भ्रातरस्ते स्थिता वशे। राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठमहारस्वेति भारत
'You are able to conquer the earth; your brothers are under your command. Perform the Rājasūya, the foremost of sacrifices, O Bhārata.'
त्वयीष्टवति पुत्रेऽहं हरिश्चन्द्रवदाशु वै। मोदिष्ये बहुलाः शश्वत्समाः शक्रस्य संसदि
'If you, my son, perform it, I shall rejoice for many endless years in Indra's assembly, just like Hariścandra.'
एवं भवतु वक्ष्येऽहं तव पुत्रं नराधिपम्। भूलोकं यदि गच्छेयमिति पाण्डुमथाब्रुवम्
'So be it; I will tell your son, O king, if I return to the world of men,' thus I spoke to Pāṇḍu.
तस्य त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र सङ्कल्पं कुरु पाण्डव। गन्तासित्वं महेन्द्रस्य पूर्वैः सह सलोकताम्
Therefore, O tiger among men, fulfill his wish, O Pāṇḍava; you will go to the same world as Indra, together with your ancestors.
बहुविघ्नश्च नृपते क्रतुरेष स्मृतो महान्। छिद्राण्यस्य वाञ्छन्ति यज्ञघ्ना ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
But this great sacrifice, O king, is known to be full of many obstacles; those who hate sacrifices and Brahma-rākṣasas seek its flaws.
युद्धं च क्षत्रशमनं पृथिवीक्षयकारणम्। किञ्चिदेव निमित्तं च भवत्यत्र क्षयावहम्
War, the destruction of kṣatriyas, and the ruin of the earth may arise from even a small cause in this matter.
एतत्सञ्चिन्त्य राजेन्द्र यत्क्षमं तत्समाचर। अप्रमत्तोत्थितो नित्यं चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षणे
Considering this, O king of kings, do what is proper; always rise with vigilance for the protection of the fourfold order.