इतिहासमिमं चापि कलिनाशनमच्युत। शक्यमाश्वसितुं श्रुत्वा त्वद्विधेन विशांपते
This ancient history, O faultless one, is also a destroyer of Kali; hearing it, a king like you may find comfort.
अस्थिरत्वं च संचिन्त्य पुरुषार्थस् नित्यदा। तस्योदये व्यये चापि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि
Always consider the instability of human effort; in its rise and fall, you should not be anxious.
श्रुत्वेतिहासं नृषते समाश्वसिहि मा शुचः। व्यसने त्वं महाराज न विषीदितुमर्हसि
Having heard this history, O king, take comfort and do not grieve; in adversity, you should not lose heart.
विषमावस्थिते दैवे पौरुषेऽफलतां गते। विषादयन्ति नात्मानं सत्त्वापाश्रयिणो नराः
When fate is adverse and human effort proves fruitless, those who rely on their own strength do not despair.
ये चेदं कथयिष्यन्ति नलस् चरितं महत्। श्रोष्यन्ति चाप्यभीक्ष्णं वै नालक्ष्मीस्तान्भजिष्यति
Those who recount and those who frequently listen to the great story of Nala will not be abandoned by fortune.
अर्थास्तस्योपपत्स्यन्ते धन्यतां च गमिष्यति। इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा पुराणं शश्वदुत्तमम्
Wealth will come to them, and they will attain blessedness; hearing this ancient, ever-excellent history.
पुत्रान्पौत्रान्पशूंश्चापि लभते नृषु चाग्र्यताम्। आरोग्यप्रीतिमांश्चैव भविष्ति न संशयः
He will gain sons, grandsons, cattle, and preeminence among men; he will have health and joy, without doubt.
भयात्रस्यसि यच्च त्वमाह्वयिष्यति मां पुनः। अक्षज्ञ इति तत्तेऽहं नाशयिष्यामि पार्थिव
If you fear that you will call upon me again as the knower of dice, O king, I will dispel that for you.
वेदाक्षहृदयं कृत्स्नमहं सत्यपराक्रम। उपपद्यस्व कौन्तेय प्रसन्नोऽहं ब्रवीमि ते
I possess the complete knowledge of dice and the Vedas, and am devoted to truth and valor; approach, O son of Kuntī, I speak to you with favor.
ततो हृष्टमना राजा बृहदश्वमुवाच ह। भगवन्नक्षहृदयं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
Then the king, his mind delighted, spoke to Bṛhadaśva: 'Revered one, I wish to know the heart of dice in truth.'
कौन्तेयेनैवमुक्तस्तु बृहदश्वो महामुनिः'। ततोऽक्षहृदयं प्रादात्पाण्डवाय महात्मने। `लब्ध्वा च पाण्डवो राजा विशोकः समपद्यत
When Kaunteya had spoken thus, the great sage Brihadasva gave the science of dice to the high-souled Pandava; and having received it, King Yudhishthira became free from sorrow.
पुनरेव तु वक्ष्यामि यस्त्वत्तो दुःखितो नृपः। तं शृणुष्व महाराज सर्वदुःखापनुत्तये
Now again I shall tell you of a king who suffered because of you; listen, O great king, for the removal of all sorrows.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातो महात्मा पृथिवीपतिः। त्रिशङ्कुरिति विख्यातोराजराजो महाद्युतिः
Born in the lineage of the Ikshvakus was a great-souled lord of the earth, renowned as Trishanku, the king of kings, radiant in glory.
हरिश्चन्द्रस्ततो जज्ञे गुणरत्नाकरो नृपात्। ततो विशेषैर्विविधैर्यज्ञैर्विपुलदक्षिणैः
From him was born Harishchandra, a repository of virtues and gems among kings; he excelled in various special sacrifices, giving abundant gifts.
स तु लोके वरः पुंसां पुण्यश्लोको महायशाः। सत्यवादी मधुरवाक्सत्येन बहुभाषिता
He became the foremost among men in the world, famed for his righteousness and great renown, a speaker of truth, sweet-spoken, and steadfast in truthfulness.
तस्य भार्याऽभवद्भूमौ सौशील्यसमलंकृता। उशीनरस्य राजर्षेर्दुहिता पुण्यलक्षणा
His wife on earth was adorned with noble qualities, the virtuous daughter of the royal sage Ushinara.
स्वयंवरे महाभागं वरयामास भामिनी। हरिश्चन्द्रं समेतानां राज्ञां मद्ये पतिं विभुम्
In her own svayamvara, the radiant maiden chose Harishchandra, the illustrious among assembled kings, as her husband.
तया सह महीपालः सत्यवत्या मनोज्ञया। रेमे च सुचिरं कालं राजा राज्यमवाप्य च
With her, the charming Satyavati, the king enjoyed happiness for a long time, having attained his kingdom.
तस्यां देव्यां हरिश्चन्द्राज्जज्ञे राजीवलोचनः। पुत्रः पुण्यवतां श्रेष्ठो लोहिताश्व इति श्रुतः
From that queen, Harishchandra had a son with lotus-like eyes, the best among the virtuous, known as Rohitashva.
देव्या पुत्रेण सहितः पुण्यश्लोको महायशाः। वसिष्ठयाज्यो नृपतिरीजे शुण्यैर्महाध्वरैः
Together with his son, the righteous and renowned king, devoted to Vasistha as his priest, performed great sacrifices with abundant gifts.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु विश्वामित्रो दिवं गतः। पुरुहूतपुरीं रम्यामाजगामेन्द्रसेवया
At that very time, Vishvamitra ascended to heaven and came to the delightful city of Indra, serving the lord of the gods.
उपस्थाने च संवृत्ते देवेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः। आजगाम वसिष्ठोऽपि वामदेवसहायवान्
When the assembly of the great-souled Indra was convened, Vasistha also arrived, accompanied by Vamadeva.
उपस्थाने च संवृत्ते सुखासीने पुरंदरे। वर्ण्यमानेषु च तदा सत्यवादिषु राजसु
When the assembly was gathered and Indra was seated comfortably, the truth-speaking kings were being praised at that time.
तस्यां संसदिसर्वस्माद्धरिश्चन्द्रोऽपि पप्रथे। यज्ञदानतपःशीलसत्यवाक्यदृझव्रतैः
Among all in that assembly, Harishchandra became renowned for his sacrifices, gifts, austerities, truthfulness, and firm vows.
वसिष्ठः परमप्रीतः स्वयाज्यपरिकीर्तनात्। तथापि विश्वामित्रस्तं न सेहे सत्यभूषितम्
Vasistha was extremely pleased by the praise of his own yajamana; yet even so, Vishvamitra could not tolerate Harishchandra, adorned with truth.
हरिश्चन्द्रं प्रति तदा विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। पणः कृतस्तदा पश्चाद्विश्वामित्रेण पार्थिवः
Then, concerning Harishchandra, a wager was made between Vishvamitra and Vasistha; afterwards, the king became the subject of Vishvamitra's test.
राज्याच्चापि सुखाच्चापि सहसा चावरोपितः। अवाप परमं दुःखं मरणादमनोहरम्
Suddenly deprived of his kingdom and happiness, he suffered the utmost misery, more dreadful than death.
तच्छ्रुत्वा परमप्रीतो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातृभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्चैव द्रौपद्या च समन्वितः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा साधुसाध्वित्यभाषत
Hearing this, King Yudhishthira, the lord of dharma, was greatly delighted; accompanied by his brothers, Brahmanas, and Draupadi, he was filled with supreme wonder and exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!'
ततो हरिश्चन्द्रकथां च सर्वे श्रुत्वा तु राजा मनुजेन्द्रकेतुः। विहाय शोकं विजहार भूयः स्मरन्हरिश्चन्द्रमनन्तकीर्तिम्
Then, having heard the tale of Harishchandra, King Manujendraketu cast off his sorrow and rejoiced again, remembering Harishchandra's endless fame.
कथामेवं तथा कृत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रनलाश्रयाम्। आमन्त्र्य पाण्डवान्सर्वान्बृहदश्वो जगाम ह'। उक्त्वा चाशु सरोऽगच्छदुपस्प्रष्टुं महातपाः
Having thus recounted the story centered on Harishchandra and Nala, Brihadashva took leave of all the Pandavas and departed; and the great ascetic quickly went to the lake to perform his ablutions.