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.
बृहदश्व गते पार्थमश्रौषीत्सव्यसाचिनम्। वर्तमनं तपस्युग्रे वायुभक्षं मनीषिणम्
When Brihadashva had gone, Arjuna heard of the mighty Savyasacin, living on air, engaged in fierce austerities.
ब्राह्मणएभ्यस्तपस्विभ्यः संपतद्भ्यस्ततस्ततः। तीर्थशैलवनेभ्यश्च समेतेभ्यो दृढव्रतः
From brahmins and ascetics, from those assembled at holy places, mountains, and forests, all steadfast in their vows, he heard of him.
इतिपार्थो महाबाहुर्दुरापं तप आस्थितः। न तथा दृष्टपूर्वोऽन्यः कश्चिदुग्रतपा इति
Thus Partha, mighty-armed, undertook an arduous penance; never before had anyone been seen performing such severe austerity.
यथा धनंजयः पार्थस्तपस्वी नियतव्रतः। मुनिरेकचरः श्रीमान्धर्मो विग्रहवानिव
Just as Dhananjaya, son of Pritha, steadfast in his vow, practiced austerity—like a sage living alone, radiant, as if Dharma himself had taken form.
तं श्रुत्वा पाण्डवो राजंस्तप्यमानं महावने। अन्वशोचत कौन्तेयः प्रियं वै भ्रातरं जयम्
Hearing of his beloved brother Jaya enduring austerities in the great forest, the Pandava, son of Kunti, grieved for him.
दह्यमानेन तु हृदा शरणार्थी महावने। ब्राह्मणान्विविधज्ञानान्पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः
With a heart burning with anguish, seeking refuge in the great forest, Yudhishthira questioned brahmins of various knowledge.
प्रतिगृह्याक्षहृदयं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। आसीद्धृष्टमना राजन्भीमसेनादिभिर्युतः
Having received comfort for his afflicted heart, Kunti's son Yudhishthira sat with a cheerful mind, surrounded by Bhimasena and the others.
स्वभ्रातॄन्सहितान्पश्यन्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अपश्यन्नर्जुनं तत्रबभूवाश्रुपरिप्लुतः
Seeing his brothers gathered together, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, not seeing Arjuna there, became overcome with tears.
संतप्यमानः कौन्तेयो भीमसेनमुवाच ह। कदा द्रक्ष्यामि वै भीम पार्तमत्र तवानुजम्
Tormented, the son of Kunti spoke to Bhimasena: 'Bhima, when shall I see your younger brother Partha here again?'
मत्कृते हि कुरुश्रेष्ठ तष्यते परमं तपः। तस्याक्षहृदयज्ञानमाख्यास्यामि कदा न्बहम्
'For my sake, O best of Kurus, he endures supreme austerity; when will I tell him the knowledge of dice, which I have learned?'