अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीमं श्लोकं पौराणिका जनाः
Here too, the ancient sages recite this verse:
देवैः सार्द्धं महातेजानुग्रहात्तस्य धीमतः
By the favor of the mighty, together with the gods, to that wise one,
कुमारं जनयामास हरिश्चन्द्रमकल्मषम्
A son was born, Hariścandra, free from sin.
अहर्ता राजसूयस्य सम्रडिति परिश्रुतः
He became renowned as the sovereign performer of the Rājasūya sacrifice.
हरितो रोहितस्याथ चञ्चुर्हरीत उच्यते
Harita is called the son of Rohita, and his son is known as Harīta.
चैता सर्वस्य क्षत्रस्य विजयस्तेन स स्मृतः
Because of him, all the kṣatriya race is victorious; thus he is remembered.
रुरुकात्तु वृकः पुत्रस्तस्माद्बाहुर्विजज्ञिवान्
From Ruruka was born a son, Vṛka; from him, Bāhu was born.
शकैर्यवनकांबोजैः पारदैः पह्लवैस्तथा
By the Śakas, Yavanas, Kāmbojas, Pāradas, and also the Pahlavas—
सगरस्तु सुतो बाहोर्जज्ञे सह गरेण वै
Sagara, the son of Bāhu, was born together with Gareṇa.
अग्नेयमस्त्रं लब्ध्वा तु भार्गवात्सगरो नृपः
Having obtained the missile of Agni from Bhārgava, King Sagara—
शकानां पह्लवानां च धर्मं निरसदच्युतः
He, the unwavering one, expelled the dharma of the Śakas and Pahlavas.
कथं स सगरो राजा गरेण सह जज्ञिवान्
How did King Sagara come to be born together with Gareṇa?
धर्मान्कुलोचितान्क्रुद्धो राजा निरसदच्युतः
The king, unwavering, in anger expelled the dharmas proper to their lineage.
हैहयैस्तालजङ्घैश्च शकैः सार्द्धं समागतैः
The Haihayas, Tālajaṅghas, and Śakas, having assembled together—
हैहयार्थं पराक्रान्ता एते पञ्च गणास्तदा
For the sake of the Haihayas, these five groups then advanced.
वनं प्रविश्य धर्मात्मा सह पत्न्या तपो ऽचरत्
Entering the forest with his wife, the righteous one practiced austerity.
वृद्धत्वाद्दुर्बलत्वाच्च ह्यन्तरा स ममार च
Due to old age and weakness, he died in the meantime.
सपत्न्या तु गरस्तस्यै दत्तो गर्भजिघांसया
By his co-wife, the potion was given to her with the intent to destroy the embryo.
और्वस्तं भार्गवो दृष्ट्वा कारुण्याद्धि न्यवर्त्तयत्
Aurva, the Bhārgava, seeing this, out of compassion restrained it.
व्यजायत महाबाहुं सगरं नाम धर्मिकम्
A mighty-armed, righteous son named Sagara was born.
अध्याप्य वेदाञ्छास्त्राणि ततो ऽस्त्रं प्रत्यपादयत्
Having taught him the Vedas and the scriptures, he then bestowed upon him the missile.
पह्लवांश्चैव निःशेषान्कर्तुं व्यवसितो नृपः
The king resolved to destroy the Pahlavas completely.
वसिष्ठं शरणं सर्वे संप्राप्ताः शरणैषिणः
All those seeking refuge came to Vasiṣṭha for protection.
सगरं वारयामास तेषां दत्त्वाभयं तथा
He restrained Sagara, granting them safety as well.
जघान धर्मं वै तेषां वेषान्यत्वं चकार ह
He destroyed their righteousness and indeed caused them to assume a different appearance.
यवनानां शिरः सर्वं कांबोजानां तथैव च
He took the heads of all the Yavanas, and likewise of the Kambojas.
निःस्वाध्यायवषट्काराः कृतास्तेन महात्मना
By that great soul, they were made devoid of study of the Vedas and the utterance of 'vaṣaṭ.'
कलिस्पर्शा महिषिका दार्वस्छोलाः खशास्तथा
Touched by Kali, the Mahishikas, Darvas, Sholas, and also the Khashas—
वसिष्ठवचनात्पूर्वं सगरेण महात्मना
Before the words of Vasiṣṭha, by the great-souled Sagara—
अश्वं वै चारयामास वाजिमेधाय दीक्षितः
He, having been initiated for the horse sacrifice, let the horse roam.