सर्वं दृश्यं महादेवी द्रष्टा साक्षी च सैव हि । इति तद्भावभरितस्तिष्ठेन्निर्भयचेतसा
All that is seen is the Great Goddess; she alone is the seer and the witness. Thus, filled with this awareness, one should remain with a fearless mind.
कृत्वा नित्यविधिं सम्यग्गन्तव्यं सदसि द्विजान् । समाहूय च प्रष्टव्यो धर्मशास्त्रविनिर्णयः
Having properly performed the daily rites, one should go to the assembly of the twice-born. After gathering them, one should inquire into the decision of the law scriptures.
सम्पूज्य ब्राह्मणान्पूज्यान्वेदवेदान्तपारगान् । गोभूहिरण्यादिकं च देयं पात्रेषु सर्वदा
One should honor the venerable Brahmins who are learned in the Vedas and Vedanta, and always give cows, land, gold, and the like to worthy recipients.
अविद्वान्ब्राह्मणः कोऽपि नैव पूज्यः कदाचन । आहारादधिकं नैव देयं मूर्खाय कर्हिचित्
A Brahmin who is ignorant must never be honored at any time. One should never give more than food to a fool.
न वा लोभात्त्वया पुत्र कर्तव्यं धर्मलङ्घनम् । अतः परं न कर्तव्यं क्वचिद्विप्रावमाननम्
O son, you must never violate righteousness out of greed. Beyond this, one should never show disrespect to Brahmins anywhere.
ब्राह्मणा भूमिदेवाश्च माननीयाः प्रयत्नतः । कारणं क्षत्रियाणां च द्विजा एव न संशयः
Brahmins and the deities of the earth are to be honored with great effort. The very reason for the Kshatriyas is indeed the twice-born, without doubt.
अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मणः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम् । तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति
From water comes fire, from Brahmins comes the Kshatriya, and from stone comes iron. Their power, present everywhere, subsides in their own sources.
तस्माद्राज्ञा विशेषेण माननीया मुखोद्भवाः । दानेन विनयेनैव सर्वथा भूतिमिच्छता
Therefore, a king who desires prosperity must especially honor those born from the mouth, by charity and humility in every way.
दण्डनीतिः सदा कार्या धर्मशास्त्रानुसारतः । कोशस्य संग्रहः कार्यो नूनं न्यायागतस्य ह
The policy of punishment must always be carried out in accordance with the law of righteousness; the collection of the treasury should certainly be done justly.
त्रिशङ्कूपाख्यानवर्णनम् एवं प्रबोधितः पित्रा त्रिशङ्कुः प्रणतो नृपः । तथेति पितरं प्राह प्रेमगद्गदया गिरा
Triśaṅku’s story is described. Thus, having been instructed by his father, Triśaṅku, the king, bowed and replied to his father, saying 'So be it,' with words trembling from affection.
विप्रानाहूय मन्त्रज्ञान्वेदशास्त्रविशारदान् । अभिषेकाय सम्भारान् कारयामास सत्वरम्
He quickly summoned the Brahmins who were skilled in mantras and expert in the Vedas and scriptures, and arranged the materials for the consecration.
सलिलं सर्वतीर्थानां समानाय्य विशांपतिः । प्रकृतीश्च समाहूय सामन्तान्भूपतींस्तथा
The lord of the people brought water from all the sacred places, and called together his ministers, as well as the vassals and other kings.
पुण्येऽह्नि विधिवत्तस्मै ददावासनमुत्तमम् । अभिषिच्य सुतं राज्ये त्रिशङ्कुं विधिवत्पिता
On an auspicious day, according to proper rites, he gave him the highest seat; the father consecrated his son Triśaṅku as king, in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
तृतीयमाश्रमं पुण्यं जग्राह भार्यया युतः । वने त्रिपथगाकूले चचार दुश्चरं तपः
He entered the third, holy stage of life together with his wife, and performed difficult austerities in the forest, on the bank of the threefold river.
काले प्राप्ते ययौ स्वर्गं पूजितस्त्रिदशैरपि । इन्द्रासनसमीपस्थो रराज रविवत्सदा
When the time came, he went to heaven, honored even by the gods; seated near Indra’s throne, he shone always like the sun.
राजोवाच पूर्वं भगवता प्रोक्तं कथायोगेन साम्प्रतम् । सत्यव्रतो वसिष्ठेन शप्तो दोग्ध्रीवधात्किल
The king said: Previously, as told by the revered one in the story, Satyavrata was cursed by Vasiṣṭha because of the killing of a milch cow.
कुपितेने पिशाचत्वं प्रापितो गुरुणा ततः । कथं मुक्तः पिशाचत्वादित्येतत्संशयः प्रभो
Then, angered, the teacher made him a Piśāca; how was he freed from that state? This, O master, is my question.
न सिंहासनयोग्यो हि भवेच्छापसमन्वितः । मुनिना मोचितः शापात्केनान्येन च कर्मणा
One who is afflicted by a curse is not fit for the throne; he was freed from the curse by the sage, and also by another act.
एतन्मे ब्रूहि विप्रर्षे शापमोक्षणकारणम् । आनीतस्तु कथं पित्रा स्वगृहे तादृशाकृतिः
Tell me this, O sage among Brahmins: the cause of the release from the curse; and how he was brought by his father to his own house in such a form.
व्यास उवाच - वसिष्ठेन च शप्तोऽसौ सद्यः पैशाचतां गतः । दुर्वेषश्चातिदुर्धर्षः सर्वलोकभयङ्करः
Vyāsa said: He was cursed by Vasiṣṭha and immediately became a Piśāca, extremely hostile and difficult to restrain, terrifying to all the worlds.
यदैवोपासिता देवी भक्त्या सत्यव्रतेन ह । तया प्रसन्नया राजन् दिव्यदेहः कृतः क्षणात्
When Satyavrata worshipped the Goddess with devotion, O king, she, being pleased, instantly granted him a divine body.
पिशाचत्वं गतं तस्य पापं चैव क्षयं गतम् । विपाप्मा चातितेजस्वी सम्भूतस्तत्कृपामृतात्
His Piśāca state was gone, his sin was destroyed, and he became exceedingly radiant, purified by the nectar of her grace.
वसिष्ठोऽपि प्रसन्नात्मा जातः शक्तिप्रसादतः । पितापि च बभूवास्य प्रेमयुक्तस्त्वनुग्रहात्
Vasiṣṭha also became benevolent, due to the favor of Śakti; and his father, filled with love, was gracious to him as well.
राज्यं शशास धर्मात्मा मृते पितरि पार्थिवः । ईजे च विविधैर्यज्ञैर्देवदेवीं सनातनीम्
After his father’s death, the righteous king ruled the kingdom, and worshipped the eternal Goddess with various sacrifices.
तस्य पुत्रो बभूवाथ हरिश्चन्द्रः सुशोभनः । लक्षणैः शास्त्रनिर्दिष्टैः संयुतश्चातिसुन्दरः
His son was Hariścandra, most splendid, endowed with the marks described in the scriptures, and exceedingly beautiful.
युवराजं सुतं कृत्वा त्रिशङ्कुः पृथिवीपतिः । मानुषेण शरीरेण स्वर्गं भोक्तुं मनो दधे
Triśaṅku, the lord of the earth, made his son crown prince, and resolved to enjoy heaven in a human body.
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं गत्वा प्रणम्य विधिवन्नृपः । उवाच वचनं प्रीतः कृताञ्जलिपुटस्तदा
Having gone to Vasiṣṭha's hermitage, the king bowed respectfully according to custom, and, with hands joined in reverence, spoke joyfully.
राजोवाच - ब्रह्मपुत्र महाभाग सर्वमन्त्रविशारद । विज्ञप्तिं मे सुमनसा श्रोतुमर्हसि तापस
The king said: O illustrious son of Brahma, expert in all mantras, you are worthy to hear my request, O ascetic, offered with a sincere heart.
इच्छा मेऽद्य समुत्पन्ना स्वर्गलोकसुखाय च । अनेनैव शरीरेण भोगान्भोक्तुममानुषान्
A desire has arisen in me today for the pleasures of heaven, to enjoy superhuman delights in this very body.
अप्सरोभिश्च संवासः क्रीडितुं नन्दने वने । देवगन्धर्वगानं च श्रोतव्यं मधुरं किल
I wish to dwell with the apsarās, to play in the Nandana grove, and to hear the sweet songs of the divine Gandharvas.