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.
याजय त्वं मखेनाशु तादृशेन महामुने । यथानेन शरीरेण वसे लोकं त्रिविष्टपम्
Conduct a sacrifice swiftly, O great sage, so that with this body I may reside in the realm of the gods.
समर्थोऽसि मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुरु कार्यं ममाधुना । प्रापयाशु मखं कृत्वा देवलोकं दुरासदम्
You are capable, O foremost of sages; fulfill my purpose now. Quickly perform the sacrifice and grant me entry to the difficult-to-attain world of the gods.
वसिष्ठ उवाच - राजन् मानुषदेहेन स्वर्गे वासः सुदुर्लभः । मृतस्य हि ध्रुवं स्वर्गः कथितः पुण्यकर्मणा
Vasiṣṭha said: O king, dwelling in heaven with a human body is exceedingly rare; only those who die performing virtuous deeds are assured heaven.
तस्माद् बिभेमि सर्वज्ञ दुर्लभाच्च मनोरथात् । अप्सरोभिश्च संवासो जीवमानस्य दुर्लभः
Therefore, O all-knowing one, I am apprehensive, for your wish is difficult to fulfill; living with apsarās while alive is hard to attain.
कुरु यज्ञान्महाभाग मृतः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि । व्यास उवाच - इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य राजा परमदुर्मनाः
Perform sacrifices, O illustrious one; when you die, you will attain heaven. Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the king became greatly distressed.
उवाच वचनं भूयो वसिष्ठं पूर्वरोषितम् । न त्वं याजयसे ब्रह्मन् गर्वावेशाच्च मां यदि
He again spoke to Vasiṣṭha, his former anger aroused: If you do not conduct the sacrifice for me, O Brahman, out of pride,
अन्यं पुरोहितं कृत्वा यक्ष्येऽहं किल साम्प्रतम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य वसिष्ठः कोपसंयुतः
I will appoint another priest and perform the sacrifice at once. Hearing these words, Vasiṣṭha became filled with wrath.
शशाप भूपतिं चेति चाण्डालो भव दुर्मते । अनेन त्वं शरीरेण श्वपचो भव सत्वरम्
He cursed the king, saying: Become a cāṇḍāla, O wicked-minded one! With this body, become a dog-eater immediately.
स्वर्गकृन्तन पापिष्ठ सुरभीवधदूषित । ब्रह्मपत्नीहरोच्छिन्न धर्ममार्गविदूषक
O most sinful, destroyer of heaven, tainted by the killing of a cow, violator of Brahma's wife, corrupter of the path of righteousness,
न ते स्वर्गगतिः पाप मृतस्यापि कथञ्चन । व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तो गुरुणा राजंस्त्रिशङ्कुस्तत्क्षणादपि
You shall not attain heaven, O sinner, not even after death. Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by his teacher, King Triśaṅku at that very moment