तस्य तत्क्रन्दितं राजन् पतितः कौशिको मुनिः । श्रुत्वा तिष्ठेति होवाच पतन्तं वीक्ष्य भूपतिम्
Hearing the king's cry as he fell, the sage Kauśika said, 'Stay!' as he watched the king descending.
वचनात्तस्य तत्रैव स्थितोऽसौ गगने नृपः । मुनेस्तपःप्रभावेण चलितोऽपि सुरालयात्
By the sage's command, the king remained there in the sky itself, though cast out from the abode of the gods by the power of the sage's austerity.
विश्वामित्रोऽप्यपः स्पृष्ट्वा चकारेष्टिं सुविस्तराम् । विधातुं नूतनां सृष्टिं स्वर्गलोकं द्वितीयकम्
Viśvāmitra also, having touched water, performed an elaborate sacrifice to create a new creation, a second heaven.
तस्योद्यमं तथा ज्ञात्वा त्वरितस्तु शचीपतिः । तत्राजगाम सहसा मुनिं प्रति तु गाधिजम्
Knowing his intention thus, the lord of Śacī quickly came there at once to the sage, the son of Gādhi.
किं ब्रह्मन् क्रियते साधो कस्मात्कोपसमाकुलः । अलं सृष्ट्या मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
"O Brāhmaṇa, what are you doing, O virtuous one? Why are you so filled with anger? Enough of this creation, O best of sages. Tell me, what shall I do for you?"
विश्वामित्र उवाच - स्वं निवासं महीपालं च्युतं त्वद्भुवनाद् विभो । नयस्व प्रीतियोगेन त्रिशङ्कुं चातिदुःखितम्
Viśvāmitra said: "My own dwelling, O lord, has been cast out from your world. Kindly, with favor, bring Triśaṅku, who is greatly afflicted, to a place of happiness."
व्यास उवाच - तस्य तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा तुराषाडतिशङ्कितः । तपोबलं विदित्वोग्रमोमित्योवाच वासवः
Vyāsa said: Knowing his resolve, Indra, filled with apprehension, and aware of his fierce ascetic power, spoke thus.
दिव्यदेहं नृपं कृत्वा विमानवरसंस्थितम् । आपृच्छ्य कौशिकं शक्रोऽगमन्निजपुरीं तदा
Having given the king a divine body and set him in a splendid celestial chariot, Śakra, after taking leave of Kauśika, then returned to his own city.
गते शक्रे तु वै स्वर्गं त्रिशङ्कुसहिते ततः । विश्वामित्रः सुखं प्राप्य स्वाश्रमे सुस्थिरोऽभवत्
After Śakra went to heaven together with Triśaṅku, Viśvāmitra, having attained contentment, remained firm and at ease in his own hermitage.
हरिश्चन्द्रोऽथ तच्छ्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोपकारकम् । पितुः स्वर्गमनं कामं मुदितो राज्यमन्वशात्
Then Hariścandra, having heard of Viśvāmitra's favor and his father's ascent to heaven, joyfully ruled the kingdom.
अयोध्याधिपतिः क्रीडां चकार सह भार्यया । रूपयौवनचातुर्ययुक्तया प्रीतिसंयुतः
The lord of Ayodhyā enjoyed himself with his wife, who was endowed with beauty, youth, and cleverness, and was filled with affection.
अतीतकाले युवती न सा गर्भवती ह्यभूत् । तदा चिन्तातुरो राजा बभूवातीव दुःखितः
As time passed, that young woman did not become pregnant; then the king, troubled by anxiety, became greatly distressed.
वसिष्टस्याश्रमं गत्वा प्रणम्य शिरसा मुनिम् । अनपत्यत्वजां चिन्तां गुरवे समवेदयत्
Going to the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, bowing his head to the sage, he revealed to his guru the anxiety born of childlessness.
दैवज्ञोऽसि भवान्कामं मन्त्रविद्याविशारदः । उपायं कुरु धर्मज्ञ सन्ततेर्मम मानद
"You are an expert in destiny, well-versed in mantras and knowledge. O knower of dharma, O giver of honor, devise a means for my lineage."
अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति जानासि द्विजसत्तम । कस्मादुपेक्षसे जानन् दुःखं मम च शक्तिमान्
"There is no destiny for one without a son, as you know, O best of twice-born. Why do you neglect me, knowing my sorrow and your own power?"
कलविंकास्त्विमे धन्या ये शिशुं लालयन्ति हि । मन्दभाग्योऽहमनिशं चिन्तयामि दिवानिशम्
"These little birds are blessed, for they fondle their young. I, of poor fortune, think day and night, ever anxious."
व्यास उवाच - इत्याकर्ण्य मुनिस्तस्य निर्वेदमिश्रितं वचः । सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा सम्यक् तमुवाच विधेः सुतः
Vyāsa said: Hearing his words, filled with despair, the sage, after reflecting well in his mind, spoke to him, the son of Vidhī.
वसिष्ठ उवाच - सत्यं ब्रूहि महाराज संसारेऽस्मिन्न विद्यते । अनपत्यत्वजं दुःखं यत्तथा दुःखमद्भुतम्
Vasiṣṭha said: "Speak truly, O great king, in this world there is no sorrow like that which comes from childlessness; such sorrow is indeed astonishing."
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेन्द्र वरुणं यादसां पतिम् । समाराधय यत्नेन स ते कार्यं करिष्यति
Therefore, O king of kings, you too should earnestly worship Varuṇa, lord of the waters; he will accomplish your purpose.
वरुणादधिको नास्ति देवः सन्तानदायकः । तमाराधय धर्मिष्ठ कार्यसिद्धिर्भविष्यति
There is no god superior to Varuṇa in granting offspring; worship him, O righteous one, and your aim will be fulfilled.
दैवं पुरुषकारश्च माननीयाविमौ नृभिः । उद्यमेन विना कार्यसिद्धिः सञ्जायते कथम्
Both fate and human effort are to be respected by people; without exertion, how can the accomplishment of a task arise?
न्यायतस्तु नरैः कार्य उद्यमस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । कृते तस्मिन्भवेत्सिद्धिर्नान्यथा नृपसत्तम
Indeed, the wise should undertake action according to what is right; when that is done, success comes—never otherwise, O best of kings.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा गुरोरमिततेजसः । प्रणम्य निर्ययौ राजा तपसे कृतनिश्चयः
Hearing these words from his guru, whose brilliance was immeasurable, the king bowed and departed, firmly resolved to undertake austerities.
गङ्गातीरे शुभे स्थाने कृतपद्मासनो नृपः । ध्यायन्पाशधरं चित्ते चचार दुश्चरं तपः
On the auspicious bank of the Ganges, the king made a lotus-seat, and, meditating in his mind on the Lord holding the noose, performed difficult austerities.
एवं तपस्यतस्तस्य प्रचेता दृष्टिगोचरः । कृपयाभून्महाराज प्रसन्नमुखपङ्कजः
As he was engaged in such austerities, Pracetas appeared before his eyes, O great king, his lotus-face beaming with compassion.
हरिश्चन्द्रमुवाचेदं वचनं यादसां पतिः । वरं वरय धर्मज्ञ तुष्टोऽस्मि तपसा तव
The lord of the waters spoke these words to Harishchandra: 'Choose a boon, O knower of dharma; I am pleased with your austerity.'
राजोवाच - अनपत्योऽस्मि देवेश पुत्रं देहि सुखप्रदम् । ऋणत्रयापहारार्थमुद्यमोऽयं मया कृतः
The king said: 'O lord of the gods, I am childless; grant me a son who brings happiness. I have undertaken this effort to remove the three debts.'
नृपस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रगल्भं दुःखितस्य च । स्मितपूर्वं ततः पाशी तमाह पुराः स्थितम्
Hearing the king’s bold and sorrowful words, the Lord with the noose, smiling, addressed him as he stood before him.
वरुण उवाच - पुत्रो यदि भवेद्राजन् गुणी मनसि वाञ्छितः । सिद्धे कार्ये ततः पश्चात्किं करिष्यसि मे प्रियम्
Varuna said: 'If, O king, you have a son endowed with virtues as you desire, what will you do to please me after your wish is fulfilled?'
यदि त्वं तेन पुत्रेण मां यजेथा विशङ्कितः । पशुबन्धेन तेनैव ददामि नृपते वरम्
If you, without hesitation, offer me a sacrifice with that son as the animal, O king, then I grant you the boon.