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.
राजोवाच - देव मे मास्तु वन्ध्यत्वं यजिष्येऽहं जलाधिप । पशुं कृत्वा सुतं पुत्रं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
The king said: 'O lord, let me not remain childless; I will sacrifice to you, O lord of the waters, offering my son as the animal—this I truly promise you.'
वन्ध्यत्वे परमं दुःखमसह्यं भुवि मानद । शोकाग्निशमनं नॄणां तस्माद्देहि सुतं शुभम्
O bestower of honor, childlessness is the greatest and most unbearable sorrow on earth; it is the fire of grief for people—therefore, grant me an auspicious son.
वरुण उवाच - भविष्यति सुतः कामं राजन् गच्छ गृहाय वै । सत्यं तद्वचनं कार्यं यद्ब्रवीषि ममाग्रतः
Varuna said: 'A son will indeed be born to you, O king; now go home. What you have promised before me must be fulfilled.'
व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तो वरुणेनासौ हरिश्चन्द्रो गृहं ययौ । भार्यायै कथयामास वृत्तान्तं वरदानजम्
Vyasa said: Thus addressed by Varuna, Harishchandra went home and told his wife the story of the boon he had received.
तस्य भार्याशतं पूर्णं बभूवातिमनोहरम् । पट्टराज्ञी शुभा शैव्या धर्मपत्नी पतिव्रता
He had a hundred wives, all exceedingly beautiful; among them, the chief queen Shaivya was virtuous, devoted, and true to her husband.
काले गतेऽथ सा गर्भं दधार वरवर्णिनी । बभूव मुदितो राजा श्रुत्वा दोहदचेष्टितम्
In due time, that most beautiful woman conceived; the king rejoiced upon hearing of her pregnancy cravings.
कारयामास विधिवत्संस्कारान्नृपतिस्तदा । मासेऽथ दशमे पूर्णे सुषुवे सा शुभे दिने
Then, the king performed all the prescribed rites; and when the tenth month was complete, she gave birth on an auspicious day.
ताराग्रहबलोपेते पुत्रं देवसुतोपमम् । पुत्रे जाते नृपः स्नात्वा ब्राह्मणैः परिवेष्टितः
When the stars and planets were favorable, a son was born, resembling a son of the gods; after the birth, the king bathed, surrounded by Brahmins.
चकार जातकर्मादौ ददौ दानानि भूरिशः । राज्ञश्चातिप्रमोदोऽभूत्पुत्रजन्मसमुद्भवः
He performed the birth rites and gave abundant gifts; the king was exceedingly delighted at the birth of his son.
बभूव परमोदारो धनधान्यसमन्वितः । विशेषदानसंयुक्तो गीतवादित्रसंकुलः
There was great generosity, accompanied by wealth and grain; special gifts were distributed, and the celebration was filled with song and music.
हरिश्चन्द्रस्य जलोदरव्याधिप्राप्तिवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - प्रवृत्ते सदने तस्य राज्ञः पुत्रमहोत्सवे । आजगाम तदा पाशी विप्रवेषधरः शुभः
Vyāsa said: As the king's festival for his son's birth began in his palace, a noble one arrived, bearing the guise of a Brāhmaṇa and holding a noose.
स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा नृपं प्राह वरुणोऽहं निशामय । पुत्रो जातस्तवाधीश यजानेन नृपाशु माम्
He said 'Blessings!' and addressed the king: 'Know that I am Varuṇa. Your son has been born, O ruler; now perform a sacrifice for me without delay.'
सत्यं कुरु वचो राजन् यत्प्रोक्तं भवतः पुरा । वन्ध्यत्वं तु गतं तेऽद्य वरदानेन मे किल
Fulfill your promise, O king, as you once declared; your barrenness has ended today by my boon.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राजा चिन्तां चकार ह । कथं हन्मि सुतं जातं जलजेन समाननम्
Hearing these words, the king fell into thought: 'How can I slay my newborn son, who is equal to a lotus?'
लोकपालः समायातो विप्रवेषेण वीर्यवान् । न देवहेलनं कार्यं सर्वथा शुभमिच्छता
The guardian of the world has come, powerful, in the form of a Brāhmaṇa; one who desires auspiciousness should never disrespect the gods.
पुत्रस्नेहः सुदुश्छेद्यः सर्वथा प्राणिभिः सदा । किं करोमि कथं मे स्यात्सुखं सन्ततिसम्भवम्
The love for one's son is extremely difficult to sever for all living beings; what should I do, and how can I have happiness with my offspring?
धैर्यमालम्ब्य भूपालस्तं नत्वा प्रतिपूज्य च । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं युक्तं विनयपूर्वकम्
The king, gathering courage, bowed and honored him, then spoke gentle words, appropriate and full of humility.
राजोवाच - देवदेव तवानुज्ञां करोमि करुणानिधे । वेदोक्तेन विधानेन मखं च बहुदक्षिणम्
The king said: 'Lord of gods, I will act according to your permission, O ocean of compassion; I will perform a sacrifice with many gifts, as prescribed in the Vedas.'
पुत्रे जाते दशाहेन कर्मयोग्यो भवेत्पिता । मासेन शुध्येज्जननी दम्पती तत्र कारणम्
When a son is born, the father becomes fit for ritual after ten days; the mother is purified in a month—such is the reason for the couple.
सर्वज्ञोऽसि प्रचेतस्त्वं धर्मं जानासि शाश्वतम् । कृपां कुरु त्वं वारीश क्षमस्व परमेश्वर
You are all-knowing, O Pracetā, and you understand eternal dharma; show mercy, O lord of waters, forgive me, O supreme lord.