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.
व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तस्तु प्रचेतास्तं प्रत्युवाच जनाधिपम् । स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि कुरु कार्याणि पार्थिव
Vyāsa said: Thus addressed, Pracetā replied to the king: 'Blessings to you! I will depart; fulfill your duties, O ruler.'
आगमिष्यामि मासान्ते यष्टव्यं सर्वथा त्वया । कृत्वौत्थानिकमाचारं पुत्रस्य नृपसत्तम
'I will return at the end of the month; you must perform the sacrifice then, O best of kings, after completing the purificatory rites for your son.'
इत्युक्त्वा श्लक्ष्णया वाचा राजानं यादसां पतिः । हरिश्चन्द्रो मुदं प्राप गते पाशिनि पार्थिवः
Having spoken these gentle words, the lord of the waters departed from the king; Hariścandra rejoiced after the noose-holder had gone.
कोटिशः प्रददौ गास्ता घटोध्नीर्हेमपूरिताः । विप्रेभ्यो वेदविद्भ्यश्च तथैव तिलपर्वतान्
He gave away cows by the millions, pots filled with gold, and mountains of sesame seeds to Brāhmaṇas and Vedic scholars.
राजा पुत्रमुखं दृष्ट्वा सुखमाप महत्तरम् । नामास्य रोहितश्चेति चकार विधिपूर्वकम्
The king, seeing his son's face, experienced immense happiness; he named him Rohita, following the prescribed rites.
पूर्णे मासे ततः पाशी विप्रवेषेण भूपतेः । आजगाम गृहे सद्यो यजस्वेति ब्रुवन्मुहुः
When the month was complete, the noose-holder, disguised as a Brāhmaṇa, came at once to the king's house, repeatedly saying, 'Sacrifice now!'
वीक्ष्य तं नृपतिर्देवं निमग्नः शोकसागरे । प्रणिपत्य कृतातिथ्यं तमुवाच कृताञ्जलिः
Seeing that god, the king, submerged in an ocean of sorrow, bowed down, offered hospitality, and spoke with joined palms.
दिष्ट्या देव त्वमायातो गृहं मे पावितं प्रभो । मखं करोमि वारीश विधिवद्वाञ्छितं तव
By good fortune, O Lord, you have come—my house is purified, O Master. I shall perform the sacrifice, O Lord of Waters, as you desire and according to the proper rites.
अदन्तो न पशुः श्लाघ्य इत्याहुर्वेदवादिनः । तस्माद्दन्तोद्भवे तेऽहं करिष्यामि महामखम्
The Vedic scholars say that a toothless animal is not fit for sacrifice; therefore, when the teeth emerge, I will perform the great sacrifice for you.
व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तस्तेन वरुणस्तथेत्युक्त्वा ययावथ । हरिश्चन्द्रो मुदं प्राप्य विजहार गृहाश्रमे
Vyasa said: Thus addressed, Varuna replied, 'So be it,' and departed; Harishchandra, filled with joy, dwelled happily in his household.