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.
पुनर्दन्तोद्भवं ज्ञात्वा प्रचेता द्विजरूपवान् । आजगाम गृहे तस्य कुरु कार्यमिति ब्रुवन्
Again, knowing the teeth had emerged, Varuna, taking the form of a Brahmin, came to his house, saying, 'Now fulfill your promise.'
भूपालोऽपि जलाधीशं वीक्ष्य प्राप्तं द्विजाकृतिम् । प्रणम्यासनसम्मानैः पूजयामास सादरम्
The king, seeing the Lord of Waters arrived in the form of a Brahmin, bowed and respectfully worshipped him with seat and honors.
स्तुत्वा प्रोवाच वचनं विनयानतकन्धरः । करोमि विधिवत्कामं मखं प्रबलदक्षिणम्
Having praised him, with head bowed in humility, he spoke: 'I will perform the desired sacrifice with proper rites and abundant gifts.'
बालोऽप्यकृतचौलोऽयं गर्भकेशो न सम्मतः । यज्ञार्थे पशुकरणे मया वृद्धमुखाच्छ्रुतम्
This boy is still uninitiated, his birth hair not yet removed; he is not approved for sacrifice as an animal—I have heard this from the elders.
तावत्क्षमस्व वारीश विधिं जानासि शाश्वतम् । कर्तव्यः सर्वथा यज्ञो मुण्डनान्ते शिशोः किल
Therefore, forgive me, O Lord of Waters; you know the eternal ordinance. The sacrifice must be performed only after the child’s head is shaved.
तस्येति वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रचेताः प्राह तं पुनः । प्रतारयसि मां राजन् पुनः पुनरिदं ब्रुवन्
Hearing this speech, Varuna again said to him: 'You are deceiving me, O King, repeating this again and again.'
अपि ते सर्वसामग्री वर्तते नृपतेऽधुना । पुत्रस्नेहनिबद्धस्त्वं वञ्चयस्येव साम्प्रतम्
'Do you now possess all the necessary materials, O King? Bound by affection for your son, you seem to be deceiving me at this time.'
क्षौरकर्मविधिं कृत्वा न कर्तासि मखं यदि । तदाहं दारुणं शापं दास्ये कोपसमन्वितः
'If, after performing the shaving ceremony, you do not carry out the sacrifice, then, filled with anger, I will pronounce a terrible curse upon you.'
अद्य गच्छामि राजेन्द्र वचनात्तव मानद । न मृषा वचनं कार्यं त्वयेक्ष्वाकुकुलोद्भव
'Today I depart, O King, at your word, O giver of honor. Let your promise not be false, O scion of the Ikshvaku line.'
इत्याभाष्य ययावाशु प्रचेता नृपतेर्गृहात् । राजा परमसन्तुष्टो ननन्द भवने तदा
Having spoken thus, Varuna swiftly departed from the king’s house; the king was exceedingly pleased and rejoiced in his palace.
चूडाकरणकाले तु प्रवृत्ते परमोत्सवे । सम्प्राप्तस्तरसा पाशी भवनं नृपतेः पुनः
When the time for the head-shaving ceremony arrived, and the great festival began, Varuna quickly came again to the king’s palace.
यदाङ्के सुतमादाय राज्ञी नृपतिसन्निधौ । उपविष्टा क्रियाकाले तदैव वरुणोऽभ्यगात्
When the queen, holding her son in her lap, sat in the king’s presence at the time of the rite, Varuna arrived at that very moment.
कुरु कर्मेति विस्पष्टं वचनं कथयन्नृपम् । विप्ररूपधरः श्रीमान् प्रत्यक्ष इव पावकः
Clearly stating, 'Perform the act,' the illustrious Varuna, taking the form of a Brahmin, appeared before the king like fire manifest.
नृपतिस्त्वं समालोक्य बभूवातीव विह्वलः । नमश्चकार तं भीत्या कृताञ्जलिपुटः पुरः
The king, seeing him, became greatly agitated; out of fear, he bowed before him with palms joined in reverence.
विधिवत्पूजयित्वा तं राजोवाच विनीतवान् । स्वामिन् कार्यं करोम्यद्य मखस्य विधिपूर्वकम्
Having worshipped him according to the proper rites, the king spoke humbly: 'Master, today I wish to perform the prescribed ritual for the sacrifice.'
वक्तव्यमस्ति तत्रापि शृणुष्वैकमना विभो । युक्तं चेन्मन्यसे स्वामिंस्तद् ब्रवीमि तवाग्रतः
'There is something further to be said in this matter—listen attentively, O Lord. If you consider it appropriate, Master, I will speak it before you.'
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यस्त्रयो वर्णा द्विजातयः । संस्कृताश्चान्यथा शूद्रा एवं वेदविदो विदुः
'The Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, and Vaiśya—these three castes are twice-born; the rest are Śūdras. Thus knowers of the Veda understand.'
तस्मादयं सुतो मेऽद्य शुद्रवद्वर्तते शिशुः । उपनीतः क्रियार्हः स्यादिति वेदेषु निर्णयः
'Therefore, my son now lives like a Śūdra; but the Vedas declare that, once initiated, he becomes eligible for the rites.'
राज्ञामेकादशे वर्षे सदोपनयनं स्मृतम् । अष्टमे ब्राह्मणानां च वैश्यानां द्वादशे किल
'For kings, the sacred thread ceremony is prescribed in the eleventh year; for Brāhmaṇas in the eighth, and for Vaiśyas in the twelfth, indeed.'
दयसे यदि देवेश दीनं मां सेवकं तव । तदोपनीय कर्तास्मि पशुना यज्ञमुत्तमम्
'If you show compassion, O Lord of the gods, to me, your humble servant, then, having him initiated, I will perform the supreme sacrifice with animals.'