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.'
लोकपालोऽसि धर्मज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । मन्यसे मद्वचः सत्यं तद् गच्छ भवनं विभो
'You are the guardian of the worlds, knower of dharma, and expert in all the scriptures. If you consider my words true, then, O Lord, go to your abode.'
व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दयावान् यादसां पतिः । ओमित्युक्त्वा ययावाशु प्रसन्नवदनो नृपः
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the compassionate lord of the waters, with a pleased face, said 'Om' and swiftly departed, O King.
गतेऽथ वरुणो राजा बभूवातिमुदान्वितः । सुखं प्राप्य सुतस्यैवं राजा मुदमवाप ह
When Varuṇa had gone, the king became filled with great joy; having attained happiness through his son, the king rejoiced.
चकार राजकार्याणि हरिश्चन्द्रस्तदा नृपः । कालेन व्रजता पुत्रो बभूव दशवार्षिकः
Then King Hariścandra performed his royal duties; as time passed, his son reached the age of ten.
तस्योपवीतसामग्रीं विभूतिसदृशीं नृपः । चकार ब्राह्मणैः शिष्टैरन्वितः सचिवैस्तथा
The king, accompanied by learned Brāhmaṇas and ministers, prepared for his son the sacred thread and other items, all befitting his status.
एकादशे सुतास्याब्दे व्रतबन्धविधौ नृपः । विदधे विधिवत्कार्यं चित्ते चिन्तातुरः पुनः
In his son's eleventh year, at the time of the sacred thread ceremony, the king performed all the prescribed rites, though his mind was again troubled with anxiety.
वर्तमाने तथा कार्ये उपनीते कुमारके । आजगामाथ वरुणो विप्रवेषधरस्तदा
While the ceremony was underway and the boy had been initiated, Varuṇa then arrived, disguised in the form of a Brāhmaṇa.
तं वीक्ष्य नृपतिस्तूर्णं प्रणम्य पुरतः स्थितः । कृताञ्जलिपुटः प्रीतः प्रत्युवाच सुरोत्तमम्
Seeing him, the king quickly bowed and stood before him, palms joined in reverence, and joyfully addressed the best of the gods.
देव दत्तोपवीतोऽयं पशुयोग्योऽस्ति मे सुतः । प्रसादात्तव मे शोको गतो वन्ध्यापवादजः
'O god, my son has now received the sacred thread and is fit for the sacrificial rite; by your grace, the sorrow caused by the reproach of childlessness has left me.'
कर्तुमिच्छाम्यहं यज्ञं प्रभूतवरदक्षिणम् । समये शृणु धर्मज्ञ सत्यमद्य ब्रवीम्यहम्
'I wish to perform a sacrifice with abundant gifts and offerings; listen to the appointed time, O knower of dharma, for today I speak the truth.'
समावर्तनकर्मान्ते करिष्यामि तवेप्सितम् । ममोपरि दयां कृत्वा तावत्त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि
'At the conclusion of the completion ceremony, I will fulfill your desire; until then, have mercy on me and please be patient.'
वरुण उवाच - प्रतारयसि मां राजन् पुत्रप्रेमाकुलो भृशम् । मुहुर्मुहुर्मतिं कृत्वा युक्तियुक्तां महामते
Varuṇa said: 'You are deceiving me, O king, being greatly attached to your son; again and again you devise clever strategies, O wise one.'
गच्छाम्यद्य महाराज वचसा तव नोदितः । आगमिष्यामि समये समावर्तनकर्मणि
Today I depart, O great king, not compelled by your words; I shall return at the appointed time for the completion of the ceremony.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ पाशी तपापृच्छ्य विशांपते । राजा प्रमुदितः कार्यं चकार च यथोत्तरम्
Having spoken thus, Pāśī departed after bidding farewell, O lord of men; the king, delighted, performed his duties accordingly.
आगतं वरुणं दृष्ट्वा कुमारोऽतिविचक्षणः । यज्ञस्य समयं ज्ञात्वा तदा चिन्तातुरोऽभवत्
Seeing Varuṇa arrive, the exceedingly wise prince, understanding the time of the sacrifice, became troubled in thought.
शोकस्य कारणं राज्ञः पर्यपृच्छदितस्ततः । ज्ञात्वात्मवधमायुष्मन् गमनाय मतिं दधौ
He then inquired about the cause of the king’s sorrow; learning of his own impending death, the long-lived one resolved to depart.
निश्चयं परमं कृत्वा सम्मन्त्र्य सचिवात्मजैः । प्रययौ नगरात्तस्मान्निर्गत्य वनमप्यसौ
Having made a firm decision and consulted with his ministers and their sons, he left the city and went out into the forest.
गते पुत्रे नृपः कामं दुःखितोऽभूद् भृशं तदा । प्रेरयामास दूतान्स्वांस्तस्यान्वेषणकाम्यया
With the son gone, the king became deeply afflicted with grief; he sent his own messengers, desiring to search for him.
एवं गतेऽथ कालेऽसौ वरुणस्तद्गृहं गतः । राजानं शोकसन्तप्तं कुरु यज्ञमिति ब्रुवन्
When some time had passed, Varuṇa came to that house; he addressed the king, who was tormented by sorrow, saying, 'Perform the sacrifice.'
राजा प्रणम्य तं प्राह देवदेव करोमि किम् । न जाने क्वापि पुत्रो मे गतस्त्वद्य भयाकुलः
The king, bowing to him, said, 'O god of gods, what shall I do? I do not know where my son has gone, and today I am overwhelmed by fear.'