इन्द्र उवाच - राजपुत्र न जानासि राजनीतिं सुदुर्लभाम् । अतः करोषि मूढस्त्वं गमनाय मतिं वृथा
Indra said: O prince, you do not know the art of kingship, which is most difficult to attain; therefore, in your ignorance, you are making a futile decision to return.
पिता तव महाभाग ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । कारयिष्यति होमं ते ज्वलितेऽथ विभावसौ
Your noble father will have a fire sacrifice performed for you by learned Brahmins well-versed in the Vedas, when the sacred fire is kindled.
आत्मा हि वल्लभस्तात सर्वेषां प्राणिनां खलु । तदर्थे वल्लभाः सन्ति पुत्रदारधनादयः
Indeed, O dear one, the self is truly most beloved to all living beings; for its sake, sons, wives, wealth, and others are considered dear.
आत्मनो देहरक्षार्थं हत्वा त्वां वल्लभं सुतम् । हवनं कारयित्वासौ रोगमुक्तो भविष्यति
For the sake of protecting his own body, he will have you, his beloved son, killed, and after performing the sacrifice, he will become free from disease.
तस्मात्त्वया न गन्तव्यं राजपुत्र पितुर्गृहे । मृते पितरि गन्तव्यं राज्यार्थे सर्वथा पुनः
Therefore, O prince, you must not go to your father's house; only after your father's death should you return for the sake of the kingdom.
एवं निषेधितस्तत्र वासवेन नृपात्मजः । वनमध्ये स्थितः कामं पुनः संवत्सरं नृप
Thus forbidden there by Vasava, the prince remained willingly in the forest for another year, O king.
अत्यन्तं दुःखितं श्रुत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रं तदाऽऽत्मजः । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे मरणे कृतनिश्चयः
Hearing that Harishchandra was extremely distressed, his son resolved to depart, having made up his mind to die.
तुषाराड् द्विजरूपेण तत्रागत्य च रोहितम् । निवारयामास सुतं युक्तिवाक्यैः पुनः पुनः
Tusharad, taking the form of a Brahmin, came there and repeatedly restrained Rohita, his son, with words of reason.
हरिश्चन्द्रोऽतिदुःखार्तो वसिष्ठं स्वपुरोहितम् । पप्रच्छ रोगनाशाय तत्रोपायं सुनिश्चितम्
Harishchandra, overwhelmed by great sorrow, then asked Vasistha, his family priest, for a definite means to remove the disease.
तमाह ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो यज्ञं कुरु नृपोत्तम । क्रयक्रीतेन पुत्रेण शापमोक्षो भविष्यति
The son of Brahma said to him: O best of kings, perform a sacrifice with a son obtained by purchase; through this, the curse will be lifted.
पुत्रा दशविधां प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । द्रव्येणानीय तस्मात्त्वं पुत्रं कुरु नृपोत्तम
The learned Brahmins well-versed in the Vedas have declared that there are ten kinds of sons; therefore, O best of kings, obtain a son with wealth and perform the sacrifice.
वरुणोऽपि प्रसन्नः सन्सुखकारी भविष्यति । लोभात्कोऽपि द्विजः पुत्रं प्रदास्यति स्वराष्ट्रजः
Then Varuna will also be pleased and bring happiness; out of greed, some Brahmin from your kingdom will surely give his son.
एवं प्रमोदितो राजा वसिष्ठेन महामना । प्रधानं प्रेरयामास तदन्वेषणकाम्यया
Thus delighted by Vasistha, the high-minded king sent his chief minister to search for such a son.
अजीगर्तो द्विजः कश्चिद्विषये तस्य भूपतेः । तस्यासंश्च त्रयः पुत्रा निर्धनस्य विशेषतः
There was a certain Brahmin named Ajigarta in the king's realm, who had three sons and was especially poor.
प्रधानेनाप्यसौ पृष्टः पुत्रार्थं दुर्बलो द्विजः । गवां शतं ददामीति देहि पुत्रं मखाय वै
The chief minister asked that weak Brahmin for a son; he replied, 'Give me a hundred cows and I will give you a son for the sacrifice.'
शुनःपुच्छः शुनःशेपः शुनोलांगूल इत्यमी । तेषामेकतमं देहि ददामि तु गवां शतम्
'Shunahpuccha, Shunahshepa, and Shunolangu—these are their names; give me a hundred cows and I will give you any one of them.'
अजीगर्तस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् । पुत्रं च कतमं तेभ्यो विक्रेतुं वै मनो दधे
Hearing this, Ajigarta, greatly afflicted by hunger, began to consider which of his sons he should sell.
कार्याधिकारिणं ज्येष्ठं मत्वा नासावदादमुम् । कनिष्ठं नाप्यदान्माता ममैष इति वादिनी
Thinking the eldest was responsible for family duties, he did not offer him; nor did the mother give the youngest, saying, 'This one is mine.'
मध्यमं च शुनःशेपं ददौ गवां शतेन च । आनिनाय पशुं चक्रे नरमेधे नराधिपः
He gave his middle son, Śunaḥśepa, along with a hundred cows, and brought him as the sacrificial victim for the human sacrifice, as ordered by the king.
रुदन्तं दुःखितं दीनं वेपमानं भृशातुरम् । यूपे बद्धं निरीक्ष्यामुं चुक्रुशुर्मुनयस्तदा
Seeing him bound to the sacrificial post, weeping, miserable, destitute, trembling and greatly afflicted, the sages cried out at that moment.
शामित्राय पशुं चक्रे नरमेधे नराधिपः । शमिता नाददे शस्त्रं तमालम्भयितुं शिशुम्
The king appointed the boy as the sacrificial victim for Śāmitra in the human sacrifice; but the officiating priest did not take up the weapon to strike the child.
नाहं द्विजसुतं दीनं रुदन्तं करुणं भृशम् । हनिष्यामि स्वलोभार्थमित्युवाचाप्यसौ तदा
He said, 'I will not kill this pitiable, weeping, and deeply distressed son of a twice-born, for my own selfish gain.'
इत्युक्त्वा विररामासौ कर्मणो दुष्करादथ । राजा आभासदः प्राह किं कर्तव्यमिति द्विजाः
Having spoken thus, he refrained from that difficult act; then the king addressed the assembly, 'What should be done now, O twice-born?'
जातः किलकिलाशब्दो जनानां क्रोशतां तदा । क्रन्दमाने शुनःशेपे सभायां भृशमद्भुतम्
At that time, a tumultuous clamor arose from the people, who were crying out, as Śunaḥśepa wailed in the assembly, an astonishing sight.
अजीगर्तस्तदोत्थाय तमुवाच नृपोत्तमम् । राजन् कार्यं करिष्यामि तवाहं सुस्थिरो भव
Then Ajīgarta arose and spoke to the illustrious king: 'O King, I will do what is required for you; be steadfast.'
वेतनं द्विगुणं देहि हनिष्यामि पशुं किल । कर्तव्यं मखकार्यं वै मया तेऽद्य धनार्थिना
'Give me double the payment, and I will indeed kill the sacrificial victim; today, desiring wealth, I will perform the ritual act for you.'
दुःखितस्य धनार्थस्य सदासूया प्रसूयते । व्यास उवाच - तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य हरिश्चन्द्रो मुदान्वितः
For one who is distressed and seeking wealth, envy always arises; Vyāsa said: Hearing his words, Hariścandra was filled with joy.
तमुवाच ददाम्यद्य गवां शतमनुत्तमम् । तदाकर्ण्य पिता तस्य पुत्रं हन्तुं समुद्यतः
He said to him, 'Today I will give you a hundred excellent cows.' Hearing this, the father prepared to kill his own son.
लोभेनाकुलचित्तोऽसौ शामित्रे कृतनिश्चयः । समुद्यतं च तं दृष्ट्वा जनाः सर्वे सभासदः
His mind agitated by greed, he resolved to do the deed for the payment; seeing him thus prepared, all the people and the assembly looked on.
चुक्रुशुर्भृशदुःखार्ता हाहेति जगदुर्वचः । पिशाचोऽयं महापापी क्रूरकर्मा द्विजाकृतिः
Overwhelmed with great sorrow, they cried out, 'Alas!' and spoke these words: 'This one is a fiend, a great sinner, cruel in action, though in the form of a twice-born.'