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.'
यत्स्वयं स्वसुतं हन्तुमुद्यतः कुलपांसनः । धिक्चाण्डाल किमेतत्ते पापकर्म चिकीर्षितम्
'He, a disgrace to his lineage, is about to kill his own son! Fie, O outcaste! What is this wicked act you intend to do?'
हत्वा सुतं धनं प्राप्य किं सुखं ते भविष्यति । आत्मा वै जायते पुत्र अङ्गाद्वै वेदभाषितम्
'Having killed your son to obtain wealth, what happiness will you gain? The son is indeed born from oneself, as declared in the Veda.'
तत्कथं पापबुद्धे त्वमात्मानं हन्तुमिच्छसि । एवं कोलाहले तत्र जाते कुशिकनन्दनः
'So how, O wicked-minded one, do you wish to kill your own self?' As such an uproar arose there, the son of Kuśika approached.
समीपं नृपतेर्गत्वा तमुवाच दयापरः । विश्वामित्र उवाच - राजन्नमुं शुनःशेपं रुदन्तं भृशदुःखितम्
Approaching the king, full of compassion, Viśvāmitra spoke: 'O King, this Śunaḥśepa, weeping and greatly afflicted—'
क्रतुस्ते भविता पूर्णो रोगनाशश्च सर्वथा । दयासमं नास्ति पुण्यं पापं हिंसासमं नहि
'Your sacrifice will be fulfilled, and all disease destroyed; there is no merit equal to compassion, and no sin equal to violence.'
रागिणां रोचनार्थाय नोदनेयं विचारय । आत्मदेहस्य रक्षार्थं परदेहनिकृन्तनम्
'Do not consider killing another's body for the sake of your own pleasure or protection; for the sake of protecting one's own body, one should not destroy another's.'
न कर्तव्यं महाराज सर्वतः शुभमिच्छता । दयया सर्वभूतेषु सन्तुष्टो येन केन च
O king, one who desires auspiciousness in every way should not act; being satisfied by compassion towards all beings, in whatever manner.
सर्वेन्द्रियोपशान्त्या च तुष्यत्याशु जगत्पतिः । आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु चिन्तनीयं नृपोत्तम
When all the senses are calmed and one is content, the Lord of the world is quickly pleased; O best of kings, one should consider all beings as oneself.
जीवितव्यं प्रियं नूनं सर्वेषां सर्वदा किल । त्वमिच्छसि सुखं कर्तुं देहे हत्वा त्वमुं द्विजम्
Indeed, everyone always wishes to live and to have what is dear; you desire to bring happiness to yourself by killing this twice-born in his body.
कथं नेच्छेदसौ देहं रक्षितुं स्वसुखास्पदम् । पूर्वजन्मकृतं वैरं नानेन सह ते नृप
Why would he not wish to protect his body, which is the seat of his own happiness? There is no enmity from previous births between him and you, O king.