येनामुं हन्तुकामस्त्वं द्विजपुत्रं निरागसम् । यो यं हन्ति विना वैरं स्वकामः सततं पुनः
You wish to kill this innocent son of a Brahmin; whoever kills another without enmity, only for his own desire, again and again—
हन्तारं हन्ति तं प्राप्य जननं जननान्तरे । जनकोऽस्य सुदुष्टात्मा येनासौ ते समर्पितः
Upon encountering the killer in another birth, he kills him; his father, whose mind is exceedingly wicked, delivered him to you.
स्वात्मजो धनलोभेन पापाचारः सुदुर्मतिः । एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोऽपि गयां व्रजेत्
His own son, out of greed for wealth, acts sinfully and with evil intent; many sons are to be desired, for if even one goes to Gaya—
यजेत चाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् । देशमध्ये च यः कश्चित्पापकर्म समाचरेत्
One should perform an Ashvamedha sacrifice or release a black bull; whoever commits sinful acts in the midst of the land—
षष्ठांशस्तस्य पापस्य राजा भुङ्क्ते न संशयः । निषेधनीयो राज्ञासौ पापं कर्तुं समुद्यतः
The king certainly enjoys a sixth part of his sin; there is no doubt. He who is intent on committing sin must be restrained by the king.
न निषिद्धस्त्वया कस्मात्पुत्रं विक्रेतुमुद्यतः । सूर्यवंशे समुत्पन्नस्त्रिशङ्कुतनयः शुभः
Why did you not restrain him, who was about to sell his son? Born in the solar dynasty, the virtuous son of Trishanku—
आर्यस्त्वनार्यवत्कर्म कर्तुमिच्छसि पार्थिव । मोचनान्मुनिपुत्रस्य करणाद्वचनस्य मे
You, noble one, wish to act like a non-noble, O king; by freeing the sage's son and following my words—
तव देहे सुखं राजन् भविष्यत्यविचारणात् । पिता ते शापयोगेन चाण्डालत्वमुपागतः
Happiness will come to you in your body, O king, without hesitation; your father, by the power of a curse, has attained the state of a Chandala.
मयासौ तेन देहेन स्वर्लोकं प्रापितः किल । तेनैव प्रीतियोगेन कुरु मे वचनं नृप
By me, with that body, he was indeed brought to the heavenly world; therefore, out of affection, O king, follow my words.
मुञ्चैनं बालकं दीनं रुदन्तं भृशमातुरम् । याचितोऽसि मया नूनं यज्ञेऽस्मिन् राजसूयके
Release this wretched child, who is crying and greatly afflicted; you have certainly been entreated by me in this royal sacrifice.
प्रार्थनाभङ्गजं दोषं कथं त्वं नावबुध्यसे । प्रार्थितं सर्वदा देयं मखेऽस्मिन्नृपसत्तम
How do you not perceive the fault arising from breaking a request? Whatever is requested should always be given, O best of kings, in this sacrifice.
अन्यथा पापमेव स्यात्तव राजन्न संशयः । व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कौशिकस्य नृपोतमः
Otherwise, O king, there will certainly be sin for you, without doubt. Vyasa said: Thus, having heard the words of Kaushika, the best among kings—
प्रत्युवाच महाराज कौशिकं मुनिसत्तमम् । जलोदरेण गाधेय दुःखितोऽहं भृशं मुने
He replied, O great king, to Kaushika, the foremost of sages: 'O sage, I am greatly distressed by dropsy, O descendant of Gadhi.'
तस्मान्न मोचयाम्येनमन्यत्प्रार्थय कौशिक । न त्वया विग्रहः कार्यः कार्येऽस्मिन्मम सर्वथा
Therefore, I will not release him; ask for something else, O Kaushika. You should not quarrel with me at all regarding this matter.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञो विश्वामित्रोऽतिकोपनः । बभूव दुःखसन्तप्तो वीक्ष्य दीनं द्विजात्मजम्
Hearing the king's words, Viśvāmitra became exceedingly angry, afflicted with sorrow as he looked upon the distressed son of the twice-born.
वसिष्ठविश्वामित्रपणवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - रुदन्तं बालकं वीक्ष्य विश्वामित्रो दयातुरः । शुनःशेपमुवाचेदं गत्वा पार्श्वेऽतिदुःखितम्
Vyāsa said: Seeing the boy weeping, Viśvāmitra was moved by compassion; approaching the deeply troubled Śunaḥśepa, he spoke these words.
मन्त्रं प्रचेतसः पुत्र मयोक्तं मनसा स्मरन् । जपतस्तव कल्याणं भविष्यति ममाज्ञया
Remember in your mind the mantra I have spoken, the son of Pracetas; reciting it, by my command, you will attain auspiciousness.
विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा शुनःशेपः शुचाऽऽकुलः । मन्त्रं जजाप मनसा कौशिकोक्तं स्फुटाक्षरम्
Hearing Viśvāmitra's words, Śunaḥśepa, overwhelmed by grief, mentally recited the mantra spoken by Kauśika, with clear syllables.
जपतस्तत्र तस्याशु प्रचेतास्तु कृपाकरः । प्रादुर्बभूव सहसा प्रसन्नो नृप बालके
As he recited there, Pracetas, full of compassion, suddenly appeared, pleased with the boy, O king.
दृष्ट्वा तमागतं सर्वे विस्मयं परमं गताः । तुष्टुवुर्वरुणं देवं मुदिता दर्शनेन ते
Seeing him arrive, all were struck with great wonder; delighted by the sight, they praised the god Varuṇa.
राजातिविस्मितः पादौ प्रणनाम रुजातुरः । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटो देवं तुष्टाव पुरतः स्थितम्
The king, greatly astonished and afflicted by pain, bowed at his feet; with hands joined, he praised the god standing before him.
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - देवदेव कृपासिन्धो पापात्माहं सुमन्दधीः । कृतापराधः कृपणः पावितः परमेष्ठिना
Hariścandra said: O god of gods, ocean of mercy, I am sinful and dull-witted; having committed offense, wretched, I am purified by the Supreme Lord.
मया ते पुत्रकामेन दुःखसंस्थेन हेलनम् । कृतं क्षमाप्यं प्रभुणा कोऽपराधः सुदुर्मतेः
Out of desire for a son, in the midst of suffering, I acted negligently towards you; forgive me, O Lord, what offense is there from one of such poor understanding?
अर्थी दोषं न जानाति तस्मात्पुत्रार्थिना मया । वञ्चितस्त्वं देवदेव भीतेन नरकाद्विभो
A supplicant does not recognize fault; therefore, desiring a son, I deceived you, O god of gods, out of fear of hell, O Lord.
अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गो नैव च नैव च । भीतोऽहं तेन वाक्येन तस्मात्ते हेलनं कृतम्
One without a son has no destiny, nor heaven, nor anything else; frightened by that statement, I acted negligently towards you.
नाज्ञस्य दूषणं चिन्त्यं नूनं ज्ञानवता विभो । दुःखितोऽहं रुजाक्रान्तो वञ्चितः स्वसुतेन ह
The fault of the ignorant should not be considered, O Lord, by the wise; I am afflicted by pain, deceived by my own son.
न जानेऽहं महाराज पुत्रो मे क्व गतः प्रभो । वञ्चयित्वा वने भीतो मरणान्मां कृपानिधे
I do not know, O great king, where my son has gone, O Lord; having deceived me in the forest, he fled from death, O ocean of mercy.
प्रययौ द्रविणं दत्वा गृहीतो द्विजबालकः । यज्ञोऽयं क्रीतपुत्रेण प्रारब्धस्तव तुष्टये
Having given wealth, the twice-born boy was taken; this sacrifice was begun with the purchased son for your satisfaction.
दर्शनं तव सम्प्राप्य गतं दुःखं ममाद्भुतम् । जलोदरकृतं सर्वं प्रसन्ने त्वयि साम्प्रतम्
Having attained your sight, my wondrous suffering is gone; all caused by dropsy is now ended, as you are pleased.
व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राज्ञो रोगातुरस्य च । दयावान्देवदेवेशः प्रत्युवाच नृपोत्तमम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words of the king, afflicted by disease, the compassionate Lord of gods replied to the foremost king.