पुत्रोऽयं धनदातुश्च राज्ञस्तत्र न संशयः । अथवा वरुणस्यैष पाशान्मुक्तोऽस्त्यनेन वै
He is the son of the donor of wealth, the king; there is no doubt about this. Or else, he is Varuṇa’s, for he was freed from Varuṇa’s noose by him.
अन्नदाता भयत्राता तथा विद्याप्रदश्च यः । तथा वित्तप्रदश्चैव पञ्चैते पितरः स्मृताः
He who gives food, protects from fear, bestows knowledge, gives wealth—these five are remembered as fathers.
तदा केचित्पितुः प्राहुः केचिद्राज्ञस्तथापरे । वरुणस्येति संवादे निर्णयं न ययुश्च ते
Then, some spoke of the father, some of the king, and others of Varuṇa; in the debate, they did not reach a conclusion.
इत्थं सन्देहमापन्ने वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । सभ्यान्विवदतस्तत्र सर्वज्ञः सर्वपूजितः
When such doubt arose, Vasiṣṭha, honored by all and all-knowing, spoke his words to the debating assembly.
शृणुध्वं भो महाभागा निर्णयं श्रुतिसम्मतम् । निःस्नेहेन यदा पित्रा विक्रीतोऽयं सुतः शिशुः
Hear, O greatly fortunate ones, the determination approved by the scriptures: when the child was sold by his father without affection,
सम्बन्धस्तु गतस्तस्य तदैव धनसंग्रहात् । हरिश्चन्द्रस्य सञ्जातः पुत्रोऽसौ क्रीत एव च
The relationship was severed at that moment, due to the acquisition of wealth; thus, he became the son of Hariścandra, purchased indeed.
यूपे बद्धो यदा राज्ञा तदा तस्य न वै सुतः । वरुणस्तु स्तुतोऽनेन तेन तुष्टेन मोचितः
When he was bound to the sacrificial post by the king, he was no longer his son; Varuṇa was praised by him, and, pleased, released him.
तस्मान्नायं महाभागा ह्यसौ पुत्रः प्रचेतसः । यो यं स्तौति महामन्त्रैः सोऽपि तुष्टो ददाति च
Therefore, O greatly fortunate ones, he is not the son of Pracetasa; whoever praises another with great mantras, that one, pleased, grants [boons].
धनं प्राणान्पशून् राज्यं तथा मोक्षं किलेप्सितम् । कौशिकस्य सुतश्चायमरिष्टे येन रक्षितः
He grants wealth, life, cattle, kingdom, and the desired liberation; this is the son of Kauśika, who was protected in adversity.
मन्त्रं दत्त्वा महावीर्यं वरुणस्यातिसङ्कटे । व्यास उवाच - श्रुत्वा वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य बाढमूचुः सभासदः
By giving the powerful mantra in Varuṇa’s great distress—Vyāsa said: Hearing Vasiṣṭha’s words, the assembly replied, 'So be it.'
विश्वामित्रस्तु जग्राह तं करे दक्षिणे तदा । एहि पुत्र गृहं मे त्वमित्युक्त्वा प्रेमपूरितः
Viśvāmitra then took him by the right hand, saying, 'Come, my son, to my house,' his heart overflowing with affection.
शुनःशेपो जगामाशु तेनैव सह सत्वरः । वरुणस्तु प्रसन्नात्मा जगाम च स्वमालयम्
Śunaḥśepa quickly departed together with him; Varuṇa, his mind at ease, returned to his own abode.
ऋत्विजश्च तथा सभ्याः स्वगृहान्निर्ययुस्तदा । राजापि रोगनिर्मुक्तो बभूवातिमुदान्वितः
The priests and the assembly members also left for their own homes at that time; the king, freed from illness, became filled with great joy.
प्रजास्तु पालयामास सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा । रोहिताख्यस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वृत्तान्तं वरुणस्य ह
He protected his subjects with a mind made thoroughly happy; Rohita, hearing of Varuṇa's affair,
आजगाम गृहं प्रीतो दुर्गमाद्वनपर्वतात् । दूता राजानमभ्येत्य प्रोचुः पुत्रं समागतम्
came home, delighted, from the difficult forest and mountains; messengers approached the king and announced that his son had returned.
मुदितोऽसौ जगामाशु सम्मुखः कोसलाधिपः । दृष्ट्वा पितरमायान्तं प्रेमोद्रिक्तः सुसम्भ्रमः
Joyful, the lord of Kosala hurried forward; seeing his father approaching, he was overwhelmed with love and reverence.
दण्डवत्पतितो भूमावश्रुपूर्णमुखः शुचा । राजापि तं समुत्थाप्य परिरभ्य मुदान्वितः
He fell prostrate on the ground, his face filled with tears of sorrow; the king raised him up, embraced him, and was filled with happiness.
तमाघ्राय सुतं मूर्ध्नि पप्रच्छ कुशलं पुनः । उत्सङ्गे तं समारोप्य मुदितो मेदिनीपतिः
Smelling his son's head, he again inquired about his well-being; the delighted lord of the land seated him on his lap.
उष्णैर्नेत्रजलैः शीर्षण्यभिषेकमथाकरोत् । राज्यं शशास तेनासौ पुत्रेणातिप्रियेण च
He then performed an ablution on his head with warm tears from his eyes; together with his beloved son, he ruled the kingdom.
वृत्तान्तं नरमेधस्य कथयामास विस्तरात् । राजसूयं क्रतुवरं चकार नृपसत्तमः
He narrated in detail the story of the human sacrifice; the foremost king performed the great Rājasūya sacrifice.
वसिष्ठं पूजयित्वाथ होतारमकरोद्विभुः । समाप्ते त्वथ यज्ञेशे वसिष्ठोऽतीव पूजितः
After honoring Vasiṣṭha, the lord made him the chief priest; when the sacrifice was completed, Vasiṣṭha was greatly honored.
शक्रस्य सदनं रम्यं जगाम मुनिरादरात् । विश्वामित्रोऽपि तत्रैव वसिष्ठेन च सङ्गतः
The sage, with respect, went to the splendid abode of Śakra; Viśvāmitra also joined there with Vasiṣṭha.
मिलित्वा तौ स्थितौ देवसदने मुनिसत्तम । विश्वामित्रोऽपि पप्रच्छ वसिष्ठं प्रतिपूजितम्
Having met, those two eminent sages remained in the divine abode; Viśvāmitra, after honoring Vasiṣṭha, questioned him.
वीक्ष्य विस्मयचित्तस्तं सभायां तु शचीपतेः । विश्वामित्र उवाच - क्वेयं पूजा त्वया प्राप्ता महती मुनिसत्तम
Seeing him in the assembly of Śacī's lord, his mind filled with wonder, Viśvāmitra spoke: 'How did you receive such great honor, O eminent sage?'
कृता केन महाभाग सत्यं ब्रूहि ममान्तिके । वसिष्ठ उवाच - यजमानोऽस्ति मे राजा हरिश्चन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
'By whom was it done, O most fortunate one? Tell me the truth in my presence.' Vasiṣṭha said: 'I have a king as my sacrificer, Hariścandra, renowned for his prowess.'
राजसूयः कृतस्तेन राज्ञा प्रवरदक्षिणः । नेदृशोऽस्ति नृपश्चान्यः सत्यवादी धृतव्रतः
'He performed the Rājasūya, the supreme sacrifice, giving excellent gifts; there is no other king like him, truthful and steadfast in vows.'
दाता च धर्मशीलश्च प्रजारञ्जनतत्परः । तस्य यज्ञे मया पूजा प्राप्ता कौशिकनन्दन
'He is generous, righteous, and devoted to pleasing his subjects; in his sacrifice, I received honor, O son of Kauśika.'
[ किं पृच्छसि पुनः सत्यं ब्रवीम्यकृत्रिमं द्विज ] हरिश्चन्द्रसमो राजा न भूतो न भविष्यति । सत्यवादी तथा दाता शूरः परमधार्मिकः
'Why do you ask again? I speak the truth, without embellishment, O twice-born. A king equal to Hariścandra has never been nor will ever be; he is truthful, generous, heroic, and supremely righteous.'
व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोऽतिकोपनः । बभूव क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनोऽप्यब्रवीच्च तम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing those words, Viśvāmitra, greatly enraged, his eyes reddened with anger, spoke to him.
विश्वामित्र उवाच एवं स्तौषि नृपं मिथ्यावादिनं कपटप्रियम् । वञ्चितो वरुणो येन प्रतिश्रुत्य वरं पुनः
Viśvāmitra said: Thus you praise the king, who speaks falsely and delights in deceit, by whom Varuṇa was deceived after promising a boon.