धनेच्छा यदि ते ब्रह्मन् यज्ञार्थं द्विजसत्तम । आगन्तव्यमयोध्यायां दास्यामि विपुलं धनम्
'If you desire wealth, O brahmin, for the sake of sacrifice, O best of twice-born, come to Ayodhya and I will give you abundant riches.'
कौशिकाय सर्वस्वसमर्पणं तद्दक्षिणादानवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भूपतेः कौशिको मुनिः । प्रहस्य प्रत्युवाचेदं हरिश्चन्द्रं तथा नृप
Vyasa said: Having heard the words of the king, the sage Kaushika smiled and replied thus to Harishchandra, the king.
राजंस्तीर्थमिदं पुण्यं पावनं पापनाशनम् । स्नानं कुरु महाभाग पितॄणां तर्पणं तथा
'O king, this is a sacred and purifying holy place, a destroyer of sins; bathe here, O highly fortunate one, and offer libations to the ancestors as well.'
कालः शुभतमोऽस्तीह तीर्थे स्नात्वा विशांपते । दानं ददस्व शक्त्यात्र पुण्यतीर्थेऽतिपावने
'Now is a most auspicious time; after bathing at this holy place, O lord of men, give charity here according to your ability at this supremely pure sacred site.'
प्राप्य तीर्थं महापुण्यमस्नात्वा यस्तु गच्छति । स भवेदात्महा भूय इति स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत्
'One who, having reached this most holy place, departs without bathing, becomes his own enemy—so has Svayambhu declared.'
तस्मात्तीर्थवरे राजन् कुरु पुण्यं स्वशक्तितः । दर्शयिष्यामि मार्गं ते गन्तासि नगरं ततः
'Therefore, O king, at this excellent holy place, perform meritorious acts according to your ability; I will show you the path, and then you will go to the city.'
आगमिष्यामहं मार्गदर्सनार्थं तवानघ । त्वया सहाद्य काकुत्स्थ तव दानेन तोषितः
'I will come to show you the way, O sinless one; today, O descendant of Kakutstha, I will be pleased by your charity, together with you.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा मुनेः कपटमण्डितम् । वासांस्युत्तार्य विधिवत्स्नातुमभ्याययौ नदीम्
Hearing the sage's words, which were adorned with deception, the king removed his garments and approached the river to bathe according to the prescribed rites.
बन्धयित्वा हयं वृक्षे मुनिवाक्येन मोहितः । अवश्यंभावियोगेन तद्वशस्तु तदाभवत्
Tying his horse to a tree, deluded by the sage's words, he became subject to the inevitable fate that was to befall him.
राजा स्नानविधिं कृत्वा सन्तर्प्य पितृदेवताः । विश्वामित्रमुवाचेदं स्वामिन् दानं ददामि ते
The king, having performed the bathing rites and satisfied the ancestors and deities, spoke to Vishvamitra: 'Master, I will give you the charity.'
यदिच्छसि महाभाग तत्ते दास्यामि साम्प्रतम् । गावो भूमिर्हिरण्यं च गजाश्वरथवाहनम्
O greatly fortunate one, whatever you desire, I will now give to you—cows, land, gold, elephants, horses, chariots, or vehicles.
नादेयं मे किमप्यस्ति कृतमेतद्व्रतं पुरा । राजसूये मखश्रेष्ठे मुनीनां सन्निधावपि
There is nothing that I would withhold from you; I have long ago performed this vow, even at the great Rājasūya sacrifice in the presence of sages.
तस्मात्त्वमिह सम्प्ताप्तस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्प्रवरे मुने । यत्तेऽस्ति वाञ्छितं ब्रूहि ददामि अव वाञ्छितम्
Therefore, O sage, you have come here to this most excellent holy place; speak whatever you desire, and I will grant it, whether it is wished for or not.
विश्वामित्र उवाच - मया पूर्वं श्रुता राजन् कीर्तिस्ते विपुला भुवि । वसिष्ठेन च सम्प्रोक्ता दाता नास्ति महीतले
Viśvāmitra said: O King, I have previously heard of your widespread fame on earth; Vasiṣṭha also declared that there is no greater giver upon the earth.
हरिश्चन्द्रो नृपश्रेष्ठः सूर्यवंशे महीपतिः । तादृशो नृपतिर्दाता न भूतो न भविष्यति
Hariścandra, the best of kings, lord of the Solar dynasty, such a generous king has never existed, nor will there ever be one.
पृथिव्यां परमोदारस्त्रिशङ्कुतनयो यथा । अतस्त्वां प्रार्थयाम्यद्य विवाहो मेऽस्ति पार्थिवः
On earth, none is more magnanimous than Triśaṅku’s son; therefore, O King, I request you today—my son’s marriage is at hand.
पुत्रस्य च महाभाग तदर्थं देहि मे धनम् । राजोवाच - विवाहं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र ददामि प्रार्थितं तव
O greatly fortunate one, for that purpose, grant me wealth for my son; The King said: Perform the marriage, O foremost of Brahmins, I will give what you request.
यदिच्छसि धनं कामं दाता तस्यामि निश्चितम् । व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तः कौशिकस्तेन वञ्चनातत्परो मुनिः
Whatever wealth you desire, I will certainly give; Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by him, the sage Kauśika, intent on deception—
उद्भाव्य मायां गान्धर्वीं पार्थिवायाप्यदर्शयत् । कुमारः सुकामारश्च कन्या च दशवार्षिकी
Conjured a magical illusion and showed it to the king: a boy, a handsome youth, and a maiden of ten years.
एतयोः कार्यमप्यद्य कर्तव्यं नृपसत्तम । राजसूयाधिकं पुण्यं गृहस्थस्य विवाहतः
O best of kings, today the marriage of these two must be performed; for a householder, marriage brings merit greater than the Rājasūya sacrifice.
भविष्यति तवाद्यैव विप्रपुत्रविवाहितः । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा मायया तस्य मोहितः
Today itself, your merit will surpass the Rājasūya sacrifice, by marrying the Brahmin’s son; Hearing these words, the king was deluded by his illusion.
तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय नोवाचाल्पं वचस्तथा । तेन दर्शितमार्गोऽसौ नगरं प्रति जग्मिवान्
He agreed, saying, 'So be it,' and did not utter even a few words otherwise; following the path shown by him, he went towards the city.
विश्वामित्रोऽपि राजानं वञ्चयित्वाश्रमं ययौ । कृतोद्वाहविधिस्तावद्विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीन्नृपम्
Viśvāmitra, having deceived the king, returned to his hermitage; when the marriage rites were completed, Viśvāmitra spoke to the king.
वेदीमध्ये नृपाद्य त्वं देहि दानं यथेप्सितम् । राजोवाच - किं तेऽभीष्टं द्विज ब्रूहि ददामि वाञ्छितं किल
In the midst of the altar, O King, now give whatever gift you wish; The King said: What is your desire, O Brahmin? Speak, I will grant what you wish.
अदेयमै संसरे यशः कामोऽस्मि साम्प्रतम् । व्यर्थं हि जीवितं तस्य विभवं प्राप्य येन वै
There is nothing I would not give; at this moment, I desire only fame; for the life of one who, having gained wealth, does not attain pure fame that brings happiness in the next world, is in vain.
नोपार्जितं यशः शुद्धं परलोकसुखप्रदम् । विश्वामित्र उवाच - राज्यं देहि महाराज वराय सपरिच्छदम्
For he who does not acquire pure fame, which brings happiness in the next world, his life is fruitless; Viśvāmitra said: O great king, give me your kingdom as a boon, along with all its appurtenances.
गजाश्वरथरत्नाढ्यं वेदीमध्येऽतिपावने । व्यास उवाच - मोहितो मायया तस्य श्रुत्वा वाक्यं मुनेर्नृपः
Rich in elephants, horses, chariots, and jewels, in the midst of the altar, in this most sacred place; Vyāsa said: Deluded by his illusion, the king, hearing the sage’s words—
दत्तमित्युक्तवान् राज्यमविचार्य यदृच्छया । गृहीतमिति तं प्राह विश्वामित्रोऽतिनिष्ठुरः
Without hesitation, he said, 'I have given the kingdom,' without any deliberation; Viśvāmitra, exceedingly harsh, said to him, 'I accept it.'
दक्षिणां देहि राजेन्द्र दानयोग्यां महामते । दक्षिणारहितं दानं निष्फलं मनुरब्रवीत्
Give a proper gift, O King, one suitable as a reward, O wise one; Manu has said that a donation without a reward is fruitless.
तस्माद्दानफलाय त्वं यथोक्तां देहि दक्षिणाम् । इत्युक्तस्तु तदा राजा तमुवाचातिविस्मितः
Therefore, for the fruit of your donation, give the reward as prescribed; when this was said, the king, greatly astonished, replied.