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.
ब्रूहि कियद्धनं तुभ्यं देयं स्वामिन् मयाधुना । दक्षिणानिष्क्रयं साधो वद तावत्प्रमाणकम्
Tell me, master, how much wealth should I now give you; O virtuous one, state the proper measure for the reward, which is not to be bargained.
दानपूर्त्यै प्रदास्यामि स्वस्थो ब् हव तपोधन । विश्वामित्रस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा तमाह मेदिनीपतिम्
For the completion of the donation, I will give; be at ease, O ascetic, remain tranquil; then Viśvāmitra, hearing this, spoke to the king.
हेमभारद्वयं सार्धं दक्षिणां देहि साम्प्रतम् । दास्यामीति प्रतिश्रुत्य तस्मै राजातिविस्मितः
Give now as reward one and a half loads of gold; the king, greatly astonished, promised to give this to him.
तदैव सैनिकास्तस्य वीक्षमाणाः समागताः । दृष्ट्वा महीपतिं व्यग्रं तुष्टुवुस्ते मुदान्विताः
At that moment, his soldiers, watching, gathered together; seeing the king busy, they joyfully praised him.
व्यास उवाच - श्रुत्वा तेषां वचो राजा नोक्त्वा किञ्चिच्छुभाशुभम् । चिन्तयन्स्वकृतं कर्म ययावन्तःपुरे ततः
Vyāsa said: Hearing their words, the king spoke nothing, neither auspicious nor inauspicious; reflecting on his own actions, he then went into the inner palace.
किं मया स्वीकृतं दानं सर्वस्वं यत्समर्पितम् । वञ्चितोऽहं द्विजेनात्र वने पाटच्चरैरिव
What donation have I accepted, all that I have offered; I have been deceived here by the twice-born, like by robbers in the forest.
राज्यं सोपस्करं तस्मै मया सर्वं रतिश्रुतम् । भारद्वयं सुवर्णस्य सार्धं च दक्षिणा पुनः
I have promised him my entire kingdom with its possessions; and again, as reward, one and a half loads of gold.
किं करोमि मतिर्भ्रष्टा न ज्ञातं कपटं मुनेः । प्रतारितोऽहं सहसा ब्राह्मणेन तपस्विना
What shall I do? My mind is confused; I did not recognize the sage's deception; I have been suddenly tricked by the ascetic brāhmaṇa.
न जाने दैवकार्यं वै हा दैव किं भविष्यति । इति चिन्तापरो राजा गृहं प्राप्तोऽतिविह्वलः
I do not know what fate will bring; alas, what will happen by destiny? Thus, full of anxiety, the king reached his home, greatly distressed.
पतिं चिन्तापरं दृष्त्वा राज्ञी पप्रच्छ कारणम् । किं प्रभो विमना भासि का चिन्ता ब्रूहि साम्प्रतम्
Seeing her husband overwhelmed by worry, the queen asked the reason: 'Why, lord, do you appear troubled? What is the concern? Tell me now.'