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.'
वनात्पुत्रः समायातो राजसूयः कृतः पुरा । कस्माच्छोचसि राजेन्द्र शोकस्य कारणं वद
Your son has returned from the forest; the rājasūya was performed before; why do you grieve, O King? Tell me the cause of your sorrow.
नारातिर्विद्यते क्वापि बलवान्दुर्बलोऽपि वा । वरुणोऽपि सुसन्तुष्टः कृतकृत्योऽसि भूतले
There is no enemy anywhere, whether strong or weak; even Varuṇa is well pleased; you have accomplished your duties on earth.
विन्तया क्षीयते देहो नास्ति चिन्तासमा मृतिः । त्यज्यतां नृपशार्दूल स्वस्थो भव विचक्षण
By worry, the body is worn away; there is no death equal to anxiety; abandon it, O tiger among kings, be at ease and wise.
तन्निशम्य प्रियावाक्यं प्रीतिपूर्वं नराधिपः । प्रोवाच किञ्चिच्चिन्तायाः कारणं च शुभाशुभम्
Hearing his beloved's words, the king, with affection, spoke a little about the cause of his worry, both auspicious and inauspicious.
भोजनं न चकाराऽसौ चिन्ताविष्टस्तथा नृपः । सुप्त्वापि शयने शुभ्रे लेभे निद्रां न भूमिपः
The king, absorbed in worry, did not eat; even lying on a clean bed, he did not obtain sleep.
प्रातरुत्थाय चिन्तार्तो यावत्सन्ध्यादिकाः क्रियाः । करोति नृपतिस्तावद्विश्वामित्रः समागतः
Rising early, afflicted by worry, as long as the king performed the morning and other rites, Viśvāmitra arrived.
क्षत्रा निवेदितो राज्ञे मुनिः सर्वस्वहारकः । आगत्योवाच राजानं प्रणमन्तं पुनः पुनः
The sage, who had surrendered all his possessions to the king, approached and spoke to the king, bowing repeatedly.
विश्वामित्र उवाच - राजंस्त्यज स्वराज्यं मे देहि वाचा प्रतिश्रुतम् । सुवर्णं स्पृश राजेन्द्र सत्यवाग्भव साम्प्रतम्
Viśvāmitra said: O king, renounce your sovereignty and grant me your promise in words. Touch the gold, O king, and become truthful at this moment.
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - स्वामिन् राज्यं तवेदं मे मया दत्तं किलाधुना । त्यक्त्वान्यत्र गमिष्यामि मा चिन्ता कुरु कौशिक
Hariścandra said: Master, this kingdom is yours; I have now given it to you. Having relinquished it, I will go elsewhere; do not worry, O Kauśika.
सर्वस्वं मम ते ब्रह्मन् गृहीतं विधिवद्विभो । सुवर्णदक्षिणां दातुमशक्तोऽस्म्यधुना द्विज
All my possessions have been taken by you, O Brahman, according to proper procedure, O lord. I am now unable to give the golden fee, O twice-born.