महद्दुखःमिदं भद्रे यत्त्वमेवं ब्रवीषि मे । किं तव स्मितसंल्लापा मम पापस्य विस्मृताः
O gentle one, this is a great sorrow for me, that you speak to me in this way; have you forgotten your smiling words and conversations with me, who am so sinful?
हा हा त्वया कथं योग्यं वक्तुमेतच्छुचिस्मिते । दुर्वाच्यमेतद्वचनं कथं वदसि भामिनि
Alas, how is it fitting for you, O pure-smiling one, to say such a thing? How can you, O beautiful lady, utter these words, which are so hard to speak?
इत्युक्त्वा नृपतिश्रेष्ठो न धीरो दारविक्रये । निपपात महीपृष्ठे मूर्च्छयातिपरिप्लुतः
Having spoken thus, the foremost of kings, not steadfast in the sale of his wife, fell to the ground, overwhelmed by intense faintness.
शयानं भुवि तं दृष्ट्वा मूर्च्छयापि महीपतिम् । उवाचेदं सुकरुणं राजपुत्री सुदुःखिता
Seeing the king lying on the ground, unconscious from fainting, the princess, deeply distressed, spoke these most sorrowful words:
हा महाराज कस्येदमपध्यानादुपागतम् । यस्त्वं निपतितो भूमौ रङ्कवच्छरणोचितः
Alas, O great king, by whose misfortune has this come to pass, that you have fallen to the ground, like a beggar accustomed to seeking shelter?
येनैव कोटिशो वित्तं विप्राणामपवर्जितम् । स एव पृथिवीनाथो भुवि स्वपिति मे पतिः
He who gave away wealth by the millions to the Brahmins, that very lord of the earth, my husband, now lies upon the ground.
हा कष्टं किं तवानेन कृतं दैव महीक्षिता । यदिन्द्रोपेन्द्रतुल्योऽयं नीतः पापामिमां दशाम्
Alas, what hardship has been done to you by fate, O king, that one equal to Indra and Upendra has been brought to this sinful state?
इत्युक्त्वा सापि सुश्रोणी मूर्च्छिता निपपात ह । भर्तुर्दुःखमहाभारेणासह्येनातिपीडिता
Having spoken thus, that beautiful-hipped lady too fell unconscious, overwhelmed by the unbearable weight of her husband's great suffering.
शिशुर्दृष्ट्वा क्षुधाविष्टः प्राह वाक्यं सुदुःखितः । तात तात प्रदेह्यन्नं मातर्मे देहि भोजनम्
Seeing this, the child, afflicted by hunger, spoke these words in great distress: 'Father, father, give me food; mother, give me something to eat.'
क्षुन्मे बलवती जाता जिह्वाग्रे मेऽतिशुष्यति
My hunger has become very strong; my tongue is extremely parched.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रो महातपाः । अन्तकेन समः क्रुद्धो धनं स्वं याचितुं हृदा
Meanwhile, Viśvāmitra, the great ascetic, arrived, furious like Death, intent in his heart on asking for his wealth.
तमालोक्य हरिश्चन्द्रः पपात भुवि मूर्च्छितः । स वारिणा तमभ्युक्ष्य राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
Seeing him, Hariścandra fell to the ground in a faint; then, after sprinkling water on him, the king was addressed with these words:
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजेन्द्र स्वां ददस्वेष्टदक्षिणाम् । ऋणं धारयतां दुःखमहन्यहनि वर्धते
'Rise, rise, O king of kings, give your promised gift; for those who bear debt, their suffering increases day by day.'
आप्यायमानः स तदा हिमशीतेन वारिणा । अवाप्य चेतनां राजा विश्वामित्रमवेक्ष्य च
Revived by the cold water at that time, the king regained consciousness and, seeing Viśvāmitra,
पुनर्मोहं समापेदे ह्यथ क्रोधं ययौ मुनिः समाश्वास्य च राजानं वाक्यमाह द्विजोत्तमः
again fell into a swoon; then the sage became angry, and after consoling the king, the best of the twice-born spoke these words:
विश्वामित्र उवाच - दीयतां दक्षिणा सा मे यदि धैर्यमवेक्षसे । सत्येनार्कः प्रतपति सत्ये तिष्ठति मेदिनी
Viśvāmitra said: 'Let the gift be given to me, if you have any steadiness; the sun shines by truth, the earth stands firm by truth.'
सत्ये प्रोक्तः परो धर्मः स्वर्गः सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः । अश्वमेधसहस्रं तु सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्
'The highest dharma is said to be truth; heaven is established on truth; a thousand horse sacrifices are weighed against truth.'
अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेकं विशिष्यते । अथवा किं ममैतेन प्रोक्तेनास्ति प्रयोजनम्
'Indeed, one truth surpasses a thousand horse sacrifices; or else, what purpose is there for me in what has been said?'
मदीयां दक्षिणां राजन्न दास्यति भवान्यदि । अस्ताचलगते ह्यर्के शप्स्यामि त्वामतो ध्रुवम्
O King, if you do not give my due offering, when the sun sets behind the western mountain, I will surely curse you.
इत्युक्त्वा स ययौ विप्रो राजा चासीद्भयातुरः । दुःखीभूतोऽवनौ निःस्वो नृशंसमुनिनार्दितः
Having spoken thus, the brahmin departed, and the king, overcome by fear, became miserable, destitute, and tormented by the harsh sage.
सूत उवाच - एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । ब्राह्मणैर्बहुभिः सार्धं निर्ययौ स्वगृहाद् बहिः
The charioteer said: Meanwhile, there, a brahmin learned in the Vedas came out of his house, accompanied by many other brahmins.
ततो राज्ञी तु तं दृष्ट्वा आयान्तं तापसं स्थितम् । उवाच वाक्यं राजानं धर्मार्थसहितं तदा
Then, seeing that ascetic approaching and standing there, the queen spoke to the king words joined with righteousness and purpose.
त्रयाणामपि वर्णानां पिता ब्राह्मण उच्यते । पितृद्रव्यं हि पुत्रेण ग्रहीतव्यं न संशयः
The brahmin is called the father of all three classes; indeed, a son must accept his father's property—of this there is no doubt.
तस्मादयं प्रार्थनीयो धनार्थमिति मे मतिः । राजोवाच - नाहं प्रतिग्रहं काङ्क्षे क्षत्रियोऽहं सुमध्यमे
Therefore, in my view, he should be requested for wealth. The king said: O slender-waisted one, I do not desire to accept gifts; I am a kshatriya.
याचनं खलु विप्राणां क्षत्रियाणां न विद्यते । गुरुर्हि विप्रो वर्णानां पूजनीयोऽस्ति सर्वदा
For begging is not proper for brahmins or kshatriyas; the brahmin is always to be honored by all the classes.
तस्माद् गुरुर्न याच्यः स्यात्क्षत्रियाणां विशेषतः । यजनाध्ययनं दानं क्षत्रियस्य विधीयते
Therefore, the guru should not be asked for anything, especially by kshatriyas; sacrifice, study, and giving are prescribed for the kshatriya.
शरणागतानामभयं प्रजानां प्रतिपालनम् । न चाप्येवं तु वक्तव्यं देहीति कृपणं वचः
Granting safety to those who seek refuge and protecting the people—these are his duties; nor should one speak pitiably, saying, 'Give, give.'
ददामीत्येव मे देवि हृदये निहितं वचः । अर्जितं कुत्रचिद् द्रव्यं ब्राह्मणाय ददाम्यहम्
O goddess, the words 'I will give' are fixed in my heart; whatever wealth I acquire somewhere, I will give to the brahmin.
पत्न्युवाच - कालः समविषमकरः परिभवसम्मानमानदः कालः । कालः करोति पुरुषं दातारं याचितारं च
The wife said: Time brings both adversity and prosperity, honor and dishonor; time makes a man both a giver and a beggar.
विप्रेण विदुषा राजा क्रुद्धेनातिबलीयसा । राज्यान्निरस्तः सौख्याच्च पश्य कालस्य चेष्टितम्
By a learned and exceedingly powerful brahmin, the king was cast out from his kingdom and happiness—see the workings of time.