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.
राजोवाच - असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण वरं जिह्वा द्विधा कृता । न तु मानं परित्यज्य देहि देहीति भाषितम्
The king said: It is better that my tongue be cut in two by a sharp-edged sword than to speak the humiliating words, 'Give, give.'
क्षत्रियोऽहं महाभागे न याचे किञ्चिदप्यहम् । ददामि वाहं नित्यं हि भुजवीर्यार्जितं धनम्
O noble lady, I am a kshatriya and I do not beg for anything; whatever wealth I have earned by the strength of my arms, that I always give.
पत्न्युवाच - यदि ते हि महाराज याचितुं न क्षमं मनः । अहं तु न्यायतो दत्ता देवैरपि सवासवैः
The wife said: If, O great king, your mind is not fit to beg, then I, who have been lawfully given to you even by the gods with Indra, will do so.
अहं शास्या च पत्या च रक्ष्या चैव महाद्युते । मन्मौल्यं संगृहीत्वाथ गुर्वर्थं सम्प्रदीयताम्
O illustrious one, I am to be instructed and protected by my husband; therefore, taking my head-jewel, let it be given for the sake of the guru.
एतद्वाक्यमुपश्रुत्य हरिश्चन्द्रो महीपतिः । कष्टं कष्टमिति प्रोच्य विललापातिदुःखितः
Hearing these words, King Harishchandra, crying out 'Alas, alas!' in great distress, lamented exceedingly.
भार्या च भूयः प्राहेदं क्रियतां वचनं मम । विप्रशापाग्निदग्धत्वान्नीचत्वमुपयास्यसि
And again his wife said: Do as I have spoken; if you are burned by the fire of a brahmin's curse, you will fall into degradation.
न द्युतहेतोर्न च मद्यहेतो- र्न राज्यहेतोर्न च भोगहेतोः । ददस्व गुर्वर्थमतो मया त्वं सत्यव्रतत्वं सफलं कुरुष्व
Do not give for the sake of gambling, nor for the sake of liquor, nor for the sake of a kingdom, nor for the sake of enjoyment; therefore, give for the sake of the teacher, and thus make my vow of truthfulness fruitful.
हरिश्चन्द्रस्य पत्नीपुत्रविक्रयवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - स तया नोद्यमानस्तु राजा पत्न्या पुनः पुनः । प्राह भद्रे करोम्येष विक्रयं ते सुनिर्घृणः
The selling of Harishchandra's wife and son. Vyasa said: The king, though repeatedly urged by his wife, did not act, but then said, 'O gentle one, I will do this heartless sale of you.'
नृशंसैरपि यत्कर्तुं न शक्यं तत्करोम्यहम् । यदि ते भ्राजते वाणी वक्तुमीदृक्सुनिष्ठुरम्
I am doing that which even the cruel cannot bring themselves to do, if your words shine forth to utter such harshness.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजा गत्वा नगरमातुरः । अवतार्य तदा रङ्गे तां भार्यां नृपसत्तमः । बाष्पगद्गदकण्ठस्तु ततो वचनमब्रवीत् । भो भो नागरिकाः सर्वे शृणुध्वं वचनं मम
Having spoken thus, the king, distressed, went to the city; then, bringing his wife to the marketplace, the best of kings, with a throat choked by tears, spoke these words: 'O all citizens, hear my words.'