चाण्डालाज्ञया हरिश्चन्द्रस्य खड्गग्रहणवर्णनम् सूत उवाच - एकदा तु गतो रन्तुं बालकैः सहितो बहिः । वाराणस्या नातिदूरे रोहिताख्यः कुमारकः
By the command of the cāṇḍāla: The taking up of the sword by Hariścandra.
क्रीडां कृत्वा ततो दर्भान् ग्रहीतुमुपचक्रमे । कोमलानल्पमूलांश्च साग्राञ्छक्त्यनुसारतः
After playing, he began to gather darbha grass, picking tender ones with small roots, as much as his strength allowed.
आर्यप्रीत्यर्थमित्युक्त्वा हस्तयुग्मेन यत्नतः । सलक्षणाश्च समिधो बर्हिरिध्मं सलक्षणम्
Saying, 'For the sake of honoring the noble,' he carefully took with both hands the proper kindling sticks, the sacred grass, and the prescribed firewood.
पलाशकाष्ठान्यादाय त्वग्निहोमार्थमादरात् । मस्तके भारकं कृत्वा खिद्यमानः पदे पदे
He respectfully gathered palāśa wood for the fire offering, and, placing the load on his head, struggled with each step.
उदकस्थानमासाद्य तदा बालस्तृषान्वितः । भुवि भारं विनिक्षिप्य जलस्थाने तदा शिशुः
Reaching the water's edge, the thirsty boy set down his burden on the ground at the water's place.
कामतः सलिलं पीत्वा विश्रम्य च मुहूर्तकम् । वल्मीकोपरि विन्यस्तभारो हर्तुं प्रचक्रमे
He drank water as he wished, rested for a moment, and then, after placing the load on top of an anthill, prepared to carry it again.
विश्वामित्राज्ञया तावत्कृष्णसर्पो भयावहः । महाविषो महाघोरो वल्मीकान्निर्गतस्तदा
Then, by Viśvāmitra's command, a terrifying black snake, deadly and fearsome, emerged from the anthill.
तेनासौ बालको दष्टस्तदैव च पपात ह । रोहिताख्यं मृतं दृष्ट्वा ययुर्बाला द्विजालयम्
That boy was bitten by it and immediately fell down; seeing Rohita dead, the other children went to the house of the twice-born.
त्वरिता भयसंविग्नाः प्रोचुस्तन्मातुरग्रतः । हे विप्रदासि ते पुत्रः क्रीडां कर्तुं बहिर्गतः
Frightened and in haste, they spoke before his mother: 'O Brahmin lady, your son went outside to play.'
अस्माभिः सहितस्तत्र सर्पदष्टो मृतस्ततः । इति सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वा वज्रपातोपमं तदा
'He was with us there, but was bitten by a snake and died.' Hearing these words, she was struck as if by a thunderbolt.
पपात मूर्च्छिता भूमौ छिन्नेव कदली यथा । अथ तां ब्राह्मणो रुष्टः पानीयेनाभ्यषिञ्चत
She collapsed unconscious to the ground, like a severed plantain tree; then the angry Brahmin sprinkled her with water.
मुहूर्ताच्चेतनां प्राप्ता ब्राह्मणस्तामथाब्रवीत् । ब्राह्मण उवाच - अलक्ष्मीकारकं निन्द्यं जानती त्वं निशामुखे
After a moment she regained consciousness, and the Brahmin said to her: 'You know that crying at night is blameworthy and brings misfortune.'
रोदनं कुरुषे दुष्टे लज्जा ते हृदये न किम् । ब्राह्मणेनैवमुक्ता सा न किञ्चिद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
'Wicked woman, why do you weep? Is there no shame in your heart?' Thus addressed by the Brahmin, she said nothing.
रुरोद करुणं दीना पुत्रशोकेन पीडिता । अश्रुपूर्णमुखी दीना धूसरा मुक्तमूर्धजा
Afflicted by grief for her son, she wept bitterly, her face full of tears, wretched, her hair disheveled and dusty.
अथ तां कुपितो विप्रो राजपत्नीमभाषत । धिक्त्वां दुष्टे क्रयं गृह्य मम कार्यं विलुम्पसि
Then the angry Brahmin spoke to the queen: 'Shame on you, wicked woman! You have taken my wages but neglect my work.'
अशक्ता चेत्कथं तर्हि गृहीतं मम तद्धनम् । एवं निर्भर्त्सिता तेन क्रूरवाक्यैः पुनः पुनः
'If you are unable, then why did you accept my payment?' Thus, repeatedly rebuked by his harsh words,
रुदिता कारणं प्राह विप्रं गद्गदया गिरा । स्वामिन् मम सुतो बालः सर्पदष्टो मृतो बहिः
She, weeping, explained the reason to the Brahmin in a choked voice: 'Master, my young son was bitten by a snake and has died outside.'
अनुज्ञां मे प्रयच्छस्व द्रष्टुं यास्यामि बालकम् । दुर्लभं दर्शनं तेन सञ्जातं मम सुव्रत
'Please grant me permission to go see the boy; O virtuous one, it has become difficult for me to see him.'
इत्युक्त्वा करुणं बाला पुनरेव रुरोद ह । पुनस्तां कुपितो विप्रो राजपत्नीमभाषत
Saying this, the grieving woman wept again; once more, the angry Brahmin spoke to the queen.
ब्राह्मण उवाच - शठे दुष्टसमाचारे किं न जानासि पातकम् । यः स्वामिवेतनं गृह्य तस्य कार्यं विलुम्पति
The Brahmin said: 'Deceitful, wicked woman of evil conduct, do you not know the sin? Whoever takes the master's wages and neglects his work—'
नरके पच्यते सोऽथ महारौरवपूर्वके । उषित्वा नरके कल्पं ततोऽसौ कुक्कुटो भवेत्
He is cooked in hell, first in Mahāraurava; after dwelling in hell for a kalpa, he becomes a rooster.
किमनेनाथवा कार्यं धर्मसंकीर्तनेन मे । यस्तु पापरतो मूर्खः क्रूरो नीचोऽनृतः शठः
What use is there for me in recounting righteousness? One who is addicted to sin, foolish, cruel, base, false, and deceitful—
तद्वाक्यं निष्फलं तस्मिन्भवेद् बीजमिवोषरे । एहि ते विद्यते किञ्चित्परलोकभयं यदि
His words are fruitless, like a seed in barren ground. Come, if you have any fear of the next world.
एवमुक्ताथ सा विप्रं वेपमानाब्रवीद्वचः । कारुण्यं कुरु मे नाथ प्रसीद सुमुखो भव
Thus addressed, she, trembling, spoke to the Brahmin: 'Show me compassion, O lord; be gracious and kindly toward me.'
प्रस्थापय मुहूर्तं मां यावद् द्रक्ष्यामि बालकम् । एवमुक्त्वाथ सा मूर्ध्ना निपत्य द्विजपादयोः
'Send me for a moment, so I may see my child.' Having spoken thus, she fell at the Brahmin’s feet with her head.
रुरोद करुणं बाला पुत्रशोकेन पीडिता । अथाह कुपितो विप्रः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः
Afflicted by grief for her son, the girl wept bitterly. Then the Brahmin, enraged, his eyes reddened with anger, spoke.
विप्र उवाच - किं ते पुत्रेण मे कार्यं गृहकर्म कुरुष्व मे । किं न जानासि मे क्रोधं कशाघातफलप्रदम्
The Brahmin said: 'What concern have I with your son? Do my household work. Do you not know my anger yields the result of a whip’s blow?'
एवमुक्ता स्थिता धैर्याद् गृहकर्म चकार ह । अर्धरात्रो गतस्तस्याः पादाभ्यङ्गादिकर्मणा
Thus addressed, she stood firm and performed the household tasks. At midnight, after her foot-massage and other duties,
ब्राह्मणेनाथ सा प्रोक्ता पुत्रपार्श्वं व्रजाधुना । तस्य दाहादिकं कृत्वा पुनरागच्छ सत्वरम्
The Brahmin then said to her: 'Go now to your son’s side. After performing his cremation and related rites, return quickly.'
न लुप्येत यथा प्रातर्गृहकर्म ममेति च । ततस्त्वेकाकिनी रात्रौ विलपन्ती जगाम ह
'Do not neglect my morning household work.' Then, alone at night, lamenting, she went.