सर्वविघ्नकरा ह्येते तपस्तीर्थव्रतेषु च । अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः
These are indeed the causes of all obstacles in austerities, pilgrimages, and vows: nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, purity, and control of the senses.
स्वधर्मपालनं राजन् सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम् । नित्यकर्मपरित्यागान्मार्गे संसर्गदोषतः
O King, the observance of one's own duty bestows the fruit of all pilgrimages; by abandoning prescribed daily duties, one incurs the fault of deviation from the path.
व्यर्थं तीर्थाधिगमनं पापमेवावशिष्यते । क्षालयन्ति हि तीर्थानि सर्वथा देहजं मलम्
Undertaking pilgrimages in vain leaves only sin behind; for pilgrimages can cleanse the physical impurities of the body in every way.
मानसं क्षालितुं तानि न समर्थानि वै नृप । शक्तानि यदि चेत्तानि गङ्गातीरनिवासिनः
But, O King, those places are not capable of cleansing the mind; if they were, then those dwelling on the banks of the Ganges would be able to do so.
मुनयो द्रोहसंयुक्ताः कथं स्युर्भावितेश्वराः । वसिष्ठसदृशाः प्रह्वा विश्वामित्रादयः किल
How could sages living on the Ganges, if filled with malice, be considered perfected beings? Even those like Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra, though humble, were not exempt.
रागद्वेषरताः सर्वे कामक्रोधाकुलाः सदा । चित्तशुद्धिमयं तीर्थं गङ्गादिभ्योऽतिपावनम्
All are subject to passion and hatred, always disturbed by desire and anger; the pilgrimage of mental purity is more sanctifying than the Ganges and other holy places.
यदि स्याद्दैवयोगेन क्षालयत्यान्तरं मलम् । विशेषेण तु सत्सङ्गो ज्ञाननिष्ठस्य भूपते
If by divine arrangement it does cleanse inner impurity, O King, it is especially through the company of the good for one established in knowledge.
न वेदा न च शास्त्राणि न व्रतानि तपांसि न । न मखा न च दानानि चित्तशुद्धेस्तु कारणम्
Neither the Vedas, nor the scriptures, nor vows, nor austerities, nor sacrifices, nor gifts are the cause of purity of mind.
वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो वेदविद्याविशारदः । रागद्वेषान्वितः कामं गङ्गातीरसमाश्रितः
Vasiṣṭha, son of Brahmā, expert in Vedic knowledge, though residing on the bank of the Ganges, was still afflicted by passion and hatred.
आडीबकं महायुद्धं विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः । जातं निरर्थकं द्वेषाद्देवानां विस्मयप्रदम्
A great and pointless battle of cranes arose between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha out of enmity, astonishing even the gods.
विश्वामित्रो बकस्तत्र जातः परमतापसः । शप्तः स तु वसिष्ठेन हरिश्चन्द्रस्य कारणात्
There, Viśvāmitra became a crane, a great ascetic; he was cursed by Vasiṣṭha because of Hariścandra.
कौशिकेन वसिष्ठोऽपि शस्त्वाडीदेहभाक्कृतः । शापादाडीबकौ जातौ तौ मुनी विशदप्रभौ
Vasiṣṭha too was cursed by Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) and became a crane; by the curse, both those illustrious sages became cranes.
निवासं प्रापतुस्तीरे सरसो मानसस्य च । चक्रतुर्दारुणं युद्धं नखचञ्चुप्रताडनैः
They took up residence on the shore of Lake Mānasa and fought a fierce battle, striking each other with their beaks and claws.
वर्षाणामयुतं यावत्तावृषी रोषसंयुतौ । युयुधाते मदोन्मत्तौ सिंहाविव परस्परम्
For ten thousand years, those two sages, filled with anger and intoxicated with pride, fought each other like lions.
राजोवाच कथं तौ मुनिशार्दूलौ तापसौ धर्मतत्परौ । परस्परं वैरपरौ सञ्जातौ केन हेतुना
The king said: How did those two eminent sages, devoted to asceticism and righteousness, come to bear mutual enmity, and for what reason?
शापं परस्परं केन कारणेन महामती । दत्तवन्तौ मिथः क्लेशकारकौ दुःखदौ नृणाम्
For what cause did those wise ones inflict curses upon each other, bringing suffering and hardship to themselves and others?
व्यास उवाच हरिश्चन्द्रो नृपश्रेष्ठस्त्रिशंकुतनयः पुरा । बभूव रविवंशीयो रामचन्द्रस्य पूर्वजः
Vyāsa said: Once there was a foremost king named Hariścandra, son of Triśaṅku, of the solar dynasty, and elder to Rāmacandra.
अनपत्यः स राजर्षिर्वरुणाय महाक्रतुम् । प्रतिजज्ञे पुत्रकामो नरमेधं दुरासदम्
That royal sage, being childless, desiring a son, vowed to Varuṇa to perform the difficult human sacrifice.
वरुणस्तस्य सन्तुष्टो यज्ञस्य नियमे कृते । दधार गर्भं राज्ञस्तु भार्या परमसुन्दरी
Varuṇa, being pleased with the observance of the sacrifice, caused the king's supremely beautiful wife to conceive.
राजा बभूव सन्तुष्टो दृष्ट्वा भार्यां सदोहदाम् । चकार विधिवत्कर्म गर्भसंस्कारकारकम्
The king was delighted to see his wife experiencing the signs of pregnancy, and he performed, according to the prescribed rites, the ceremony for sanctifying the embryo.
सुषुवे तनयं नारी सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । मुदं प्राप नृपस्तत्र पुत्रे जाते विशाम्पते
The lady gave birth to a son endowed with all auspicious marks, and the king, lord of the people, rejoiced greatly at the birth of his son.
कृतवाञ्जातकर्मादिसंस्कारविधिमुत्तमम् । ददौ हिरण्यं गा दोग्धीर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः
He performed the excellent rites beginning with the birth ceremony, and especially gave gold and milch cows to the Brāhmaṇas.
जन्मोत्सवेऽतिसंवृत्ते गेहे वै यादसाम्पतिः । आजगाम महाराज विप्रवेषधरस्तथा
When the grand celebration of the birth was completed, the lord of the aquatic beings came to the house, O great king, disguised as a Brāhmaṇa.
पूजितः पार्थिवेनाथ दत्त्वा विधिवदासनम् । कार्ये पृष्टेऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं वरुणोऽस्मीति भूपतिम्
Honored by the king and properly offered a seat, he was asked about his purpose; then Varuṇa spoke to the king, revealing his identity.
कुरु यज्ञं सुतं कृत्वा पशुं परमपावनम् । सत्यवाग्भव राजेन्द्र संकल्पस्तु त्वया कृतः
Perform the sacrifice, making your son the sacrificial offering, O king of kings; be truthful, for you have made this vow.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा विह्वलोऽतिव्यथाकुलः । संस्तभ्याधिं नृपः प्राह वरुणं सत्कृताञ्जलिः
Hearing these words, the king was overwhelmed and deeply distressed; controlling his anguish, he addressed Varuṇa with joined palms.
स्वामिन्करोमि तं यज्ञं सर्वथा विधिपूर्वकम् । मया ते यत्प्रतिज्ञातं भवामि सत्यवागहम्
Lord, I will perform that sacrifice in every way according to the prescribed rules; what I have promised you, I will fulfill with truthfulness.
पूर्णे मासे विशुध्येत धर्मपत्नी सुरोत्तम । विशुद्धायां तु भार्यायां कर्तव्यः स पशोर्मखः
O best of gods, when a full month has passed, my lawful wife will be purified; when she is purified, the sacrifice with the son as the offering must be performed.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ते वचने राज्ञा वरुणः स्वगृहं गतः । राजा बभूव सन्तुष्टः किञ्चिच्चिन्तातुरस्तथा
Vyāsa said: When the king had spoken thus, Varuṇa returned to his own abode; the king was satisfied, yet somewhat troubled in mind.
पूर्णे मासि पुनः पाशी परीक्षार्थं नृपालये । आजगाम द्विजो भूत्वा सुवेषः सुष्ठुभाषकः
When the month was complete, the lord of the noose came again to the king's palace to test him, appearing as a Brāhmaṇa, well-dressed and eloquent.