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.
कृतार्हणं सुखासीनं भूपतिस्तं सुरोत्तमम् । उवाच विनयोपेतो हेतुगर्भं वचस्तदा
The king, after duly honoring him and seating him comfortably, addressed that best of gods with humility, speaking words full of reason.
असंस्कृतं सुतं स्वामिन्यूपे बध्नामि तं कथम् । संस्कत्य क्षत्रियं कृत्वा यजेऽहं यज्ञमुत्तमम्
Master, how can I bind my uninitiated son to the sacrificial post? After initiating him and making him a Kṣatriya, I will perform the supreme sacrifice.
दयसे यदि देव त्वं ज्ञात्वा दीनं स्वसेवकम् । असंस्कृतस्य बालस्य नाधिकारोऽस्ति कुत्रचित्
If you, O god, have compassion, knowing your servant is afflicted, understand that an uninitiated child has no right to any ritual.
वरुण उवाच प्रतारयसि राजेन्द्र कृत्वा समयमग्रतः । दुस्त्यजस्तव जानामि सुतस्नेहो ह्यपुत्रिणः
Varuṇa said: O king of kings, you deceive me after making a promise in my presence; I know well that your affection for your son is hard to abandon, especially for one who was childless.
गृहं व्रजामि भूपाल वचनात्तव कोमलात् । कियत्कालं प्रतीक्ष्याहमागमिष्यामि ते गृहम्
O king, I will return home, moved by your gentle words; after waiting for some time, I will come again to your house.
भवितव्यं त्वया तात तदा सत्यवचोऽन्वितम् । अन्यथा त्वयि मुञ्चामि कोपं शापसमन्वितम्
But then, O dear one, you must keep your word; otherwise, I will unleash my wrath upon you, accompanied by a curse.
राजोवाच समावर्तनकर्मान्ते सर्वथा यादसांपते । कृत्वा पुत्रपशुं यज्ञे यजिष्ये विधिपूर्वकम्
The king said: At the conclusion of the ceremony of returning from study, I will, in every way, fulfill the promise to the lord of the waters; having performed the sacrifice with my son as the sacrificial animal, I shall worship according to the prescribed rites.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञो वरुणः प्रीतमानसः । तथेत्युक्त्वा ययौ तूर्णं नृपस्तु सुस्थितोऽभवत्
Vyāsa said: Hearing the king’s words, Varuṇa was pleased in his heart; saying 'so be it,' he departed swiftly, while the king remained firm.
रोहिताख्य इति ख्यातः सुतस्तस्य विवृद्धिमान् । सञ्जातश्चतुरः सर्वविद्यानां च विशारदः
His son, renowned as Rohita, grew up; he became accomplished and skilled in all branches of knowledge.
यज्ञस्य कारणं तेन ज्ञातं सर्वं सविस्तरम् । भयभीतस्ततः सोऽपि मत्वा मरणमात्मनः
He learned in detail the entire reason for the sacrifice; then, fearing for his own life, he became terrified.