प्राणास्त्याज्याः पितुः कार्ये सत्पुत्रेणेति निश्चयः । त्वदर्थे दुःखितो राजा क्रन्दति व्याधिपीडितः
It is determined that a good son must give up his life for his father’s sake; the king, suffering because of you, cries out, afflicted by disease.
व्यास उवाच तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तथ्यं पान्थिकाद्धर्मसंयुतम् । यदा चक्रे मनो गन्तुं द्रष्टुं तातं व्यथातुरम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing those truthful and righteous words from the traveler, he resolved in his mind to go and see his suffering father.
तदा विप्रवपुर्भूत्वा वासवस्तमुपागमत् । रहः प्राह हितं वाक्यं दयावानिव भारत
Then, having assumed the form of a Brāhmaṇa, Indra approached him; in private, he spoke words of advice, as if compassionately, O descendant of Bharata.
मूर्खोऽसि राजपुत्र त्वं गमनाय मतिं वृथा । करोषि पितरं त्वद्य न जानासि व्यथायुतम्
You are foolish, O prince, for you vainly resolve to go; today you do not understand that your father is afflicted with pain.
आडीबकयुद्ध वर्णनसहितं देवीमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् इन्द्र उवाच साहसं कृतवान् राजा पूर्वं यत्कथितो मखः । वरुणाय प्रतिज्ञातः पुत्रं कृत्वा पशुं प्रियम्
Indra said: The king once performed a bold act, as has been told before—the sacrifice—having promised Varuṇa to offer his beloved son as the sacrificial animal.
गते त्वयि पिता पुत्रं बद्ध्वा यूपेऽघृणः पुनः । पशुं कृत्वा महाबुद्धे वधिष्यति व्यथातुरः
When you had departed, his pitiless father bound his son to the sacrificial post again, and, making him the sacrificial animal, intended to kill him, tormented by anxiety.
इत्थं निषिद्धस्तत्पुत्रः शक्रेणामिततेजसा । स्थितस्तत्रैव मायेशीमायया मोहितो भृशम्
Thus, when the son was forbidden by Śakra, of immeasurable brilliance, he remained there, greatly deluded by the Māyā of the Goddess of Illusion.
यदा पुनः पुनः श्रुत्वा पितरं रोगपीडितम् । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे तदेन्द्रः प्रत्यषेधयत्
But when he repeatedly heard that his father was afflicted by disease, he resolved to go, but Indra restrained him.
हरिश्चन्द्रोऽतिदुःखार्तः पप्रच्छ गुरुमन्तिके । स्थितं वसिष्ठमेकान्ते सर्वज्ञं हिततत्परम्
Harishchandra, overwhelmed by intense sorrow, approached his guru, Vasiṣṭha, who was alone and all-knowing, intent on his welfare, and questioned him.
राजोवाच भगवन् कि करोम्यद्य कातरोऽस्मि व्यथाकुलः । त्राहि मां दुःखमनसं महाव्याधिभयातुरम्
The king said: O venerable one, what shall I do today? I am fearful and distressed; save me, whose mind is troubled, from this great fear of disease.
वसिष्ठ उवाच शृणु राजन्नुपायोऽस्ति रोगनाशं प्रति स्तुतः । त्रयोदशविधाः पुत्राः कथिता धर्मसंग्रहे
Vasiṣṭha said: Listen, O king, there is a praised means for the destruction of disease; thirteen kinds of sons are described in the compendium of dharma.
तस्मात्क्रीतं सुतं कृत्वा यजस्व मखमुत्तमम् । द्रव्यं दत्त्वा यथोद्दिष्टमानयस्व द्विजोत्तमम्
Therefore, having acquired a son, perform the excellent sacrifice; give the prescribed wealth and bring a foremost Brāhmaṇa.
एवं कृते मखे भूप रोगनाशो भविष्यति । वरुणोऽपि प्रसन्नात्मा भविष्यति यथासुखम्
O king, when the sacrifice is performed in this way, the destruction of disease will occur, and Varuṇa too will become pleased and content.
व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राजा प्रोवाच मन्त्रिणम् । अन्वेषय महाबुद्धे विषयेष्वतियत्नतः
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the king spoke to his minister: 'O wise one, search diligently throughout the realm.'
कदाचित्कोऽपि लोभार्थी ददाति स्वसुतं पिता । समानय धनं दत्त्वा यावत्प्रार्थयतेऽप्यसौ
Sometimes, out of greed, a father may give his own son; bring him, giving wealth, as long as he desires it.
सर्वथैव समानेयो यज्ञार्थे द्विजबालकः । न कार्या कृपणा बुद्धिस्त्वया मत्कार्यहेतवे
By all means, a Brāhmaṇa boy must be brought for the sacrifice; do not let compassion sway your judgment in this matter for my sake.
प्रार्थनीयस्त्वया पुत्रः कस्यचिद्द्विजवादिनः । द्रव्येण देहि यज्ञार्थं कर्तव्योऽसौ पशुः किल
You must request the son of some Brāhmaṇa; give wealth for the purpose of the sacrifice—he is to be made the sacrificial animal.
इति सञ्चोदितस्तेन सचिवः कार्यहेतवे । अन्वेषयामास पुरे ग्रामे ग्रामे गृहे गृहे
Thus urged by him for the task, the minister began searching in the city, in every village, and in every house.
एवमन्वेषतस्तस्य विषये कश्चिदातुरः । निर्धनस्त्रिसुतश्चासीदजीगर्तेति नामतः
While searching in this way throughout the kingdom, he found a certain poor and ailing man named Ajīgarta, who had three sons.
तस्य पुत्रं शुनःशेपं मध्यमं मन्त्रिसत्तमः । आनयामास दत्त्वार्थं प्रार्थितं यद्धनं तदा
The excellent minister brought his middle son, Śunaḥśepa, giving the requested wealth as agreed.
समानीय शुनःशेपं सचिवः कार्यतत्परः । राज्ञे निवेदयामास पशुयोग्यं द्विजात्मजम्
Having brought Śunaḥśepa, the minister devoted to his duty presented the Brāhmaṇa boy, fit for the sacrifice, to the king.
राजातिमुदितस्तेन विप्रानानीय सर्वतः । कारयामास सम्भारान्यज्ञार्थं वेदवित्तमान्
The king, exceedingly pleased, summoned Brāhmaṇas from all sides and arranged all the necessary materials for the sacrifice, with those learned in the Vedas.
प्रारब्धे तु मखे तत्र विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । बद्धं दृष्ट्वा शुनःशेपं निषिषेध नृपं तदा
When the sacrifice had begun, the great sage Vishvamitra, seeing Shunahshepa bound, forbade the king at that moment.
राजन्मा साहसं कार्षीर्मुञ्चैनं द्विजबालकम् । प्रार्थयाम्यहमायुष्मन् सुखं तेऽद्य भविष्यति
O King, do not commit this rash act; release this young Brahmin. I beseech you, O blessed one, today happiness will be yours.
क्रन्दत्ययं शुनःशेपः करुणा मां दुनोत्यपि । दयावान्भव राजेन्द्र कुरु मे वचनं नृप
Shunahshepa is crying; his sorrow pains me deeply. Be compassionate, O king of kings, heed my words for the child's sake.
परदेहस्य रक्षायै स्वदेहं ये दयापराः । ददति क्षत्रियाः पूर्वं स्वर्गकामाः शुचिव्रताः
For the protection of another's body, those Kshatriyas who are devoted to compassion have formerly given their own bodies, desiring heaven and observing pure vows.
त्वं स्वदेहस्य रक्षार्थं हंसि द्विजसुतं बलात् । पापं मा कुरु राजेन्द्र दयावान् भव बालके
You, for the sake of protecting your own body, are forcibly killing the Brahmin's son. Do not commit this sin, O king of kings; be compassionate to the boy.
सर्वेषां सदृशी प्रीतिर्देहे वेत्सि स्वयं नृप । मुञ्चैनं बालकं तस्मात्प्रमाणं यदि मे वचः
You know yourself that affection for one's own body is equal in all. Therefore, release this boy, if my words hold authority.
व्यास क्त्वच अनादृत्य च तद्वाक्यं राजा दुःखातुरो भृशम् । न मुमोच मुनिस्तस्मै चूकोपातीव तापसः
Disregarding those words, the king, greatly afflicted by sorrow, did not release him; the sage became extremely angry.
उपदेशं ददौ तस्मै शुनःशेपाय कौशिकः । मन्त्रं पाशधरस्याथ दयावान्वेदवित्तमः
Kausika then gave instruction to Shunahshepa, the most compassionate and learned in the Vedas, teaching him the mantra of the one who holds the noose.