Markandeya Purana

विमानकोटिसम्बद्धं स्वर्गलोकान्महीतलम् । गत्वायोध्याजनं प्राह दिवमारुह्यतामिति॥८.

Then, going from the earth to the heavenly realms, bound to the peaks of aerial chariots, they addressed the people of Ayodhyā, saying, 'Ascend to heaven.'

तदिन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रीत्या तस्य च भूपतेः । आनीय रोहिताश्चञ्च विश्वामित्रो महातपाः॥८.

Hearing Indra’s words, and with joy, Viśvāmitra, the great ascetic, brought Rohitāśva to the king.

अयोध्याख्ये पुरे रम्ये सोऽभ्यसिञ्चन्नृपात्मजम् । देवैश्च मुनिभिः सिद्धैरभिषिच्य नराधिपम्॥८.

In the beautiful city called Ayodhyā, he anointed the prince as king, together with the gods, sages, and perfected beings, installing him as lord of men.

राज्ञा सह तदा सर्वे हृष्टपुष्टसुहृज्जनाः । सपुत्रभृत्यदारास्ते दिवमारुरुहुर्जनाः॥८.

Then, together with the king, all the people—joyful, prosperous, and with their friends, sons, servants, and wives—ascended to heaven.

पदे पदे विमानात् ते विमानमगमन् नराः । तदा सम्भूतहर्षोऽसौ हरिश्चन्द्रश्च पार्थिवः॥८.

At every step, from one aerial chariot to another, the people ascended; then arose great joy, and Hariścandra, the king, as well.

सम्प्राप्य भूतिमतुलां विमानैः स महीपतिः । आसाञ्चक्रे पुराकारे वप्रप्राकारसंवृते॥८.

Having attained incomparable prosperity by means of the aerial chariots, that king established dwellings within the city, enclosed by ramparts and walls.

ततस्तस्यर्धिमालोक्य श्लोकं तत्रोशना जगौ । दैत्याचार्यो महाभागः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित्॥८.

Then, seeing his prosperity, Uśanas, the great and blessed preceptor of the Daityas, knower of all the meanings and truths of the scriptures, spoke this verse.

; शुक्र उवाच हरिश्चन्द्रसमो राजा न भूतो न भविष्यति । यः शृणोति स्वदुः खार्तः स सुखं महदाप्नुयात्॥८.

Śukra said: There has never been, nor will there be, a king equal to Hariścandra. Whoever hears this, afflicted by their own sorrow, will obtain great happiness.

स्वर्गार्थोप्राप्नुयात् स्वर्गं पुत्रार्थो पुत्रमाप्नुयात् । भार्यार्थो प्राप्नुयाद्भार्यां राज्यार्थो राज्यमाप्नुयात्॥८.

One desiring heaven will attain heaven; one desiring a son will obtain a son; one desiring a wife will gain a wife; one desiring a kingdom will obtain a kingdom.

अहो तितिक्षामाहात्म्यमहो दानफलं महत् । यदागतो हरिश्चन्द्रः पुरीञ्चेन्द्रत्वमाप्तवान्॥८.

Oh, the greatness of forbearance! Oh, the great fruit of giving! By which Hariścandra, having come here, attained the kingship of the city of Indra.

; पक्षिण ऊचुः एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं हरिश्चन्द्रविचेष्टितम् । अतः परं कथाशेषः श्रूयतां मुनिसत्तम॥८.

The birds said: All this, the deeds of Hariścandra, have been told to you. Now, O best of sages, listen to the remainder of the tale.

विपाको राजसूयस्य पृथिवीक्षयकारणम् । तद्विपाकनिमित्तञ्च युद्धमाडिबकं महत्॥८.

The result of the rājasūya sacrifice, the cause of the destruction of the earth, and the great war called the battle of the Āḍibakas—these are the results to be heard.

पक्षिण ऊचुः राज्यच्युते हरिश्चन्द्रे गते च त्रिदशालयम् । निश्चक्राम महातेजा जलवासात् पुरोहितः॥९.

The birds said: When Hariścandra was deprived of his kingdom and had gone to the abode of the gods, the illustrious priest emerged from his watery dwelling.

वशिष्ठो द्वादशाब्दान्ते गङ्गापर्युषितो मुनिः । शुश्राव च समस्तन्तु विश्वामित्रविचेष्टितम्॥९.

Vasiṣṭha, the sage, having dwelt by the Ganges for twelve years, heard all that Viśvāmitra had done.

हरिश्चन्द्रस्य नाशञ्च राज्ञश्चोदारकर्मणः । चण्डालसम्प्रयोगञ्च भार्यातनयविक्रयम्॥९.

He heard of the destruction of Hariścandra, the generous king, his association with outcastes, and the sale of his wife and son.

स श्रुत्वा सुमाहभागः प्रीतिमानवनीपतौ । चकार कोपं तेजस्वी विश्वामित्रमृषिं प्रति॥९.

Hearing this, the exceedingly fortunate king became pleased, but the radiant sage grew angry toward Vishvamitra.

वशिष्ठ उवाच मम पुत्रशतं तेन विश्वामित्रेण घातितम् । तत्रापि नाभवत् क्रोधस्तादृशो यादृशोऽद्य मे॥९.

Vashishtha said: My hundred sons were slain by Vishvamitra, yet even then my anger was not as fierce as it is today.

श्रुत्वा नराधिपमिमं स्वराज्यादवरोपितम् । महात्मानं महाभागं देवब्राह्मणपूजकम्॥९.

Upon hearing that this noble king, great-souled and devoted to the worship of gods and Brahmins, had been deprived of his sovereignty,

यस्मात् स सत्यवाक् शान्तः शत्रावपि विमत्सरः । अनागाश्चैव धर्मात्मा अप्रमत्तो मदाश्रयः॥९.

Because he was truthful, peaceful, free from envy even toward enemies, sinless, righteous, vigilant, and self-controlled,

सपत्नीभृत्यपुत्रस्तु प्रापितोऽन्त्यां दशां नृपः । स राज्याच्च्यावितोऽनेन बहुशश्च खिलीकृतः॥९.

The king, along with his wives, servants, and sons, was brought to the lowest state; he was cast out from his kingdom by that one and repeatedly humiliated.

तस्माद् दुरात्मा ब्रह्मद्विट् प्राज्ञानामवरोपितः । मच्छापोपहतो मूढः स बकत्वमवाप्स्यति॥९.

Therefore, that wicked soul, enemy of Brahmins, who was cast down by the wise, struck by my curse, will become a crane.

पक्षिण ऊचुः श्रुत्वा शापं महातेजा विश्वामित्रोऽपि कौशिकः । त्वमप्याडिर्भवस्तेवति प्रतिशापमयच्छत॥९.

The birds said: Hearing the curse, the mighty Vishvamitra, descendant of Kusha, also cursed you in return, saying, 'You too shall become a heron.'

अन्योऽन्यशापात् तौ प्राप्तौ तिर्यक्त्वं परमद्युती । वशिष्ठः स महातेजा विश्वामित्रश्च कौशिकः॥९.

By cursing each other, those two of great brilliance—Vashishtha and Vishvamitra, the descendant of Kusha—attained the state of animals.

अन्यजातिसमायोगं गतावप्यमितौजसौ । युयुधातेऽतिसंरब्धौ महाबलपराक्रमौ॥९.

Though they had entered other forms, those two of boundless energy, filled with intense wrath, fought fiercely, displaying immense strength and valor.

योजनानां सहस्रे द्वे प्रमाणेनाडिरुच्छ्रितः । यन्नवत्यधिकं ब्रह्मन् ! सहस्रत्रितयं बकः॥९.

The heron stood two thousand yojanas tall, O Brahmin, while the crane measured three thousand and ninety yojanas.

तौ तु पक्षप्रहाराभ्यामन्योन्यस्योरुविक्रमौ । प्रहरन्तौ भयं तीव्रं प्रजानाञ्चक्रतुस्तदा॥९.

With blows from their wings, those two mighty ones struck each other, causing intense fear among all creatures.

विधूय पक्षाणि बको रक्तोद्वृत्ताक्षिराहनत् । आडिं सोऽप्युन्नतग्रीवो बकं पद्भ्यामताडयत्॥९.

The crane, shaking its wings, struck with bloodshot eyes; the heron, with its neck held high, struck the crane with its feet.

तयोः पक्षानिलापास्ताः प्रपेतुर्गिरयो भुवि । गिरिप्रपाताभिहता चकम्पे च वसुन्धरा॥९.

Driven by the wind from their wings, mountains fell to the earth; struck by the mountain falls, the earth trembled.

क्ष्मा कम्पमाना जलधीनुद्वृत्ताम्बूंश्चकार च । ननाम चैकपार्श्वेन पातालगमनोन्मुखी॥९.

The trembling earth caused the oceans to surge with rising waters, and she leaned to one side, ready to descend into the netherworld.