तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते मुनिसत्तमाः। परं कोपं समाविष्टास्तमूचुः परुषाक्षरैः॥६.३.
Hearing these words, all those eminent sages were filled with great anger and addressed him with harsh words.
यस्मात्त्वया गुरुस्त्यक्तो हितकृत्पापवानसि। तस्माद्भवाधुना पाप चंडालो लोकनिंदितः॥६.३.
Because you have abandoned your guru, who sought your welfare, you are now sinful; therefore, become a caṇḍāla, despised by the world.
अथ तद्वचनांते स तत्क्षणात्पृथिवीपतिः। बभूवांत्यजरूपाढ्यो विकृताकारदेहभृत्॥६.३.
Then, at the end of their words, the king instantly became deformed, taking on an outcaste's appearance and a misshapen body.
यवमध्यः कृशग्रीवः पिंगाक्षो भुग्ननासिकः। कृष्णांगः शंकुवर्णश्च दुर्गंधेन समावृतः॥६.३.
His waist was thin, his neck emaciated, his eyes tawny, his nose crooked, his limbs dark, his complexion like iron, and he was enveloped in a foul odor.
अथात्मानं समालोक्य विकृतं स नराधिपः। चण्डालधर्मिणं सद्यो लज्जयाऽधोमुखः स्थितः॥६.३.
Seeing himself thus deformed and bearing the marks of a caṇḍāla, the king at once stood with his head bowed in shame.
याहियाहीति विप्रैस्तैर्भर्त्स्यमानो मुहुर्मुहुः। सर्वतः सारमेयैश्च क्लिश्यमानो निरर्गलैः। काककोकिलसंकाशो जीर्णवस्त्रावगुंठितः॥६.३.
Driven away again and again by the Brahmins shouting 'Go, go!' and harassed on all sides by unrestrained dogs, he, resembling a crow or cuckoo, stood covered in tattered garments.
ततः स चिन्तयामास दुःखेन महता वृतः। किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं शांतिर्भविष्यति॥६.३.
Then, overwhelmed by great sorrow, he began to reflect: 'What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will peace come to me?'
किं मयैतत्सुमूर्खेण वांछितं दुर्लभं पदम्। तत्प्रभावेन विभ्रष्टः कुलधर्मोऽपि मे स्वकः॥६.३.
'What was this rare state I, so foolish, desired? By its power, even my family's sacred duty has been lost.'
किं जलं प्रविशाम्यद्य किं वा दीप्तं हुताशनम्। भक्षयामि विषं किं वा कथं स्यान्मृत्युरद्य मे॥६.३.
'Shall I enter water today, or a blazing fire? Or shall I consume poison? How might death come to me today?'
अनेन वपुषा दारान्वीक्षयिष्यामि तान्कथम्। तादृशेन शरीरेण याभिः संक्रीडितं मया॥६.३.
'With this form, how shall I look upon my wives—those with whom I once sported, now that my body is as it is?'
कथं पुत्रांस्तथा पौत्रान्सुहृत्संबंधिबांधवान्। वीक्षयिष्यामि तान्भूयस्तथान्यं सेवकं जनम्॥६.३.
'How shall I look again upon my sons, grandsons, friends, relatives, and kinsmen—upon all those people who served me?'
तेऽद्य मामीदृशं श्रुत्वा हर्षं यास्यंति निर्भयाः॥६.३.
'Today, hearing of me in this condition, they will rejoice without fear.'
ये मया तर्पिता दानैर्ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। तेऽद्य मामीदृशं श्रुत्वा संभविष्यंति दुःखिताः॥६.३.
'Those Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, whom I satisfied with gifts—today, hearing of me in this state, they will become distressed.'
तथा ये सुहृदोऽभीष्टा नित्यं मम हिते रताः। कामवस्थां प्रयास्यन्ति दृष्ट्वा मां स्थितमीदृशम्॥६.३.
'Likewise, those dear friends always devoted to my welfare—seeing me thus, they will fall into whatever state fate brings.'
भद्रजात्या गजा ये मे मदान्धाः षष्टिहायनाः। मया विना मिथो युद्धे कस्तानद्य नियोक्ष्यति॥६.३.
'Those noble-born elephants of mine, maddened with rut, sixty years old—without me, who will send them into battle against each other today?'
अश्वास्तित्तिरकल्माषाः सुदांताः सादिभिर्दृढैः। कस्तांश्चित्रपदन्यासैर्नियाम्यति मया विना॥६.३.
'And those well-trained, strong horses with dappled marks—who will guide them with their varied gaits, now that I am gone?'
तथा मे भृत्यवर्गास्ते कुलीना युद्धदुर्मदाः। मां विना कस्य यास्यंति समीपेऽद्य सुदुःखिताः॥६.३.
'Likewise, my groups of servants, noble and proud in battle—without me, to whom will they go today, so deeply afflicted?'
संख्याहीनस्तथा कोशस्तादृङ्मे बहुरत्नभाक्। कस्य यास्यति संभोगं मया हीनस्तु रक्षितः॥६.३.
'And my treasury, once vast and full of many jewels, now diminished—deprived of me, under whose protection will it remain?'
तथा मे संख्यया हीनं धान्यं गोजाविकं महत्। भविष्यति कथं हीनं मयाभीष्टैस्तु रक्षितम्॥६.३.
'Likewise, my great stores of grain, cattle, and sheep, now reduced in number—how will they be protected, deprived of me and those I cherished?'
एवं बहुविधं राजा स विलप्य च दुःखितः। जगाम नगराभ्याशं पद्भ्यामेव शनैःशनैः॥६.३.
Thus, lamenting in many ways, the king, filled with grief, slowly made his way on foot toward the outskirts of the city.
ततो रात्रौ समासाद्य स्वं पुरं जनवर्जितम्। द्वारे स्थित्वा समाहूय पुत्रं मंत्रिभिरन्वितम्॥६.३.
Then, reaching his own city at night, deserted by people, he stood at the gate and summoned his son, accompanied by counselors.
कथयामास वृत्तांतं सर्वं शापसमुद्भवम्। दूरे स्थितः स पुत्राणां वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः॥६.३.
Standing at a distance from his sons, the great-souled Vasiṣṭha recounted the entire story, how the curse had arisen.
वज्रपातोपमं वाक्यं तेऽपि तस्य निशम्य तत्। बाष्पपर्याकुलैरास्यै रुरुदुः शोकसंयुताः॥६.३.
Hearing those words, like a thunderbolt's strike, their faces overwhelmed with tears, they wept, overcome by grief.
हा नाथ हा महाराज हा नित्यं धर्मवत्सल। त्वया हीना भविष्यामः कथमद्य सुदुःखिताः॥६.३.
'Alas, lord! Alas, great king! Alas, ever devoted to righteousness! Bereft of you, how shall we, so afflicted, live today?'
किमेतद्युज्यते तेषां वासिष्ठानां दुरात्मनाम्। शापं ददुः स्वयाज्यस्य विशेषाद्विनतस्य च॥६.३.
What is this that those wicked Vasiṣṭhas have done? They pronounced a curse, especially upon the one who offered sacrifices himself and upon Vinata.
ते वयं राजशार्दूल परित्यज्य गृहादिकम्। अन्त्यजत्वं गमिष्यामस्त्वया सार्धमसंशयम्॥६.३.
O tiger among kings, we shall abandon our homes and possessions, and without doubt, together with you, we will take up the status of outcasts.
त्रिशंकुरुवाच। भक्तिश्चेदस्ति युष्माकं ममोपरि निरर्गल। तन्मे पुत्रस्य मंत्रित्वं सर्वे कुरुत सांप्रतम्॥६.३.
Triśaṃku said: If you have unimpeded devotion towards me, then all of you, right now, appoint my son as the officiant of the sacrifice.
हरिश्चंद्रः सुपुत्रोयं मम ज्येष्ठः सुवल्लभः। नियोजयध्वमव्यग्राः पदव्यां मम सत्वरम्॥६.३.
Hariścandra is my excellent son, my eldest and most beloved; appoint him, without hesitation, swiftly to my position.
अहं पुनः करिष्यामि यन्मे मनसि संस्थितम्। मृत्युं वा संप्रयास्यामि सदेहो वा सुरालयम्॥६.३.
I, for my part, will do whatever is settled in my mind; either I will go to death, or, with this body, I will reach the abode of the gods.
एवमुक्त्वा परित्यज्य सर्वांस्तान्स महीपतिः। जगामारण्यमाश्रित्य पद्भ्यामेव शनैः शनैः॥६.३.
Having spoken thus and leaving them all behind, that king departed, seeking the forest, proceeding slowly on foot.