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.
तेपि सन्मंत्रिणस्तूर्णं पुत्रं तस्य सुसम्मतम्। राज्ये नियोजयासमासुर्नादवादित्रनिःस्वनैः॥६.३.
Those noble ministers quickly installed his well-approved son in the kingdom, accompanied by the sounds of drums and musical instruments.
सूत उवाच। त्रिशंकुरिति संचिन्त्य विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। मनसा सुचिरं कालं ततश्चक्रे विनिश्चयम्॥६.४.
Sūta said: Thinking of Triśaṃku, the great sage Viśvāmitra, for a long time, made up his mind in his heart.
विश्वामित्रं परित्यज्य नान्योस्ति भुवनत्रये। यः कुर्यान्मे परित्राणं दुःखादस्मात्सुदारुणात्॥६.४.
Apart from Viśvāmitra, there is no one in the three worlds who can rescue me from this extremely terrible suffering.
कुरुक्षेत्रं समुद्दिश्य प्रतस्थे स ततः परम्। सुश्रांतः क्षुत्पिपासार्तो मार्गपृच्छापरायणः॥६.४.
Setting out towards Kurukṣetra, he proceeded further, exhausted, afflicted by hunger and thirst, constantly asking for directions.
ततः कालेन संप्राप्य कुरुक्षेत्रं स पार्थिवः। यत्नेनान्वेषयामास विश्वामित्राश्रमं ततः॥६.४.
Then, after some time, that king reached Kurukṣetra and, with effort, began to search for Viśvāmitra's hermitage.
एवं चान्वेषमाणेन तेन भूमिभृता तदा। सुदूरादेव संदृष्टं नीलद्रुमकदम्बकम्॥६.४.
As he searched, that ruler of the earth saw, from afar, a cluster of dark trees.
उपरिष्टाद्बकैर्हंसैर्भ्रममाणैः समंततः। आटिभिर्मद्गुभिश्चैव समन्ताज्जलपक्षिभिः॥६.४.
Above, cranes and swans wandered all around, together with herons and mallards, and other water birds on every side.
स मत्वा सलिलं तत्र पिपासार्तो महीपतिः। प्रतस्थे सत्वरो हृष्टो जलवातहृतक्लमः॥६.४.
Thinking there was water there, the thirsty king hurried forward, delighted, his fatigue swept away by the wind and the prospect of water.
अथापश्यन्मनोहारि सौम्यसत्त्वनिषेवितम्। आश्रमं नदितीरस्थं मनःशोकविनाशनम्॥६.४.
Then he saw a charming hermitage, inhabited by gentle beings, situated on the riverbank, a place that dispels sorrow from the mind.
पुष्पितैः फलितैर्वृक्षैः समंतात्परिवारितम्। विविधैर्मधुरारावैर्नादितं विहगोत्तमैः॥६.४.
Surrounded on all sides by trees in bloom and bearing fruit, resounding with the sweet calls of various excellent birds.