Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 6 • CHAPTER 12
Ch 12 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
६.१२ द्वादशोऽध्यायः । हरिश्चन्द्रस्य जलोदरव्याधिपीडावर्णनम् । राजोवाच । तीर्थानि भुवि पुण्यानि ब्रूहि मे मुनिसत्तम । गम्यानि मानवैर्देवैः क्षेत्राणि सरितस्तथा ॥ १ ॥ फलं च यादृशं यत्र तीर्थेषु स्नानदानतः । विधिं तु तीर्थयात्रायां नियमांश्च विशेषतः ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
The King said :-- “O Best of Munis! Tell me the names of the holy places of pilgrimage on the surface of this earth, the holy Kṣetras and the holy rivers; what are the fruits acquired in bathing there and in making charitable gifts as well; also what are the rules of the journeys and acts there are to be conducted?”
Ch 12 Verse 3 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि तीर्थानि विविधानि च । येषु तीर्थेषु देवीनां प्रशस्तान्यायनानि च ॥ ३ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Hear; I am describing to you various Tīrthas or places of pilgrimage as well as those that are highly extolled as the best places favourite to the Devī.
Ch 12 Verse 4-6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नदीनां जाह्नवी श्रेष्ठा यमुना च सरस्वती । नर्मदा गण्डकी सिन्धुर्गोमती तमसा तथा ॥ ४ ॥ कावेरी चन्द्रभागा च पुण्या वेत्रवती शुभा । चर्मण्वती च सरयूस्तापी साभ्रमती तथा ॥ ५ ॥ एताश्च कथिता राजन्नन्याश्च शतशः पुनः । तासां समुद्रगाः पुण्याः स्वल्पपुण्या ह्यनब्धिगाः ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
Amongst the rivers the following are reckoned as chief and holy :-- The Ganges, Jumnā, Sarasvatī, Narmaddā, Ganḍakī, Sindhu, Gomatī, Tamasā, Cavery, Candrahāgā, Vetravatī, Carmanvatī, Saraju, Tāpī, and Sāvramatī. Besides these, there are hundreds of rivers on the surface of this earth; of them, those that fall into the ocean, they are holier and those that have not reached the ocean are less holy.
Ch 12 Verse 7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
समुद्रगानां ताः पुण्याः सर्वदौघवहास्तु याः । मासद्वयं श्रावणादौ ताश्च सर्वा रजस्वलाः ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
Of those rivers that fall into the ocean, those that always flow with great current, they are comparatively holier; but in the two months Śrāvan and Bhādra (15th July - 15th September) all the rivers are considered as if they are during their menstruation periods; at this time also some rivers carry water of the rains just sufficient to supply the villagers with water.
Ch 12 Verse 8-12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भवन्ति वृष्टियोगेन ग्राम्यवारिवहास्तथा । पुष्करं च कुरुक्षेत्रं धर्मारण्यं सुपावनम् ॥ ८ ॥ प्रभासं च प्रयागं च नैमिषारण्यमेव च । विश्रुतं चार्बुदारण्यं शैलाश्च पावनास्तथा ॥ ९ ॥ श्रीशैलश्च सुमेरुश्च पर्वतो गन्धमादनः । सरांसि चैव पुण्यानि मानसं सर्वविश्रुतम् ॥ १० ॥ तथा बिन्दुसरः श्रेष्ठमच्छोदं नाम पावनम् । आश्रमास्तु तथा पुण्या मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् ॥ ११ ॥ विश्रुतस्तु सदा पुण्यः ख्यातो बदरिकाश्रमः । नरनारायणौ यत्र तेपाते तौ मुनी तपः ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
O King! The following are the famous places of pilgrimages calculated to bestow merits:-- Puṣkara, Kurukṣettra, the holy Dharmāraṇya, Pravāsa, Prayāga, Naimiṣāraṇya, and Arbudāraṇya. O King! Of the mountains, the following are considered as sacred :-- Śrīśaila, Sumeru, Gandhamādana; of the lakes, the following are very holy and very famous :-- Mānasarovara, Viṇdusarovara and Akṣoda; these are the chief lakes. To those Munis that meditate on their Ātman, all the hermitages are sacred; still the hermitage of Badri is always considered very sacred and the most celebrated; here Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the two famous Munis, practised their asceticism.
Ch 12 Verse 13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वामनाश्रम आख्यातः शतयूपाश्रमस्तथा । येन यत्र तपस्तप्तं तस्य नाम्नातिविश्रुतः ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
The Vāmanāśrama and Śatayūpāśrama are also well known; thus every hermitage is named after the Muni that practised asceticism there.
Ch 12 Verse 14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं पुण्यानि स्थानानि ह्यसङ्ख्यातानि भूतले । मुनिभिः परिगीतानि पावनानि महीपते ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
Thus innumerable holy places on the surface of the earth are mentioned by the Munis as tending to sanctify the hearts of the persons.
Ch 12 Verse 15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एषु स्थानेषु सर्वत्र देवीस्थानानि भूपते । दर्शनात्पापहारीणि वसन्ति नियमेन च ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
At all these holy places, the Devī is worshipped in special sites consecrated to Her. All the sins are destroyed by their mere sight.
Ch 12 Verse 16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथयिष्यामि तान्यग्रे प्रसङ्गेन च कानिचित् । तीर्थानि नृप दानानि व्रतानि च मखास्तथा ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
The devotees of the Devī stay there, with rules obeyed. I will mention afterwards some of these places in the course of my narrations. O Best of kings! Going to these holy places, charity, vow, sacrifices, asceticism and good acts all depend on one another.
Ch 12 Verse 17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तपांसि पुण्यकर्माणि सापेक्षाणि महीपते । द्रव्यशुद्धिं क्रियाशुद्धिं मनःशुद्धिमपेक्ष्य च ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
The holy places of pilgrimages, asceticism, and observance of vows depend on the purity of the articles (Dravya Śuddhi), on the purity and one pointedness of actions (Kriyā Śuddhi) and on the purity of the heart (Citta Śuddhi).
Ch 12 Verse 18-19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पावनानि हि तीर्थानि तपांसि च व्रतानि च । कदाचिद्द्रव्यशुद्धिः स्यात्क्रियाशुद्धिः कदाचन ॥ १८ ॥ दुर्लभा मनसः शुद्धिः सर्वेषां सर्वदा नृप । मनस्तु चञ्चलं राजन्ननेकविषयाश्रितम् ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
Some may attain, at times, the Dravya Śuddhi and Kriyā Śuddhi; but every one finds it very difficult and, indeed, rarely get the Chitta Śuddhi. O King! This mind always tries to seek shelter with various objects and is, therefore, always restless. How, then, can the purity of mind be effected, with ease, when it is occupied with all sorts of thoughts on various objects.
Ch 12 Verse 20-22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथं शुद्धं भवेद्राजन्नानाभावसमाश्रितम् । कामक्रोधौ तथा लोभो ह्यहङ्कारो मदस्तथा ॥ २० ॥ सर्वविघ्नकरा ह्येते तपस्तीर्थव्रतेषु च । अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः ॥ २१ ॥ स्वधर्मपालनं राजन् सर्वतीर्थफलप्रदम् । नित्यकर्मपरित्यागान्मार्गे संसर्गदोषतः ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
Cupidity, anger, greed, pride, and egoism, these bring about all sorts of obstacles in the holy places of pilgrimages, in practising tapasyā and in observing vows. O King! Non-injury, truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity and purity, controlling of senses, and observing one’s own religion, all these bring about the fruits of the labour in visiting all tīrthas. They bestow fruits that can be obtained by visiting all the tīrthas. During one’s pilgrimage, one forsakes one’s Nitya Karma (daily duties) and one has to come in contact with various persons.
Ch 12 Verse 23-24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यर्थं तीर्थाधिगमनं पापमेवावशिष्यते । क्षालयन्ति हि तीर्थानि सर्वथा देहजं मलम् ॥ २३ ॥ मानसं क्षालितुं तानि न समर्थानि वै नृप । शक्तानि यदि चेत्तानि गङ्गातीरनिवासिनः ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Hence one’s journey becomes fruitless; rather it becomes a source of sin. The waters of the sacred places can only wash the outside dirts and the impurities of the physical bodies; they can never wash the impurities of their inner minds. Were it the fact that the waters of the tīrthas could purify their minds, why was it, then, that the Munis, residing on the banks of the Ganges, and devoted to God, ever indulged themselves with feelings of jealousy and enmity against each other.
Ch 12 Verse 25-26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मुनयो द्रोहसंयुक्ताः कथं स्युर्भावितेश्वराः । वसिष्ठसदृशाः प्रह्वा विश्वामित्रादयः किल ॥ २५ ॥ रागद्वेषरताः सर्वे कामक्रोधाकुलाः सदा । चित्तशुद्धिमयं तीर्थं गङ्गादिभ्योऽतिपावनम् ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
The humble Munis like Vaśiṣṭha, and the Ṛṣis like Viśvāmitra were always entangled in love and hatred and they were ever impatient with anger. Therefore it is evident that the internal purification, the purification of heart, the bathing in the Gñān Gaṅgā flowing within, no doubt removes more the dirt than the Ganges and other places of pilgrimages.
Ch 12 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदि स्याद्दैवयोगेन क्षालयत्यान्तरं मलम् । विशेषेण तु सत्सङ्गो ज्ञाननिष्ठस्य भूपते ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
O King! No doubt this fact must be admitted on all hands that one’s impurity of mind is washed away if by the strange combination of Fate, one comes in intimate contact with a man possessed of the Divine Knowledge.
Ch 12 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न वेदा न च शास्त्राणि न व्रतानि तपांसि न । न मखा न च दानानि चित्तशुद्धेस्तु कारणम् ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
O King! The Vedas or Śāstras, vows or austerities, sacrifices or gifts none can purify the heart.
Ch 12 Verse 29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो वेदविद्याविशारदः । रागद्वेषान्वितः कामं गङ्गातीरसमाश्रितः ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
See! Vaśiṣṭha, the son of Brahmā, though versed in the Vedas and residing on the banks of the Ganges, was under the control of love, hatred and other infirmities.
Ch 12 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आडीबकं महायुद्धं विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः । जातं निरर्थकं द्वेषाद्देवानां विस्मयप्रदम् ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
Out of the enmity of Viśvāmitra and Vaśiṣṭha, arose the great battle named Āḍi Baka, astonishing even to the Gods.
Ch 12 Verse 31-33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्रो बकस्तत्र जातः परमतापसः । शप्तः स तु वसिष्ठेन हरिश्चन्द्रस्य कारणात् ॥ ३१ ॥ कौशिकेन वसिष्ठोऽपि शस्त्वाडीदेहभाक्कृतः । शापादाडीबकौ जातौ तौ मुनी विशदप्रभौ ॥ ३२ ॥ निवासं प्रापतुस्तीरे सरसो मानसस्य च । चक्रतुर्दारुणं युद्धं नखचञ्चुप्रताडनैः ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
In this, the ascetic Viśvāmitra was cursed by Vaśiṣṭha, on account of some curse in connection with the king Hariścandra and had to take his birth as a crane (Baka). The Ṛṣi Vaśiṣṭha was cursed also by Viśvāmitra and was born as a bird named Śarāli.
Ch 12 Verse 34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वर्षाणामयुतं यावत्तावृषी रोषसंयुतौ । युयुधाते मदोन्मत्तौ सिंहाविव परस्परम् ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
Thus the two powerful Ṛṣis were born as Āḍi Baka and lived on the banks of the Mānasarovara and they fought for full ten thousand years (ajuta) terribly, out of anger, with their nails and beaks like two maddened lions.
Ch 12 Verse 35-36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजोवाच । कथं तौ मुनिशार्दूलौ तापसौ धर्मतत्परौ । परस्परं वैरपरौ सञ्जातौ केन हेतुना ॥ ३५ ॥ शापं परस्परं केन कारणेन महामती । दत्तवन्तौ मिथः क्लेशकारकौ दुःखदौ नृणाम् ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
The King asked :-- “O Muni! Why were the two Maharsis, the two great ascetics and devoted to religion, involved in enmity with each other? Both of them were intelligent; how was it that they knowing the act of cursing to be a source of pain to men, cursed each other so painfully?”
Ch 12 Verse 37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । हरिश्चन्द्रो नृपश्रेष्ठस्त्रिशङ्कुतनयः पुरा । बभूव रविवंशीयो रामचन्द्रस्य पूर्वजः ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! In former times, there was born in the solar dynasty a king Hariścandra, the son of Triśaṅku; he was the best of the kings and reigned before Rāmcandra.
Ch 12 Verse 38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अनपत्यः स राजर्षिर्वरुणाय महाक्रतुम् । प्रतिजज्ञे पुत्रकामो नरमेधं दुरासदम् ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
That King had no issue and therefore promised to Varuṇa, “O Lord of water and ocean! If I get a son born to me, I will perform a sacrifice, called Naramedha, where I will sacrifice my son for your propitiation.”
Ch 12 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वरुणस्तस्य सन्तुष्टो यज्ञस्य नियमे कृते । दधार गर्भं राज्ञस्तु भार्या परमसुन्दरी ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
Varuṇa was very pleased with the king when he made such a vow; and the exquisitely beautiful queen held the foetus in the womb.
Ch 12 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजा बभूव सन्तुष्टो दृष्ट्वा भार्यां सदोहदाम् । चकार विधिवत्कर्म गर्भसंस्कारकारकम् ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
Seeing his wife in the family way, the king was very pleased and performed all the purificatory ceremonies pertaining to the foetus in the womb.
Ch 12 Verse 41-42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुषुवे तनयं नारी सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । मुदं प्राप नृपस्तत्र पुत्रे जाते विशाम्पते ॥ ४१ ॥ कृतवाञ्जातकर्मादिसंस्कारविधिमुत्तमम् । ददौ हिरण्यं गा दोग्धीर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषतः ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
O King! When the queen was delivered of a son endowed with all auspicious signs, the king Hariścandra was very glad and performed duly all the Jāta Karma (natal) ceremonies and distributed as charity big sums of gold and many cows giving good quantities of milk.
Ch 12 Verse 43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
जन्मोत्सवेऽतिसंवृत्ते गेहे वै यादसाम्पतिः । आजगाम महाराज विप्रवेषधरस्तथा ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
When the festivities on the birth of the child were celebrated in the palace on a grand scale, Varuṇa, the Lord of Waters, assuming the form of a Brāhmin, came up there.
Ch 12 Verse 44-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पूजितः पार्थिवेनाथ दत्त्वा विधिवदासनम् । कार्ये पृष्टेऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं वरुणोऽस्मीति भूपतिम् ॥ ४४ ॥ कुरु यज्ञं सुतं कृत्वा पशुं परमपावनम् । सत्यवाग्भव राजेन्द्र सङ्कल्पस्तु त्वया कृतः ॥ ४५ ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा विह्वलोऽतिव्यथाकुलः । संस्तभ्याधिं नृपः प्राह वरुणं सत्कृताञ्जलिः ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
The King, too, honoured him duly with seat and worshipped him regularly and asked him about his purpose, when Varuṇa spoke to him :-- “O King! I am Varuṇa, the Lord of Waters; you promised before that you would perform Naramedha sacrifice where you would sacrifice your son; now do those things and keep your words true.” The King became very much confused and was very much pained at heart. He then checked his mental feelings of pain and spoke to the Deva Varuṇa, with folded hands :--
Ch 12 Verse 47-48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वामिन्करोमि तं यज्ञं सर्वथा विधिपूर्वकम् । मया ते यत्प्रतिज्ञातं भवामि सत्यवागहम् ॥ ४७ ॥ पूर्णे मासे विशुध्येत धर्मपत्नी सुरोत्तम । विशुद्धायां तु भार्यायां कर्तव्यः स पशोर्मखः ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
:-- “O Lord! I will do the sacrifice duly and fulfil the promise that I made before you and keep my word. But, O Best of the Devas! My legal wife will be pure from her Sūtikā-Śaucak after one month, when I will perform the Naramedha sacrifice.”
Ch 12 Verse 49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्ते वचने राज्ञा वरुणः स्वगृहं गतः । राजा बभूव सन्तुष्टः किञ्चिच्चिन्तातुरस्तथा ॥ ४९ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing thus the words of the king Hariścandra, Varuṇa returned to his own abode; the King also became glad, but he was somewhat anxious for fear of the destruction of the child.
Ch 12 Verse 50 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पूर्णे मासि पुनः पाशी परीक्षार्थं नृपालये । आजगाम द्विजो भूत्वा सुवेषः सुष्ठुभाषकः ॥ ५० ॥
English Translation
When one month was complete, the sweet-speaking Varuṇa, the holder of the noose, assuming the form of a very pure Brāhmin, again came there to the palace of the king to examine him.
Ch 12 Verse 51 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कृतार्हणं सुखासीनं भूपतिस्तं सुरोत्तमम् । उवाच विनयोपेतो हेतुगर्भं वचस्तदा ॥ ५१ ॥
English Translation
The King worshipped him duly and gave him the seat to sit and spoke, with humility, the following reasonable words :-- “O Lord! My son is not yet purified; how can he be tied to the sacrificial post for being immolated?
Ch 12 Verse 52-53 Verse
Sanskrit Text
असंस्कृतं सुतं स्वामिन्यूपे बध्नामि तं कथम् । संस्कत्य क्षत्रियं कृत्वा यजेऽहं यज्ञमुत्तमम् ॥ ५२ ॥ दयसे यदि देव त्वं ज्ञात्वा दीनं स्वसेवकम् । असंस्कृतस्य बालस्य नाधिकारोऽस्ति कुत्रचित् ॥ ५३ ॥
English Translation
Therefore I will perform that sacrifice when the boy becomes cleansed after a purificatory rite and becomes a Kṣattriya. O Deva! If you know me as your humble servant, have mercy on me; I will then consider myself as blessed. See! The children, not passed through purificatory rites, are not entitled to any act; therefore wait for some time longer.”
Ch 12 Verse 54 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वरुण उवाच । प्रतारयसि राजेन्द्र कृत्वा समयमग्रतः । दुस्त्यजस्तव जानामि सुतस्नेहो ह्यपुत्रिणः ॥ ५४ ॥
English Translation
Varuṇa said :-- “O King! You are deceiving me and putting off the time longer and longer; I now see that you were issueless before and now that you have got a son, you are bound up in an indissoluble tie of affection for a son.
Ch 12 Verse 55 Verse
Sanskrit Text
गृहं व्रजामि भूपाल वचनात्तव कोमलात् । कियत्कालं प्रतीक्ष्याहमागमिष्यामि ते गृहम् ॥ ५५ ॥
English Translation
Whatever it be, I now go back to my home at your pitiful request; I will wait for some time longer and I will come again.
Ch 12 Verse 56 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भवितव्यं त्वया तात तदा सत्यवचोऽन्वितम् । अन्यथा त्वयि मुञ्चामि कोपं शापसमन्वितम् ॥ ५६ ॥
English Translation
O child! Let you then be true to your words; if it be otherwise, I will surely curse you and thus give vent to my angry feelings.”
Ch 12 Verse 57 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजोवाच । समावर्तनकर्मान्ते सर्वथा यादसाम्पते । कृत्वा पुत्रपशुं यज्ञे यजिष्ये विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ ५७ ॥
English Translation
The King said :-- O Lord of the Waters! After the completion of the Samāvartan ceremony (a pupil’s return home after finishing his holy study), I will duly sacrifice my son at the great Naramedha sacrifice; there is no doubt.
Ch 12 Verse 58 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञो वरुणः प्रीतमानसः । तथेत्युक्त्वा ययौ तूर्णं नृपस्तु सुस्थितोऽभवत् ॥ ५८ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- Varuṇa was very pleased at the King’s words and quickly went back saying “Let it be so.” The king also became comforted.
Ch 12 Verse 59 Verse
Sanskrit Text
रोहिताख्य इति ख्यातः सुतस्तस्य विवृद्धिमान् । सञ्जातश्चतुरः सर्वविद्यानां च विशारदः ॥ ५९ ॥
English Translation
On the one hand, the king Hariścandra’s son became widely known by the name of Rohita; and as he got older, he became gradually versed in all the sciences and became very clever and intelligent.
Ch 12 Verse 60-61 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यज्ञस्य कारणं तेन ज्ञातं सर्वं सविस्तरम् । भयभीतस्ततः सोऽपि मत्वा मरणमात्मनः ॥ ६० ॥ कृत्वा पलायनं वीरो गतोऽसौ गिरिगह्वरे । अगम्ये नृपतिस्थाने स्थितस्तत्र भयातुरः ॥ ६१ ॥
English Translation
That boy then came to know by degrees the cause of the sacrifice in full detail; and knowing that his death is quite certain, became very afraid and quickly fled away from the King and went and stayed in caves of mountains with a fearful heart.
Ch 12 Verse 62-63 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्राप्ते कालेऽथ वरुणो यज्ञार्थी नृपतेर्गृहम् । गत्वा तमाह भूपालं कुरु यज्ञं विशाम्पते ॥ ६२ ॥ प्रम्लानवदनो राजा तमाह व्यथितेन्द्रियः । किं करोमि गतः क्वापि सुतो मे सुरसत्तम ॥ ६३ ॥
English Translation
Then, when the proper time came, Varuṇa came up there to the royal palace, desirous to have the sacrifice and spoke to the King thus :-- “O King! Now the prescribed time has come; therefore perform the sacrifice that you have resolved to celebrate.” The King was very much pained to hear this and spoke with a very sad appearance :-- “O Best of the Devas! What can I do now? My son has fled away out of the fear of his life; I do not know his whereabouts.”
Ch 12 Verse 64-65 Verse
Sanskrit Text
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं राज्ञः कुपितो यादसाम्पतिः । शशाप तं नृपं कोपादसत्यवादिनं भृशम् ॥ ६४ ॥ जलोदराभिधो व्याधिर्देहे भवतु ते नृप । यतः प्रतारितश्चाहं कृत्वा कपटपण्डित ॥ ६५ ॥
English Translation
Varuṇa became very angry at these words and cursed him thus :-- “O Liar! You are an hypocrite pundit; therefore you deceived me frequently. Let therefore the disease dropsy come and attack your body.”
Ch 12 Verse 66 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इति शप्त्वा ययौ धाम स्वकं पाशधरस्तदा । राजा चिन्तातुरस्तस्थौ भवने व्याधिपीडितः ॥ ६६ ॥
English Translation
Varuṇa, the Holder of the noose, cursing thus, went back to his own abode. The King was attacked with that disease, remained in his own residence, afflicted with cares and anxieties.
Ch 12 Verse 67 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदातिव्याधितो राजा रोगेण शापजेन ह । तदा शुश्राव पुत्रोऽपि पितरं व्याधिपीडितम् ॥ ६७ ॥
English Translation
Rohita, the son of the king Hariścandra, heard about the severe illness of his father when he was very much tormented with that disease, as the curse of Varuṇa.
Ch 12 Verse 68-69 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पान्थिकः प्राह पुत्रं हि पिता ते भृशदुःखितः । जलोदरविकारेण शापजेन नृपात्मज ॥ ६८ ॥ विनष्टं जीवितं तेऽद्य वृथा जातस्य दुर्मते । यत्त्यक्त्वा पितरं दुःस्थं प्राप्तोऽसि गिरिगह्वरम् ॥ ६९ ॥
English Translation
One day a traveller told him :-- “O son of the King! Your father is very ill with dropsy, due to the curse, and is very sorry. Certainly your brain has turned wrong; vain is your coming in this world; you have passed your life to no purpose, for you are staying still in this mountain cave, abandoning your sorrowful father. Certainly you are a bad disobedient son; what use is there in your keeping up this body?
Ch 12 Verse 70-71 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किमनेन शरीरेण प्राप्तं ते जन्मनः फलम् । देहदं दुःखितं कृत्वा स्थितोऽस्यत्र सुताधम ॥ ७० ॥ प्राणास्त्याज्याः पितुः कार्ये सत्पुत्रेणेति निश्चयः । त्वदर्थे दुःखितो राजा क्रन्दति व्याधिपीडितः ॥ ७१ ॥
English Translation
What purpose will be served by your birth? When you have got this body, you have abandoned that father and are staying in this solitary cave. Know this as certain that to sacrifice one’s life is the duty of a good and obedient son; therefore what more shall I say now than this that your father the king Hariścandra ailing from a severe illness is very sorry for you and is always weeping.”
Ch 12 Verse 72-74 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच । तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तथ्यं पान्थिकाद्धर्मसंयुतम् । यदा चक्रे मनो गन्तुं द्रष्टुं तातं व्यथातुरम् ॥ ७२ ॥ तदा विप्रवपुर्भूत्वा वासवस्तमुपागमत् । रहः प्राह हितं वाक्यं दयावानिव भारत ॥ ७३ ॥ मूर्खोऽसि राजपुत्र त्वं गमनाय मतिं वृथा । करोषि पितरं त्वद्य न जानासि व्यथायुतम् ॥ ७४ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्रस्य जलोदरव्याधिपीडावर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः ॥ ६.१२॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing from the passerby these good words, the prince Rohita wanted to go to his sorrowful father attacked with disease when Indra assuming a Brāhmin form came up to him and began to speak to him when he was alone like one who was filled with mercy. O Son of a King! You are a fool; are you not positively acquainted with the fact that your father is in trouble; why then do you intend in vain to go there? Here ends the Twelfth Chapter on the cause of the war between Ādi and Baka in the Sixth Book of the Mahāpurāṇam of Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.