Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 7 • CHAPTER 13
Ch 13 Verse 1 Verse
Sanskrit Text
७.१३ त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः । त्रिशङ्कुशापोद्धाराय विश्वामित्रसान्त्वनवर्णनम् । राजोवाच - हरिश्चन्द्रः कृतो राजा सचिवैर्नृपशासनात् । त्रिशङ्कुस्तु कथं मुक्तस्तस्माच्चाण्डालदेहतः ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said :-- “O Muni! I see that at the command of the King, the ministers installed Hariścandra on the royal throne; but how Triśaṅku got rid of his Cāṇḍāla body, kindly say.
Ch 13 Verse 2-3 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मृतो वा वनमध्ये तु गङ्गातीरे परिप्लुतः । गुरुणा वा कृपां कृत्वा शापात्तस्माद्विमोचितः ॥ २ ॥ एतद् वृत्तान्तमखिलं कथयस्व ममाग्रतः । चरितं तस्य नृपतेः श्रोतुकामोऽस्मि सर्वथा ॥ ३ ॥
English Translation
Was it that he bathed in the holy waters of the Ganges and lived in the forest and when he died he was freed of the curse; or was it that the Guru Vaśiṣṭha favoured him by his grace and freed him of the curse? O best of Ṛṣis! I am extremely eager to hear the life of the King; therefore kindly describe to me in detail his wonderful career.”
Ch 13 Verse 4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - अभिषिक्तं सुतं कृत्वा राजा सन्तुष्टमानसः । कालातिक्रमणं तत्र चकार चिन्तयञ्छिवाम् ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! The King became gladdened in his heart to install his son on the throne and began to pass his days in that forest in the meditation of Bhagavatī Bhavānī.
Ch 13 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं गच्छति काले तु तपस्तप्त्वा समाहितः । द्रष्टुं दारान्सुतादींश्च तदागात्कौशिको मुनिः ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
Thus some time passed when Viśvāmitra, the son of Kauśika, completing his course of Tapasyā with an intent mind returned to his home to see his wife and sons.
Ch 13 Verse 6-7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आगत्य स्वजनं दृष्ट्वा सुस्थितं मुदमाप्तवान् । भार्यां पप्रच्छ मेधावी स्थितामग्रे सपर्यया ॥ ६ ॥ दुर्भिक्षे तु कथं कालस्तया नीतः सुलोचने । अन्नं विना त्विमे बालाः पालिता केन तद्वद ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
On coming back to his house, the intelligent Muni found his sons and other members of the family happy and well conditioned, became very glad and when his wife came to him for his service, asked her :-- O Fair-eyed One! How did you spend your time in days of famine? There was nothing whatsoever of the stock of rice, etc., in the house; how then did you nourish these boys? Please speak to me.
Ch 13 Verse 8-9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अहं तपसि सन्नद्धो नागतः शृणु सुन्दरि । किं कृतं तु त्वया कान्ते विना द्रव्येण शोभने ॥ ८ ॥ मया चिन्ता कृता तत्र श्रुत्वा दुर्भिक्षमद्भुतम् । नागतोऽहं विचार्यैवं किं करिष्यामि निर्धनः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
O Fair One! I was very busy with my austerities, I could not therefore come to you and see my boys; how then, O Beloved, and what measures did you resort to for their maintenance? O good and auspicious One! When I heard of the dire famine, I thought then “I have no wealth; so what shall I do if I go there?”
Ch 13 Verse 10-11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अहमप्यति वामोरु पीडितः क्षुधया वने । प्रविष्टश्चौरभावेन कुत्रचिच्छ्वपचालये ॥ १० ॥ श्वपचं निद्रितं दृष्ट्वा क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् । महानसं परिज्ञाय भक्ष्यार्थं समुपस्थितः ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
Thus thinking I did not come then. O Beautiful One! At that time, one day I was very hungry and being very much tired I entered into the house of a Cāṇḍāla, with the object of stealing. On entering the house I found the Cāṇḍāla sleeping; then being extremely distressed with hunger, I entered into his kitchen if I could find anything there.
Ch 13 Verse 12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदा भाण्डं समुद्घाट्य पक्वं श्वतनुजामिषम् । गृह्णामि भक्षणार्थाय तदा दृष्टस्तु तेन वै ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
When the dishes were sought and turned, and when I was going to take cooked dog’s flesh I immediately fell into the sight of that Cāṇḍāla.
Ch 13 Verse 13-15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पृष्टः कस्त्वं कथं प्राप्तो गृहे मे निशि सादरम् । ब्रूहि कार्यं किमर्थं त्वमुद्घाटयसि भाण्डकम् ॥ १३ ॥ इत्युक्तः श्वपचेनाहं क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् । तमवोचं सुकेशान्ते कामं गद्गदया गिरा ॥ १४ ॥ ब्राह्मणोऽहं महाभाग तापसः क्षुधयार्दितः । चौरभावमनुप्राप्तो भक्ष्यं पश्यामि भाण्डके ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
He asked me very affectionately “Who are you? Why have you entered here at this hour of night? Why are your looking after the dishes? Speak what you want.” O Beautiful One! When the Cāṇḍāla asked me these questions, I was very much pressed by hunger and I spoke out my wants in a tremulous voice :-- O Fortunate One! I am an ascetic Brāhmin very much pained by hunger; I have entered your house stealthily and am looking out for some eatables from your cooking pots.
Ch 13 Verse 16-17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चौरभावेन सम्प्राप्तोऽस्म्यतिथिस्ते महामते । क्षुधितोऽस्मि ददस्वाज्ञां मांसमद्मि सुसंस्कृतम् ॥ १६ ॥ विश्वामित्र उवाच - श्वपचस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा मामुवाच सुनिश्चितम् । भक्षं मा कुरु वर्णाग्र्य जानीहि श्वपचालयम् ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
O Intelligent One! I am now your guest in the form of a thief; I am now specially very hungry; so I will now eat your cooked meat; kindly permit me. Hearing these words, the Cāṇḍāla spoke to me in words authorised by the Śāstras :-- O One of the Superior Varṇa! Know this to be the house of a Cāṇḍāla; so never eat that flesh.
Ch 13 Verse 18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दुर्लभं खलु मानुष्यं तत्रापि च द्विजन्मता । द्विजत्वे ब्राह्मणत्वं च दुर्लभं वेत्सि किं न हि ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
The human birth is very rare in this world; then again to be born a Dvīja is more difficult; and to get Brāhmaṇhood again in the Dvījas is exceedingly difficult.
Ch 13 Verse 19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दुष्टाहारो न कर्तव्यः सर्वथा लोकमिच्छता । अग्राह्या मनुना प्रोक्ताः कर्मणा सप्त चान्त्यजाः ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
Are you not aware of this? They ought never to eat the defiled food who desire to attain to the Heavens; owing to Karma, the Maharṣi Manu has denominated the seventh caste as Antyaja and has discarded them altogether.
Ch 13 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
त्याज्योऽहं कर्मणा विप्र श्वपचो नात्र संशयः । निवारयामि भक्ष्यात्त्वां न लोभेनाञ्जसा द्विज ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
So, O Brāhmin! I am now by my actions turned into a Cāṇḍāla and so forsaken by all; there is no doubt in this. I am forbidding you so that this fault of Varṇa Śaṅkara may not suddenly attack you.
Ch 13 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वर्णसङ्करदोषोऽयं मा यातु त्वां द्विजोत्तम । विश्वामित्र उवाच । सत्यं वदसि धर्मज्ञ मतिस्ते विशदान्त्यज ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
Viśvāmitra said :-- “O Knower of Dharma! What you are speaking is quite true; though a Cāṇḍāla, your intelligence is very clear; hear, I will now speak to you the subtleties of the Dharma in times of danger.
Ch 13 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तथाप्यापदि धर्मस्य सूक्ष्ममार्गं ब्रवीम्यहम् । देहस्य रक्षणं कार्यं सर्वथा यदि मानद ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
O Giver of respect! Always and by all means it is advisable to keep up the body if sin be thereby iñcurred, one ought to perform Prāyaścitta (penance) for its purification when the time of danger is over.
Ch 13 Verse 23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पापस्यान्ते पुनः कार्यं प्रायश्चित्तं विशुद्धये । दुर्गतिस्तु भवेत्पापादनापदि न चापदि ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
But if one commits sin when the time is not one of danger, one gets degraded; not so in the time of danger. The man that dies out of hunger, goes to hell, no doubt.
Ch 13 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मरणात्क्षुधितस्याथ नरको नात्र संशयः । तस्मात्क्षुधापहरणं कर्तव्यं शुभमिच्छता ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Therefore every man seeking for his welfare must satisfy his hunger. Therefore I intend to steal for preserving my body. O Cāṇḍāla See!
Ch 13 Verse 25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तेनाहं चौर्यधर्मेण देहं रक्षेऽप्यथान्त्यज । अवर्षणे च चौर्येण यत्पापं कथितं बुधैः ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
The sin, iñcurred in stealing during famine, which the Pundits have declared, goes to the God of rains until he does not pour forth rain.”
Ch 13 Verse 26-27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यो न वर्षति पर्जन्यस्तत्तु तस्मै भविष्यति । इत्युक्ते वचने कान्ते पर्जन्यः सहसापतत् ॥ २६ ॥ गगनाद्धस्तिहस्ताभिर्धाराभिरभिकाङ्क्षितः । मुदितोऽहं घनं वीक्ष्य वर्षन्तं विद्युता सह ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
When the clouds thus poured forth rains with the glitterings of the lightnings, I felt very glad and left the house of the Cāṇḍāla.
Ch 13 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदाहं तद्गृहं त्यक्त्वा निःसृतः परया मुदा । कथय त्वं वरारोहे कालो नीतस्त्वया कथम् ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
O Beautiful One! Now speak out to me, how did you behave in that famine time, so terrible to all the beings.
Ch 13 Verse 29-31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कान्तारे परमः क्रूरः क्षयकृत्प्राणिनामिह । व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पतिमाह प्रियंवदा ॥ २९ ॥ यथा शृणु मया नीतः कालः परमदारुणः । गते त्वयि मुनिश्रेष्ठ दुर्भिक्षं समुपागतम् ॥ ३० ॥ अन्नार्थं पुत्रकाः सर्वे बभूवुश्चातिदुःखिताः । क्षुधितान्बालकान्वीक्ष्य नीवारार्थं वने वने ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
I became very anxious to see the sons hungry; I then went out to the forest in quest of wild rice; and I got some fruits.
Ch 13 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भ्रान्ताहं चिन्तयाऽऽविष्टा किञ्चित्प्राप्तं फलं तदा । एवं च कतिचिन्मासा नीवारेणातिवाहिताः ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
Thus I spent some months by collecting the rice growing wildly in the forest; then in times these also could not be got and I became again anxious.
Ch 13 Verse 33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदभावे मया कान्त चिन्तितं मनसा पुनः । न भिक्षा किल दुर्भिक्षे नीवारा नापि कानने ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
The Nibāra rice, too, is now not available and nothing is obtained also by begging; there are no fruits on the trees and no roots are found under the earth.
Ch 13 Verse 34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न वृक्षेषु फलान्यासुर्न मूलानि धरातले । क्षुधया पीडिता बाला रुदन्ति भृशमातुराः ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
The sons are crying in agony of hunger. What to do? And where to go? What am I to say now to the hungry boys?
Ch 13 Verse 35-38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि किं ब्रवीमि क्षुधार्तितान् । एवं विचिन्त्य मनसा निश्चयस्तु मया कृतः ॥ ३५ ॥ पुत्रमेकं ददाम्यद्य कस्मैचिद्धनिने किल । गृहीत्वा तस्य मौल्यं तु तेन द्रव्येण बालकान् ॥ ३६ ॥ पालयेऽहं क्षुधार्तांस्तु नान्योपायोऽस्ति पालने । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा पुत्रोऽयं प्रहितो मया ॥ ३७ ॥ विक्रयार्थं महाभाग क्रन्दमानो भृशातुरः । क्रन्दमानं गृहीत्वैनं निर्गताहं गतत्रपा ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
Oh God! Thus thinking on various ways, I at last came to this conclusion that I would sell one of my sons to a rich man and whatever price I can fetch, with that I will preserve the lives of the other sons. O Dear! Thus thinking, I became ready and went out. O Fortunate One! Then this boy began to cry aloud and became very distressed; yet I was so shameless that I took the crying boy and got out of my Āśrama.
Ch 13 Verse 39-40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदा सत्यव्रतो मार्गे मामुद्वीक्ष्य भृशातुराम् । पप्रच्छ स च राजर्षिः कस्माद्रोदिति बालकः ॥ ३९ ॥ तदाहं तमुवाचेदं वचनं मुनिसत्तम । विक्रयार्थं नीयतेऽसौ बालकोऽद्य मया नृप ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
At this time one Rājarṣi Satyavrata seeing me very distressed, asked me “O One of good vows! Why is this boy weeping?”
Ch 13 Verse 41-42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
श्रुत्वा मे वचनं राजा दयार्द्रहृदयस्ततः । मामुवाच गृहं याहि गृहीत्वैनं कुमारकम् ॥ ४१ ॥ भोजनार्थे कुमाराणामामिषं विहितं तव । प्रापयिष्याम्यहं नित्यं यावन्मुनिसमागमः ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
O Muni! I spoke to him “Today I am going to sell this boy.” The King’s heart became overfilled with pity, and spoke to me :-- “Take back to your Āśrama this boy. Daily I will supply you with meat for the food of your boys until the Muni returns home.”
Ch 13 Verse 43-44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अहन्यहनि भूपालो वृक्षेऽस्मिन्मृगसूकरान् । विन्यस्य याति हत्वासौ प्रत्यहं दययान्वितः ॥ ४३ ॥ तेनैव बालकाः कान्त पालिता वृजिनार्णवात् । वसिष्ठेनाथ शप्ताऽसौ भूपतिर्मम कारणात् ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
O Muni! The King from that time used to bring, with great pity, daily the flesh of deer and boar killed by him in the forest and he used to tie that on this tree. O Beloved! Thus I could protect my sons in that fearful ocean of crisis; but that King was cursed by Vaśiṣṭha only for my sake.
Ch 13 Verse 45-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कस्मिंश्चिद्दिवसे मांसं न प्राप्तं तेन कानने । हता दोग्ध्री वसिष्ठस्य तेनासौ कुपितो मुनिः ॥ ४५ ॥ त्रिशङ्कुरिति भूपस्य कृतं नाम महात्मना । कुपितेन वधाद्धेतोश्चाण्डालश्च कृतो नृपः ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
One day that King did not get any meat in the forest; so he slaughtered the Kāma Dhenu (the cow giving all desires) of Vaśiṣṭha and the Muni became therefore very angry with him. The high-souled Muni, angry on account of the killing of his cow, called the King by the name of Triśaṅku and made him a Cāṇḍāla.
Ch 13 Verse 47-48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तेनाहं दुःखिता जाता तस्य दुःखेन कौशिक । श्वपचत्वमसौ प्राप्तो मत्कृते नृपनन्दनः ॥ ४७ ॥ येन केनाप्युपायेन भवता नृपतेः किल । तस्माद्रक्षा प्रकर्तव्या तपसा प्रबलेन ह ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
O Kauśika! The prince turned into a Cāṇḍāla because he came forward to do good to me, so I am very sorry for his sake. So it is your urgent duty to save the King from his terrible position by any means or by the influence of your powerful Tapasyā.
Ch 13 Verse 49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - इति भार्यावचः श्रुत्वा कौशिको मुनिसत्तमः । तामाह कामिनीं दीनां सान्त्वपूर्वमरिन्दम ॥ ४९ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing these words from his wife the Muni Kauśika consoled her and said :--
Ch 13 Verse 50 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्र उवाच - मोचयिष्यामि तं शापान्नृपं कमललोचने । उपकारः कृतो येन कान्ताराद्रक्षितासि वै ॥ ५० ॥
English Translation
O Lotus-eyed One! I will free the King of his curse, who saved you at that critical moment; what more than this that I promise to you that I will remove his sufferings whether it be by my learning or it be by my Tapas.”
Ch 13 Verse 51 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विद्यातपोबलेनाहं करिष्ये दुःखसङ्क्षयम् । इत्याश्वास्य प्रियां तत्र कौशिकः परमार्थवित् ॥ ५१ ॥
English Translation
Thus consoling his wife at that moment, Kauśika, the Knower of the Highest Reality, began to think how he could destroy the pains and miseries of the King.
Ch 13 Verse 52 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चिन्तयामास नृपतेः कथं स्याद्दुःखनाशनम् । संविमृश्य मुनिस्तत्र जगाम यत्र पार्थिवः ॥ ५२ ॥
English Translation
Thus thinking, the Muni went to the King Triśaṅku, who was staying at that time very humbly in a village of the Cāṇḍālas, in the garb of a Cāṇḍāla.
Ch 13 Verse 53-55 Verse
Sanskrit Text
त्रिशङ्कुः पक्वणे दीनः संस्थितः श्वपचाकृतिः । आगच्छन्तं मुनिं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितोऽसौ नराधिपः ॥ ५३ ॥ दण्डवन्निपपातोर्व्यां पादयोस्तरसा मुनेः । गृहीत्वा तं करे भूपं पतितं कौशिकस्तदा ॥ ५४ ॥ उत्थाप्योवाच वचनं सान्त्वपूर्वं द्विजोत्तमः । मत्कृते त्वं महीपाल शप्तोऽसि मुनिना यतः ॥ ५५ ॥
English Translation
Seeing the Muni coming, the King was greatly astonished and instantly threw himself before his feet like a piece of stick. Kauśika raised the fallen King and consoling him said :-- O King! You are cursed, on my account, by the Muni Vaśiṣṭha. I will, therefore, fulfil your desires. Now speak what I am to do.
Ch 13 Verse 56-57 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वाञ्छितं ते करिष्यामि ब्रूहि किं करवाण्यहम् । राजोवाच - मया सम्प्रार्थितः पूर्वं वसिष्ठो मखहेतवे ॥ ५६ ॥ मां याजय मुनिश्रेष्ठ करोमि मखमुत्तमम् । यथेष्टं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र यथा स्वर्गं व्रजाम्यहम् ॥ ५७ ॥
English Translation
The King said :-- With a view to perform a sacrifice I prayed to Vaśiṣṭha that I would perform a sacrifice, kindly do this for me.
Ch 13 Verse 58-59 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अनेनैव शरीरेण शक्रलोकं सुखालयम् । कोपं कृत्वा वसिष्ठोऽसौ मामाहेति सुदुर्मते ॥ ५८ ॥ मानुषेण हि देहेन स्वर्गवासः कुतस्तव । पुनर्मयोक्तो भगवान्स्वर्गलुब्धेन चानघ ॥ ५९ ॥
English Translation
O Muni! Do that sacrifice, by which I can go to the Heavens in this my present body.” Vaśiṣṭha became angry and said :-- “O Villain! How can you go and live in the Heavens in this your human body?” I was very anxious to go to the Svarga (Heaven) so I again spoke to him :--
Ch 13 Verse 60-62 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्यं पुरोहितं कृत्वा यक्ष्येऽहं यज्ञमुत्तमम् । तदा तेनैव शप्तोऽहं चाण्डालो भव पामर ॥ ६० ॥ इत्येतत्कथितं सर्वं कारणं शापसम्भवम् । मम दुःखविनाशाय समर्थोऽसि मुनीश्वर ॥ ६१ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा विररमासौ राजा दुःखरुजार्दितः । कौशिकोऽपि निराकर्तुं शापं तस्य व्यचिन्तयत् ॥ ६२ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे त्रिशङ्कुशापोद्धाराय विश्वामित्रसान्त्वनवर्णनं नाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.१३॥
English Translation
:-- “O Sinless One! I will then have the excellent sacrifice done by another priest.” Hearing this, Vaśiṣṭha Deva cursed me, saying “Be a Cāṇḍāla.” O Muni! Thus I have described to you all about my curse. You are the one quite able to remove now my grievances. Distressed in pain and agony, the King informed him and became quiet. Viśvāmitra, too, thought how he could free him of his curse. Here ends the Thirteenth Chapter of the Seventh Book on the coming of Viśvāmitra to Triśaṅku in the Mahā Purāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.