Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam - SRIMAD DEVI BHAGAVATAM

Ch 16 Verse 1-2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

७.१६ षोडशोऽध्यायः । यज्ञपशुभूतस्य ब्राह्मणपुत्रस्य वधकरणाय विश्वामित्रनिषेधवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच - गतेऽथ वरुणे राजा रोगेणातीव पीडितः । दुःखाद्दुःखं परं प्राप्य व्यथितोऽभूद् भृशं तदा ॥ १ ॥ कुमारोऽसौ वने श्रुत्वा पितरं रोगपीडितम् । गमनाय मतिं राजंश्चकार स्नेहयन्त्रितः ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! When Varuṇa went away, the King was very much laid down with that dropsy and daily his pains began to increase and he began to suffer extreme pains. O King! The prince, on the other hand, heard, in the forest, of the illness of his father and filled with affection, wanted to go to his father.

Ch 16 Verse 3-4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

संवत्सरे व्यतीते तु पितरं द्रष्टुमादरात् । गन्तुकामं तु तं ज्ञात्वा शक्रस्तत्राजगाम ह ॥ ३ ॥ वासवस्तु तदा रूपं कृत्वा विप्रस्य सत्वरः । वारयामास युक्त्या वै कुमारं गन्तुमुद्यतम् ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

A year had passed away and the prince desired very gladly to go to his father and see him. Knowing this, Indra came there. He came instantly in the form of a Brāhmin and with favourable arguments desisted the prince, who was about to go to his father.

Ch 16 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इन्द्र उवाच - राजपुत्र न जानासि राजनीतिं सुदुर्लभाम् । अतः करोषि मूढस्त्वं गमनाय मतिं वृथा ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

Indra said :-- “O Prince! It seems you are silly; you know nothing of the difficult state policies. Therefore it is that you are ready to go, out of sheer ignorance, to your father.

Ch 16 Verse 6-7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पिता तव महाभाग ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । कारयिष्यति होमं ते ज्वलितेऽथ विभावसौ ॥ ६ ॥ आत्मा हि वल्लभस्तात सर्वेषां प्राणिनां खलु । तदर्थे वल्लभाः सन्ति पुत्रदारधनादयः ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

O Fortunate One! If you go there, your father will get his sacrifice, where a human victim is to be offered, performed by the Vedic Brāhmaṇas and your flesh will be offered are oblations to the blazing Fire. O Child! The souls of all the beings are very dear; it is for that reason, for the sake of soul, that sons, wife, wealth and jewels are all dear.

Ch 16 Verse 8-9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

आत्मनो देहरक्षार्थं हत्वा त्वां वल्लभं सुतम् । हवनं कारयित्वासौ रोगमुक्तो भविष्यति ॥ ८ ॥ तस्मात्त्वया न गन्तव्यं राजपुत्र पितुर्गृहे । मृते पितरि गन्तव्यं राज्यार्थे सर्वथा पुनः ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

Therefore, though you are his dear son, like his son, yet he will certainly have you killed and get Homas offered, to free himself from the disease. O Prince! You ought not to go home now; rather when your father dies, you would certainly go there and inherit your Kingdom.”

Ch 16 Verse 10-11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं निषेधितस्तत्र वासवेन नृपात्मजः । वनमध्ये स्थितः कामं पुनः संवत्सरं नृप ॥ १० ॥ अत्यन्तं दुःखितं श्रुत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रं तदाऽऽत्मजः । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे मरणे कृतनिश्चयः ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

O King! Thus hindered by Vāsava, the prince remained in that forest for one year more. But when the prince again heard of the severe illness of his father, he wanted again to go to his father, resolved to court the death of his ownself.

Ch 16 Verse 12-13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तुषाराड् द्विजरूपेण तत्रागत्य च रोहितम् । निवारयामास सुतं युक्तिवाक्यैः पुनः पुनः ॥ १२ ॥ हरिश्चन्द्रोऽतिदुःखार्तो वसिष्ठं स्वपुरोहितम् । पप्रच्छ रोगनाशाय तत्रोपायं सुनिश्चितम् ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

Indra also came there in the form of a Brāhmaṇ and, with reasonable words, repeatedly advised him not to go there. Here, on the other hand, the King Hariścandra became very much distressed and troubled by the disease and asked his family priest Vaśiṣṭha Deva :-- “O Brāhmaṇa! What is the sure remedy for the cure of the disease?”

Ch 16 Verse 14-15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तमाह ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो यज्ञं कुरु नृपोत्तम । क्रयक्रीतेन पुत्रेण शापमोक्षो भविष्यति ॥ १४ ॥ पुत्रा दशविधां प्रोक्ता ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । द्रव्येणानीय तस्मात्त्वं पुत्रं कुरु नृपोत्तम ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

Vaśiṣṭha, the Brahmā’s son, said :-- “O King! Purchase one son by giving his value; then perform the sacrifice with that purchased son and you will be free from the curse. O King! The Brāhmins, versed in the Vedas, say that sons are of ten kinds, of whom the son, purchased by paying its proper value, is one of them. So buy one son.

Ch 16 Verse 16-17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वरुणोऽपि प्रसन्नः सन्सुखकारी भविष्यति । लोभात्कोऽपि द्विजः पुत्रं प्रदास्यति स्वराष्ट्रजः ॥ १६ ॥ एवं प्रमोदितो राजा वसिष्ठेन महामना । प्रधानं प्रेरयामास तदन्वेषणकाम्यया ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

There will very probably be within your kingdom a Brāhmin who might sell out of avarice, his son. In that case Varuṇa Deva will certainly be pleased and grant your happiness.” Hearing these words of the high-souled Vaśiṣṭha, the King became glad and ordered his minister to look after such a son.

Ch 16 Verse 18-19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अजीगर्तो द्विजः कश्चिद्विषये तस्य भूपतेः । तस्यासंश्च त्रयः पुत्रा निर्धनस्य विशेषतः ॥ १८ ॥ प्रधानेनाप्यसौ पृष्टः पुत्रार्थं दुर्बलो द्विजः । गवां शतं ददामीति देहि पुत्रं मखाय वै ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

There lived in that King’s dominion one Brāhmin, named Ajigarta, very poor; he had three sons. The minister spoke to him to purchase his son :-- “I will give you one hundred cows; give one son of yours for the sacrifice.

Ch 16 Verse 20-21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

शुनःपुच्छः शुनःशेपः शुनोलाङ्गूल इत्यमी । तेषामेकतमं देहि ददामि तु गवां शतम् ॥ २० ॥ अजीगर्तस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम् । पुत्रं च कतमं तेभ्यो विक्रेतुं वै मनो दधे ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

You have three sons named respectively Śunahpucca, Śunahśepha and Śunolangula. Give me out of them one son and I will give you one hundred cows as his value.” Ajigarta was very much distressed for want of food; so when he heard the proposal, he expressed his desire to sell his son.

Ch 16 Verse 22-23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कार्याधिकारिणं ज्येष्ठं मत्वा नासावदादमुम् । कनिष्ठं नाप्यदान्माता ममैष इति वादिनी ॥ २२ ॥ मध्यमं च शुनःशेपं ददौ गवां शतेन च । आनिनाय पशुं चक्रे नरमेधे नराधिपः ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

He thought that his eldest son was the rightful person to perform funeral obsequies and offer Piṇḍa and he therefore did not spare him. The youngest son, too, he did not spare also, as he considered that his own.

Ch 16 Verse 24-25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रुदन्तं दुःखितं दीनं वेपमानं भृशातुरम् । यूपे बद्धं निरीक्ष्यामुं चुक्रुशुर्मुनयस्तदा ॥ २४ ॥ शामित्राय पशुं चक्रे नरमेधे नराधिपः । शमिता नाददे शस्त्रं तमालम्भयितुं शिशुम् ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

At last, he sold his second son for the price of one hundred cows. The King then bought him and made him the victim for the sacrifice. When that boy was fastened to the sacrificial post, he began to tremble and very much distressed with sorrow began to cry. Seeing this, the Munis cried out in a very pitiful tone.

Ch 16 Verse 26-27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नाहं द्विजसुतं दीनं रुदन्तं करुणं भृशम् । हनिष्यामि स्वलोभार्थमित्युवाचाप्यसौ तदा ॥ २६ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा विररामासौ कर्मणो दुष्करादथ । राजा आभासदः प्राह किं कर्तव्यमिति द्विजाः ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

When the King gave permission for the immolation of that boy, the slaughterer did not take weapons to slaughter him. He told that he would never be able to kill the boy, since he is crying in a very pitiful tone. When he thus withdrew himself from his work, the King then asked his councillors :--

Ch 16 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जातः किलकिलाशब्दो जनानां क्रोशतां तदा । क्रन्दमाने शुनःशेपे सभायां भृशमद्भुतम् ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

:-- O Devas! What ought to be done now? Śunahśepha then began to cry in a very pitiful voice; the people present there began to discuss and there arose a great noise on the affair.

Ch 16 Verse 29-30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अजीगर्तस्तदोत्थाय तमुवाच नृपोत्तमम् । राजन् कार्यं करिष्यामि तवाहं सुस्थिरो भव ॥ २९ ॥ वेतनं द्विगुणं देहि हनिष्यामि पशुं किल । कर्तव्यं मखकार्यं वै मया तेऽद्य धनार्थिना ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

Then Ajigarta stood up in the midst of the assembly and spoke :-- “O King! Be patient; I will fulfil your desire. I am desirous of wealth and if you give me double the amount, I will slay immediately the victim; and you can complete early your sacrifice.” O King! He who is hankering after money, can always entertain feelings of enmity even towards his own son. There is no doubt in this.

Ch 16 Verse 31-32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दुःखितस्य धनार्थस्य सदासूया प्रसूयते । व्यास उवाच - तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य हरिश्चन्द्रो मुदान्वितः ॥ ३१ ॥ तमुवाच ददाम्यद्य गवां शतमनुत्तमम् । तदाकर्ण्य पिता तस्य पुत्रं हन्तुं समुद्यतः ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing those words of Ajigarta, Hariścandra gladly spoke to him :-- “I will immediately give you another hundred excellent cows.” Hearing thus, the son’s father, avaricious of wealth, immediately resolved and became ready to slay his son.

Ch 16 Verse 33-34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

लोभेनाकुलचित्तोऽसौ शामित्रे कृतनिश्चयः । समुद्यतं च तं दृष्ट्वा जनाः सर्वे सभासदः ॥ ३३ ॥ चुक्रुशुर्भृशदुःखार्ता हाहेति जगदुर्वचः । पिशाचोऽयं महापापी क्रूरकर्मा द्विजाकृतिः ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

All the councillors seeing the father ready to slay his son, were struck with sorrow and began to lament exclaiming “Alas! This wretch, a disgrace to his family, is now ready to kill his own son. Oh! We never saw before such a cruel vicious person. This Brāhmin must be a Demon in a Brāhmin body!

Ch 16 Verse 35-37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यत्स्वयं स्वसुतं हन्तुमुद्यतः कुलपांसनः । धिक्चाण्डाल किमेतत्ते पापकर्म चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ३५ ॥ हत्वा सुतं धनं प्राप्य किं सुखं ते भविष्यति । आत्मा वै जायते पुत्र अङ्गाद्वै वेदभाषितम् ॥ ३६ ॥ तत्कथं पापबुद्धे त्वमात्मानं हन्तुमिच्छसि । एवं कोलाहले तत्र जाते कुशिकनन्दनः ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

Fie on you! O Cāṇḍāla! What a vicious work are you now going to do? What happiness do you derive by slaying the son, the jewel of jewels, only to get some wealth? O Sinner! It is stated in the Vedas that the soul takes its birth from one’s body; so how are you going to slay your soul!” When the hue and cry arose in the assembly, Viśvāmitra, the son of Kauśika, went to the King and, out of pity, said :--

Ch 16 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

समीपं नृपतेर्गत्वा तमुवाच दयापरः । विश्वामित्र उवाच - राजन्नमुं शुनःशेपं रुदन्तं भृशदुःखितम् ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

O King! Śunahśepha is very piteously crying; so let him be free; and then your sacrifice will be complete and you will be free of your disease.

Ch 16 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

क्रतुस्ते भविता पूर्णो रोगनाशश्च सर्वथा । दयासमं नास्ति पुण्यं पापं हिंसासमं नहि ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

There is no virtue like mercy and there is no vice like killing (Himsā). What is written about killing animals in the sacrifice, is only meant for the persons inclined to sensual objects and to give them a stimulus in that direction.

Ch 16 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रागिणां रोचनार्थाय नोदनेयं विचारय । आत्मदेहस्य रक्षार्थं परदेहनिकृन्तनम् ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

O King! He who wants his own welfare and who wants to preserve his own body ought not to cut another’s body.

Ch 16 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न कर्तव्यं महाराज सर्वतः शुभमिच्छता । दयया सर्वभूतेषु सन्तुष्टो येन केन च ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

He who pities equally all the beings, gets contended with a trivial gain and subdues all his senses; God is soon pleased with him.

Ch 16 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सर्वेन्द्रियोपशान्त्या च तुष्यत्याशु जगत्पतिः । आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु चिन्तनीयं नृपोत्तम ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

O King! You should treat all the Jīvas like yourself and thus always spend your life, so dear to all.

Ch 16 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जीवितव्यं प्रियं नूनं सर्वेषां सर्वदा किल । त्वमिच्छसि सुखं कर्तुं देहे हत्वा त्वमुं द्विजम् ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

You desire to preserve your body by taking away the life of this boy; similarly why would he not try to preserve his own body, the receptacle of happiness and pleasures.

Ch 16 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कथं नेच्छेदसौ देहं रक्षितुं स्वसुखास्पदम् । पूर्वजन्मकृतं वैरं नानेन सह ते नृप ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

O King! You have desired to kill this innocent Brāhmin boy; but he will never overlook this enmity of yours done in previous lives.

Ch 16 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

येनामुं हन्तुकामस्त्वं द्विजपुत्रं निरागसम् । यो यं हन्ति विना वैरं स्वकामः सततं पुनः ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

If anybody kills another willingly, though he has got no enmity with him, then the one that is killed will certainly kill afterwards the slayer.

Ch 16 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हन्तारं हन्ति तं प्राप्य जननं जननान्तरे । जनकोऽस्य सुदुष्टात्मा येनासौ ते समर्पितः ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

His father, out of greed for money, is deprived of intellect and so has sold away his son. The Brāhmin is certainly very cruel and sinful. There is no doubt in this.

Ch 16 Verse 47-48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वात्मजो धनलोभेन पापाचारः सुदुर्मतिः । एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा यद्येकोऽपि गयां व्रजेत् ॥ ४७ ॥ यजेत चाश्वमेधेन नीलं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत् । देशमध्ये च यः कश्चित्पापकर्म समाचरेत् ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

When one goes to Gayā or one performs an Aśvamedha sacrifice or when one offers a blue bull (Nila Vṛṣabha), one does so on the consideration that one would desire to have many sons.

Ch 16 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

षष्ठांशस्तस्य पापस्य राजा भुङ्क्ते न संशयः । निषेधनीयो राज्ञासौ पापं कर्तुं समुद्यतः ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

Moreover the King has to suffer for one-sixth of the sins committed by anyone in his Kingdom. There is no doubt in this. Therefore the King ought certainly to prohibit any man when he wants to do a sinful act.

Ch 16 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न निषिद्धस्त्वया कस्मात्पुत्रं विक्रेतुमुद्यतः । सूर्यवंशे समुत्पन्नस्त्रिशङ्कुतनयः शुभः ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Why then did you not prevent this man when he desired to sell his son? O King! You are the son of Triśaṅku; especially you are born in the Solar line of Kings.

Ch 16 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

आर्यस्त्वनार्यवत्कर्म कर्तुमिच्छसि पार्थिव । मोचनान्मुनिपुत्रस्य करणाद्वचनस्य मे ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

So how have you desired, being born an Āryā, to do an act becoming an An-Āryā (non-aryan). If you take my word and quickly free this Brāhmin boy, you will certainly derive virtue in your body.

Ch 16 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तव देहे सुखं राजन् भविष्यत्यविचारणात् । पिता ते शापयोगेन चाण्डालत्वमुपागतः ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

Your father was converted into a Cāṇḍāla by a curse but I sent him in his very body to the Heavens.

Ch 16 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मयासौ तेन देहेन स्वर्लोकं प्रापितः किल । तेनैव प्रीतियोगेन कुरु मे वचनं नृप ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

And you are well acquainted with this fact. Therefore, O King! Keep my word out of your love for that. This boy is very pitifully crying; so free him.

Ch 16 Verse 54 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मुञ्चैनं बालकं दीनं रुदन्तं भृशमातुरम् । याचितोऽसि मया नूनं यज्ञेऽस्मिन् राजसूयके ॥ ५४ ॥

English Translation

I pray this from you in this your Rājasūya sacrifice and if you do not keep my word, you will iñcur the sin of not keeping my word.

Ch 16 Verse 55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रार्थनाभङ्गजं दोषं कथं त्वं नावबुध्यसे । प्रार्थितं सर्वदा देयं मखेऽस्मिन्नृपसत्तम ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

Do you not realise this? O King! You will have to give anything that a man wants from you in this sacrifice; but if you do otherwise, sin will attack you, no doubt.

Ch 16 Verse 56-58 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्यथा पापमेव स्यात्तव राजन्न संशयः । व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कौशिकस्य नृपोतमः ॥ ५६ ॥ प्रत्युवाच महाराज कौशिकं मुनिसत्तमम् । जलोदरेण गाधेय दुःखितोऽहं भृशं मुने ॥ ५७ ॥ तस्मान्न मोचयाम्येनमन्यत्प्रार्थय कौशिक । न त्वया विग्रहः कार्यः कार्येऽस्मिन्मम सर्वथा ॥ ५८ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing these words of Kauśika, the King Hariścandra spoke thus :-- O son of Gādhi! I am suffering very much from the dropsy; I will not be able therefore to free him. You can pray for some other thing. You ought not to throw obstacles in this my sacrifice.

Ch 16 Verse 59-60 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञो विश्वामित्रोऽतिकोपनः । बभूव दुःखसन्तप्तो वीक्ष्य दीनं द्विजात्मजम् ॥ ५९ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे यज्ञपशुभूतस्य ब्राह्मणपुत्रस्य वधकरणाय विश्वामित्रनिषेधवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.१६॥

English Translation

Viśvāmitra became very angry at this, and seeing the Brāhmin boy very distressed, became sorrowful and mourned very much. Here ends the Sixteenth Chapter in the Seventh Book on the story of Śunahśepha in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.