Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 7 • CHAPTER 19
Ch 19 Verse 1-2 Verse
७.१९ एकोनविंशोऽध्यायः । कौशिकाय सर्वस्वसमर्पणं तद्दक्षिणादानवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच - इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भूपतेः कौशिको मुनिः । प्रहस्य प्रत्युवाचेदं हरिश्चन्द्रं तथा नृप ॥ १ ॥ राजंस्तीर्थमिदं पुण्यं पावनं पापनाशनम् । स्नानं कुरु महाभाग पितॄणां तर्पणं तथा ॥ २ ॥
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing thus the words of the King Hariścandra, the Maharṣi Kauśika smilingly said :-- “O King! This Tīrath is very sacred; if one bathes here, one is cleansed of one’s sins and virtue springs up. So, highly fortunate One! Bathe in this and do peace-offerings (tarpaṇam) to your fathers.
Ch 19 Verse 3-4 Verse
कालः शुभतमोऽस्तीह तीर्थे स्नात्वा विशाम्पते । दानं ददस्व शक्त्यात्र पुण्यतीर्थेऽतिपावने ॥ ३ ॥ प्राप्य तीर्थं महापुण्यमस्नात्वा यस्तु गच्छति । स भवेदात्महा भूय इति स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ४ ॥
O King! This time is very auspicious and highly meritorious; so take a bath in this sacred Puṇya Tīrtha and make charities as far as it lies in your power. Svāyambhuva Manu says :-- He, who arriving at a tīrtha capable to give high merits (Puṇya), does not bathe and make charities, deceives himself; so he is the slayer of his soul, no doubt.
Ch 19 Verse 5-6 Verse
तस्मात्तीर्थवरे राजन् कुरु पुण्यं स्वशक्तितः । दर्शयिष्यामि मार्गं ते गन्तासि नगरं ततः ॥ ५ ॥ आगमिष्यामहं मार्गदर्शनार्थं तवानघ । त्वया सहाद्य काकुत्स्थ तव दानेन तोषितः ॥ ६ ॥
So, O King! Do meritorious acts as best as you can in this excellent tīrtha. Then I will shew you the way and you will go to Ayodhyā. O Kākutstha! Today I will be pleased with your gifts and I will accompany you to show you the way; this I have decided.”
Ch 19 Verse 7 Verse
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा मुनेः कपटमण्डितम् । वासांस्युत्तार्य विधिवत्स्नातुमभ्याययौ नदीम् ॥ ७ ॥
Hearing the deceitful words of the Maharṣi, the King took off his upper garments and tying the horse on to a tree, went towards the river to bathe according to due rites.
Ch 19 Verse 8-9 Verse
बन्धयित्वा हयं वृक्षे मुनिवाक्येन मोहितः । अवश्यम्भावियोगेन तद्वशस्तु तदाभवत् ॥ ८ ॥ राजा स्नानविधिं कृत्वा सन्तर्प्य पितृदेवताः । विश्वामित्रमुवाचेदं स्वामिन् दानं ददामि ते ॥ ९ ॥
O King! The accidental combination, that was to have been so (sure to come), so enchanted the King by the Muni’s words, that he got himself entirely under the control of the Muni. He duly completed his bath and offered peace offerings to the Devas and the Pitris and then spoke to Viśvāmitra. “O Lord! I am now making gifts to you.
Ch 19 Verse 10 Verse
यदिच्छसि महाभाग तत्ते दास्यामि साम्प्रतम् । गावो भूमिर्हिरण्यं च गजाश्वरथवाहनम् ॥ १० ॥
O Fortunate One! Cows, lands, jewels, elephants, horses, chariots or horses, etc., anything that you like I will give you just now. There is nothing that I cannot give.
Ch 19 Verse 11-12 Verse
नादेयं मे किमप्यस्ति कृतमेतद् व्रतं पुरा । राजसूये मखश्रेष्ठे मुनीनां सन्निधावपि ॥ ११ ॥ तस्मात्त्वमिह सम्प्ताप्तस्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्प्रवरे मुने । यत्तेऽस्ति वाञ्छितं ब्रूहि ददामि तव वाञ्छितम् ॥ १२ ॥
When I performed previously the Rājasūya sacrifice, I took, then, before all the Munis, this vow. So, O Muni! You are also present at this principal Tīrtha (place of pilgrimage); so express what you desire; I will give you your desired object.”
Ch 19 Verse 13-14 Verse
विश्वामित्र उवाच - मया पूर्वं श्रुता राजन् कीर्तिस्ते विपुला भुवि । वसिष्ठेन च सम्प्रोक्ता दाता नास्ति महीतले ॥ १३ ॥ हरिश्चन्द्रो नृपश्रेष्ठः सूर्यवंशे महीपतिः । तादृशो नृपतिर्दाता न भूतो न भविष्यति ॥ १४ ॥
Viśvāmitra said :-- “O King! Your glory is spread far and wide in this world; especially I have already heard that there is no second man charitable like you. The Muni Vaśiṣṭha has said :-- The King of the solar dynasty, the Triśaṅku’s son, Hariścandra is foremost and first amongst the kings in this world and there is no one so liberal-minded as he is; such a king there never was nor ever there will be.
Ch 19 Verse 15 Verse
पृथिव्यां परमोदारस्त्रिशङ्कुतनयो यथा । अतस्त्वां प्रार्थयाम्यद्य विवाहो मेऽस्ति पार्थिवः ॥ १५ ॥
So, O King! Now the marriage time of my son has arrived; so I pray before you today, that you give me wealth to celebrate this marriage.”
Ch 19 Verse 16 Verse
पुत्रस्य च महाभाग तदर्थं देहि मे धनम् । राजोवाच - विवाहं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र ददामि प्रार्थितं तव ॥ १६ ॥
The King said :-- “O Brāhmin! Yes! Celebrate the marriage ceremony; I will give you your desired wealth. What more can be said than this that whatever wealth you would want, I will give that abundantly. There is no doubt in this.”
Ch 19 Verse 17 Verse
यदिच्छसि धनं कामं दाता तस्यास्मि निश्चितम् । व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तः कौशिकस्तेन वञ्चनातत्परो मुनिः ॥ १७ ॥
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing these words of the King, the Muni Kauśika became ready to deceive him and originating the Gāndharbī Māyā, created a beautiful youth and one daughter aged ten years and showing them to the King, said, “The marriage of these two is to be celebrated today.
Ch 19 Verse 18 Verse
उद्भाव्य मायां गान्धर्वीं पार्थिवायाप्यदर्शयत् । कुमारः सुकामारश्च कन्या च दशवार्षिकी ॥ १८ ॥
O King! To marry the boys and the girls in the house-hold is to earn more merits than the Rājasūya sacrifice.
Ch 19 Verse 19 Verse
एतयोः कार्यमप्यद्य कर्तव्यं नृपसत्तम । राजसूयाधिकं पुण्यं गृहस्थस्य विवाहतः ॥ १९ ॥
So today you will get that desired fruit if you make charities for the marriage of this Brāhmin Youth.”
Ch 19 Verse 20 Verse
भविष्यति तवाद्यैव विप्रपुत्रविवाहतः । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा मायया तस्य मोहितः ॥ २० ॥
The King was much enchanted by his Māyā; so no sooner he heard those words, he immediately promised :-- “That will be done,” he did not raise any objection whatsoever.
Ch 19 Verse 21 Verse
तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय नोवाचाल्पं वचस्तथा । तेन दर्शितमार्गोऽसौ नगरं प्रति जग्मिवान् ॥ २१ ॥
Viśvāmitra then showed the way and the King went to his city. Viśvāmitra, too, thus deceiving the King, went back to his Āśrama.
Ch 19 Verse 22 Verse
विश्वामित्रोऽपि राजानं वञ्चयित्वाऽऽश्रमं ययौ । कृतोद्वाहविधिस्तावद्विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीन्नृपम् ॥ २२ ॥
When the King was staying in Agniśālā (cook-room), Viśvāmitra Muni went to him and said :-- “O King! The marriage rites have been finished; so today give me what I desire in this sacrificial hall.”
Ch 19 Verse 23-24 Verse
वेदीमध्ये नृपाद्य त्वं देहि दानं यथेप्सितम् । राजोवाच - किं तेऽभीष्टं द्विज ब्रूहि ददामि वाञ्छितं किल ॥ २३ ॥ अदेयमपि संसरे यशःकामोऽस्मि साम्प्रतम् । व्यर्थं हि जीवितं तस्य विभवं प्राप्य येन वै ॥ २४ ॥
The King said :-- “O Brāhmin! Speak out what you want; now I like to get fame. So if there be anything in the world, that is not to be given by me, if you want, I will give that even to you, no doubt. The mortal, possessing all wealth, if he does not earn good name and fame, capable to give happiness to him in his next world, passes his life in vain.”
Ch 19 Verse 25 Verse
नोपार्जितं यशः शुद्धं परलोकसुखप्रदम् । विश्वामित्र उवाच - राज्यं देहि महाराज वराय सपरिच्छदम् ॥ २५ ॥
Viśvāmitra said :-- “O King! Give to this bridegroom, while within this sacred sacrificial altar, your entire kingdom with the royal umbrella and Cāmara for fanning the king and elephants, horses, chariots, infantry and all the gems and jewels.”
Ch 19 Verse 26-33 Verse
गजाश्वरथरत्नाढ्यं वेदीमध्येऽतिपावने । व्यास उवाच - मोहितो मायया तस्य श्रुत्वा वाक्यं मुनेर्नृपः ॥ २६ ॥ दत्तमित्युक्तवान् राज्यमविचार्य यदृच्छया । गृहीतमिति तं प्राह विश्वामित्रोऽतिनिष्ठुरः ॥ २७ ॥ दक्षिणां देहि राजेन्द्र दानयोग्यां महामते । दक्षिणारहितं दानं निष्फलं मनुरब्रवीत् ॥ २८ ॥ तस्माद्दानफलाय त्वं यथोक्तां देहि दक्षिणाम् । इत्युक्तस्तु तदा राजा तमुवाचातिविस्मितः ॥ २९ ॥ ब्रूहि कियद्धनं तुभ्यं देयं स्वामिन् मयाधुना । दक्षिणानिष्क्रयं साधो वद तावत्प्रमाणकम् ॥ ३० ॥ दानपूर्त्यै प्रदास्यामि स्वस्थो भव तपोधन । विश्वामित्रस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा तमाह मेदिनीपतिम् ॥ ३१ ॥ हेमभारद्वयं सार्धं दक्षिणां देहि साम्प्रतम् । दास्यामीति प्रतिश्रुत्य तस्मै राजातिविस्मितः ॥ ३२ ॥ तदैव सैनिकास्तस्य वीक्षमाणाः समागताः । दृष्ट्वा महीपतिं व्यग्रं तुष्टुवुस्ते मुदान्विताः ॥ ३३ ॥
At this time, his soldiers who lost their road in quest of their king, came to him. They were very glad to see him; but, seeing him anxious, they began to praise him in great haste.
Ch 19 Verse 34 Verse
व्यास उवाच - श्रुत्वा तेषां वचो राजा नोक्त्वा किञ्चिच्छुभाशुभम् । चिन्तयन्स्वकृतं कर्म ययावन्तःपुरे ततः ॥ ३४ ॥
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing their words, the King did not say anything, good or bad; but thinking on his own doing entered into the zenana.
Ch 19 Verse 35 Verse
किं मया स्वीकृतं दानं सर्वस्वं यत्समर्पितम् । वञ्चितोऽहं द्विजेनात्र वने पाटच्चरैरिव ॥ ३५ ॥
Oh! What have I promised to give? I have made a gift of all that I have; I am cheated in this matter by the Muni like one robbed by a thief in a wilderness.
Ch 19 Verse 36 Verse
राज्यं सोपस्करं तस्मै मया सर्वं प्रतिश्रुतम् । भारद्वयं सुवर्णस्य सार्धं च दक्षिणा पुनः ॥ ३६ ॥
My whole dominion including my dress I have promised to give to him. Moreover I will have to pay besides two and a half loads of gold.
Ch 19 Verse 37-38 Verse
किं करोमि मतिर्भ्रष्टा न ज्ञातं कपटं मुनेः । प्रतारितोऽहं सहसा ब्राह्मणेन तपस्विना ॥ ३७ ॥ न जाने दैवकार्यं वै हा दैव किं भविष्यति । इति चिन्तापरो राजा गृहं प्राप्तोऽतिविह्वलः ॥ ३८ ॥
My brain seems to have been completely destroyed. What to do now? I did not know the cunningness of the Muni. Therefore I am cheated by this deceitful Brāhmin. It is next to impossible to understand the work of Daiva. Oh! My Fate! What will happen to me now? Very much bewildered the King entered in the interior of the palace.
Ch 19 Verse 39-40 Verse
पतिं चिन्तापरं दृष्त्वा राज्ञी पप्रच्छ कारणम् । किं प्रभो विमना भासि का चिन्ता ब्रूहि साम्प्रतम् ॥ ३९ ॥ वनात्पुत्रः समायातो राजसूयः कृतः पुरा । कस्माच्छोचसि राजेन्द्र शोकस्य कारणं वद ॥ ४० ॥
The queen seeing her husband immersed in cares, enquired into the cause, thus :-- “O Lord Why have you become so absent-minded? Kindly say what you are thinking now? O King! The son has come back from the forest before you completed your Rājasūya sacrifice; why then are you in grief now? Kindly speak out the cause of your sorrow.
Ch 19 Verse 41-43 Verse
नारातिर्विद्यते क्वापि बलवान्दुर्बलोऽपि वा । वरुणोऽपि सुसन्तुष्टः कृतकृत्योऽसि भूतले ॥ ४१ ॥ चिन्तया क्षीयते देहो नास्ति चिन्तासमा मृतिः । त्यज्यतां नृपशार्दूल स्वस्थो भव विचक्षण ॥ ४२ ॥ तन्निशम्य प्रियावाक्यं प्रीतिपूर्वं नराधिपः । प्रोवाच किञ्चिच्चिन्तायाः कारणं च शुभाशुभम् ॥ ४३ ॥
Nowhere is your enemy, strong or weak; only Varuṇa was angry with you; now he is also very satisfied. So there is nothing further for you to do to think. O King! Owing to cares, this body gets weaker and weaker day by day. So nothing is like cares to lead one to death.” When his dear wife said so, the King expressed to her somewhat the cause of his cares, good or bad.
Ch 19 Verse 44 Verse
भोजनं न चकाराऽसौ चिन्ताविष्टस्तथा नृपः । सुप्त्वापि शयने शुभ्रे लेभे निद्रां न भूमिपः ॥ ४४ ॥
But the King was much absorbed with his cares so that he could not eat nor sleep though his bedding was perfectly white and clear. Early in the next morning, when, getting up from his bed, he was doing anxiously his morning duties, Viśvāmitra came up there.
Ch 19 Verse 45-46 Verse
प्रातरुत्थाय चिन्तार्तो यावत्सन्ध्यादिकाः क्रियाः । करोति नृपतिस्तावद्विश्वामित्रः समागतः ॥ ४५ ॥ क्षत्रा निवेदितो राज्ञे मुनिः सर्वस्वहारकः । आगत्योवाच राजानं प्रणमन्तं पुनः पुनः ॥ ४६ ॥
When the sentinel informed the King of the arrival of Viśvāmitra, he gave order for him to enter. Viśvāmitra, the Looter of his all and everything, came before him and told the King who repeatedly bowed down to him :--
Ch 19 Verse 47 Verse
विश्वामित्र उवाच - राजंस्त्यज स्वराज्यं मे देहि वाचा प्रतिश्रुतम् । सुवर्णं स्पृश राजेन्द्र सत्यवाग्भव साम्प्रतम् ॥ ४७ ॥
:-- “O King! Now leave your kingdom and give me the gold that you promised as Dakṣiṇā and prove that you are truthful.”
Ch 19 Verse 48 Verse
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - स्वामिन् राज्यं तवेदं मे मया दत्तं किलाधुना । त्यक्त्वान्यत्र गमिष्यामि मा चिन्ता कुरु कौशिक ॥ ४८ ॥
Hariścandra said :-- “O Lord! I have given you this vast dominion of mine; so my Kingdom has now become yours; I am leaving this Kingdom and going to somewhere else.
Ch 19 Verse 49 Verse
सर्वस्वं मम ते ब्रह्मन् गृहीतं विधिवद्विभो । सुवर्णदक्षिणां दातुमशक्तोऽस्म्यधुना द्विज ॥ ४९ ॥
O Kauśika! You need not think a bit for this. O Brāhmaṇa! You have taken my all according to the technical rule; so now I am unable to give you Dakṣiṇā.
Ch 19 Verse 50-51 Verse
दानं ददामि ते तावद्यावन्मे स्याद्धनागमः । पुनश्चेत्कालयोगेन तदा दास्यामि दक्षिणाम् ॥ ५० ॥ इत्युक्त्वा नृपतिः प्राह पुत्रं भार्यां च माधवीम् । राज्यमस्मै प्रदत्तं वै मया वेद्यां सुविस्तरम् ॥ ५१ ॥
If, in time, wealth comes to me, I will at once give you your Dakṣiṇā.” Saying him thus, the King told his wife Śaivyā, and his son Rohita, “In this Agnihotra room I say that I have given my vast dominion to the Muni Viśvāmitra.
Ch 19 Verse 52-53 Verse
हस्त्यश्वरथसंयुक्तं रत्नहेमसमन्वितम् । त्यक्त्वा त्रीणि शरीराणि सर्वं चास्मै समर्पितम् ॥ ५२ ॥ त्यक्त्वायोध्यां गमिष्यामि कुत्रचिद्वनगह्वरे गृह्णात्विदं मुनिः सम्यग्राज्यं सर्वसमृद्धिमत् ॥ ५३ ॥
Elephants, horses, chariots, gold and jewels all I have given to him along with my kingdom. What more than this that save us three, everything else I have given to him. O Maharṣi! Take fully this prosperous dominion; we are going somewhere else to a forest or a mountain cave.”
Ch 19 Verse 54 Verse
इत्याभाष्य सुतं भार्यां हरिश्चन्द्रः स्वमन्दिरात् । विनिर्गतः सुधर्मात्मा मानयंस्तं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥ ५४ ॥
The exceedingly virtuous Hariścandra spoke thus to his wife and son, and, paying respects to the Muni, went out from his house.
Ch 19 Verse 55 Verse
व्रजन्तं भूपतिं वीक्ष्य भार्यापुत्रावुभावपि । चिन्तातुरौ सुदीनास्यौ जग्मतुः पृष्ठतस्तदा ॥ ५५ ॥
Seeing the King going thus away, his wife and son, afflicted with cares, followed him with their sad faces.
Ch 19 Verse 56 Verse
हाहाकारो महानासीन्नगरे वीक्ष्य तांस्तथा । चुक्रुशुः प्राणिनः सर्वे साकेतपुरवासिनः ॥ ५६ ॥
Seeing thus, all the inhabitants of Ayodhyā cried aloud, and great consternation and uproar arose in the city.
Ch 19 Verse 57 Verse
हा राजन् किं कृतं कर्म कुतः क्लेशः समागतः । वञ्चितोऽसि महाराज विधिनापण्डितेन ह ॥ ५७ ॥
O King! What is this act that you have done? How has this suffering come to you! O King! The great Fate, without any consideration, has certainly deceived you.
Ch 19 Verse 58 Verse
सर्वे वर्णास्तदा दुःखमाप्नुयुस्तं महीपतिम् । विलोक्य भार्यया सार्धं पुत्रेण च महात्मना ॥ ५८ ॥
The Brāhmaṇas, Kśattriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras, all the four Varṇas gave vent to their sorrows, when they saw the King going away with his wife and son.
Ch 19 Verse 59-60 Verse
निनिन्दुर्ब्राह्मणं तं तु दुराचारं पुरौकसः । धूर्तोऽयमिति भाषन्तो दुःखार्ता ब्राह्मणादयः ॥ ५९ ॥ निर्गत्य नगरात्तस्माद्विश्वामित्रः क्षितीश्वरम् । गच्छन्तं तमुवाचेदं समेत्य निष्ठुरं वचः ॥ ६० ॥
The Brāhmins and the other inhabitants of the city, all were afflicted with sorrows and began to abuse the vicious Brāhmaṇa saying that “He is a cheat, etc.”
Ch 19 Verse 61 Verse
दक्षिणायाः सुवर्णं मे दत्त्वा गच्छ नराधिप । नाहं दास्यामि वा ब्रूहि मया त्यक्तं सुवर्णकम् ॥ ६१ ॥
O King! Give the gold for Dakṣiṇā and then go; or say that you will not be able to give and I will then not take the Dakṣiṇā.
Ch 19 Verse 62 Verse
राज्यं गृहाण वा सर्वं लोभश्चेद्धृति वर्तते । दत्तं चेन्मन्यसे राजन् देहि यत्तत्प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥ ६२ ॥
Or if you entertain within yourself any greed, then take back all your Kingdom. O King! If you think that you have really made this gift, then give what you have promised.
Ch 19 Verse 63 Verse
एवं ब्रुवन्तं गाधेयं हरिश्चन्द्रो महीपतिः । प्रणिपत्य सुदीनात्मा कृताञ्जलिपुटोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ६३ ॥
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे कौशिकाय सर्वस्वसमर्पणं तद्दक्षिणादानवर्णनं नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.१९॥
The son of Gādhi was saying so, when the King Hariścandra very humbly bowed down to him with folded palms and said to him. Here ends the Nineteenth Chapter of the Seventh Book on the taking away of Hariścandra’s Kingdom in the Mahā Purāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.