Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 7 • CHAPTER 22
Ch 22 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
७.२२ द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः । हरिश्चन्द्रस्य पत्नीपुत्रविक्रयवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच - स तया नोद्यमानस्तु राजा पत्न्या पुनः पुनः । प्राह भद्रे करोम्येष विक्रयं ते सुनिर्घृणः ॥ १ ॥ नृशंसैरपि यत्कर्तुं न शक्यं तत्करोम्यहम् । यदि ते भ्राजते वाणी वक्तुमीदृक्सुनिष्ठुरम् ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! When the Queen Madhavī requested repeatedly the King, He said :-- “O Good Auspicious One! When you have not met with any scruple to utter clearly these harsh and cruel words, I will do that act now which the most ruthless persons do not dare to do.”
Ch 22 Verse 3-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजा गत्वा नगरमातुरः । अवतार्य तदा रङ्गे तां भार्यां नृपसत्तमः । बाष्पगद्गदकण्ठस्तु ततो वचनमब्रवीत् । भो भो नागरिकाः सर्वे शृणुध्वं वचनं मम ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
Saying this, the King went with his wife, very distressed, to the city. Placing her on the public road, the King cried out in a voice choked with feelings and eyes full of tears :-- “O Citizens! Hear you all. Do any one of you require any maidservant?
Ch 22 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कस्यचिद्यदि कार्यं स्याद्दास्या प्राणेष्टया मम । स ब्रवीतु त्वरायुक्तो यावत्स्वं धारयाम्यहम् ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
This lady is dearer to me than my life. If any of you be able to offer price of her as I will declare, then let him give it out quickly.” The Pundits then said :-- “Who are you? Why are you come here to sell your wife?”
Ch 22 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तेऽब्रुवन्पण्डिताः कस्त्वं पत्नीं विक्रेतुमागतः । राजोवाच - किं मां पृच्छथ कस्त्वं भो नृशंसोऽहममानुषः ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
The King said :-- “Are you asking me of my introduction? Hear then; I am a heartless brute and not fit to be called a man; or I am a Rākṣasa; nay, I am more than that; I am prepared to do this sinful act.”
Ch 22 Verse 7-9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राक्षसो वास्मि कठिनस्ततः पापं करोम्यहम् । व्यास उवाच - तं शब्दं सहसा श्रुत्वा कौशिको विप्ररूपधृक् ॥ ७ ॥ वृद्धरूपं समास्थाय हरिश्चन्द्रमभाषत । समर्पयस्व मे दासीमहं क्रेता धनप्रदः ॥ ८ ॥ अस्ति मे वित्तमतुलं सुकुमारी च मे प्रिया । गृहकर्म न शक्नोति कर्तुमस्मात्प्रयच्छ मे ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing this, Kauśika suddenly assumed the form of an old man and came out and spoke to Hariścandra :-- I am master of boundless wealth; so I am able to give you the money you want; I am ready to purchase the maidservant by giving an equivalent wealth. Better give me the maidservant.
Ch 22 Verse 10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अहं गृह्णामि दासीं तु कति दास्यामि ते धनम् । एवमुक्ते तु विप्रेण हरिश्चन्द्रस्य भूपतेः ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
My wife is exceedingly delicate; she is unable to do all the household work; so let me have the maid. But say quickly what value am I to pay? When the Brāhmin spoke this, Hariścandra felt his heart, as it were, torn asunder; so he could not for the moment speak anything.
Ch 22 Verse 11-13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विदीर्णं तु मनो दुःखान्न चैनं किञ्चिदब्रवीत् । विप्र उवाच - कर्मणश्च वयोरूपशीलानां तव योषितः ॥ ११ ॥ अनुरूपमिदं वित्तं गृहाणार्पय मेऽबलाम् । धर्मशास्त्रेषु यद् दृष्टं स्त्रियो मौल्यं नरस्य च ॥ १२ ॥ द्वात्रिंशल्लक्षणोपेता दक्षा शीलगुणान्विता । कोटिमौल्यं सुवर्णस्य स्त्रियः पुंसस्तथार्बुदम् ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmaṇa said :-- Take an equivalent amount of money according to the age, beauty, qualifications and capabilities of your wife and hand her over to me. Hear about the prices of the male and female servants as written in the Dharma Śāstras :-- The price of a female servant clever, good, well-qualified and possessing thirty-two auspicious qualities is one Koṭi gold mohurs; and the male servant similarly qualified fetches one Arbuda gold mohurs.
Ch 22 Verse 14-15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इत्याकर्ण वचस्तस्य हरिश्चन्द्रो महीपतिः । दुःखेन महताऽऽविष्टो न चैनं किञ्चिदब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥ ततः स विप्रो नृपतेः पुरतो वल्कलोपरि । धनं निधाय केशेषु धृत्वा राज्ञीमकर्षयत् ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra became very much pained to hear the Brāhmin speaking thus; but he could not say anything. The Brāhmin then placed in front of the King the money over a bark and caught hold of the hair of the Queen and was ready to drag Her.
Ch 22 Verse 16-18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राज्ञ्युवाच - मुञ्च मुञ्चार्य मां सद्यो यावत्पश्याम्यहं सुतम् । दुर्लभं दर्शनं विप्र पुनरस्य भविष्यति ॥ १६ ॥ पश्येह पुत्र मामेवं मातरं दास्यतां गताम् । मां मास्प्राक्षी राजपुत्र न स्पृश्याहं त्वयाधुना ॥ १७ ॥ ततः स बालः सहसा दृष्ट्वाऽऽकृष्टां तु मातरम् । समभ्यधावदम्बेति वदन्साश्रुविलोचनः ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
The Queen said :-- “O Ārya! Let me see once the lotus-face of my son; leave me once. O Brāhmin! Please see that it will be hard for me again to see this boy. O Son! Behold! Your mother is now a slave. So, O Prince, do not touch me. I am not fit now to be touched by you.” The boy, then, seeing the mother suddenly snatched away, cried out, “O Mother! O Mother!” and followed her with tears in his eyes.
Ch 22 Verse 19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हस्ते वस्त्रं समाकर्षन् काकपक्षधरः स्खलन् । तमागतं द्विजः क्रोधाद् बालमप्याहनत्तदा ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
That boy tumbled at every step still he caught hold of the mother’s clothing by his hand and began to accompany her. The Brāhmin, seeing this behaviour of the boy, became impatient with anger and began to beat him. Still the boy wept, saying, “Mother! Mother!” and never quitted the hold of his mother.
Ch 22 Verse 20-21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वदंस्तथापि सोऽम्बेति नैव मुञ्चति मातरम् । राज्ञ्युवाच - प्रसादं कुरु मे नाथ क्रीणीष्वेमं हि बालकम् ॥ २० ॥ क्रीतापि नाहं भविता विनैनं कार्यसाधिका । इत्थं ममाल्पभाग्यायाः प्रसादं कुरु मे प्रभो ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
The Queen said :-- “O Lord! Have mercy on me and purchase this boy also. Though you are purchasing me, yet without this boy I will not be able to do your work. My fate is bad; therefore this calamity has happened. Shew this favour to me.”
Ch 22 Verse 22-23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ब्राह्मण उवाच - गृह्यतां वित्तमेतत्ते दीयतां मम बालकः । स्त्रीपुंसोर्धर्मशास्त्रज्ञैः कृतमेव हि वेतनम् ॥ २२ ॥ शतं सहस्रं लक्षं च कोटिमौल्यं तथापरैः । द्वात्रिंशल्लक्षणोपेता दक्षा शीलगुणान्विता ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
The Brāhmin said :-- Take this money and give me the boy too. For the Wise in the Dharma Śāstras fix such to be the prices of a female and a male. The other Pundits make differences in the prices, e.g., one hundred, one thousand, one lakh, one crore and so on, according to the different qualifications. But for the female, who is skilled in all actions, modest, of good behaviour, and well qualified and, on whose body the thirty-two auspicious signs are seen, her price is one Koṭi gold mohurs and for a man qualified, one Arbuda gold mohurs.
Ch 22 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कोटिमौल्यं स्त्रियः प्रोक्तं पुरुषस्य तथार्बुदम् । सूत उवाच - तथैव तस्य तद्वित्तं पुरः क्षिप्तं पटे पुनः ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- O King! The Brāhmin then gave over the price of the boy as decided, in gold mohurs in front of the King over a bark and then tied both the mother and son.
Ch 22 Verse 25-27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रगृह्य बालकं मात्रा सहैकस्थमबन्धयत् । प्रतस्थे स गृहं क्षिप्रं तया सह मुदान्वितः ॥ २५ ॥ प्रदक्षिणां तु सा कृत्वा जानुभ्यां प्रणता स्थिता । बाष्पपर्याकुला दीना त्विदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ २६ ॥ यदि दत्तं यदि हुतं ब्राह्मणास्तर्पिता यदि । तेन पुण्येन मे भर्ता हरिश्चन्द्रोऽस्तु वै पुनः ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
He, then, gladly and without any delay, carried them to his home. At the time of departure, the Queen circumambulated the King and, kneeling down, bowed down to him and, in that state of humility, began to speak :-- If ever I have done any charities, if ever I have poured oblations on the Fire, if ever I have satisfied the Brāhmins, then, by that virtue, Hariścandra will again be my husband.
Ch 22 Verse 28-29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पादयोः पतितां दृष्ट्वा प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम् । हाहेति च वदन् राजा विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः ॥ २८ ॥ वियुक्तेयं कथं जाता सत्यशीलगुणान्विता । वृक्षच्छायापि वृक्षं तं न जहाति कदाचन ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
Seeing his wife, dearer then his life, fallen on his feet, the King became very distracted and lamented, crying, “Alas! Alas! The shadow of a tree never leaves the tree; but you being verily modest and endowed with all qualifications, are now separated from me.”
Ch 22 Verse 30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं भार्यां वदित्वाथ सुसम्बद्धं परस्परम् । पुत्रं च तमुवाचेदं मां त्वं हित्वा क्व यास्यसि ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
Speaking thus reasonably with his wife, the King said to his son :-- “O Child! Where will you go, leaving me here?
Ch 22 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कां दिशं प्रति यास्यामि को मे दुःखं निवारयेत् । राज्यत्यागे न मे दुःखं वनवासे न मे द्विज ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
Where shall I go now? and who will stop my miseries?” The King, then, spoke to the Brāhmin :-- “O Brāhmin! The pain that I experience in the separation from my son, I did not feel on the occasion of quitting my kingdom or on my being exiled in a forest.
Ch 22 Verse 32-33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यत्पुत्रेण वियोगो मे एवमाह स भूपतिः । सद्भर्तृभोग्या हि सदा लोके भार्या भवन्ति हि ॥ ३२ ॥ मया त्यक्तासि कल्याणि दुःखेन विनियोजिता । इक्ष्वाकुवंशसम्भूतं सर्वराज्यसुखोचितम् ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
O Auspicious One! The husband, good natured in this world, nourishes always his wife and keeps her always in comfort and happiness. But I am such a bad husband of yours, as I have left you and made you float in the sea of sorrows. Born in the Ikṣāku family, I inherited the kingdom and its pleasures; but, Alas! Your getting such a husband has now been reduced to slavery!
Ch 22 Verse 34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मामीदृशां पतिं प्राप्य दासीभावं गता ह्यसि । ईदृशे मज्जमानं मां सुमहच्छोकसागरे ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
O Devī! I am merged in this ocean of sorrows and troubles. Who will rescue me, by narrating this story of the Purāṇas!”
Ch 22 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
को मामुद्धरते देवि पौराणाख्यानविस्तरैः । सूत उवाच - पश्यतस्तस्य राजर्षेः कशाघातैः सुदारुणैः ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- O King! The Brāhmin, then, began to take away the queen and the boy, whipping them, in the face of the King.
Ch 22 Verse 36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
घातयित्वा तु विप्रेशो नेतुं समुपचक्रमे । नीयमानौ तु तौ दृष्ट्वा भार्यापुत्रौ स पार्थिवः ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
Seeing his wife and son being dragged away in that state, the King’s pain knew no bounds and be frequently sighed and sighed and bitterly wept aloud.
Ch 22 Verse 37-38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विललापातिदुःखार्तो निःश्वस्योष्णं पुनः पुनः । यां न वायुर्न वाऽऽदित्यो न चन्द्रो न पृथ्ग्जनाः ॥ ३७ ॥ दृष्टवन्तः पुरा पत्नीं सेयं दासीत्वमागता । सूर्यवंशप्रसूतोऽयं सुकुमारकराङ्गुलिः ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
Alas! My dear wife, whom the Moon, the Sun, Wind or any other body could not see ere this, has become now reduced to slavery today! Oh! How beautiful and gentle are the fingers of my child? He has been sold off today, being born in the Solar Dynasty? Alas! Fie on my foolish understanding!
Ch 22 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सम्प्राप्तो विक्रयं बालो धिङ्मामस्तु सुदुर्मतिम् । हा प्रिये हा शिशो वत्स ममानार्यस्य दुर्नयः ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
Oh my Dear! Oh my child Rohitāśva! Your this wretched condition is due to my Anārya irrespectable bad maxims! Oh! Through the mockery of the Daiva, I have got this distress! Fie on Me!
Ch 22 Verse 40-41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दैवाधीनदशां प्राप्तो न मृतोऽस्मि तथापि धिक् । व्यास उवाच - एवं विलपितो राज्ञोऽग्रे विप्रोऽन्तरधीयत ॥ ४० ॥ वृक्षगेहादिभिस्तुङ्गैस्तावादाय त्वरान्वितः । अत्रान्तरे मुनिश्रेष्ठस्त्वाजगाम महातपाः ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- The King was lamenting thus when the Brāhmin disappeared with them, in the very tall trees and walls of palatial buildings. At this time the cruel fiendish Muni, endowed with great power of asceticism came there quickly, accompanied by his disciples.
Ch 22 Verse 42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सशिष्यः कौशिकेन्द्रोऽसौ निष्ठुरः क्रूरदर्शनः । विश्वामित्र उवाच- या त्वयोक्ता पुरा राजन् राजसूयस्य दक्षिणा ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
Viśvāmitra said :-- “O One of mighty arm! If you think it your duty to respect Truth, then pay me the Dakṣiṇā of Rājasūya sacrifice that you promised before.”
Ch 22 Verse 43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तां ददस्व महाबाहो यदि सत्यं पुरस्कृतम् । हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - नमस्करोमि राजर्षे गृहाणेमां स्वदक्षिणाम् ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra said :-- “O Rājarṣi! I bow down to Thee. O Sinless One! Now take the Dakṣiṇā of the Rājasūya Sacrifice that I promised to pay you before.”
Ch 22 Verse 44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजसूयस्य यागस्य या मयोक्ता पुरानघ । विश्वामित्र उवाच - कुतो लब्धमिदं द्रव्यं दक्षिणार्थे प्रदीयते ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
Viśvāmitra said :-- “O King! Whence have you collected these gold Mohurs that you are now paying me as my Dakṣiṇā. How have you earned this? Say.”
Ch 22 Verse 45 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतदाचक्ष्व राजेन्द्र यथा द्रव्यं त्वयार्जितम् । राजोवाच - किमनेन महाभाग कथितेन तवानघ ॥ ४५ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra said :-- “O Dvīja! O Sinless One! What use is there in telling this to you. It will increase agony by hearing. O One of good vows!”
Ch 22 Verse 46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शोकस्तु वर्धते विप्र श्रुतेनानेन सुव्रत । ऋषिरुवाच - अशस्तं नैव गृह्णामि शस्तमेव प्रयच्छ मे ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
Viśvāmitra said :-- “I won’t accept money earned not rightly. Give what you have acquired by rightful means. Say truly how you have acquired it.”
Ch 22 Verse 47-48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
द्रव्यस्यागमनं राजन् कथयस्व यथातथम् । राजोवाच - मया देवी तु सा भार्या विक्रीता कोटिसम्मितैः । निष्कैः पुत्रो रोहिताख्यो विक्रीतोऽर्बुदसङ्ख्यया । विप्रैकादशकोट्यस्त्वं सुवर्णस्य गृहाण मे ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra spoke :-- “O Brāhmin! I have sold my wife the Devī Madhavī for one Koṭi Gold Mohurs and my son for ten Koṭis of gold Mohurs. So take this eleven Kotī Gold Mohurs from me.”
Ch 22 Verse 49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सूत उवाच - तद्वित्तं स्वप्लमालक्ष्य दारविक्रयसम्भवम् । शोकाभिभूतं राजानं कुपितः कौशिकोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ४९ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- Seeing the gold collected out of the sale of wife and son very small, and seeing the King overpowered with pain and sorrow, Kauśika angrily spoke :--
Ch 22 Verse 50-52 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ऋषिरुवाच - राजसूयस्य यज्ञस्य नैषा भवति दक्षिणा । अन्यदुत्पादय क्षिप्रं सम्पूर्णा येन सा भवेत् ॥ ५० ॥ क्षत्रबन्धो ममेमां त्वं सदृशीं यदि दक्षिणाम् । मन्यसे तर्हि तत्क्षिप्रं पश्य त्वं मे परं बलम् ॥ ५१ ॥ तपसोऽस्य सुतप्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्यामलस्य च । मत्प्रभावस्य चोग्रस्य शुद्धस्याध्ययनस्य च ॥ ५२ ॥
English Translation
O King! The Dakṣiṇā of the Rājasūya Sacrifice cannot be so small; so collect quickly other money to complete it. O Vilest of Kṣattriyas! If you think this much to be proper for me, see first the enormous power of mine that I possess of my tapasyā, practised duly, of my pure Brāhmaṇyahood, of my violent power and of my chaste study and then you can pay my Dakṣiṇā.
Ch 22 Verse 53 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजोवाच - अन्यद्दास्यामि भगवन् कालः कश्चित्प्रतीक्ष्यताम् । अधुनैवास्ति विक्रीता पत्नी पुत्रश्च बालकः ॥ ५३ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra said :-- “O Bhagavān! I have sold just now my wife; and so wait for some time and I will collect more gold and will pay that to you.”
Ch 22 Verse 54 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्र उवाच - चतुर्भागः स्थितो योऽयं दिवसस्य नराधिप । एष एव प्रतीक्ष्यो मे वक्तव्यं नोत्तरं त्वया ॥ ५४ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्रस्य पत्नीपुत्रविक्रयवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.२२॥
English Translation
54. Viśvāmitra said :-- “O King! The fourth part of the day is now remaining; I will wait till then. After this you won’t expect any other reply from me.” Here ends the Twenty second Chapter of the Seventh Book on the selling of Hariścandra’s wife in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.