Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 7 • CHAPTER 23
Ch 23 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
७.२३ त्रयोविंशोऽध्यायः । हरिश्चन्द्रोपाख्यानवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच - तमेवमुक्त्वा राजानं निर्घृणं निष्ठुरं वचः । तदादाय धनं पूर्णं कुपितः कौशिको ययौ ॥ १ ॥ विश्वामित्रे गते राजा ततः शोकमुपागतः । श्वासोच्छ्वासं मुहुः कृत्वा प्रोवाचोच्चैरधोमुखः ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Speaking these harsh and cruel words to the King, the Muni took that money and went away. When Viśvāmitra went away, the King Hariścandra became very much perplexed with sorrows and sighed frequently. He then began to say with his face bent downwards.
Ch 23 Verse 3 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वित्तक्रीतेन यस्यार्तिर्मया प्रेतेन गच्छति । स ब्रवीतु त्वरायुक्तो यामे तिष्ठति भास्करः ॥ ३ ॥
English Translation
“Suffering from constant pain and troubles, I am now turned into a Preta; if anybody finds me serviceable, he may purchase me with value in gold as proper; but he should do this quickly before the sun sets.”
Ch 23 Verse 4-5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अथाजगाम त्वरितो धर्मश्चाण्डालरूपधृक् । दुर्गन्धो विकृतोरस्कः श्मश्रुलो दन्तुरोऽघृणी ॥ ४ ॥ कृष्णो लम्बोदरः स्निग्धः करालः पुरुषाधमः । हस्तजर्जरयष्टिश्च शवमाल्यैरलङ्कृतः ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
Dharma, then, assuming the form of a heartless Cāṇḍāla, came there quickly to test Hariścandra. The body of that low mean person was of a black colour, his air looking ferocious, his belly elongated, body emitting stench odours, teeth very long, and his face, covered with beards. He had one bamboo in his hand; in his neck, the bones of the dead were hanging and his chest was very distorted.
Ch 23 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चाण्डाल उवाच - अहं गृह्णामि दासत्वे भृत्यार्थः सुमहान्मम । क्षिप्रमाचक्ष्व मौल्यं किमेतत्ते सम्प्रदीयते ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
The Cāṇḍāla said :-- “I am in urgent need of a servant; I will keep you as my slave; say, then, quickly what is your price?”
Ch 23 Verse 7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - तं तादृशमथालक्ष्य क्रूरदृष्टिं सुनिर्घृणम् । वदन्तमतिदुःशीलं कस्त्वमित्याह पार्थिवः ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! When the cruel, extremely ferocious and heartless Cāṇḍāla said thus, the King Hariścandra was surprised to see his appearance and said :-- “Who are you?”
Ch 23 Verse 8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चाण्डाल उवाच - चाण्डालोऽहमिह ख्यातः प्रवीरेति नृपोत्तम । शासने सर्वदा तिष्ठ मृतचैलापहारकः ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
The Cāṇḍāla said :-- “O King! I am the famous Cāṇḍāla, Pravīra; you will have to remain always subject to me and to collect the clothes of the dead persons.”
Ch 23 Verse 9-10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवमुक्तस्तदा राजा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् । ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वापि गृह्णात्विति मतिर्मम ॥ ९ ॥ उत्तमस्योत्तमो धर्मो मध्यमस्य च मध्यमः । अधमस्याधमश्चैव इति प्राहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
Hearing his word, the King said, “I want to be purchased by a Brāhmin or a Kṣattriya. See! The sages say, that the Dharma of good people is excellent; the Dharma of the persons intermediate is middling; and the Dharma of the mean is depressing. You belong to the low and mean class. So my Dharma cannot be observed if I remain in your house.”
Ch 23 Verse 11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चाण्डाल उवाच । एवमेव त्वया धर्मः कथितो नृपसत्तम । अविचार्य त्वया राजन्नधुनोक्तं ममाग्रतः ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
The Cāṇḍāla said :-- “O King! This is the Dharma of yours now mentioned by you; then why did you mention that anybody can purchase you; without any previous consideration, you spoke before me.
Ch 23 Verse 12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विचारयित्वा यो ब्रूते सोऽभीष्टं लभते नरः । सामान्यमेव तत्प्रोक्तमविचार्य त्वयानघ ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
He who speaks with preconsideration attains his desired object; but, O Sinless One! You did not consider and you spoke that ordinarily. However, if I take your words that you spoke first to be true, then you are no doubt, purchased by me.”
Ch 23 Verse 13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यदि सत्यं प्रमाणं ते गृहीतोऽसि न संशयः । हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - असत्यान्नरके गच्छेत्सद्यः क्रूरे नराधमः ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra said :-- The villain that speaks untruth, goes downright to a terrible hell; so to become a Cāṇḍāla is far better for me than to use an untrue word.
Ch 23 Verse 14-15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ततश्चाण्डालता साध्वी न वरा मे ह्यसत्यता । व्यास उवाच - तस्यैवं वदतः प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रस्तपोनिधिः ॥ १४ ॥ क्रोधामर्षविवृत्ताक्षः प्राह चेदं नराधिपम् । चाण्डालोऽयं मनस्थं ते दातुं वित्तमुपस्थितः ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! When the King was speaking thus, the ascetic Viśvāmitra arrived there out of anger and impatience; he rolled his eyes and said :-- This Cāṇḍāla is come to give you your desired money; why, then, are you not giving me the remnant of my Dakṣiṇā!
Ch 23 Verse 16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कस्मान्न दीयते मह्यमशेषा यज्ञदक्षिणा । राजोवाच - भगवन्सूर्यवंशोत्थमात्मानं वेद्मि कौशिक ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra said :-- “O Kauśika! Nothing is unknown to you. My this body is born for the Solar Line; how then can I accept this slavery of a Cāṇḍāla!”
Ch 23 Verse 17-20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथं चाण्डालदासत्वं गमिष्ये वित्तकामतः । विश्वामित्र उवाच - यदि चाण्डालवित्तं त्वमात्मविक्रयजं मम ॥ १७ ॥ न प्रदास्यसि चेत्तर्हि शप्स्यामि त्वामसंशयम् । चाण्डालादथवा विप्राद्देहि मे दक्षिणाधनम् ॥ १८ ॥ विना चाण्डालमधुना नान्यः कश्चिद्धनप्रदः । धनेनाहं विना राजन्न यास्यामि न संशयः ॥ १९ ॥ इदानीमेव मे वित्तं न प्रदास्यसि चेन्नृप । दिनेऽर्धघटिकाशेषे तत्त्वां शापाग्निना दहे ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
Viśvāmitra said :-- If you do not sell yourself to a Cāṇḍāla, be certain that I will just now put you under my curse. Give me immediately my Dakṣiṇā, be it whether from a Cāṇḍāla or from a Brāhmaṇa. There is no other purchaser at present than this Cāṇḍāla. But know this as certain that I won’t go back until I get my money. O King! If you do not give me money just now, then when half the Ghatikā of the day is remaining, I will burn you up by my fire of anger.
Ch 23 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - हरिश्चन्द्रस्ततो राजा मृत्ववच्छ्रितजीवितः । प्रसीदेति वदन्पादौ ऋषेर्जग्राह विह्वलः ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing these words of Viśvāmitra, the King became almost dead; bewildered with fear, then he clasped the feet of the Ṛṣi and said, “Be friendly, please.”
Ch 23 Verse 22-23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - दासोऽस्म्यार्तोऽस्मि दीनोऽस्मि त्वद्भक्तश्च विशेषतः । प्रसादं कुरु विप्रर्षे कष्टश्चाण्डालसङ्करः ॥ २२ ॥ भवेयं वित्तशेषेण तव कर्मकरो वशः । तवैव मुनिशार्दूल प्रेष्यश्चित्तानुवर्तकः ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
Harisācranda said :-- “O Viprarṣi! I am now very humiliated and have become very afflicted and distressed. Especially I am your Bhakta, I am your servant; so be graciously pleased and free me from this painful companion of a Cāṇḍāla. O Muni! In lieu of my remnant Dakṣiṇā, I will be your obedient slave; I will do your work and follow your commands.”
Ch 23 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्र उवाच - एवमस्तु महाराज ममैव भव किङ्करः । किन्तु मद्वचनं कार्यं सर्वदैव नराधिप ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Visvamitra said :-- “O King! You are then my slave, you will obey always my commands.”
Ch 23 Verse 25-26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - एवमुक्तेऽथ वचने राजा हर्षसमन्वितः । अमन्यत पुनर्जातमात्मानं प्राह कौशिकम् ॥ २५ ॥ तवादेशं करिष्यामि सदैवाहं न संशयः । आदेशय द्विजश्रेष्ठ किं करोमि तवानघ ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! When Viśvāmitra said so, the King, out of joy, thought that he regained his life and said to Kauśika. Always I will obey your words; now order me what work I will have to do.
Ch 23 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्र उवाच - चाण्डालागच्छ मद्दासमौल्यं किं मे प्रयच्छसि । गृहाण दासं मौल्येन मया दत्तं तवाधुना ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
Viśvāmitra, then addressed the Cāṇḍāla and said :-- “O Cāṇḍāla! Come to me and give me the price for this slave. I am now handing this slave over to you; give me the price and take him. I want money; I have no need for a servant.”
Ch 23 Verse 28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नास्ति दासेन मे कार्यं वित्ताशा वर्तते मम । व्यास उवाच - एवमुक्ते तदा तेन स्वपचो हृष्टमानसः ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! When Viśvāmitra spoke thus, the Cāṇḍāla, overflowed with joy, came immediately to the Ṛṣi Viśvāmitra and said :--
Ch 23 Verse 29-30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आगत्य सन्निधौ तूर्णं विश्वामित्रमभाषत । चाण्डाल उवाच - दशयोजनविस्तीर्णे प्रयागस्य च मण्डले ॥ २९ ॥ भूमिं रत्नमयीं कृत्वा दास्ये तेऽहं द्विजोत्तम । अस्य विक्रयणेनेयमार्तिश्च प्रहता त्वया ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
O Dvīja! The relief that you have given me by selling this servant, for that I will give you the ten Yoyanas wide land of Prayāga Maṇḍalam, covered over with jewels.
Ch 23 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - ततो रत्नसहस्राणि सुवर्णमणिमौक्तिकैः । चाण्डालेन प्रदत्तानि जग्राह द्विजसत्तमः ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! The Cāṇḍāla then gave one thousand gems, one thousand jewels, one thousand pearls and one thousand gold Mohurs and Viśvāmitra took them. No signs of distraction nor unpleasantness were visible on the face of the King Hariścandra. Rather he laid hold of his patience and thought within himself,
Ch 23 Verse 32-34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हरिश्चन्द्रस्तथा राजा निर्विकारमुखोऽभवत् । अमन्यत तथा धैर्याद्विश्वामित्रो हि मे पतिः ॥ ३२ ॥ तत्तदेव मया कार्यं यदयं कारयिष्यति । अथान्तरिक्षे सहसा वागुवाचाशरीरिणी ॥ ३३ ॥ अनृणोऽसि महाभाग दत्ता सा दक्षिणा त्वया । ततो दिवः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात नृपमूर्धनि ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
“Viśvāmitra is now my master; I will do any work that he puts me in.” At this time, the incorporeal voice, the voice of the fourth dimensional space, sounded from the Heavens :-- “O Fortunate One! You are freed from the Dakṣiṇā, the debt before that you promised to give me.” A shower of flowers fell on the head of the King from the Heavens.
Ch 23 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
साधु साध्विति तं देवाः प्रोचुः सेन्द्रा महौजसः । हर्षेण महताऽऽविष्टो राजा कौशिकमब्रवीत् ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
At this time the powerful Indra and the other hosts of the Devas praised the King, saying :-- “Sādhu! Sādhu! Well-done, Well-done.” The heart of the King was then filled with intense joy and the King then said to Kauśika :--
Ch 23 Verse 36-37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
राजोवाच - त्वं हि माता पिता चैव त्वं हि बन्धुर्महामते । यदर्थं मोचितोऽहं ते क्षणाच्चैवानृणीकृतः ॥ ३६ ॥ किं करोमि महाबाहो श्रेयो मे वचनं तव । एवमुक्ते तु वचने नृपं मुनिरभाषत ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
O Intelligent One! You are a greater benefactor to me than my father, mother and friend as you have freed me in a moment from my debts. So, O mighty armed one! Your words are beneficial to me. Now order what am I to do.
Ch 23 Verse 38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्र उवाच - चाण्डालवचनं कार्यमद्यप्रभृति ते नृप । स्वस्ति तेऽस्विति तं प्रोच्य तदादाय धनं ययौ ॥ ३८ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्रोपाख्यानवर्णनं नाम त्रयोविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.२३॥
English Translation
When the King said so, Viśvāmitra then said :-- Go and observe from today the words of the Cāṇḍāla. Let good befall on you! Thus saying, the Maharṣi Viśvāmitra took the money given by the Cāṇḍāla and went away to his own place. Here ends the Twenty-third Chapter of the Seventh Book on the King Hariścandra’s acknowledging of the slavery of the Cāṇḍāla in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.