Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 7 • CHAPTER 27
Ch 27 Verse 1 Verse
Sanskrit Text
७.२७ सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः । हरिश्चन्द्राख्यानश्रवणफलवर्णनम् । सूत उवाच - ततः कृत्वा चितां राजा आरोप्य तनयं स्वकम् । भार्यया सहितो राजा बद्धाञ्जलिपुटस्तदा ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- The King Hariścandra then prepared the funeral pile and placed his son on it. Next he and his wife with folded palms merged themselves in the meditation of the Parameśvarī, the Lady of of the Universe.
Ch 27 Verse 2-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चिन्तयन्परमेशानीं शताक्षीं जगदीश्वरीम् । पञ्चकोशान्तरगतां पुच्छब्रह्मस्वरूपिणीम् ॥ २ ॥ रक्ताम्बरपरीधानां करुणारससागरम् । नानायुधधरामम्बां जगत्पालनतत्पराम् ॥ ३ ॥ तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । धर्मं प्रमुखतः कृत्वा समाजग्मुस्त्वरान्विताः ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
That Hundred-eyed is reigning within these five Koṣas (or sheaths) Annamaya, etc. She resides in the sacral plexus of the nature of Brāhmaṇ, of the Puruṣa composed of Anna and Rasa. And She is the Ocean of Mercy. Wearing the red robe, She is ever ready with various weapons in Her hands for the preservation of the Universe. When the King was engaged thus in meditating on Her, Indra and all the Devas with Dharma in their front came to the King Hariścandra with no delay. They all coming up said to the King :-- “O King! Hear.
Ch 27 Verse 5-7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
आगत्य सर्वे प्रोचुस्ते राजञ्छ्रुणु महाप्रभो । अहं पितामहः साक्षाद्धर्मश्च भवगान्स्वयम् ॥ ५ ॥ साध्याः सविश्वे मरुतो लोकपालाः सचारणाः । नागाः सिद्धाः सगन्धर्वा रुद्राश्चैव तथाश्विनौ ॥ ६ ॥ एते चान्येऽथ बहवो विश्वामित्रस्तथैव च । विश्वत्रयेण यो मैत्रीं कर्तुमिच्छति धर्मतः ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
I am the Grand Sire and here are present Dharma Himself, the Bhagavān Viṣṇu, the Sādhyas, Viśvadevās, Maruts, the Lokapālas, the Cāraṇas, the Nāgas, the Gandharbas, Siddhas, Rudras, the twin Aśvins, and all the other Devas and Viśvāmitra himself. Viśvāmitra, who going ever the three worlds wishes to make friendship according to the law ordained by Dharma, is now himself desirous to grant you your desired objects.”
Ch 27 Verse 8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विश्वामित्रः स तेऽभीष्टमाहर्तुं सम्यगिच्छति । धर्म उवाच - मा राजन् साहसं कार्षीर्धर्मोऽहं त्वामुपागतः ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
Dharma said :-- “O King! Do not risk such an hazardous undertaking. I am Dharma; I am satisfied with your patience and forbearance, control of your senses, and the other Sāttvic qualities and have therefore come to you.”
Ch 27 Verse 9-10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तितिक्षादमसत्त्वाद्यैस्त्वद्गुणैः परितोषितः । इन्द्र उवाच - हरिश्चन्द्र महाभाग प्राप्तः शक्रोऽस्मि तेऽन्तिकम् ॥ ९ ॥ त्वयाद्य भार्यापुत्रेण जिता लोकाः सनातनाः । आरोह त्रिदिवं राजन् भार्यापुत्रसमन्वितः ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
Indra said :-- “O Hariścandra! I have also come to you. So your good fortune knows no bounds today. You with your wife and son have conquered the Eternal World. O King! What is hardly attainable by any human being, you have conquered that, by dint of your own merits. So get up to the Heavens (vibrations of the Fourth-dimensional Space) with your wife and son.”
Ch 27 Verse 11-12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सुदुष्प्रापं नरैरन्यैर्जितमात्मीयकर्मभिः । सूत उवाच - ततोऽमृतमयं वर्षमपमृत्युविनाशनम् ॥ ११ ॥ इन्द्रः प्रासृजदाकाशाच्चितामध्यगते शिशौ । पुष्पवृष्टिश्च महती दुन्दुभिस्वन एव च ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- Indra then sprinkled over the dead son on the funeral piles, the nectar, destroying the fatal effect produced by unnatural death. At that time big showers of flowers were thrown on him and Dundubhis were sounded.
Ch 27 Verse 13-14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
समुत्तस्थौ मृतः पुत्रो राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः । सुकुमारतनुः स्वस्थः प्रसन्नः प्रीतमानसः ॥ १३ ॥ ततो राजा हरिश्चन्द्रः परिष्वज्य सुतं तदा । सभार्यः स्वश्रिया युक्तो दिव्यमालाम्बरावृतः ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
In the meanwhile, the prince got up from the funeral pile. He got back his former beautiful body and he looked peaceful, healthy, and greatly satisfied. Hariścandra embraced his son instantly in his bosom; the King and Queen also both regained their former beautiful appearance at that time and were decked with clothes and garlands.
Ch 27 Verse 15-16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
बभूव तत्क्षणादिन्द्रो भूपं चैवमभाषत ॥ १५ ॥ सभार्यस्त्वं सपुत्रश्च स्वर्लोकं सद्गतिं पराम् । समारोह महाभाग निजानां कर्मणां फलम् ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
Their hearts were then deeply filled with great joy at their getting back their desired object and their health. Indra then said to the King :-- “O Highly Fortunate One! Now ascend to the Heavens with your son and wife, by dint of your meritorious deeds and get the holy happy ends of your endeavours.”
Ch 27 Verse 17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - देवराजाननुज्ञातः स्वामिना श्वपचेन हि । अकृत्वा निष्कृतिं तस्य नारोक्ष्ये वै सुरालयम् ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra said :-- “O King of the Devas! The Cāṇḍāla is my master; so until I get freedom from his bondage, I cannot go to the Heavens without his permission.”
Ch 27 Verse 18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धर्म उवाच - तवैवं भाविनं क्लेशमवगम्यात्ममायया । आत्मा श्वपचतां नीतो दर्शितं तच्च पक्कणम् ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
Dharma said :-- I am myself that Cāṇḍāla and had assumed that form and shewed you the city of the Cāṇḍālas. Knowing that you will suffer.
Ch 27 Verse 19 Verse
Sanskrit Text
इन्द्र उवाच - प्रार्थ्यते यत्परं स्थानं समस्तैर्मनुजैर्भुवि । तदारोह हरिश्चन्द्र स्थानं पुण्यकृतां नृणाम् ॥ १९ ॥
English Translation
What more than this, that I myself am that very Cāṇḍāla, I am that very Brāhmin and I am that very poisonous serpent who had smitten your boy. [Note: This is all the one and the same the Fourth Dimensional Space. ] Indra said :-- Hariścandra! Now get up, by virtue of your own meritorious deeds to that place which is highly covetted by all the human beings that exist on earth.
Ch 27 Verse 20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - देवराज नमस्तुभ्यं वाक्यं चेदं निबोध मे । मच्छोकमग्नमनसः कौसले नगरे नराः ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
Hariścandra said :-- “O King of the Devas! I bow down to you. Kindly consider what I say now. All the inhabitants of the city Kośala are in mourning, due to their being separated from me.
Ch 27 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तिष्ठन्ति तानपास्यैवं कथं यास्याम्यहं दिवम् । ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं गोवधः स्त्रीवधस्तथा ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
How then, can I go to the Heavens leaving my sorrow-stricken subjects here. To abandon the Bhaktas, the devotees, is to iñcur the great sin due to the murder of a Brāhmin, the killing of a woman, the drinking of liquors and the killing of a cow.
Ch 27 Verse 22-23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तुल्यमेभिर्महत्पापं भक्तत्यागादुदाहृतम् । भजन्तं भक्तमत्याज्यं त्यजतः स्यात्कथं सुखम् ॥ २२ ॥ तैर्विना न प्रयास्यामि तस्माच्छक्र दिवं व्रज । यदि ते सहिताः स्वर्गं मया यान्ति सुरेश्वर ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
O Indra! It is highly inadvisable to abandon a Bhakta who is always in service. How can one be happy when one abandons such devotees. So I will not go to the Heavens without them. You better go back to the Heavens. O Lord of the Devas! If my subjects can go with me, I am ready to go with them to the Heavens or to the Hell.”
Ch 27 Verse 24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ततोऽहमपि यास्यामि नरकं वापि तैः सह । इन्द्र उवाच - बहूनि पुण्यपापानि तेषां भिन्नानि वै नृप ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Indra said :-- “O King! Some of them are more sinful, some are more meritorious; different grades of people exist there. So, O King! How can you desire all to go simultaneously to the Heavens.”
Ch 27 Verse 25-26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथं सङ्घातभोज्यं त्वं भूप स्वर्गमभीप्ससि । हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - भुङ्क्ते शक्र नृपो राज्यं प्रभावात्प्रकृतेध्रुवम् ॥ २५ ॥ यजते च महायज्ञैः कर्म पूर्तं करोति च । तच्च तेषां प्रभावेण मया सर्वमनुष्ठितम् ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
said :-- “O Indra! It is through the power of the citizens that the Kings enjoy their kingdoms, perform great many sacrifices, and do many engineering works (in excavating tanks, etc.) There is no doubt in this. So I, too, have done religious acts and sacrifices through my citizenś help. They gave me all the articles necessary for kings. So how can I now quit them so that I may get the Heavens.
Ch 27 Verse 27-28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उपदादान्न सन्त्यक्ष्ये तानहं स्वर्गलिप्सया । तस्माद्यन्मम देवेश किञ्चिदस्ति सुचेष्टितम् ॥ २७ ॥ दत्तमिष्टमथो जप्तं सामान्यं तैस्तदस्तु नः । बहुकालोपभोज्यं च फलं यन्मम कर्मगम् ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
O Lord of the Devas! If my subjects have no such Puṇyams as to enable them to go up to the Heavens, then let the Puṇyams done by me in giving away charities, in the performance of sacrifices, and other meritorious works be divided amongst them equally. If I myself enjoy Śvarga for a very long time; but, if by your favour, I can enjoy with them even one day’s residence in Śvarga for my merits, that is also superior to me.”
Ch 27 Verse 29-30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदस्तु दिनमप्येकं तैः समं त्वप्रसादतः । सूत उवाच - एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा शक्रस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः ॥ २९ ॥ प्रसन्नचेता धर्मश्च विश्वामित्रश्च गाधिजः । गत्वा तु नगरं सर्वे चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकुलम् ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- “Let that be;” saying thus Indra, the Lord of the three worlds, Viśvāmitra, and Dharma who were very pleased went immediately to Ayodhyā from Kāṣ’ī by their yogic power. In an instant they reached Ayodhyā, filled with the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣattriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras; and Indra exclaimed to them all :-- “Let all the citizens come before Hariścandra, without any delay.
Ch 27 Verse 31-32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हरिश्चन्द्रस्य निकटे प्रोवाच विबुधाधिपः । आगच्छन्तु जनाः शीघ्रं स्वर्गलोकं सुदुर्लभम् ॥ ३१ ॥ धर्मप्रसादात्सम्प्राप्तं सर्वैर्युष्माभिरेव तु । हरिश्चन्द्रोऽपि तान्सर्वाञ्जनान्नगरवासिनः ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
Today they all will go to the Heavens by virtue of the Puṇyams of Hariścandra.” Thus saying, they took all the men to Hariścandra. Then that religious King told his subjects, “Let you all now ascend with me to the Heavens.”
Ch 27 Verse 33-34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्राह राजा धर्मपरो दिवमारुह्यतामिति । सूत उवाच - तदिन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रीतास्तस्य च भूपतेः ॥ ३३ ॥ ये संसारेषु निर्विण्णास्ते धुरं स्वसुतेषु वै । कृत्वा प्रहृष्टमनसो दिवमारुरुहुर्जनाः ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- Hearing these words of Indra and their King, they all became very glad. Then those who were engaged in their worldly desires, they handed over the charge of their worldly concerns to their own sons, gladly became ready to go up to the Heavens.
Ch 27 Verse 35-37 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विमानवरमारूढाः सर्वे भास्वरविग्रहाः । तदा सम्भूतहर्षास्ते हरिश्चन्द्रश्च पार्थिवः ॥ ३५ ॥ राज्येऽभिषिच्य तनयं रोहिताख्यं महामनाः । अयोध्याख्ये पुरे रम्ये हृष्टपुष्टजनान्विते ॥ ३६ ॥ तनयं सुहृदश्चापि प्रतिपूज्याभिनन्द्य च । पुण्येन लभ्यां विपुलां देवादीनां सुदुर्लभाम् ॥ ३७ ॥
English Translation
The high-minded King Hariścandra then installed his son Rohitāśva on the royal throne and permitted him to go to the beautiful city Ayodhyā, filled with jolly and healthy inhabitants. Next addressing his son and friends, he took leave of them. Thus, by virtue of his own good deeds, the King Hariścandra attained great celebrity.
Ch 27 Verse 38-39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सम्प्राप्य कीर्तिमतुलां विमाने स महीपतिः । आसाञ्चक्रे कामगमे क्षुद्रघण्टाविराजिते ॥ ३८ ॥ ततस्तर्हि समालोक्य श्लोकमन्त्रं तदा जगौ । दैत्याचार्यो महाभागः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित् ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
He then got up and took his seat in the aerial car that has no equal and that goes at will. It was beautifully adorned, very rare even to the Devas and decked with bells emitting jingling Kiṅkini sounds. The high-souled Śukrācārya, versed in the Śāstras and the Guru of the Daityas, seeing, Hariścandra in the Vimāna, spoke thus :--
Ch 27 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शुक्र उवाच - अहो तितिक्षामाहात्म्यमहो दानफलं महत् । यदागतो हरिश्चन्द्रो महेन्द्रस्य सलोकताम् ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
Oh! What is the glorious result of forbearance (Titikṣā)! What is the great fruit of charity! Oh! Due to whose influence, the King Hariścandra today has attained the same region with Mahendra!
Ch 27 Verse 41-42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सूत उवाच - एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यानं हरिश्चन्द्रस्य चेष्टितम् । यः शृणोति च दुःखार्तः स सुखं लभतेऽन्वहम् ॥ ४१ ॥ स्वर्गार्थी प्राप्नुयात् स्वर्गं सुतार्थी सुतमाप्नुयात् । भार्यार्थी प्राप्नुयाद्भार्यां राज्यार्थीं राज्यमाप्नुयात् ॥ ४२ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्राख्यानश्रवणफलवर्णनं नाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.२७॥
English Translation
Sūta said :-- Thus I have described to you all the doings of Hariścandra. Any man, oppressed with sorrows and troubles, no doubt, attains constant happiness, if he hears it. What more than this, those who want Śvarga get Śvarga, those who want son get sons, those who want wife get wife, and those who want kingdoms get their kingdoms by hearing this incident. Here ends the twenty-seventh Chapter of the Seventh Book on the going of Hariścandra to the Heavens, in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.