Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Descendants of King Māndhātā
In this chapter the descendants of King Māndhātā are described, and in this connection the histories of Purukutsa and Hariścandra are also given.
The most prominent son of Māndhātā was Ambarīṣa, his son was Yauvanāśva, and Yauvanāśva’s son was Hārīta. These three personalities were the best in the dynasty of Māndhātā. Purukutsa, another son of Māndhātā, married the sister of the snakes (sarpa-gaṇa) named Narmadā. The son of Purukutsa was Trasaddasyu, whose son was Anaraṇya. Anaraṇya’s son was Haryaśva, Haryaśva’s son was Prāruṇa, Prāruṇa’s son was Tribandhana, and Tribandhana’s son was Satyavrata, also known as Triśaṅku. When Triśaṅku kidnapped the daughter of a brāhmaṇa, his father cursed him for this sinful act, and Triśaṅku became a caṇḍāla, worse than a śūdra. Later, by the influence of Viśvāmitra, he was brought to the heavenly planets, but by the influence of the demigods he fell back downward. He was stopped in his fall, however, by the influence of Viśvāmitra. The son of Triśaṅku was Hariścandra. Hariścandra once performed a Rājasūya-yajña, but Viśvāmitra cunningly took all of Hariścandra’s possessions as a dakṣiṇa contribution and chastised Hariścandra in various ways. Because of this, a quarrel arose between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha. Hariścandra had no sons, but on the advice of Nārada he worshiped Varuṇa and in this way got a son named Rohita. Hariścandra promised that Rohita would be used to perform a Varuṇa-yajña. Varuṇa reminded Hariścandra repeatedly about this yajña, but the King, because of affection for his son, gave various arguments to avoid sacrificing him. Thus time passed, and gradually the son grew up. To safeguard his life, the boy then took bow and arrows in hand and went to the forest. Meanwhile, at home, Hariścandra suffered from dropsy because of an attack from Varuṇa. When Rohita received the news that his father was suffering, he wanted to return to the capital, but King Indra prevented him from doing so. Following the instructions of Indra, Rohita lived in the forest for six years and then returned home. Rohita purchased Śunaḥśepha, the second son of Ajīgarta, and gave him to his father, Hariścandra, as the sacrificial animal. In this way, the sacrifice was performed, Varuṇa and the other demigods were pacified, and Hariścandra was freed from disease. In this sacrifice, Viśvāmitra was the hotā priest, Jamadagni was the adhvaryu, Vasiṣṭha was the brahmā, and Ayāsya was the udgātā. King Indra, being very satisfied by the sacrifice, gave Hariścandra a golden chariot, and Viśvāmitra gave him transcendental knowledge. Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes how Hariścandra achieved perfection.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
मान्धातु: पुत्रप्रवरो योऽम्बरीष: प्रकीर्तित: ।
पितामहेन प्रवृतो यौवनाश्वस्तु तत्सुत: ।
हारीतस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभून्मान्धातृप्रवरा इमे ॥ १ ॥
मान्धातु: पुत्रप्रवरो योऽम्बरीष: प्रकीर्तित: ।
पितामहेन प्रवृतो यौवनाश्वस्तु तत्सुत: ।
हारीतस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभून्मान्धातृप्रवरा इमे ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
māndhātuḥ putra-pravaro
yo ’mbarīṣaḥ prakīrtitaḥ
pitāmahena pravṛto
yauvanāśvas tu tat-sutaḥ
hārītas tasya putro ’bhūn
māndhātṛ-pravarā ime
māndhātuḥ putra-pravaro
yo ’mbarīṣaḥ prakīrtitaḥ
pitāmahena pravṛto
yauvanāśvas tu tat-sutaḥ
hārītas tasya putro ’bhūn
māndhātṛ-pravarā ime
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; māndhātuḥ — of Māndhātā; putra-pravaraḥ — the prominent son; yaḥ — the one who; ambarīṣaḥ — by the name Ambarīṣa; prakīrtitaḥ — celebrated; pitāmahena — by his grandfather Yuvanāśva; pravṛtaḥ — accepted; yauvanāśvaḥ — named Yauvanāśva; tu — and; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Ambarīṣa; hārītaḥ — by the name Hārīta; tasya — of Yauvanāśva; putraḥ — the son; abhūt — became; māndhātṛ — in the dynasty of Māndhātā; pravarāḥ — most prominent; ime — all of them.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The most prominent among the sons of Māndhātā was he who is celebrated as Ambarīṣa. Ambarīṣa was accepted as son by his grandfather Yuvanāśva. Ambarīṣa’s son was Yauvanāśva, and Yauvanāśva’s son was Hārīta. In Māndhātā’s dynasty, Ambarīṣa, Hārīta and Yauvanāśva were very prominent.
Devanagari
नर्मदा भ्रातृभिर्दत्ता पुरुकुत्साय योरगै: ।
तया रसातलं नीतो भुजगेन्द्रप्रयुक्तया ॥ २ ॥
तया रसातलं नीतो भुजगेन्द्रप्रयुक्तया ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
narmadā bhrātṛbhir dattā
purukutsāya yoragaiḥ
tayā rasātalaṁ nīto
bhujagendra-prayuktayā
purukutsāya yoragaiḥ
tayā rasātalaṁ nīto
bhujagendra-prayuktayā
Synonyms
narmadā — by the name Narmadā; bhrātṛbhiḥ — by her brothers; dattā — was given in charity; purukutsāya — unto Purukutsa; yā — she who; uragaiḥ — by the serpents (sarpa-gaṇa); tayā — by her; rasātalam — to the lower region of the universe; nītaḥ — was brought; bhujaga-indra-prayuktayā — engaged by Vāsuki, the King of the serpents.
Translation
The serpent brothers of Narmadā gave Narmadā to Purukutsa. Being sent by Vāsuki, she took Purukutsa to the lower region of the universe.
Purport
Before describing the descendants of Purukutsa, the son of Māndhātā, Śukadeva Gosvāmī first describes how Purukutsa was married to Narmadā, who was induced to take him to the lower region of the universe.
Devanagari
गन्धर्वानवधीत् तत्र वध्यान् वै विष्णुशक्तिधृक् ।
नागाल्लब्धवर: सर्पादभयं स्मरतामिदम् ॥ ३ ॥
नागाल्लब्धवर: सर्पादभयं स्मरतामिदम् ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
gandharvān avadhīt tatra
vadhyān vai viṣṇu-śakti-dhṛk
nāgāl labdha-varaḥ sarpād
abhayaṁ smaratām idam
vadhyān vai viṣṇu-śakti-dhṛk
nāgāl labdha-varaḥ sarpād
abhayaṁ smaratām idam
Synonyms
gandharvān — the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; avadhīt — he killed; tatra — there (in the lower region of the universe); vadhyān — who deserved to be killed; vai — indeed; viṣṇu-śakti-dhṛk — being empowered by Lord Viṣṇu; nāgāt — from the Nāgas; labdha-varaḥ — having received a benediction; sarpāt — from the snakes; abhayam — assurances; smaratām — of those who remember; idam — this incident.
Translation
There in Rasātala, the lower region of the universe, Purukutsa, being empowered by Lord Viṣṇu, was able to kill all the Gandharvas who deserved to be killed. Purukutsa received the benediction from the serpents that anyone who remembers this history of his being brought by Narmadā to the lower region of the universe will be assured of safety from the attack of snakes.
Devanagari
त्रसद्दस्यु: पौरुकुत्सो योऽनरण्यस्य देहकृत् ।
हर्यश्वस्तत्सुतस्तस्मात्प्रारुणोऽथ त्रिबन्धन: ॥ ४ ॥
हर्यश्वस्तत्सुतस्तस्मात्प्रारुणोऽथ त्रिबन्धन: ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
trasaddasyuḥ paurukutso
yo ’naraṇyasya deha-kṛt
haryaśvas tat-sutas tasmāt
prāruṇo ’tha tribandhanaḥ
yo ’naraṇyasya deha-kṛt
haryaśvas tat-sutas tasmāt
prāruṇo ’tha tribandhanaḥ
Synonyms
trasaddasyuḥ — by the name Trasaddasyu; paurukutsaḥ — the son of Purukutsa; yaḥ — who; anaraṇyasya — of Anaraṇya; deha-kṛt — the father; haryaśvaḥ — by the name Haryaśva; tat-sutaḥ — the son of Anaraṇya; tasmāt — from him (Haryaśva); prāruṇaḥ — by the name Prāruṇa; atha — then, from Prāruṇa; tribandhanaḥ — his son, Tribandhana.
Translation
The son of Purukutsa was Trasaddasyu, who was the father of Anaraṇya. Anaraṇya’s son was Haryaśva, the father of Prāruṇa. Prāruṇa was the father of Tribandhana.
Devanagari
तस्य सत्यव्रत: पुत्रस्त्रिशङ्कुरिति विश्रुत: ।
प्राप्तश्चाण्डालतां शापाद् गुरो: कौशिकतेजसा ॥ ५ ॥
सशरीरो गत: स्वर्गमद्यापि दिवि दृश्यते ।
पातितोऽवाक् शिरा देवैस्तेनैव स्तम्भितो बलात् ॥ ६ ॥
प्राप्तश्चाण्डालतां शापाद् गुरो: कौशिकतेजसा ॥ ५ ॥
सशरीरो गत: स्वर्गमद्यापि दिवि दृश्यते ।
पातितोऽवाक् शिरा देवैस्तेनैव स्तम्भितो बलात् ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
tasya satyavrataḥ putras
triśaṅkur iti viśrutaḥ
prāptaś cāṇḍālatāṁ śāpād
guroḥ kauśika-tejasā
triśaṅkur iti viśrutaḥ
prāptaś cāṇḍālatāṁ śāpād
guroḥ kauśika-tejasā
saśarīro gataḥ svargam
adyāpi divi dṛśyate
pātito ’vāk-śirā devais
tenaiva stambhito balāt
adyāpi divi dṛśyate
pātito ’vāk-śirā devais
tenaiva stambhito balāt
Synonyms
tasya — of Tribandhana; satyavrataḥ — by the name Satyavrata; putraḥ — the son; triśaṅkuḥ — by the name Triśaṅku; iti — thus; viśrutaḥ — celebrated; prāptaḥ — had obtained; cāṇḍālatām — the quality of a caṇḍāla, lower than a śūdra; śāpāt — from the curse; guroḥ — of his father; kauśika-tejasā — by the prowess of Kauśika (Viśvāmitra); saśarīraḥ — while in this body; gataḥ — went; svargam — to the heavenly planet; adya api — until today; divi — in the sky; dṛśyate — can be seen; pātitaḥ — having fallen down; avāk-śirāḥ — with his head hanging downward; devaiḥ — by the prowess of the demigods; tena — by Viśvāmitra; eva — indeed; stambhitaḥ — fixed; balāt — by superior power.
Translation
The son of Tribandhana was Satyavrata, who is celebrated by the name Triśaṅku. Because he kidnapped the daughter of a brāhmaṇa when she was being married, his father cursed him to become a caṇḍāla, lower than a śūdra. Thereafter, by the influence of Viśvāmitra, he went to the higher planetary system, the heavenly planets, in his material body, but because of the prowess of the demigods he fell back downward. Nonetheless, by the power of Viśvāmitra, he did not fall all the way down; even today he can still be seen hanging in the sky, head downward.
Devanagari
त्रैशङ्कवो हरिश्चन्द्रो विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयो: ।
यन्निमित्तमभूद् युद्धं पक्षिणोर्बहुवार्षिकम् ॥ ७ ॥
यन्निमित्तमभूद् युद्धं पक्षिणोर्बहुवार्षिकम् ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
traiśaṅkavo hariścandro
viśvāmitra-vasiṣṭhayoḥ
yan-nimittam abhūd yuddhaṁ
pakṣiṇor bahu-vārṣikam
viśvāmitra-vasiṣṭhayoḥ
yan-nimittam abhūd yuddhaṁ
pakṣiṇor bahu-vārṣikam
Synonyms
traiśaṅkavaḥ — the son of Triśaṅku; hariścandraḥ — by the name Hariścandra; viśvāmitra-vasiṣṭhayoḥ — between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha; yat-nimittam — because of Hariścandra; abhūt — there was; yuddham — a great fight; pakṣiṇoḥ — both of whom had been converted into birds; bahu-vārṣikam — for many years.
Translation
The son of Triśaṅku was Hariścandra. Because of Hariścandra there was a quarrel between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, who for many years fought one another, having been transformed into birds.
Purport
Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha were always inimical. Formerly, Viśvāmitra was a kṣatriya, and by undergoing severe austerities he wanted to become a brāhmaṇa, but Vasiṣṭha would not agree to accept him. In this way there was always disagreement between the two. Later, however, Vasiṣṭha accepted him because of Viśvāmitra’s quality of forgiveness. Once Hariścandra performed a yajña for which Viśvāmitra was the priest, but Viśvāmitra, being angry at Hariścandra, took away all his possessions, claiming them as a contribution of dakṣiṇā. Vasiṣṭha, however, did not like this, and therefore a fight arose between Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra. The fighting became so severe that each of them cursed the other. One of them said, “May you become a bird,” and the other said, “May you become a duck.” Thus both of them became birds and continued fighting for many years because of Hariścandra. We can see that such a great mystic yogī as Saubhari became a victim of sense gratification, and such great sages as Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra became birds. This is the material world. Ābrahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino ’rjuna. Within this material world, or within this universe, however elevated one may be in material qualities, one must suffer the conditions of birth, death, old age and disease (janma-mṛtyu jarā-vyādhi). Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that this material world is simply miserable (duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam). The Bhāgavatam says, padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām: at every step here there is danger. Therefore, because the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement provides the opportunity for the human being to get out of this material world simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, this movement is the greatest benediction in human society.
Devanagari
सोऽनपत्यो विषण्णात्मा नारदस्योपदेशत: ।
वरुणं शरणं यात: पुत्रो मे जायतां प्रभो ॥ ८ ॥
वरुणं शरणं यात: पुत्रो मे जायतां प्रभो ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
so ’napatyo viṣaṇṇātmā
nāradasyopadeśataḥ
varuṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yātaḥ
putro me jāyatāṁ prabho
nāradasyopadeśataḥ
varuṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yātaḥ
putro me jāyatāṁ prabho
Synonyms
Translation
Hariścandra had no son and was therefore extremely morose. Once, therefore, following the advice of Nārada, he took shelter of Varuṇa and said to him, “My lord, I have no son. Would you kindly give me one?”
Devanagari
यदि वीरो महाराज तेनैव त्वां यजे इति ।
तथेति वरुणेनास्य पुत्रो जातस्तु रोहित: ॥ ९ ॥
तथेति वरुणेनास्य पुत्रो जातस्तु रोहित: ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
yadi vīro mahārāja
tenaiva tvāṁ yaje iti
tatheti varuṇenāsya
putro jātas tu rohitaḥ
tenaiva tvāṁ yaje iti
tatheti varuṇenāsya
putro jātas tu rohitaḥ
Synonyms
yadi — if; vīraḥ — there is a son; mahārāja — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; tena eva — even by that son; tvām — unto you; yaje — I shall offer sacrifice; iti — thus; tathā — as you desire; iti — thus accepted; varuṇena — by Varuṇa; asya — of Mahārāja Hariścandra; putraḥ — a son; jātaḥ — was born; tu — indeed; rohitaḥ — by the name Rohita.
Translation
O King Parīkṣit, Hariścandra begged Varuṇa, “My lord, if a son is born to me, with that son I shall perform a sacrifice for your satisfaction.” When Hariścandra said this, Varuṇa replied, “Let it be so.” Because of Varuṇa’s benediction, Hariścandra begot a son named Rohita.
Devanagari
जात: सुतो ह्यनेनाङ्ग मां यजस्वेति सोऽब्रवीत् ।
यदा पशुर्निर्दश: स्यादथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १० ॥
यदा पशुर्निर्दश: स्यादथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
jātaḥ suto hy anenāṅga
māṁ yajasveti so ’bravīt
yadā paśur nirdaśaḥ syād
atha medhyo bhaved iti
māṁ yajasveti so ’bravīt
yadā paśur nirdaśaḥ syād
atha medhyo bhaved iti
Synonyms
jātaḥ — has been born; sutaḥ — a son; hi — indeed; anena — by this son; aṅga — O Hariścandra; mām — unto me; yajasva — offer sacrifice; iti — thus; saḥ — he, Varuṇa; abravīt — said; yadā — when; paśuḥ — an animal; nirdaśaḥ — has passed ten days; syāt — should become; atha — then; medhyaḥ — suitable for offering in sacrifice; bhavet — becomes; iti — thus (Hariścandra said).
Translation
Thereafter, when the child was born, Varuṇa approached Hariścandra and said, “Now you have a son. With this son you can offer me a sacrifice.” In answer to this, Hariścandra said, “After ten days have passed since an animal’s birth, the animal becomes fit to be sacrificed.”
Devanagari
निर्दशे च स आगत्य यजस्वेत्याह सोऽब्रवीत् ।
दन्ता: पशोर्यज्जायेरन्नथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ ११ ॥
दन्ता: पशोर्यज्जायेरन्नथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
nirdaśe ca sa āgatya
yajasvety āha so ’bravīt
dantāḥ paśor yaj jāyerann
atha medhyo bhaved iti
yajasvety āha so ’bravīt
dantāḥ paśor yaj jāyerann
atha medhyo bhaved iti
Synonyms
nirdaśe — after ten days; ca — also; saḥ — he, Varuṇa; āgatya — coming there; yajasva — now sacrifice; iti — thus; āha — said; saḥ — he, Hariścandra; abravīt — replied; dantāḥ — the teeth; paśoḥ — of the animal; yat — when; jāyeran — have appeared; atha — then; medhyaḥ — fit for being sacrificed; bhavet — will become; iti — thus.
Translation
After ten days, Varuṇa came again and said to Hariścandra, “Now you can perform the sacrifice.” Hariścandra replied, “When an animal grows teeth, then it becomes pure enough to be sacrificed.”
Devanagari
दन्ता जाता यजस्वेति स प्रत्याहाथ सोऽब्रवीत् ।
यदा पतन्त्यस्य दन्ता अथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १२ ॥
यदा पतन्त्यस्य दन्ता अथ मेध्यो भवेदिति ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
dantā jātā yajasveti
sa pratyāhātha so ’bravīt
yadā patanty asya dantā
atha medhyo bhaved iti
sa pratyāhātha so ’bravīt
yadā patanty asya dantā
atha medhyo bhaved iti
Synonyms
dantāḥ — the teeth; jātāḥ — have grown; yajasva — now sacrifice; iti — thus; saḥ — he, Varuṇa; pratyāha — said; atha — thereupon; saḥ — he, Hariścandra; abravīt — replied; yadā — when; patanti — fall out; asya — his; dantāḥ — teeth; atha — then; medhyaḥ — fit for sacrifice; bhavet — will become; iti — thus.
Translation
When the teeth grew, Varuṇa came and said to Hariścandra, “Now the animal has grown teeth, and you can perform the sacrifice.” Hariścandra replied, “When all its teeth have fallen out, then it will be fit for sacrifice.”
Devanagari
पशोर्निपतिता दन्ता यजस्वेत्याह सोऽब्रवीत् ।
यदा पशो: पुनर्दन्ता जायन्तेऽथ पशु: शुचि: ॥ १३ ॥
यदा पशो: पुनर्दन्ता जायन्तेऽथ पशु: शुचि: ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
paśor nipatitā dantā
yajasvety āha so ’bravīt
yadā paśoḥ punar dantā
jāyante ’tha paśuḥ śuciḥ
yajasvety āha so ’bravīt
yadā paśoḥ punar dantā
jāyante ’tha paśuḥ śuciḥ
Synonyms
paśoḥ — of the animal; nipatitāḥ — have fallen out; dantāḥ — the teeth; yajasva — now sacrifice him; iti — thus; āha — said (Varuṇa); saḥ — he, Hariścandra; abravīt — replied; yadā — when; paśoḥ — of the animal; punaḥ — again; dantāḥ — the teeth; jāyante — grow; atha — then; paśuḥ — the animal; śuciḥ — is purified for being sacrificed.
Translation
When the teeth had fallen out, Varuṇa returned and said to Hariścandra, “Now the animal’s teeth have fallen out, and you can perform the sacrifice.” But Hariścandra replied, “When the animal’s teeth grow in again, then he will be pure enough to be sacrificed.”
Devanagari
पुनर्जाता यजस्वेति स प्रत्याहाथ सोऽब्रवीत् ।
सान्नाहिको यदा राजन् राजन्योऽथ पशु: शुचि: ॥ १४ ॥
सान्नाहिको यदा राजन् राजन्योऽथ पशु: शुचि: ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
punar jātā yajasveti
sa pratyāhātha so ’bravīt
sānnāhiko yadā rājan
rājanyo ’tha paśuḥ śuciḥ
sa pratyāhātha so ’bravīt
sānnāhiko yadā rājan
rājanyo ’tha paśuḥ śuciḥ
Synonyms
punaḥ — again; jātāḥ — have grown; yajasva — now you offer the sacrifice; iti — thus; saḥ — he, Varuṇa; pratyāha — replied; atha — thereafter; saḥ — he, Hariścandra; abravīt — said; sānnāhikaḥ — able to equip himself with a shield; yadā — when; rājan — O King Varuṇa; rājanyaḥ — the kṣatriya; atha — then; paśuḥ — the sacrificial animal; śuciḥ — becomes purified.
Translation
When the teeth grew in again, Varuṇa came and said to Hariścandra, “Now you can perform the sacrifice.” But Hariścandra then said, “O King, when the sacrificial animal becomes a kṣatriya and is able to shield himself to fight with the enemy, then he will be purified.”
Devanagari
इति पुत्रानुरागेण स्नेहयन्त्रितचेतसा ।
कालं वञ्चयता तं तमुक्तो देवस्तमैक्षत ॥ १५ ॥
कालं वञ्चयता तं तमुक्तो देवस्तमैक्षत ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
iti putrānurāgeṇa
sneha-yantrita-cetasā
kālaṁ vañcayatā taṁ tam
ukto devas tam aikṣata
sneha-yantrita-cetasā
kālaṁ vañcayatā taṁ tam
ukto devas tam aikṣata
Synonyms
iti — in this way; putra-anurāgeṇa — because of affection for the son; sneha-yantrita-cetasā — his mind being controlled by such affection; kālam — time; vañcayatā — cheating; tam — unto him; tam — that; uktaḥ — said; devaḥ — the demigod Varuṇa; tam — unto him, Hariścandra; aikṣata — waited for the fulfillment of his promise.
Translation
Hariścandra was certainly very much attached to his son. Because of this affection, he asked the demigod Varuṇa to wait. Thus Varuṇa waited and waited for the time to come.
Devanagari
रोहितस्तदभिज्ञाय पितु: कर्म चिकीर्षितम् ।
प्राणप्रेप्सुर्धनुष्पाणिररण्यं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ १६ ॥
प्राणप्रेप्सुर्धनुष्पाणिररण्यं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
rohitas tad abhijñāya
pituḥ karma cikīrṣitam
prāṇa-prepsur dhanuṣ-pāṇir
araṇyaṁ pratyapadyata
pituḥ karma cikīrṣitam
prāṇa-prepsur dhanuṣ-pāṇir
araṇyaṁ pratyapadyata
Synonyms
rohitaḥ — the son of Hariścandra; tat — this fact; abhijñāya — having thoroughly understood; pituḥ — of his father; karma — action; cikīrṣitam — which he was practically doing; prāṇa-prepsuḥ — wishing to save his life; dhanuḥ-pāṇiḥ — taking his bow and arrows; araṇyam — to the forest; pratyapadyata — left.
Translation
Rohita could understand that his father intended to offer him as the animal for sacrifice. Therefore, just to save himself from death, he equipped himself with bow and arrows and went to the forest.
Devanagari
पितरं वरुणग्रस्तं श्रुत्वा जातमहोदरम् ।
रोहितो ग्राममेयाय तमिन्द्र: प्रत्यषेधत ॥ १७ ॥
रोहितो ग्राममेयाय तमिन्द्र: प्रत्यषेधत ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
pitaraṁ varuṇa-grastaṁ
śrutvā jāta-mahodaram
rohito grāmam eyāya
tam indraḥ pratyaṣedhata
śrutvā jāta-mahodaram
rohito grāmam eyāya
tam indraḥ pratyaṣedhata
Synonyms
pitaram — about his father; varuṇa-grastam — having been attacked with dropsy by Varuṇa; śrutvā — after hearing; jāta — had grown; mahā-udaram — inflated abdomen; rohitaḥ — his son Rohita; grāmam eyāya — wanted to come back to the capital; tam — unto him (Rohita); indraḥ — King Indra; pratyaṣedhata — forbade to go there.
Translation
When Rohita heard that his father had been attacked by dropsy due to Varuṇa and that his abdomen had grown very large, he wanted to return to the capital, but King Indra forbade him to do so.
Devanagari
भूमे: पर्यटनं पुण्यं तीर्थक्षेत्रनिषेवणै: ।
रोहितायादिशच्छक्र: सोऽप्यरण्येऽवसत् समाम् ॥ १८ ॥
रोहितायादिशच्छक्र: सोऽप्यरण्येऽवसत् समाम् ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
bhūmeḥ paryaṭanaṁ puṇyaṁ
tīrtha-kṣetra-niṣevaṇaiḥ
rohitāyādiśac chakraḥ
so ’py araṇye ’vasat samām
tīrtha-kṣetra-niṣevaṇaiḥ
rohitāyādiśac chakraḥ
so ’py araṇye ’vasat samām
Synonyms
bhūmeḥ — of the surface of the world; paryaṭanam — traveling; puṇyam — holy places; tīrtha-kṣetra — places of pilgrimage; niṣevaṇaiḥ — by serving or going to and coming from such places; rohitāya — unto Rohita; ādiśat — ordered; śakraḥ — King Indra; saḥ — he, Rohita; api — also; araṇye — in the forest; avasat — lived; samām — for one year.
Translation
King Indra advised Rohita to travel to different pilgrimage sites and holy places, for such activities are pious indeed. Following this instruction, Rohita went to the forest for one year.
Devanagari
एवं द्वितीये तृतीये चतुर्थे पञ्चमे तथा ।
अभ्येत्याभ्येत्य स्थविरो विप्रो भूत्वाह वृत्रहा ॥ १९ ॥
अभ्येत्याभ्येत्य स्थविरो विप्रो भूत्वाह वृत्रहा ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ dvitīye tṛtīye
caturthe pañcame tathā
abhyetyābhyetya sthaviro
vipro bhūtvāha vṛtra-hā
caturthe pañcame tathā
abhyetyābhyetya sthaviro
vipro bhūtvāha vṛtra-hā
Synonyms
evam — in this way; dvitīye — on the second year; tṛtīye — on the third year; caturthe — on the fourth year; pañcame — on the fifth year; tathā — as well as; abhyetya — coming before him; abhyetya — again coming before him; sthaviraḥ — a very old man; vipraḥ — a brāhmaṇa; bhūtvā — becoming so; āha — said; vṛtra-hā — Indra.
Translation
In this way, at the end of the second, third, fourth and fifth years, when Rohita wanted to return to his capital, the King of heaven, Indra, approached him as an old brāhmaṇa and forbade him to return, repeating the same words as in the previous year.
Devanagari
षष्ठं संवत्सरं तत्र चरित्वा रोहित: पुरीम् ।
उपव्रजन्नजीगर्तादक्रीणान्मध्यमं सुतम् ।
शुन:शेफं पशुं पित्रे प्रदाय समवन्दत ॥ २० ॥
उपव्रजन्नजीगर्तादक्रीणान्मध्यमं सुतम् ।
शुन:शेफं पशुं पित्रे प्रदाय समवन्दत ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
ṣaṣṭhaṁ saṁvatsaraṁ tatra
caritvā rohitaḥ purīm
upavrajann ajīgartād
akrīṇān madhyamaṁ sutam
śunaḥśephaṁ paśuṁ pitre
pradāya samavandata
caritvā rohitaḥ purīm
upavrajann ajīgartād
akrīṇān madhyamaṁ sutam
śunaḥśephaṁ paśuṁ pitre
pradāya samavandata
Synonyms
ṣaṣṭham — the sixth; saṁvatsaram — year; tatra — in the forest; caritvā — wandering; rohitaḥ — the son of Hariścandra; purīm — in his capital; upavrajan — went there; ajīgartāt — from Ajīgarta; akrīṇāt — purchased; madhyamam — the second; sutam — son; śunaḥśepham — whose name was Śunaḥśepha; paśum — to use as the sacrificial animal; pitre — unto his father; pradāya — offering; samavandata — respectfully offered his obeisances.
Translation
Thereafter, in the sixth year, after wandering in the forest, Rohita returned to the capital of his father. He purchased from Ajīgarta his second son, named Śunaḥśepha. Then he offered Śunaḥśepha to his father, Hariścandra, to be used as the sacrificial animal and offered Hariścandra his respectful obeisances.
Purport
It appears that in those days a man could be purchased for any purpose. Hariścandra was in need of a person to sacrifice as the animal in a yajña and thus fulfill his promise to Varuṇa, and a man was purchased from another man for this purpose. Millions of years ago, animal sacrifice and slave trade both existed. Indeed, they have existed since time immemorial.
Devanagari
तत: पुरुषमेधेन हरिश्चन्द्रो महायशा: ।
मुक्तोदरोऽयजद् देवान् वरुणादीन् महत्कथ: ॥ २१ ॥
मुक्तोदरोऽयजद् देवान् वरुणादीन् महत्कथ: ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
tataḥ puruṣa-medhena
hariścandro mahā-yaśāḥ
muktodaro ’yajad devān
varuṇādīn mahat-kathaḥ
hariścandro mahā-yaśāḥ
muktodaro ’yajad devān
varuṇādīn mahat-kathaḥ
Synonyms
tataḥ — thereafter; puruṣa-medhena — by sacrificing a man in the yajña; hariścandraḥ — King Hariścandra; mahā-yaśāḥ — very famous; mukta-udaraḥ — became free from dropsy; ayajat — offered sacrifices; devān — unto the demigods; varuṇa-ādīn — headed by Varuṇa and others; mahat-kathaḥ — famous in history with other exalted personalities.
Translation
Thereafter, the famous King Hariścandra, one of the exalted persons in history, performed grand sacrifices by sacrificing a man and pleased all the demigods. In this way his dropsy created by Varuṇa was cured.
Devanagari
विश्वामित्रोऽभवत् तस्मिन् होता चाध्वर्युरात्मवान् ।
जमदग्निरभूद् ब्रह्मा वसिष्ठोऽयास्य: सामग: ॥ २२ ॥
जमदग्निरभूद् ब्रह्मा वसिष्ठोऽयास्य: सामग: ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
viśvāmitro ’bhavat tasmin
hotā cādhvaryur ātmavān
jamadagnir abhūd brahmā
vasiṣṭho ’yāsyaḥ sāma-gaḥ
hotā cādhvaryur ātmavān
jamadagnir abhūd brahmā
vasiṣṭho ’yāsyaḥ sāma-gaḥ
Synonyms
viśvāmitraḥ — the great sage and mystic Viśvāmitra; abhavat — became; tasmin — in that great sacrifice; hotā — the chief priest to offer oblations; ca — also; adhvaryuḥ — a person who recites hymns from the Yajur Veda and performs ritualistic ceremonies; ātmavān — fully self-realized; jamadagniḥ — Jamadagni; abhūt — became; brahmā — acting as the chief brāhmaṇa; vasiṣṭhaḥ — the great sage; ayāsyaḥ — another great sage; sāma-gaḥ — engaged as the reciter of the Sāma Veda mantras..
Translation
In that great human sacrifice, Viśvāmitra was the chief priest to offer oblations, the perfectly self-realized Jamadagni had the responsibility for chanting the mantras from the Yajur Veda, Vasiṣṭha was the chief brahminical priest, and the sage Ayāsya was the reciter of the hymns of the Sāma Veda.
Devanagari
तस्मै तुष्टो ददाविन्द्र: शातकौम्भमयं रथम् ।
शुन:शेफस्य माहात्म्यमुपरिष्टात् प्रचक्ष्यते ॥ २३ ॥
शुन:शेफस्य माहात्म्यमुपरिष्टात् प्रचक्ष्यते ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
tasmai tuṣṭo dadāv indraḥ
śātakaumbhamayaṁ ratham
śunaḥśephasya māhātmyam
upariṣṭāt pracakṣyate
śātakaumbhamayaṁ ratham
śunaḥśephasya māhātmyam
upariṣṭāt pracakṣyate
Synonyms
tasmai — unto him, King Hariścandra; tuṣṭaḥ — being very pleased; dadau — delivered; indraḥ — the King of heaven; śātakaumbha-mayam — made of gold; ratham — a chariot; śunaḥśephasya — about Śunaḥśepha; māhātmyam — glories; upariṣṭāt — in the course of describing the sons of Viśvāmitra; pracakṣyate — will be narrated.
Translation
King Indra, being very pleased with Hariścandra, offered him a gift of a golden chariot. Śunaḥśepha’s glories will be presented along with the description of the son of Viśvāmitra.
Devanagari
सत्यं सारं धृतिं दृष्ट्वा सभार्यस्य च भूपते: ।
विश्वामित्रो भृशं प्रीतो ददावविहतां गतिम् ॥ २४ ॥
विश्वामित्रो भृशं प्रीतो ददावविहतां गतिम् ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
satyaṁ sāraṁ dhṛtiṁ dṛṣṭvā
sabhāryasya ca bhūpateḥ
viśvāmitro bhṛśaṁ prīto
dadāv avihatāṁ gatim
sabhāryasya ca bhūpateḥ
viśvāmitro bhṛśaṁ prīto
dadāv avihatāṁ gatim
Synonyms
satyam — truthfulness; sāram — firmness; dhṛtim — forbearance; dṛṣṭvā — by seeing; sa-bhāryasya — with his wife; ca — and; bhūpateḥ — of Mahārāja Hariścandra; viśvāmitraḥ — the great sage Viśvāmitra; bhṛśam — very much; prītaḥ — being pleased; dadau — gave him; avihatām gatim — imperishable knowledge.
Translation
The great sage Viśvāmitra saw that Mahārāja Hariścandra, along with his wife, was truthful, forbearing and concerned with the essence. Thus he gave them imperishable knowledge for fulfillment of the human mission.
Devanagari
मन: पृथिव्यां तामद्भिस्तेजसापोऽनिलेन तत् ।
खे वायुं धारयंस्तच्च भूतादौ तं महात्मनि ।
तस्मिञ्ज्ञानकलां ध्यात्वा तयाज्ञानं विनिर्दहन् ॥ २५ ॥
हित्वा तां स्वेन भावेन निर्वाणसुखसंविदा ।
अनिर्देश्याप्रतर्क्येण तस्थौ विध्वस्तबन्धन: ॥ २६ ॥
खे वायुं धारयंस्तच्च भूतादौ तं महात्मनि ।
तस्मिञ्ज्ञानकलां ध्यात्वा तयाज्ञानं विनिर्दहन् ॥ २५ ॥
हित्वा तां स्वेन भावेन निर्वाणसुखसंविदा ।
अनिर्देश्याप्रतर्क्येण तस्थौ विध्वस्तबन्धन: ॥ २६ ॥
Verse text
manaḥ pṛthivyāṁ tām adbhis
tejasāpo ’nilena tat
khe vāyuṁ dhārayaṁs tac ca
bhūtādau taṁ mahātmani
tejasāpo ’nilena tat
khe vāyuṁ dhārayaṁs tac ca
bhūtādau taṁ mahātmani
tasmiñ jñāna-kalāṁ dhyātvā
tayājñānaṁ vinirdahan
hitvā tāṁ svena bhāvena
nirvāṇa-sukha-saṁvidā
anirdeśyāpratarkyeṇa
tasthau vidhvasta-bandhanaḥ
tayājñānaṁ vinirdahan
hitvā tāṁ svena bhāvena
nirvāṇa-sukha-saṁvidā
anirdeśyāpratarkyeṇa
tasthau vidhvasta-bandhanaḥ
Synonyms
manaḥ — the mind (full of material desires for eating, sleeping, mating and defending); pṛthivyām — in the earth; tām — that; adbhiḥ — with water; tejasā — and with fire; apaḥ — the water; anilena — in the fire; tat — that; khe — in the sky; vāyum — the air; dhārayan — amalgamating; tat — that; ca — also; bhūta-ādau — in the false ego, the origin of material existence; tam — that (false ego); mahā-ātmani — in the mahat-tattva, the total material energy; tasmin — in the total material energy; jñāna-kalām — spiritual knowledge and its different branches; dhyātvā — by meditating; tayā — by this process; ajñānam — ignorance; vinirdahan — specifically subdued; hitvā — giving up; tām — material ambition; svena — by self-realization; bhāvena — in devotional service; nirvāṇa-sukha-saṁvidā — by transcendental bliss, putting an end to material existence; anirdeśya — imperceptible; apratarkyeṇa — inconceivable; tasthau — remained; vidhvasta — completely freed from; bandhanaḥ — material bondage.
Translation
Mahārāja Hariścandra first purified his mind, which was full of material enjoyment, by amalgamating it with the earth. Then he amalgamated the earth with water, the water with fire, the fire with the air, and the air with the sky. Thereafter, he amalgamated the sky with the total material energy, and the total material energy with spiritual knowledge. This spiritual knowledge is realization of one’s self as part of the Supreme Lord. When the self-realized spiritual soul is engaged in service to the Lord, he is eternally imperceptible and inconceivable. Thus established in spiritual knowledge, he is completely freed from material bondage.
Purport
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Descendants of King Māndhātā.”