Brahma Purana — Chapter 104
BrP 104.1
विश्वामित्रं हरिश्चन्द्रं शुनःशेपं च रोहितम् वारुणं ब्राह्मम् आग्नेयम् ऐन्द्रम् ऐन्दवम् ऐश्वरम् ॥
viśvāmitraṃ hariścandraṃ śunaḥśepaṃ ca rohitam vāruṇaṃ brāhmam āgneyam aindram aindavam aiśvaram //
Viśvāmitra, Hariścandra, Śunaḥśepa and Rohita; the Vāruṇa, the Brāhma, the Āgneya, the Aindra, the Aindava, the Aiśvara;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.2
मैत्रं च वैष्णवं चैव याम्यम् आश्विनम् औशनम् एतेषां पुण्यतीर्थानां नामधेयं शृणुष्व मे ॥
maitraṃ ca vaiṣṇavaṃ caiva yāmyam āśvinam auśanam eteṣāṃ puṇyatīrthānāṃ nāmadheyaṃ śṛṇuṣva me //
and the Maitra and the Vaiṣṇava, the Yāmya, the Āśvina, the Auśana — hear from me the naming of these holy tīrthas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.3
हरिश्चन्द्र इति त्व् आसीद् इक्ष्वाकुप्रभवो नृपः तस्य गृहे मुनी प्राप्तौ नारदः पर्वतस् तथा कृत्वातिथ्यं तयोः सम्यग् घरिश्चन्द्रो ऽब्रवीद् ऋषी ॥
hariścandra iti tv āsīd ikṣvākuprabhavo nṛpaḥ tasya gṛhe munī prāptau nāradaḥ parvatas tathā kṛtvātithyaṃ tayoḥ samyag ghariścandro 'bravīd ṛṣī //
There was a king named Hariścandra, sprung from Ikṣvāku. Two sages came to his house, Nārada and Parvata; and having properly shown hospitality to those two, Hariścandra said to the seers:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.4
पुत्रार्थं क्लिश्यते लोकः किं पुत्रेण भविष्यति ज्ञानी वाप्य् अथवाज्ञानी उत्तमो मध्यमो ऽथवा एतं मे संशयं नित्यं ब्रूताम् ऋषिवराव् उभौ ॥
putrārthaṃ kliśyate lokaḥ kiṃ putreṇa bhaviṣyati jñānī vāpy athavājñānī uttamo madhyamo 'thavā etaṃ me saṃśayaṃ nityaṃ brūtām ṛṣivarāv ubhau //
"People trouble themselves for the sake of a son. What will come of a son — whether learned or unlearned, whether best or middling? Both of you, best of seers, resolve for me this constant doubt of mine."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.5
ताव् ऊचतुर् हरिश्चन्द्रं पर्वतो नारदस् तथा ॥
tāv ūcatur hariścandraṃ parvato nāradas tathā //
Those two, Parvata and Nārada, spoke to Hariścandra:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.6
एकधा दशधा राजञ् शतधा च सहस्रधा उत्तरं विद्यते सम्यक् तथाप्य् एतद् उदीर्यते ॥
ekadhā daśadhā rājañ śatadhā ca sahasradhā uttaraṃ vidyate samyak tathāpy etad udīryate //
Once, ten times, a hundred times, and a thousand times, O king, the answer holds good; still, this is (now) declared.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.7
नापुत्रस्य परो लोको विद्यते नृपसत्तम जाते पुत्रे पिता स्नानं यः करोति जनाधिप ॥
nāputrasya paro loko vidyate nṛpasattama jāte putre pitā snānaṃ yaḥ karoti janādhipa //
For a man without a son there is no higher world, O best of kings; when a son is born, the father who performs the (ritual) bath, O lord of men —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.8
दशानाम् अश्वमेधानाम् अभिषेकफलं लभेत् आत्मप्रतिष्ठा पुत्रात् स्याज् जायते चामरोत्तमः ॥
daśānām aśvamedhānām abhiṣekaphalaṃ labhet ātmapratiṣṭhā putrāt syāj jāyate cāmarottamaḥ //
— he gains the fruit of the consecration of ten horse-sacrifices. Through a son one's own establishment comes about, and one is born as the highest of the immortals.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.9
अमृतेनामरा देवाः पुत्रेण ब्राह्मणादयः त्रिऋणान् मोचयेत् पुत्रः पितरं च पितामहान् ॥
amṛtenāmarā devāḥ putreṇa brāhmaṇādayaḥ triṛṇān mocayet putraḥ pitaraṃ ca pitāmahān //
By nectar the gods are immortal; by a son, brahmins and the rest. A son should release his father and his forefathers from the three debts.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.10
किं तु मूलं किम् उ जलं किं तु श्मश्रूणि किं तपः विना पुत्रेण राजेन्द्र स्वर्गो मुक्तिः सुतात् स्मृताः ॥
kiṃ tu mūlaṃ kim u jalaṃ kiṃ tu śmaśrūṇi kiṃ tapaḥ vinā putreṇa rājendra svargo muktiḥ sutāt smṛtāḥ //
What use are roots, what use water, what use matted beard-hair, what use austerity? Without a son, O lord of kings, (nothing avails): heaven and release are said (to come) from a son.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.11
पुत्र एव परो लोको धर्मः कामो ऽर्थ एव च पुत्रो मुक्तिः परं ज्योतिस् तारकः सर्वदेहिनाम् ॥
putra eva paro loko dharmaḥ kāmo 'rtha eva ca putro muktiḥ paraṃ jyotis tārakaḥ sarvadehinām //
A son indeed is the highest world, is dharma, is desire, and is wealth; the son is release, the supreme light, the ferryman of all embodied beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.12
विना पुत्रेण राजेन्द्र स्वर्गमोक्षौ सुदुर्लभौ पुत्र एव परो लोके धर्मकामार्थसिद्धये ॥
vinā putreṇa rājendra svargamokṣau sudurlabhau putra eva paro loke dharmakāmārthasiddhaye //
Without a son, O lord of kings, heaven and release are very hard to attain; a son alone is supreme in the world for the achievement of dharma, desire and wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.13
विना पुत्रेण यद् दत्तं विना पुत्रेण यद् धुतम् विना पुत्रेण यज् जन्म व्यर्थं तद् अवभाति मे ॥
vinā putreṇa yad dattaṃ vinā putreṇa yad dhutam vinā putreṇa yaj janma vyarthaṃ tad avabhāti me //
What is given without a son, what is offered in fire without a son, what birth there is without a son — all that appears to me to be futile.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.14
तस्मात् पुत्रसमं किंचित् काम्यं नास्ति जगत्त्रये तच् छ्रुत्वा विस्मयवांस् ताव् उवाच नृपः पुनः ॥
tasmāt putrasamaṃ kiṃcit kāmyaṃ nāsti jagattraye tac chrutvā vismayavāṃs tāv uvāca nṛpaḥ punaḥ //
Therefore there is nothing in the three worlds as desirable as a son. Hearing that, the king, filled with wonder, spoke to those two again:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.15
कथं मे स्यात् सुतो ब्रूतां यत्र क्वापि यथातथम् येन केनाप्य् उपायेन कृत्वा किंचित् तु पौरुषम् मन्त्रेण यागदानाभ्याम् उत्पाद्यो ऽसौ सुतो मया ॥
kathaṃ me syāt suto brūtāṃ yatra kvāpi yathātatham yena kenāpy upāyena kṛtvā kiṃcit tu pauruṣam mantreṇa yāgadānābhyām utpādyo 'sau suto mayā //
"Tell me, truly, how a son may be mine, from wherever it may be, by whatever means, by performing some manly effort — by spell, by sacrifice, or by gifts, that son is to be begotten by me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.16
ताव् ऊचतुर् नृपश्रेष्ठं हरिश्चन्द्रं सुतार्थिनम् ध्यात्वा क्षणं तथा सम्यग् गौतमीं याहि मानद ॥
tāv ūcatur nṛpaśreṣṭhaṃ hariścandraṃ sutārthinam dhyātvā kṣaṇaṃ tathā samyag gautamīṃ yāhi mānada //
The two, having reflected for a moment, spoke rightly to Hariścandra, best of kings, who sought a son: "Go to the Gautamī, O giver of honour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.17
तत्रापांपतिर् उत्कृष्टं ददाति मनसीप्सितम् वरुणः सर्वदाता वै मुनिभिः परिकीर्तितः ॥
tatrāpāṃpatir utkṛṣṭaṃ dadāti manasīpsitam varuṇaḥ sarvadātā vai munibhiḥ parikīrtitaḥ //
There the lord of waters grants the highest thing desired in the mind; indeed Varuṇa is proclaimed by the sages to be the giver of everything.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.18
स तु प्रीतः शनैः काले तव पुत्रं प्रदास्यति एतच् छ्रुत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठो मुनिवाक्यं तथाकरोत् ॥
sa tu prītaḥ śanaiḥ kāle tava putraṃ pradāsyati etac chrutvā nṛpaśreṣṭho munivākyaṃ tathākarot //
He, being pleased, will in due course gradually grant you a son." Hearing this word of the sages, the best of kings did so.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.19
तोषयाम् आस वरुणं गौतमीतीरम् आश्रितः ततश् च तुष्टो वरुणो हरिश्चन्द्रम् उवाच ह ॥
toṣayām āsa varuṇaṃ gautamītīram āśritaḥ tataś ca tuṣṭo varuṇo hariścandram uvāca ha //
Taking his stand on the bank of the Gautamī, he propitiated Varuṇa; and then the pleased Varuṇa said to Hariścandra:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.20
पुत्रं दास्यामि ते राजंल् लोकत्रयविभूषणम् यदि यक्ष्यसि तेनैव तव पुत्रो भवेद् ध्रुवम् ॥
putraṃ dāsyāmi te rājaṃl lokatrayavibhūṣaṇam yadi yakṣyasi tenaiva tava putro bhaved dhruvam //
"I shall give you a son, O king, an ornament of the three worlds; if you will sacrifice with him, then a son will surely be yours."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.21
हरिश्चन्द्रो ऽपि वरुणं यक्ष्ये तेनेत्य् अवोचत ततो गत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रश् चरुं कृत्वा तु वारुणम् ॥
hariścandro 'pi varuṇaṃ yakṣye tenety avocata tato gatvā hariścandraś caruṃ kṛtvā tu vāruṇam //
Hariścandra too said, "I shall sacrifice with him." Then Hariścandra went and prepared the oblation-gruel for Varuṇa,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.22
भार्यायै नृपतिः प्रादात् ततो जातः सुतो नृपात् जाते पुत्रे अपाम् ईशः प्रोवाच वदतां वरः ॥
bhāryāyai nṛpatiḥ prādāt tato jātaḥ suto nṛpāt jāte putre apām īśaḥ provāca vadatāṃ varaḥ //
and the king gave it to his wife; then a son was born to the king. When the son was born, the lord of waters, best of speakers, said:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.23
अद्यैव पुत्रो यष्टव्यः स्मरसे वचनं पुरा ॥
adyaiva putro yaṣṭavyaḥ smarase vacanaṃ purā //
"This very day the son is to be offered in sacrifice; you remember the promise (made) before."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.24
हरिश्चन्द्रो ऽपि वरुणं प्रोवाचेदं क्रमागतम् ॥
hariścandro 'pi varuṇaṃ provācedaṃ kramāgatam //
Hariścandra too said this to Varuṇa, (as) following the proper order:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.25
निर्दशो मेध्यतां याति पशुर् यक्ष्ये ततो ह्य् अहम् ॥
nirdaśo medhyatāṃ yāti paśur yakṣye tato hy aham //
"An animal becomes fit for sacrifice when it is past ten days; I shall sacrifice then."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.26
तच् छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञो वरुणो ऽगात् स्वम् आलयम् निर्दशे पुनर् अभ्येत्य यजस्वेत्य् आह तं नृपम् ॥
tac chrutvā vacanaṃ rājño varuṇo 'gāt svam ālayam nirdaśe punar abhyetya yajasvety āha taṃ nṛpam //
Hearing that speech of the king, Varuṇa went to his own abode; and when the ten days had passed he came again and said to that king, "Sacrifice!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.27
राजापि वरुणं प्राह निर्दन्तो निष्फलः पशुः पशोर् दन्तेषु जातेषु एहि गच्छाधुनाप्पते ॥
rājāpi varuṇaṃ prāha nirdanto niṣphalaḥ paśuḥ paśor danteṣu jāteṣu ehi gacchādhunāppate //
But the king said to Varuṇa: "A victim without teeth is worthless; go now, O lord of the waters, and come (again) when the victim's teeth have appeared."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.28
तच् छ्रुत्वा राजवचनं पुनः प्रायाद् अपांपतिः जातेषु चैव दन्तेषु सप्तवर्षेषु नारद ॥
tac chrutvā rājavacanaṃ punaḥ prāyād apāṃpatiḥ jāteṣu caiva danteṣu saptavarṣeṣu nārada //
Hearing that speech of the king, the lord of the waters went away again; and when the teeth had appeared, in the child's seventh year, O Nārada,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.29
पुनर् अप्य् आह राजानं यजस्वेति ततो ऽब्रवीत् राजापि वरुणं प्राह पत्स्यन्तीमे अपांपते ॥
punar apy āha rājānaṃ yajasveti tato 'bravīt rājāpi varuṇaṃ prāha patsyantīme apāṃpate //
he again said to the king, "Sacrifice!" — so he spoke. But the king said to Varuṇa: "These (teeth) will (yet) fall out, O lord of the waters."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.30
संपत्स्यन्ति तथा चान्ये ततो यक्ष्ये व्रजाधुना पुनः प्रायात् स वरुणः पुनर्दन्तेषु नारद यजस्वेति नृपं प्राह राजा प्राह त्व् अपांपतिम् ॥
saṃpatsyanti tathā cānye tato yakṣye vrajādhunā punaḥ prāyāt sa varuṇaḥ punardanteṣu nārada yajasveti nṛpaṃ prāha rājā prāha tv apāṃpatim //
"And others will grow in their place; then I shall sacrifice. Go now." Again that Varuṇa departed, and when the second teeth had come, O Nārada, he said to the king, "Sacrifice!" But the king said to the lord of the waters:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.31
यदा तु क्षत्रियो यज्ञे पशुर् भवति वारिप धनुर्वेदं यदा वेत्ति तदा स्यात् पशुर् उत्तमः ॥
yadā tu kṣatriyo yajñe paśur bhavati vāripa dhanurvedaṃ yadā vetti tadā syāt paśur uttamaḥ //
"When a kṣatriya becomes the victim at a sacrifice, O lord of the waters, then he is the best of victims (only) when he knows the science of the bow."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.32
तच् छ्रुत्वा राजवचनं वरुणो ऽगात् स्वम् आलयम् यदास्त्रेषु च शस्त्रेषु समर्थो ऽभूत् स रोहितः ॥
tac chrutvā rājavacanaṃ varuṇo 'gāt svam ālayam yadāstreṣu ca śastreṣu samartho 'bhūt sa rohitaḥ //
Hearing that speech of the king, Varuṇa went to his own abode. When that Rohita became competent in missiles and weapons,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.33
सर्ववेदेषु शास्त्रेषु वेत्ताभूत् स त्व् अरिंदमः युवराज्यम् अनुप्राप्ते रोहिते षोडशाब्दिके ॥
sarvavedeṣu śāstreṣu vettābhūt sa tv ariṃdamaḥ yuvarājyam anuprāpte rohite ṣoḍaśābdike //
and when that subduer of foes had become a knower of all the Vedas and the sciences, and Rohita, being sixteen years old, had obtained the office of crown prince,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.34
प्रीतिमान् अगमत् तत्र यत्र राजा सरोहितः आगत्य वरुणः प्राह यजस्वाद्य सुतं स्वकम् ॥
prītimān agamat tatra yatra rājā sarohitaḥ āgatya varuṇaḥ prāha yajasvādya sutaṃ svakam //
(Varuṇa,) well pleased, went there where the king was together with Rohita; and having come, Varuṇa said: "Sacrifice your own son today."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.35
ओम् इत्य् उक्त्वा नृपवर ऋत्विजः प्राह भूपतिः रोहितं च सुतं ज्येष्ठं शृण्वतो वरुणस्य च ॥
om ity uktvā nṛpavara ṛtvijaḥ prāha bhūpatiḥ rohitaṃ ca sutaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ śṛṇvato varuṇasya ca //
Saying "Om" (in assent), that best of kings, the lord of the earth, spoke to the officiating priests and to his eldest son Rohita, while Varuṇa listened:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.36
एहि पुत्र महावीर यक्ष्ये त्वां वरुणाय हि ॥
ehi putra mahāvīra yakṣye tvāṃ varuṇāya hi //
"Come, son, great hero, for I shall sacrifice you to Varuṇa."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.37
किम् एतद् इत्य् अथोवाच रोहितः पितरं प्रति पितापि तद् यथावृत्तम् आचचक्षे सविस्तरम् रोहितः पितरं प्राह शृण्वतो वरुणस्य च ॥
kim etad ity athovāca rohitaḥ pitaraṃ prati pitāpi tad yathāvṛttam ācacakṣe savistaram rohitaḥ pitaraṃ prāha śṛṇvato varuṇasya ca //
Then Rohita said to his father, "What is this?" And his father told him in detail how it had come about. Rohita said to his father, while Varuṇa listened:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.38
अहं पूर्वं महाराज ऋत्विग्भिः सपुरोहितः विष्णवे लोकनाथाय यक्ष्ये ऽहं त्वरितं शुचिः पशुना वरुणेनाथ तद् अनुज्ञातुम् अर्हसि ॥
ahaṃ pūrvaṃ mahārāja ṛtvigbhiḥ sapurohitaḥ viṣṇave lokanāthāya yakṣye 'haṃ tvaritaṃ śuciḥ paśunā varuṇenātha tad anujñātum arhasi //
"First, great king, I, purified, together with the officiating priests and the house-priest, shall quickly sacrifice to Viṣṇu, the lord of the worlds, with Varuṇa as the victim; so you should permit that."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.39
रोहितस्य तु तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वारीश्वरस् तदा कोपेन महताविष्टो जलोदरम् अथाकरोत् ॥
rohitasya tu tad vākyaṃ śrutvā vārīśvaras tadā kopena mahatāviṣṭo jalodaram athākarot //
But hearing that speech of Rohita, the lord of the waters, seized then with great anger, brought about dropsy of the belly
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.40
हरिश्चन्द्रस्य नृपते रोहितः स वनं ययौ गृहीत्वा स धनुर् दिव्यं रथारूढो गतव्यथः ॥
hariścandrasya nṛpate rohitaḥ sa vanaṃ yayau gṛhītvā sa dhanur divyaṃ rathārūḍho gatavyathaḥ //
in king Hariścandra; and that Rohita went to the forest, taking his divine bow, mounted on a chariot, free from distress.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.41
यत्र चाराध्य वरुणं हरिश्चन्द्रो जनेश्वरः गङ्गायां प्राप्तवान् पुत्रं तत्रागात् सो ऽपि रोहितः ॥
yatra cārādhya varuṇaṃ hariścandro janeśvaraḥ gaṅgāyāṃ prāptavān putraṃ tatrāgāt so 'pi rohitaḥ //
And where Hariścandra, lord of men, having propitiated Varuṇa on the Gaṅgā, had obtained a son — there that Rohita too went.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.42
व्यतीतान्य् अथ वर्षाणि पञ्च षष्ठे प्रवर्तति तत्र स्थित्वा नृपसुतः शुश्राव नृपते रुजम् ॥
vyatītāny atha varṣāṇi pañca ṣaṣṭhe pravartati tatra sthitvā nṛpasutaḥ śuśrāva nṛpate rujam //
Then five years passed, and while the sixth was running on, the king's son, staying there, heard of the king's disease.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.43
मया पुत्रेण जातेन पितुर् वै क्लेशकारिणा किं फलं किं नु कृत्यं स्याद् इत्य् एवं पर्यचिन्तयत् ॥
mayā putreṇa jātena pitur vai kleśakāriṇā kiṃ phalaṃ kiṃ nu kṛtyaṃ syād ity evaṃ paryacintayat //
"What is the use of me, a son born (only) to cause his father suffering? What indeed should be done?" — thus he pondered.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.44
तस्यास् तीरे ऋषीन् पुण्यान् अपश्यन् नृपतेः सुतः गङ्गातीरे वर्तमानम् अपश्यद् ऋषिसत्तमम् ॥
tasyās tīre ṛṣīn puṇyān apaśyan nṛpateḥ sutaḥ gaṅgātīre vartamānam apaśyad ṛṣisattamam //
On the bank of that (river) the king's son saw holy seers; on the bank of the Gaṅgā he saw a most excellent seer dwelling (there),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.45
अजीगर्तम् इति ख्यातम् ऋषेस् तु वयसः सुतम् त्रिभिः पुत्रैर् अनुवृतं भार्यया क्षीणवृत्तिकम् तं दृष्ट्वा नृपतेः पुत्रो नमस्येदं वचो ऽब्रवीत् ॥
ajīgartam iti khyātam ṛṣes tu vayasaḥ sutam tribhiḥ putrair anuvṛtaṃ bhāryayā kṣīṇavṛttikam taṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpateḥ putro namasyedaṃ vaco 'bravīt //
known as Ajīgarta, the son of an aged seer, attended by three sons and by his wife, his livelihood exhausted. Seeing him, the king's son bowed and spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.46
क्षीणवृत्तिः कृशः कस्माद् दुर्मना इव लक्ष्यसे ॥
kṣīṇavṛttiḥ kṛśaḥ kasmād durmanā iva lakṣyase //
"Why do you look as though dejected, emaciated, your livelihood run out?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.47
अजीगर्तो ऽपि चोवाच रोहितं नृपतेः सुतम् ॥
ajīgarto 'pi covāca rohitaṃ nṛpateḥ sutam //
And Ajīgarta spoke to Rohita, the king's son:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.48
वर्तनं नास्ति देहस्य भोक्तारो बहवश् च मे विनान्नेन मरिष्यामो ब्रूहि किं करवामहे ॥
vartanaṃ nāsti dehasya bhoktāro bahavaś ca me vinānnena mariṣyāmo brūhi kiṃ karavāmahe //
"There is no sustenance for the body, and the eaters (in my house) are many; without food we shall die. Say, what are we to do?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.49
तच् छ्रुत्वा पुनर् अप्य् आह नृपपुत्र ऋषिं तदा ॥
tac chrutvā punar apy āha nṛpaputra ṛṣiṃ tadā //
Hearing that, the prince spoke to the sage yet again:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.50
तव किं वर्तते चित्ते तद् ब्रूहि वदतां वर ॥
tava kiṃ vartate citte tad brūhi vadatāṃ vara //
"What is passing in your mind? Tell it, best of speakers."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.51
हिरण्यं रजतं गावो धान्यं वस्त्रादिकं न मे विद्यते नृपशार्दूल वर्तनं नास्ति मे ततः ॥
hiraṇyaṃ rajataṃ gāvo dhānyaṃ vastrādikaṃ na me vidyate nṛpaśārdūla vartanaṃ nāsti me tataḥ //
"Gold, silver, cows, grain, clothing and the rest I do not possess, O tiger among kings; therefore I have no livelihood.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.52
सुता मे सन्ति भार्या च अहं वै पञ्चमस् तथा नैतेषां कतमस्यापि क्रेतान्नेन नृपोत्तम ॥
sutā me santi bhāryā ca ahaṃ vai pañcamas tathā naiteṣāṃ katamasyāpi kretānnena nṛpottama //
I have sons, and a wife, and I myself am the fifth; and there is no one, O best of kings, who will buy any one of these for food."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.53
किं क्रीणासि महाबुद्धे ऽजीगर्त सत्यम् एव मे वद नान्यच् च वक्तव्यं विप्रा वै सत्यवादिनः ॥
kiṃ krīṇāsi mahābuddhe 'jīgarta satyam eva me vada nānyac ca vaktavyaṃ viprā vai satyavādinaḥ //
"What will you buy, greatly wise Ajīgarta? Tell me only the truth; nothing else is to be spoken, for brahmins are truth-tellers."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.54
त्रयाणाम् अपि पुत्राणाम् एकं वा मां तथैव च भार्यां वापि गृहाणेमां क्रीत्वा जीवामहे वयम् ॥
trayāṇām api putrāṇām ekaṃ vā māṃ tathaiva ca bhāryāṃ vāpi gṛhāṇemāṃ krītvā jīvāmahe vayam //
"Of my three sons, take one, or me likewise, or else take this wife; having bought (one), we may live."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.55
किं भार्यया महाबुद्धे किं त्वया वृद्धरूपिणा युवानं देहि पुत्रं मे पुत्राणां यं त्वम् इच्छसि ॥
kiṃ bhāryayā mahābuddhe kiṃ tvayā vṛddharūpiṇā yuvānaṃ dehi putraṃ me putrāṇāṃ yaṃ tvam icchasi //
"What use is the wife, greatly wise one? What use are you, aged in form? Give me a young son, whichever of your sons you wish."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.56
ज्येष्ठपुत्रं शुनःपुच्छं नाहं क्रीणामि रोहित माता कनीयसं चापि न क्रीणाति ततो ऽनयोः मध्यमं तु शुनःशेपं क्रीणामि वद तद्धनम् ॥
jyeṣṭhaputraṃ śunaḥpucchaṃ nāhaṃ krīṇāmi rohita mātā kanīyasaṃ cāpi na krīṇāti tato 'nayoḥ madhyamaṃ tu śunaḥśepaṃ krīṇāmi vada taddhanam //
"The eldest son Śunaḥpuccha I do not buy, Rohita; and the mother does not give up the youngest; so, of these two, it is the middle one, Śunaḥśepa, whom I buy — name his price."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.57
वरुणाय पशुः कल्प्यः पुरुषो गुणवत्तरः यदि क्रीणासि मूल्यं त्वं वद सत्यं महामुने ॥
varuṇāya paśuḥ kalpyaḥ puruṣo guṇavattaraḥ yadi krīṇāsi mūlyaṃ tvaṃ vada satyaṃ mahāmune //
"A man of superior qualities is fit as the sacrificial victim for Varuṇa. If you are buying, state the price truly, great sage."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 104.58
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा त्व् अजीगर्तः पुत्रमूल्यम् अकल्पयत् गवां सहस्रं धान्यानां निष्कानां चापि वाससाम् राजपुत्र वरं देहि दास्यामि स्वसुतं तव ॥
tathety uktvā tv ajīgartaḥ putramūlyam akalpayat gavāṃ sahasraṃ dhānyānāṃ niṣkānāṃ cāpi vāsasām rājaputra varaṃ dehi dāsyāmi svasutaṃ tava //
Saying "so be it," Ajīgarta set the price of his son: a thousand of cows, of measures of grain, of niṣkas, and of garments. "Prince, give the best price; I shall give you my own son."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.59
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा रोहितो ऽपि प्रादात् सवसनं धनम् दत्त्वा जगाम पितरम् ऋषिपुत्रेण रोहितः पित्रे निवेदयाम् आस क्रयक्रीतम् ऋषेः सुतम् ॥
tathety uktvā rohito 'pi prādāt savasanaṃ dhanam dattvā jagāma pitaram ṛṣiputreṇa rohitaḥ pitre nivedayām āsa krayakrītam ṛṣeḥ sutam //
Saying "so be it," Rohita too handed over the wealth together with the garments; having given it, Rohita went to his father with the sage's son, and he presented to his father the sage's son bought by purchase.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.60
वरुणाय यजस्व त्वं पशुना त्वम् अरुग् भव ॥
varuṇāya yajasva tvaṃ paśunā tvam arug bhava //
"Sacrifice to Varuṇa with the victim; be free of disease."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.61
तथोवाच हरिश्चन्द्रः पुत्रवाक्याद् अनन्तरम् ॥
tathovāca hariścandraḥ putravākyād anantaram //
Hariścandra spoke thus, immediately after his son's words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.62
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या राज्ञा पाल्या इति श्रुतिः विशेषतस् तु वर्णानां गुरवो हि द्विजोत्तमाः ॥
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā rājñā pālyā iti śrutiḥ viśeṣatas tu varṇānāṃ guravo hi dvijottamāḥ //
"Brahmins, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas are to be protected by the king — such is the śruti; but especially so, since the best of the twice-born are the teachers of the (other) classes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.63
विष्णोर् अपि हि ये पूज्या मादृशाः कुत एव हि अवज्ञयापि येषां स्यान् नृपाणां स्वकुलक्षयः ॥
viṣṇor api hi ye pūjyā mādṛśāḥ kuta eva hi avajñayāpi yeṣāṃ syān nṛpāṇāṃ svakulakṣayaḥ //
Those who are to be honoured even by Viṣṇu — how much more by such as me! — by mere disrespect toward whom kings meet with the destruction of their own line:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.64
तान् पशून् कृत्वा कृपणं कथं रक्षितुम् उत्सहे अहं च ब्राह्मणं कुर्यां पशुं नैतद् धि युज्यते ॥
tān paśūn kṛtvā kṛpaṇaṃ kathaṃ rakṣitum utsahe ahaṃ ca brāhmaṇaṃ kuryāṃ paśuṃ naitad dhi yujyate //
having made them victims, how could I wretchedly presume to protect (myself)? And should I make a brahmin a victim? This is surely not fitting.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.65
वरं हि जातु मरणं न कथंचिद् द्विजं पशुम् करोमि तस्मात् पुत्र त्वं ब्राह्मणेन सुखं व्रज ॥
varaṃ hi jātu maraṇaṃ na kathaṃcid dvijaṃ paśum karomi tasmāt putra tvaṃ brāhmaṇena sukhaṃ vraja //
Death is indeed better; in no way whatever will I make a twice-born one a victim. Therefore, son, go happily along with the brahmin."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.66
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे तत्र वाग् उवाचाशरीरिणी ॥
etasminn antare tatra vāg uvācāśarīriṇī //
Meanwhile a bodiless voice spoke there:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.67
गौतमीं गच्छ राजेन्द्र ऋत्विग्भिः सपुरोहितः पशुना विप्रपुत्रेण रोहितेन सुतेन च ॥
gautamīṃ gaccha rājendra ṛtvigbhiḥ sapurohitaḥ paśunā vipraputreṇa rohitena sutena ca //
"Go to the Gautamī, best of kings, together with the officiating priests and your chaplain, with the sacrificial victim—the brahmin's son—and with your son Rohita.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.68
त्वया कार्यः क्रतुश् चैव शुनःशेपवधं विना क्रतुः पूर्णो भवेत् तत्र तस्माद् याहि महामते ॥
tvayā kāryaḥ kratuś caiva śunaḥśepavadhaṃ vinā kratuḥ pūrṇo bhavet tatra tasmād yāhi mahāmate //
And the rite is to be performed by you without the killing of Śunaḥśepa; there the rite will become complete—therefore go, great-minded one."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.69
तच् छ्रुत्वा वचनं शीघ्रं गङ्गाम् अगान् नृपोत्तमः विश्वामित्रेण ऋषिणा वसिष्ठेन पुरोधसा ॥
tac chrutvā vacanaṃ śīghraṃ gaṅgām agān nṛpottamaḥ viśvāmitreṇa ṛṣiṇā vasiṣṭhena purodhasā //
Hearing that speech, the best of kings went quickly to the Gaṅgā, with the seer Viśvāmitra and with Vasiṣṭha as his chaplain,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.70
वामदेवेन ऋषिणा तथान्यैर् मुनिभिः सह प्राप्य गङ्गां गौतमीं तां नरमेधाय दीक्षितः ॥
vāmadevena ṛṣiṇā tathānyair munibhiḥ saha prāpya gaṅgāṃ gautamīṃ tāṃ naramedhāya dīkṣitaḥ //
with the seer Vāmadeva and likewise with other sages; and having reached that Gautamī Gaṅgā, he was consecrated for the human sacrifice.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.71
वेदिमण्डपकुण्डादि यूपपश्वादि चाकरोत् कृत्वा सर्वं यथान्यायं तस्मिन् यज्ञे प्रवर्तिते ॥
vedimaṇḍapakuṇḍādi yūpapaśvādi cākarot kṛtvā sarvaṃ yathānyāyaṃ tasmin yajñe pravartite //
He had the altar, the pavilion, the fire-pits and the rest, and the sacrificial post, the victim and the rest, prepared; when everything had been done according to rule and that sacrifice was set in motion,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.72
शुनःशेपं पशुं यूपे निबध्याथ समन्त्रकम् वारिभिः प्रोक्षितं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रो ऽब्रवीद् इदम् ॥
śunaḥśepaṃ paśuṃ yūpe nibadhyātha samantrakam vāribhiḥ prokṣitaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśvāmitro 'bravīd idam //
having then bound Śunaḥśepa as the victim to the post with the (appropriate) mantras, Viśvāmitra, seeing him sprinkled with water, said this:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.73
देवान् ऋषीन् हरिश्चन्द्रं रोहितं च विशेषतः अनुजानन्त्व् इमं सर्वे शुनःशेपं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥
devān ṛṣīn hariścandraṃ rohitaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ anujānantv imaṃ sarve śunaḥśepaṃ dvijottamam //
"Let the gods, the seers, Hariścandra and Rohita especially—let them all give leave concerning this Śunaḥśepa, best of the twice-born;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.74
येभ्यस् त्व् अयं हविर् देयो देवेभ्यो ऽयं पृथक् पृथक् अनुजानन्तु ते सर्वे शुनःशेपं विशेषतः ॥
yebhyas tv ayaṃ havir deyo devebhyo 'yaṃ pṛthak pṛthak anujānantu te sarve śunaḥśepaṃ viśeṣataḥ //
and those gods to whom this oblation is to be given, each one separately—let them all give leave concerning Śunaḥśepa especially.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.75
वसाभिर् लोमभिस् त्वग्भिर् मांसैः सन्मन्त्रितैर् मखे अग्नौ होष्यः पशुश् चायं शुनःशेपो द्विजोत्तमः ॥
vasābhir lomabhis tvagbhir māṃsaiḥ sanmantritair makhe agnau hoṣyaḥ paśuś cāyaṃ śunaḥśepo dvijottamaḥ //
With his fat, his hairs, his skin, his flesh, duly consecrated with mantras at the sacrifice, this victim Śunaḥśepa, best of the twice-born, is to be offered into the fire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.76
उपासिताः स्युर् विप्रेन्द्रास् ते सर्वे त्व् अनुमन्य माम् गौतमीं यान्तु विप्रेन्द्राः स्नात्वा देवान् पृथक् पृथक् ॥
upāsitāḥ syur viprendrās te sarve tv anumanya mām gautamīṃ yāntu viprendrāḥ snātvā devān pṛthak pṛthak //
Let the chief of brahmins be honoured; and let all of them, giving me leave, go to the Gautamī; let the chief brahmins bathe and (worship) the gods each separately,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.77
मन्त्रैः स्तोत्रैः स्तुवन्तस् ते मुदं यान्तु शिवे रताः एनं रक्षन्तु मुनयो देवाश् च हविषो भुजः ॥
mantraiḥ stotraiḥ stuvantas te mudaṃ yāntu śive ratāḥ enaṃ rakṣantu munayo devāś ca haviṣo bhujaḥ //
and praising with mantras and hymns, let them attain joy, delighting in what is auspicious; let the sages and the gods who eat the oblation protect this one."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.78
तथेत्य् ऊचुश् च मुनयो मेने च नृपसत्तमः ततो गत्वा शुनःशेपो गङ्गां त्रैलोक्यपावनीम् ॥
tathety ūcuś ca munayo mene ca nṛpasattamaḥ tato gatvā śunaḥśepo gaṅgāṃ trailokyapāvanīm //
And the sages said "so be it," and the foremost of kings consented. Then Śunaḥśepa, having gone to the Gaṅgā, purifier of the three worlds,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.79
स्नात्वा तुष्टाव तान् देवान् ये तत्र हविषो भुजः ततस् तुष्टाः सुरगणाः शुनःशेपं च ते मुने अवदन्त सुराः सर्वे विश्वामित्रस्य शृण्वतः ॥
snātvā tuṣṭāva tān devān ye tatra haviṣo bhujaḥ tatas tuṣṭāḥ suragaṇāḥ śunaḥśepaṃ ca te mune avadanta surāḥ sarve viśvāmitrasya śṛṇvataḥ //
bathed and praised those gods who there eat the oblation. Then, O sage, the hosts of gods were pleased, and all the gods spoke to Śunaḥśepa while Viśvāmitra listened:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.80
क्रतुः पूर्णो भवत्व् एष शुनःशेपवधं विना ॥
kratuḥ pūrṇo bhavatv eṣa śunaḥśepavadhaṃ vinā //
"Let this rite be complete without the killing of Śunaḥśepa."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.81
विशेषेणाथ वरुणश् चावदन् नृपसत्तमम् ततः पूर्णो ऽभवद् राज्ञो नृमेधो लोकविश्रुतः ॥
viśeṣeṇātha varuṇaś cāvadan nṛpasattamam tataḥ pūrṇo 'bhavad rājño nṛmedho lokaviśrutaḥ //
And then Varuṇa in particular spoke to the foremost of kings. Thereupon the king's human sacrifice, famed in the world, became complete.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.82
देवानां च प्रसादेन मुनीनां च प्रसादतः तीर्थस्य तु प्रसादेन राज्ञः पूर्णो ऽभवत् क्रतुः ॥
devānāṃ ca prasādena munīnāṃ ca prasādataḥ tīrthasya tu prasādena rājñaḥ pūrṇo 'bhavat kratuḥ //
By the favour of the gods and by the favour of the sages, and by the favour of the sacred ford, the king's rite became complete.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.83
विश्वामित्रः शुनःशेपं पूजयाम् आस संसदि अकरोद् आत्मनः पुत्रं पूजयित्वा सुरान्तिके ॥
viśvāmitraḥ śunaḥśepaṃ pūjayām āsa saṃsadi akarod ātmanaḥ putraṃ pūjayitvā surāntike //
Viśvāmitra honoured Śunaḥśepa in the assembly, and having honoured him in the presence of the gods, made him his own son.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.84
ज्येष्ठं चकार पुत्राणाम् आत्मनः स तु कौशिकः न मेनिरे ये च पुत्रा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः ॥
jyeṣṭhaṃ cakāra putrāṇām ātmanaḥ sa tu kauśikaḥ na menire ye ca putrā viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ //
And that Kauśika made him the eldest of his own sons. Those sons of wise Viśvāmitra who did not accept
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.85
शुनःशेपस्य च ज्यैष्ठ्यं ताञ् शशाप स कौशिकः ज्यैष्ठ्यं ये मेनिरे पुत्राः पूजयाम् आस तान् सुतान् ॥
śunaḥśepasya ca jyaiṣṭhyaṃ tāñ śaśāpa sa kauśikaḥ jyaiṣṭhyaṃ ye menire putrāḥ pūjayām āsa tān sutān //
Śunaḥśepa's seniority—those Kauśika cursed; and the sons who did accept his seniority, those sons he honoured
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.86
वरेण मुनिशार्दूलस् तद् एतत् कथितं मया एतत् सर्वं यत्र जातं गौतम्या दक्षिणे तटे ॥
vareṇa muniśārdūlas tad etat kathitaṃ mayā etat sarvaṃ yatra jātaṃ gautamyā dakṣiṇe taṭe //
By (that) boon, O tiger among sages — all this has been told by me, all this which came to pass on the southern bank of the Gautamī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.87
तत्र तीर्थानि पुण्यानि विख्यातानि सुरादिभिः बहूनि तेषां नामानि मत्तः शृणु महामते ॥
tatra tīrthāni puṇyāni vikhyātāni surādibhiḥ bahūni teṣāṃ nāmāni mattaḥ śṛṇu mahāmate //
There are many holy sacred fords there, renowned among the gods and others; hear their names from me, O greatly wise one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.88
हरिश्चन्द्रं शुनःशेपं विश्वामित्रं सरोहितम् इत्याद्य् अष्ट सहस्राणि तीर्थान्य् अथ चतुर्दश ॥
hariścandraṃ śunaḥśepaṃ viśvāmitraṃ sarohitam ityādy aṣṭa sahasrāṇi tīrthāny atha caturdaśa //
Hariścandra, Śunaḥśepa, Viśvāmitra, together with Rohita — such are the fords, eight thousand and fourteen (in number).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.89
तेषु स्नानं च दानं च नरमेधफलप्रदम् आख्यातं चास्य माहात्म्यं तीर्थस्य मुनिसत्तम ॥
teṣu snānaṃ ca dānaṃ ca naramedhaphalapradam ākhyātaṃ cāsya māhātmyaṃ tīrthasya munisattama //
Bathing and giving in them bestow the fruit of a human sacrifice; and the greatness of this ford has (now) been declared, O best of sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 104.90
यः पठेत् पाठयेद् वापि शृणुयाद् वापि भक्तितः अपुत्रः पुत्रम् आप्नोति यच् चान्यन् मनसः प्रियम् ॥
yaḥ paṭhet pāṭhayed vāpi śṛṇuyād vāpi bhaktitaḥ aputraḥ putram āpnoti yac cānyan manasaḥ priyam //
He who recites it, or has it recited, or hears it with devotion — a man without a son obtains a son, and whatever else is dear to his mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition