Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 7 — Chapter 21
DB 7 21.1
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रो महातपाः । अन्तकेन समः क्रुद्धो धनं स्वं याचितुं हृदा
etasminnantare prāpto viśvāmitro mahātapāḥ | antakena samaḥ kruddho dhanaṃ svaṃ yācituṃ hṛdā
Meanwhile Viśvāmitra of great austerity arrived, like Death, angry, (intending) in his heart to demand his own wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.2
तमालोक्य हरिश्चन्द्रः पपात भुवि मूर्च्छितः । स वारिणा तमभ्युक्ष्य राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
tamālokya hariścandraḥ papāta bhuvi mūrcchitaḥ | sa vāriṇā tamabhyukṣya rājānamidamabravīt
Seeing him, Hariścandra fell to the ground in a swoon. He, sprinkling him with water, said this to the king:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.3
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजेन्द्र स्वां ददस्वेष्टदक्षिणाम् । ऋणं धारयतां दुःखमहन्यहनि वर्धते
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha rājendra svāṃ dadasveṣṭadakṣiṇām | ṛṇaṃ dhārayatāṃ duḥkhamahanyahani vardhate
"Rise, rise, best of kings, give the sacrificial fee you desired (to give); for those who bear a debt, the pain grows day by day."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.4
आप्यायमानः स तदा हिमशीतेन वारिणा । अवाप्य चेतनां राजा विश्वामित्रमवेक्ष्य च
āpyāyamānaḥ sa tadā himaśītena vāriṇā | avāpya cetanāṃ rājā viśvāmitramavekṣya ca
Then, being revived by the water cold as snow, the king, regaining consciousness and seeing Viśvāmitra,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.5
पुनर्मोहं समापेदे ह्यथ क्रोधं ययौ मुनिः समाश्वास्य च राजानं वाक्यमाह द्विजोत्तमः
punarmohaṃ samāpede hyatha krodhaṃ yayau muniḥ samāśvāsya ca rājānaṃ vākyamāha dvijottamaḥ
fell into a faint again; and thereupon the sage grew angry, and the best of the twice-born, after comforting the king, spoke these words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.6
विश्वामित्र उवाच - दीयतां दक्षिणा सा मे यदि धैर्यमवेक्षसे । सत्येनार्कः प्रतपति सत्ये तिष्ठति मेदिनी
viśvāmitra uvāca - dīyatāṃ dakṣiṇā sā me yadi dhairyamavekṣase | satyenārkaḥ pratapati satye tiṣṭhati medinī
Viśvāmitra said: Let that fee of mine be given, if you have regard for steadfastness. By truth the sun burns, upon truth the earth rests.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.7
सत्ये प्रोक्तः परो धर्मः स्वर्गः सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः । अश्वमेधसहस्रं तु सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्
satye proktaḥ paro dharmaḥ svargaḥ satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ | aśvamedhasahasraṃ tu satyaṃ ca tulayā dhṛtam
Truth is declared the highest duty; heaven is established in truth. A thousand horse-sacrifices and truth were held in the balance:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.8
अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेकं विशिष्यते । अथवा किं ममैतेन प्रोक्तेनास्ति प्रयोजनम्
aśvamedhasahasrāddhi satyamekaṃ viśiṣyate | athavā kiṃ mamaitena proktenāsti prayojanam
truth alone surpasses a thousand horse-sacrifices. Or rather, what use is there for me in this that I have said?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.9
मदीयां दक्षिणां राजन्न दास्यति भवान्यदि । अस्ताचलगते ह्यर्के शप्स्यामि त्वामतो ध्रुवम्
madīyāṃ dakṣiṇāṃ rājanna dāsyati bhavānyadi | astācalagate hyarke śapsyāmi tvāmato dhruvam
If you, O king, will not give me my fee, then when the sun has gone to the mountain of setting I shall surely curse you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.10
इत्युक्त्वा स ययौ विप्रो राजा चासीद्भयातुरः । दुःखीभूतोऽवनौ निःस्वो नृशंसमुनिनार्दितः
ityuktvā sa yayau vipro rājā cāsīdbhayāturaḥ | duḥkhībhūto'vanau niḥsvo nṛśaṃsamuninārditaḥ
Having said this the brahmin went away; and the king was stricken with fear, become miserable, destitute upon the ground, tormented by the cruel sage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.11
सूत उवाच - एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः । ब्राह्मणैर्बहुभिः सार्धं निर्ययौ स्वगृहाद् बहिः
sūta uvāca - etasminnantare tatra brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ | brāhmaṇairbahubhiḥ sārdhaṃ niryayau svagṛhād bahiḥ
Sūta said: Meanwhile a brahmin there, versed to the end in the Vedas, came out of his own house together with many brahmins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.12
ततो राज्ञी तु तं दृष्ट्वा आयान्तं तापसं स्थितम् । उवाच वाक्यं राजानं धर्मार्थसहितं तदा
tato rājñī tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā āyāntaṃ tāpasaṃ sthitam | uvāca vākyaṃ rājānaṃ dharmārthasahitaṃ tadā
Then the queen, seeing that ascetic who had come and was standing (there), spoke words to the king, joined with dharma and profit:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.13
त्रयाणामपि वर्णानां पिता ब्राह्मण उच्यते । पितृद्रव्यं हि पुत्रेण ग्रहीतव्यं न संशयः
trayāṇāmapi varṇānāṃ pitā brāhmaṇa ucyate | pitṛdravyaṃ hi putreṇa grahītavyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
The brahmin is called the father of the (other) three classes; and a father's property is certainly to be taken by the son — there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.14
तस्मादयं प्रार्थनीयो धनार्थमिति मे मतिः । राजोवाच - नाहं प्रतिग्रहं काङ्क्षे क्षत्रियोऽहं सुमध्यमे
tasmādayaṃ prārthanīyo dhanārthamiti me matiḥ | rājovāca - nāhaṃ pratigrahaṃ kāṅkṣe kṣatriyo'haṃ sumadhyame
Therefore this (brahmin) should be entreated for the sake of wealth — such is my view. The king said: I do not desire a gift received (from another); I am a kṣatriya, O fair-waisted one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.15
याचनं खलु विप्राणां क्षत्रियाणां न विद्यते । गुरुर्हि विप्रो वर्णानां पूजनीयोऽस्ति सर्वदा
yācanaṃ khalu viprāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ na vidyate | gururhi vipro varṇānāṃ pūjanīyo'sti sarvadā
Begging indeed belongs to the brahmins; it does not exist for kṣatriyas. For the brahmin is the teacher of the classes and is always to be honoured.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.16
तस्माद् गुरुर्न याच्यः स्यात्क्षत्रियाणां विशेषतः । यजनाध्ययनं दानं क्षत्रियस्य विधीयते
tasmād gururna yācyaḥ syātkṣatriyāṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ | yajanādhyayanaṃ dānaṃ kṣatriyasya vidhīyate
Therefore a teacher should not be begged from, especially by kṣatriyas. Sacrificing, study, and giving are prescribed for a kṣatriya,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.17
शरणागतानामभयं प्रजानां प्रतिपालनम् । न चाप्येवं तु वक्तव्यं देहीति कृपणं वचः
śaraṇāgatānāmabhayaṃ prajānāṃ pratipālanam | na cāpyevaṃ tu vaktavyaṃ dehīti kṛpaṇaṃ vacaḥ
(and) safety for those who have come for refuge, and the protection of the subjects; and this pitiable speech, "Give!", is not to be uttered (by him).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.18
ददामीत्येव मे देवि हृदये निहितं वचः । अर्जितं कुत्रचिद् द्रव्यं ब्राह्मणाय ददाम्यहम्
dadāmītyeva me devi hṛdaye nihitaṃ vacaḥ | arjitaṃ kutracid dravyaṃ brāhmaṇāya dadāmyaham
"I give" — that alone is the word set in my heart, O goddess. Having earned wealth somewhere, I (would) give it to a brahmin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.19
पत्न्युवाच - कालः समविषमकरः परिभवसम्मानमानदः कालः । कालः करोति पुरुषं दातारं याचितारं च
patnyuvāca - kālaḥ samaviṣamakaraḥ paribhavasammānamānadaḥ kālaḥ | kālaḥ karoti puruṣaṃ dātāraṃ yācitāraṃ ca
The wife said: Time makes the even and the uneven; Time is the giver of humiliation, of honour, and of esteem; Time makes a man a giver and a beggar too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.20
विप्रेण विदुषा राजा क्रुद्धेनातिबलीयसा । राज्यान्निरस्तः सौख्याच्च पश्य कालस्य चेष्टितम्
vipreṇa viduṣā rājā kruddhenātibalīyasā | rājyānnirastaḥ saukhyācca paśya kālasya ceṣṭitam
By a learned brahmin, angered and exceedingly powerful, the king was cast out from kingdom and from comfort — behold the working of Time!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.21
राजोवाच - असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण वरं जिह्वा द्विधा कृता । न तु मानं परित्यज्य देहि देहीति भाषितम् सप्तमस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्रोपाख्यानवर्णनं नाम एकविंशोऽध्यायः
rājovāca - asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa varaṃ jihvā dvidhā kṛtā | na tu mānaṃ parityajya dehi dehīti bhāṣitam saptamaskandhe hariścandropākhyānavarṇanaṃ nāma ekaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ
The king said: Better that the tongue be split in two by a sharp-edged sword than that, abandoning honour, one say "Give, give." — In the seventh book, the twenty-first chapter, called the narration of the tale of Hariścandra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.22
क्षत्रियोऽहं महाभागे न याचे किञ्चिदप्यहम् । ददामि वाहं नित्यं हि भुजवीर्यार्जितं धनम्
kṣatriyo'haṃ mahābhāge na yāce kiñcidapyaham | dadāmi vāhaṃ nityaṃ hi bhujavīryārjitaṃ dhanam
I am a kṣatriya, O greatly fortunate one; I do not beg for anything at all. Rather I always give wealth won by the strength of my arms.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.23
पत्न्युवाच - यदि ते हि महाराज याचितुं न क्षमं मनः । अहं तु न्यायतो दत्ता देवैरपि सवासवैः
patnyuvāca - yadi te hi mahārāja yācituṃ na kṣamaṃ manaḥ | ahaṃ tu nyāyato dattā devairapi savāsavaiḥ
The wife said: If indeed, great king, your mind is not able to beg — yet I was given (to you) lawfully, even by the gods together with Vāsava (Indra);
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.24
अहं शास्या च पत्या च रक्ष्या चैव महाद्युते । मन्मौल्यं संगृहीत्वाथ गुर्वर्थं सम्प्रदीयताम्
ahaṃ śāsyā ca patyā ca rakṣyā caiva mahādyute | manmaulyaṃ saṃgṛhītvātha gurvarthaṃ sampradīyatām
I am both to be ruled by (my) husband and to be protected (by him), O greatly resplendent one; so, having taken my price, let it be given for the teacher's fee.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.25
एतद्वाक्यमुपश्रुत्य हरिश्चन्द्रो महीपतिः । कष्टं कष्टमिति प्रोच्य विललापातिदुःखितः
etadvākyamupaśrutya hariścandro mahīpatiḥ | kaṣṭaṃ kaṣṭamiti procya vilalāpātiduḥkhitaḥ
Having heard this speech, Hariścandra, lord of the earth, crying "Hard, hard!", lamented, exceedingly grieved.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.26
भार्या च भूयः प्राहेदं क्रियतां वचनं मम । विप्रशापाग्निदग्धत्वान्नीचत्वमुपयास्यसि
bhāryā ca bhūyaḥ prāhedaṃ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama | vipraśāpāgnidagdhatvānnīcatvamupayāsyasi
And the wife spoke this again: Let my word be carried out. Being burnt by the fire of the brahmin's curse, you will come to a low state.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 21.27
न द्युतहेतोर्न च मद्यहेतो- र्न राज्यहेतोर्न च भोगहेतोः । ददस्व गुर्वर्थमतो मया त्वं सत्यव्रतत्वं सफलं कुरुष्व
na dyutahetorna ca madyaheto- rna rājyahetorna ca bhogahetoḥ | dadasva gurvarthamato mayā tvaṃ satyavratatvaṃ saphalaṃ kuruṣva
Not for the sake of gambling, nor for liquor, nor for a kingdom, nor for enjoyment — give (me), then, for the teacher's fee; make your vow of truth fruitful through me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition