Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 7 — Chapter 23
DB 7 23.1
हरिश्चन्द्रोपाख्यानवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - तमेवमुक्त्वा राजानं निर्घृणं निष्ठुरं वचः । तदादाय धनं पूर्णं कुपितः कौशिको ययौ
hariścandropākhyānavarṇanam vyāsa uvāca - tamevamuktvā rājānaṃ nirghṛṇaṃ niṣṭhuraṃ vacaḥ | tadādāya dhanaṃ pūrṇaṃ kupitaḥ kauśiko yayau
Description of the tale of Hariścandra. Vyāsa said: Having spoken to the king in this way, a pitiless and harsh speech, the angry Kauśika took that whole wealth and went away.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.2
विश्वामित्रे गते राजा ततः शोकमुपागतः । श्वासोच्छ्वासं मुहुः कृत्वा प्रोवाचोच्चैरधोमुखः
viśvāmitre gate rājā tataḥ śokamupāgataḥ | śvāsocchvāsaṃ muhuḥ kṛtvā provācoccairadhomukhaḥ
When Viśvāmitra had gone, the king then fell into grief; breathing in and out again and again, with his face bent down, he spoke aloud.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.3
वित्तक्रीतेन यस्यार्तिर्मया प्रेतेन गच्छति । स ब्रवीतु त्वरायुक्तो यामे तिष्ठति भास्करः
vittakrītena yasyārtirmayā pretena gacchati | sa bravītu tvarāyukto yāme tiṣṭhati bhāskaraḥ
"Whoever has need of me — a corpse bought with money — let him speak with haste: the sun stands in (its last) watch."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 7 23.4
अथाजगाम त्वरितो धर्मश्चाण्डालरूपधृक् । दुर्गन्धो विकृतोरस्कः श्मश्रुलो दन्तुरोऽघृणी
athājagāma tvarito dharmaścāṇḍālarūpadhṛk | durgandho vikṛtoraskaḥ śmaśrulo danturo'ghṛṇī
Then Dharma came in haste, bearing the form of a cāṇḍāla: foul-smelling, with a deformed chest, bearded, with jutting teeth, without pity;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.5
कृष्णो लम्बोदरः स्निग्धः करालः पुरुषाधमः । हस्तजर्जरयष्टिश्च शवमाल्यैरलङ्कृतः
kṛṣṇo lambodaraḥ snigdhaḥ karālaḥ puruṣādhamaḥ | hastajarjarayaṣṭiśca śavamālyairalaṅkṛtaḥ
black, pot-bellied, greasy, gaping-jawed, the lowest of men, with a battered staff in his hand, adorned with garlands taken from corpses.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.6
चाण्डाल उवाच - अहं गृह्णामि दासत्वे भृत्यार्थः सुमहान्मम । क्षिप्रमाचक्ष्व मौल्यं किमेतत्ते सम्प्रदीयते
cāṇḍāla uvāca - ahaṃ gṛhṇāmi dāsatve bhṛtyārthaḥ sumahānmama | kṣipramācakṣva maulyaṃ kimetatte sampradīyate
The cāṇḍāla said: I will take (you) into servitude; my need of a servant is very great. Say the price quickly — what is to be paid over to you?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.7
व्यास उवाच - तं तादृशमथालक्ष्य क्रूरदृष्टिं सुनिर्घृणम् । वदन्तमतिदुःशीलं कस्त्वमित्याह पार्थिवः
vyāsa uvāca - taṃ tādṛśamathālakṣya krūradṛṣṭiṃ sunirghṛṇam | vadantamatiduḥśīlaṃ kastvamityāha pārthivaḥ
Vyāsa said: Then, observing him thus — cruel of gaze, utterly pitiless, speaking, of very evil character — the king said, "Who are you?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.8
चाण्डाल उवाच - चाण्डालोऽहमिह ख्यातः प्रवीरेति नृपोत्तम । शासने सर्वदा तिष्ठ मृतचैलापहारकः
cāṇḍāla uvāca - cāṇḍālo'hamiha khyātaḥ pravīreti nṛpottama | śāsane sarvadā tiṣṭha mṛtacailāpahārakaḥ
The cāṇḍāla said: I am known here as a cāṇḍāla by the name of Pravīra, O best of kings. Stand always under (my) orders; I am one who takes away the clothes of the dead.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.9
एवमुक्तस्तदा राजा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् । ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वापि गृह्णात्विति मतिर्मम
evamuktastadā rājā vacanaṃ cedamabravīt | brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vāpi gṛhṇātviti matirmama
Addressed thus, the king then spoke this word: "Let a brahmin, or else a kṣatriya, buy (me) — such is my mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.10
उत्तमस्योत्तमो धर्मो मध्यमस्य च मध्यमः । अधमस्याधमश्चैव इति प्राहुर्मनीषिणः
uttamasyottamo dharmo madhyamasya ca madhyamaḥ | adhamasyādhamaścaiva iti prāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ
For the highest the highest duty, for the middling the middling, and for the lowest the lowest — so the wise have declared."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.11
चाण्डाल उवाच एवमेव त्वया धर्मः कथितो नृपसत्तम । अविचार्य त्वया राजन्नधुनोक्तं ममाग्रतः
cāṇḍāla uvāca evameva tvayā dharmaḥ kathito nṛpasattama | avicārya tvayā rājannadhunoktaṃ mamāgrataḥ
The cāṇḍāla said: Just so has the law been stated by you, best of kings; (yet) without reflecting, O king, you have now spoken before me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.12
विचारयित्वा यो ब्रूते सोऽभीष्टं लभते नरः । सामान्यमेव तत्प्रोक्तमविचार्य त्वयानघ
vicārayitvā yo brūte so'bhīṣṭaṃ labhate naraḥ | sāmānyameva tatproktamavicārya tvayānagha
The man who speaks after reflecting obtains what he wishes; that was uttered by you, O sinless one, without reflection, as a mere generality.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.13
यदि सत्यं प्रमाणं ते गृहीतोऽसि न संशयः । हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - असत्यान्नरके गच्छेत्सद्यः क्रूरे नराधमः
yadi satyaṃ pramāṇaṃ te gṛhīto'si na saṃśayaḥ | hariścandra uvāca - asatyānnarake gacchetsadyaḥ krūre narādhamaḥ
If truth is your standard, you have been bought — there is no doubt. Hariścandra said: Through untruth the lowest of men would go at once to a cruel hell.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.14
ततश्चाण्डालता साध्वी न वरा मे ह्यसत्यता । व्यास उवाच - तस्यैवं वदतः प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रस्तपोनिधिः
tataścāṇḍālatā sādhvī na varā me hyasatyatā | vyāsa uvāca - tasyaivaṃ vadataḥ prāpto viśvāmitrastaponidhiḥ
"Therefore being a caṇḍāla is better; untruthfulness is surely not preferable for me." Vyāsa said: While he was speaking thus, Viśvāmitra, that treasury of austerity, arrived.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.15
क्रोधामर्षविवृत्ताक्षः प्राह चेदं नराधिपम् । चाण्डालोऽयं मनस्थं ते दातुं वित्तमुपस्थितः
krodhāmarṣavivṛttākṣaḥ prāha cedaṃ narādhipam | cāṇḍālo'yaṃ manasthaṃ te dātuṃ vittamupasthitaḥ
With eyes rolling from anger and indignation, he said this to the king of men: "This caṇḍāla has come to give the wealth you had in mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.16
कस्मान्न दीयते मह्यमशेषा यज्ञदक्षिणा । राजोवाच - भगवन्सूर्यवंशोत्थमात्मानं वेद्मि कौशिक
kasmānna dīyate mahyamaśeṣā yajñadakṣiṇā | rājovāca - bhagavansūryavaṃśotthamātmānaṃ vedmi kauśika
Why is the sacrificial fee not given to me in full?" The king said: "Lord, I know myself to be sprung from the solar line, O Kauśika.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.17
कथं चाण्डालदासत्वं गमिष्ये वित्तकामतः । विश्वामित्र उवाच - यदि चाण्डालवित्तं त्वमात्मविक्रयजं मम
kathaṃ cāṇḍāladāsatvaṃ gamiṣye vittakāmataḥ | viśvāmitra uvāca - yadi cāṇḍālavittaṃ tvamātmavikrayajaṃ mama
How shall I go into slavery to a caṇḍāla out of desire for wealth?" Viśvāmitra said: "If you do not give me the caṇḍāla's wealth, arisen from the sale of yourself—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.18
न प्रदास्यसि चेत्तर्हि शप्स्यामि त्वामसंशयम् । चाण्डालादथवा विप्राद्देहि मे दक्षिणाधनम्
na pradāsyasi cettarhi śapsyāmi tvāmasaṃśayam | cāṇḍālādathavā viprāddehi me dakṣiṇādhanam
—if you will not give it, then I shall surely curse you. Either from the caṇḍāla or from a brahmin, give me the wealth for the sacrificial fee.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.19
विना चाण्डालमधुना नान्यः कश्चिद्धनप्रदः । धनेनाहं विना राजन्न यास्यामि न संशयः
vinā cāṇḍālamadhunā nānyaḥ kaściddhanapradaḥ | dhanenāhaṃ vinā rājanna yāsyāmi na saṃśayaḥ
Apart from the caṇḍāla there is now no one else who will give the money. Without the money, O king, I will not go, no doubt of it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.20
इदानीमेव मे वित्तं न प्रदास्यसि चेन्नृप । दिनेऽर्धघटिकाशेषे तत्त्वां शापाग्निना दहे
idānīmeva me vittaṃ na pradāsyasi cennṛpa | dine'rdhaghaṭikāśeṣe tattvāṃ śāpāgninā dahe
If you will not give me the wealth this very moment, O king, then when half a ghaṭikā of the day remains I shall burn you with the fire of my curse."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.21
व्यास उवाच - हरिश्चन्द्रस्ततो राजा मृत्ववच्छ्रितजीवितः । प्रसीदेति वदन्पादौ ऋषेर्जग्राह विह्वलः
vyāsa uvāca - hariścandrastato rājā mṛtvavacchritajīvitaḥ | prasīdeti vadanpādau ṛṣerjagrāha vihvalaḥ
Vyāsa said: Then King Hariścandra, his life clinging (to him) as if he were dead, distressed, saying "Be gracious," seized the sage's feet.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.22
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - दासोऽस्म्यार्तोऽस्मि दीनोऽस्मि त्वद्भक्तश्च विशेषतः । प्रसादं कुरु विप्रर्षे कष्टश्चाण्डालसङ्करः
hariścandra uvāca - dāso'smyārto'smi dīno'smi tvadbhaktaśca viśeṣataḥ | prasādaṃ kuru viprarṣe kaṣṭaścāṇḍālasaṅkaraḥ
Hariścandra said: "I am a slave, I am afflicted, I am wretched, and especially I am your devotee. Show favour, O brahmin sage; mixing with a caṇḍāla is grievous.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.23
भवेयं वित्तशेषेण तव कर्मकरो वशः । तवैव मुनिशार्दूल प्रेष्यश्चित्तानुवर्तकः सप्तमस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्रोपाख्यानवर्णनं नाम त्रयोविंशोऽध्यायः
bhaveyaṃ vittaśeṣeṇa tava karmakaro vaśaḥ | tavaiva muniśārdūla preṣyaścittānuvartakaḥ saptamaskandhe hariścandropākhyānavarṇanaṃ nāma trayoviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ
For the remainder of the wealth let me become your labourer, subject (to you), your very own errand-runner, following your wishes, O tiger among sages." (Thus) the twenty-third chapter, named the Description of the Tale of Hariścandra, in the Seventh Book.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.24
विश्वामित्र उवाच - एवमस्तु महाराज ममैव भव किङ्करः । किंतु मद्वचनं कार्यं सर्वदैव नराधिप
viśvāmitra uvāca - evamastu mahārāja mamaiva bhava kiṅkaraḥ | kiṃtu madvacanaṃ kāryaṃ sarvadaiva narādhipa
Viśvāmitra said: "So be it, great king; become my servant. But my word must always be carried out, O ruler of men."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.25
व्यास उवाच - एवमुक्तेऽथ वचने राजा हर्षसमन्वितः । अमन्यत पुनर्जातमात्मानं प्राह कौशिकम्
vyāsa uvāca - evamukte'tha vacane rājā harṣasamanvitaḥ | amanyata punarjātamātmānaṃ prāha kauśikam
Vyāsa said: When this speech had been spoken, the king, filled with joy, considered himself born again, and said to Kauśika:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.26
तवादेशं करिष्यामि सदैवाहं न संशयः । आदेशय द्विजश्रेष्ठ किं करोमि तवानघ
tavādeśaṃ kariṣyāmi sadaivāhaṃ na saṃśayaḥ | ādeśaya dvijaśreṣṭha kiṃ karomi tavānagha
"I shall always carry out your command, without doubt. Command me, best of the twice-born; what shall I do for you, O sinless one?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.27
विश्वामित्र उवाच - चाण्डालागच्छ मद्दासमौल्यं किं मे प्रयच्छसि । गृहाण दासं मौल्येन मया दत्तं तवाधुना
viśvāmitra uvāca - cāṇḍālāgaccha maddāsamaulyaṃ kiṃ me prayacchasi | gṛhāṇa dāsaṃ maulyena mayā dattaṃ tavādhunā
Viśvāmitra said: "Caṇḍāla, come here—what price for my slave will you offer me? Take with a price the slave now given by me to you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.28
नास्ति दासेन मे कार्यं वित्ताशा वर्तते मम । व्यास उवाच - एवमुक्ते तदा तेन स्वपचो हृष्टमानसः
nāsti dāsena me kāryaṃ vittāśā vartate mama | vyāsa uvāca - evamukte tadā tena svapaco hṛṣṭamānasaḥ
I have no need of a slave; my hope is for wealth." Vyāsa said: When this was said by him, the dog-cooker, glad at heart,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.29
आगत्य सन्निधौ तूर्णं विश्वामित्रमभाषत । चाण्डाल उवाच - दशयोजनविस्तीर्णे प्रयागस्य च मण्डले
āgatya sannidhau tūrṇaṃ viśvāmitramabhāṣata | cāṇḍāla uvāca - daśayojanavistīrṇe prayāgasya ca maṇḍale
having quickly come into his presence, spoke to Viśvāmitra. The caṇḍāla said: "Over the circuit of Prayāga, ten yojanas in extent,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.30
भूमिं रत्नमयीं कृत्वा दास्ये तेऽहं द्विजोत्तम । अस्य विक्रयणेनेयमार्तिश्च प्रहता त्वया
bhūmiṃ ratnamayīṃ kṛtvā dāsye te'haṃ dvijottama | asya vikrayaṇeneyamārtiśca prahatā tvayā
I will make the ground all of jewels and give it to you, best of the twice-born; and by this sale of him, this distress of mine has been struck down by you."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.31
व्यास उवाच - ततो रत्नसहस्राणि सुवर्णमणिमौक्तिकैः । चाण्डालेन प्रदत्तानि जग्राह द्विजसत्तमः
vyāsa uvāca - tato ratnasahasrāṇi suvarṇamaṇimauktikaiḥ | cāṇḍālena pradattāni jagrāha dvijasattamaḥ
Vyāsa said: Then the best of the twice-born took the thousands of jewels—gold, gems and pearls—given by the caṇḍāla.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.32
हरिश्चन्द्रस्तथा राजा निर्विकारमुखोऽभवत् । अमन्यत तथा धैर्याद्विश्वामित्रो हि मे पतिः
hariścandrastathā rājā nirvikāramukho'bhavat | amanyata tathā dhairyādviśvāmitro hi me patiḥ
And King Hariścandra's face remained unchanged; out of firmness he thought thus: "Viśvāmitra is indeed my master.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.33
तत्तदेव मया कार्यं यदयं कारयिष्यति । अथान्तरिक्षे सहसा वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
tattadeva mayā kāryaṃ yadayaṃ kārayiṣyati | athāntarikṣe sahasā vāguvācāśarīriṇī
Just that must be done by me which he will have done." Then suddenly in the sky a bodiless voice spoke.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.34
अनृणोऽसि महाभाग दत्ता सा दक्षिणा त्वया । ततो दिवः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात नृपमूर्धनि
anṛṇo'si mahābhāga dattā sā dakṣiṇā tvayā | tato divaḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta nṛpamūrdhani
"You are free of debt, greatly fortunate one; that sacrificial fee has been given by you." Then from the sky a rain of flowers fell upon the king's head.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.35
साधु साध्विति तं देवाः प्रोचुः सेन्द्रा महौजसः । हर्षेण महताऽऽविष्टो राजा कौशिकमब्रवीत्
sādhu sādhviti taṃ devāḥ procuḥ sendrā mahaujasaḥ | harṣeṇa mahatā''viṣṭo rājā kauśikamabravīt
"Well done, well done!" said the gods to him, together with Indra, they of great might. Filled with great joy, the king spoke to Kauśika (Viśvāmitra).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.36
राजोवाच - त्वं हि माता पिता चैव त्वं हि बन्धुर्महामते । यदर्थं मोचितोऽहं ते क्षणाच्चैवानृणीकृतः
rājovāca - tvaṃ hi mātā pitā caiva tvaṃ hi bandhurmahāmate | yadarthaṃ mocito'haṃ te kṣaṇāccaivānṛṇīkṛtaḥ
The king said: You indeed are mother and father, you indeed are kinsman, O great-minded one, since for your sake I was released and in a moment made free of debt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.37
किं करोमि महाबाहो श्रेयो मे वचनं तव । एवमुक्ते तु वचने नृपं मुनिरभाषत
kiṃ karomi mahābāho śreyo me vacanaṃ tava | evamukte tu vacane nṛpaṃ munirabhāṣata
What shall I do, O mighty-armed one? Your word is a benefit to me. When this speech had been made, the sage spoke to the king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 23.38
विश्वामित्र उवाच - चाण्डालवचनं कार्यमद्यप्रभृति ते नृप । स्वस्ति तेऽस्विति तं प्रोच्य तदादाय धनं ययौ
viśvāmitra uvāca - cāṇḍālavacanaṃ kāryamadyaprabhṛti te nṛpa | svasti te'sviti taṃ procya tadādāya dhanaṃ yayau
Viśvāmitra said: From today onward, O king, the word of the Caṇḍāla is to be done by you. Saying to him "May there be well-being for you," he took that wealth and went away.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition