Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 7 — Chapter 24
DB 7 24.1
हरिश्चन्द्रचिन्तावर्णनम् शौनक उवाच - ततः किमकरोद्राजा चाण्दालस्य गृहे गतः । तद् ब्रूहि सूतवर्य त्वं पृच्छतः सत्वरं हि मे
hariścandracintāvarṇanam śaunaka uvāca - tataḥ kimakarodrājā cāṇdālasya gṛhe gataḥ | tad brūhi sūtavarya tvaṃ pṛcchataḥ satvaraṃ hi me
The description of Hariścandra's distress. Śaunaka said: What then did the king do, having gone to the Caṇḍāla's house? Tell that, best of bards; for I ask you urgently.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.2
सूत उवाच - विश्वामित्रे गते विप्रे श्वपचो हृष्टमानसः । विश्वामित्राय तद् द्रव्यं दत्त्वा बद्ध्वा नरेश्वरम्
sūta uvāca - viśvāmitre gate vipre śvapaco hṛṣṭamānasaḥ | viśvāmitrāya tad dravyaṃ dattvā baddhvā nareśvaram
The Sūta said: When the brahmin Viśvāmitra had gone, the dog-cooker (Caṇḍāla), his mind delighted, having given that wealth to Viśvāmitra and having bound the lord of men,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.3
असत्यो यास्यसीत्युक्त्वा दण्डेनाताडयत्तदा । दण्डप्रहारसम्भ्रान्तमतीव व्याकुलेन्द्रियम्
asatyo yāsyasītyuktvā daṇḍenātāḍayattadā | daṇḍaprahārasambhrāntamatīva vyākulendriyam
saying "You will turn out untruthful," then struck him with a rod; (him,) bewildered by the blows of the rod, his senses utterly distraught,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.4
इष्टबन्धुवियोगार्तमानीय निजपक्कणे । निगडे स्थापयित्वा तं स्वयं सुष्वाप विज्वरः
iṣṭabandhuviyogārtamānīya nijapakkaṇe | nigaḍe sthāpayitvā taṃ svayaṃ suṣvāpa vijvaraḥ
pained by separation from his dear kin — having brought him to his own hut and set him in fetters, he himself slept, free of care.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.5
निगडस्थस्ततो राजा वसंश्चाण्डालपक्कणे । अन्नपाने परित्यज्य सदा वै तदशोचयत्
nigaḍasthastato rājā vasaṃścāṇḍālapakkaṇe | annapāne parityajya sadā vai tadaśocayat
Then the king, set in fetters, dwelling in the Caṇḍāla's hut, giving up food and drink, ever grieved over that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.6
तन्वी दीनमुखी दृष्ट्वा बालं दीनमुखं पुरः । मां स्मरन्त्यसुखाविष्टा मोक्षयिष्यति नौ नृपः
tanvī dīnamukhī dṛṣṭvā bālaṃ dīnamukhaṃ puraḥ | māṃ smarantyasukhāviṣṭā mokṣayiṣyati nau nṛpaḥ
"The slender one, her face wretched, seeing the boy before her with wretched face, remembering me, overcome with unhappiness (thinks): 'The king will free us two.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.7
उपात्तवित्तो विप्राय दत्त्वा वित्तं प्रतिश्रुतम् । रोदमानं सुतं वीक्ष्य मां च सम्बोधयिष्यति
upāttavitto viprāya dattvā vittaṃ pratiśrutam | rodamānaṃ sutaṃ vīkṣya māṃ ca sambodhayiṣyati
Having obtained wealth and given the promised wealth to the brahmin, seeing our weeping son, he will comfort me too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.8
तातपार्श्वं व्रजामीति रुदन्तं बालकं पुनः । तात तातेति भाषन्तं तथा सम्बोधयिष्यति
tātapārśvaṃ vrajāmīti rudantaṃ bālakaṃ punaḥ | tāta tāteti bhāṣantaṃ tathā sambodhayiṣyati
And again the child, crying "I will go to my father's side," saying "Father, father!" — so he will comfort (him).'
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.9
न सा मां मृगशावाक्षी वेत्ति चाण्डालतां गतम् । राज्यनाशः सुहृत्त्यागो भार्यातनयविक्रयः
na sā māṃ mṛgaśāvākṣī vetti cāṇḍālatāṃ gatam | rājyanāśaḥ suhṛttyāgo bhāryātanayavikrayaḥ
She, whose eyes are those of a fawn, does not know that I have come to the state of a Caṇḍāla. Loss of kingdom, abandonment by friends, the selling of wife and son,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.10
ततश्चाण्डालता चेयमहो दुःखपरम्परा । एवं स निवसन्नित्यं स्मरंश्च दयितां सुतम्
tataścāṇḍālatā ceyamaho duḥkhaparamparā | evaṃ sa nivasannityaṃ smaraṃśca dayitāṃ sutam
and then this Caṇḍāla-hood — alas, a succession of sorrows!" Thus dwelling there, ever remembering his beloved and his son,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.11
निनाय दिवसान् राजा चतुरो विधिपीडितः । अथाह्नि पञ्चमे तेन निगडान्मोचितो नृपः
nināya divasān rājā caturo vidhipīḍitaḥ | athāhni pañcame tena nigaḍānmocito nṛpaḥ
the king, afflicted by fate, passed four days. Then on the fifth day the king was released from the fetters by him,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.12
चाण्डालेनानुशिष्टश्च मृतचैलापहारणे । क्रुद्धेन परुषैर्वाक्यैर्निर्भत्स्य च पुनः पुनः
cāṇḍālenānuśiṣṭaśca mṛtacailāpahāraṇe | kruddhena paruṣairvākyairnirbhatsya ca punaḥ punaḥ
and was instructed by the Caṇḍāla in the taking of the garments of the dead, the angry (Caṇḍāla) rebuking him again and again with harsh words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.13
काश्याश्च दक्षिणे भागे श्मशानं विद्यते महत् । तद्रक्षस्व यथान्यायं न त्याज्यं तत्त्वया क्वचित्
kāśyāśca dakṣiṇe bhāge śmaśānaṃ vidyate mahat | tadrakṣasva yathānyāyaṃ na tyājyaṃ tattvayā kvacit
"In the southern part of Kāśī there is a great cremation ground; guard that as is proper — it is never to be abandoned by you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.14
इमं च जर्जरं दण्डं गृहीत्वा याहि मा चिरम् । वीरबाहोरयं दण्ड इति घोषस्व सर्वतः
imaṃ ca jarjaraṃ daṇḍaṃ gṛhītvā yāhi mā ciram | vīrabāhorayaṃ daṇḍa iti ghoṣasva sarvataḥ
And taking this worn-out staff, go, do not delay. Proclaim everywhere: 'This is the staff of Vīrabāhu.'"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.15
सूत उवाच - कस्मिंश्चिदथ काले तु मृतचैलापहारकः । हरिश्चन्द्रोऽभवद्राजा श्मशाने दद्वशानुगः
sūta uvāca - kasmiṃścidatha kāle tu mṛtacailāpahārakaḥ | hariścandro'bhavadrājā śmaśāne dadvaśānugaḥ
The Sūta said: So at a certain time King Hariścandra became a taker of the garments of the dead in the cremation ground, subject to his (the Caṇḍāla's) will.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 7 24.16
चाण्डालेनानुशिष्टस्तु मृतचैलापहारिणा । राजा तेन समादिष्टो जगाम शवमन्दिरम्
cāṇḍālenānuśiṣṭastu mṛtacailāpahāriṇā | rājā tena samādiṣṭo jagāma śavamandiram
Instructed by the corpse-cloth-stealing Caṇḍāla, the king, being commanded by him, went to the house of corpses.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.17
पुर्यास्तु दक्षिणे देशे विद्यमानं भयानकम् । शवमाल्यसमाकीर्णं दुर्गन्धं बहुधूमकम्
puryāstu dakṣiṇe deśe vidyamānaṃ bhayānakam | śavamālyasamākīrṇaṃ durgandhaṃ bahudhūmakam
(It was) a terrifying (place) lying in the southern quarter of the city, strewn with the garlands of corpses, foul-smelling, full of much smoke,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.18
श्मशानं घोरसन्नादं शिवाशतसमाकुलम् । गृद्ध्रगोमायुसंकीर्णं श्ववृन्दपरिवारितम्
śmaśānaṃ ghorasannādaṃ śivāśatasamākulam | gṛddhragomāyusaṃkīrṇaṃ śvavṛndaparivāritam
a cremation ground of dreadful noises, crowded with hundreds of jackals, thick with vultures and foxes, surrounded by packs of dogs,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.19
अस्थिसङ्घातसङ्कीर्णं महादुर्गन्धसंकुलम् । अर्धदग्धशवास्यानि विकसद्दन्तपंक्तिभिः
asthisaṅghātasaṅkīrṇaṃ mahādurgandhasaṃkulam | ardhadagdhaśavāsyāni vikasaddantapaṃktibhiḥ
strewn with heaps of bones, filled with a great stench, (where) the mouths of half-burnt corpses, with their rows of teeth exposed,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.20
हसन्तीवाग्निमध्यस्थकायस्यैवं व्यवस्थितिः । नानामृतसुहृन्नादं महाकोलाहलाकुलम्
hasantīvāgnimadhyasthakāyasyaivaṃ vyavasthitiḥ | nānāmṛtasuhṛnnādaṃ mahākolāhalākulam
seem to laugh — such is the condition of a body lying in the midst of the fire; (a place) full of the cries of the friends of the various dead, thick with great uproar,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.21
हा पुत्र मित्र हा बन्धो भ्रातर्वत्स प्रियाद्य मे । हाप्यते भागिनेयार्ह हा मातुल पितामह
hā putra mitra hā bandho bhrātarvatsa priyādya me | hāpyate bhāgineyārha hā mātula pitāmaha
"Alas, son! Alas, friend! Alas, kinsman! O brother, O child, O my dear one, today!" "He is being lost, O worthy nephew!" "Alas, uncle! Alas, grandfather!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 7 24.22
मातामह पितः पौत्र क्व गतोऽस्येहि बान्धव । इति शब्दैः समाकीर्णं भैरवैः सर्वदेहिनाम्
mātāmaha pitaḥ pautra kva gato'syehi bāndhava | iti śabdaiḥ samākīrṇaṃ bhairavaiḥ sarvadehinām
"O maternal grandfather! O father! O grandson! Where have you gone? Come here, kinsman!" — with such fearful cries of all the embodied beings (the place) was filled,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.23
ज्वलन्मांसवसामेदच्छूमिति ध्वनिसङ्कुलम् । अग्नेश्चटचटाशब्दो भैरवो यत्र जायते
jvalanmāṃsavasāmedacchūmiti dhvanisaṅkulam | agneścaṭacaṭāśabdo bhairavo yatra jāyate
thick with the hissing sound "chū" of blazing flesh, fat and marrow, where the fearful crackling "caṭacaṭā" sound of the fire arises —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.24
कल्पान्तसदृशाकारं श्मशानं तत्सुदारुणम् । स राजा तत्र सम्प्राप्तो दुःखादेवमशोचत सप्तमस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्रचिन्तावर्णनं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः
kalpāntasadṛśākāraṃ śmaśānaṃ tatsudāruṇam | sa rājā tatra samprāpto duḥkhādevamaśocata saptamaskandhe hariścandracintāvarṇanaṃ nāma caturviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ
that most dreadful cremation ground, whose appearance was like the end of an aeon. The king, arrived there, grieved thus out of sorrow. (Thus) the twenty-fourth chapter in the seventh book, called the description of Hariścandra's brooding.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.25
हा भृत्या मन्त्रिणो यूयं क्व तद्राज्यं कुलोचितम् । हा प्रिय पुत्र मे बाल मां त्यक्त्वा मन्दभाग्यकम्
hā bhṛtyā mantriṇo yūyaṃ kva tadrājyaṃ kulocitam | hā priya putra me bāla māṃ tyaktvā mandabhāgyakam
"Alas, you servants and ministers! Where is that kingdom befitting my lineage? Alas, my dear boy, my son, having abandoned me of poor fortune —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.26
ब्राह्मणस्य च कोपेन गता यूयं क्व दूरतः । विना धर्मं मनुष्याणां जायते न शुभं क्वचित्
brāhmaṇasya ca kopena gatā yūyaṃ kva dūrataḥ | vinā dharmaṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ jāyate na śubhaṃ kvacit
through the anger of the Brahmin, where have you all gone, far away? For men, without dharma no good ever arises;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.27
यत्नतो धारयेत्तस्मात्पुरुषो धर्ममेव हि । इत्येवं चिन्तयंस्तत्र चाण्डालोक्तं पुनः पुनः
yatnato dhārayettasmātpuruṣo dharmameva hi | ityevaṃ cintayaṃstatra cāṇḍāloktaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
therefore a man should uphold dharma alone with effort." Thinking thus there, (and recalling) what the Caṇḍāla had said again and again,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.28
मलेन दिग्धसर्वाङ्गः शवानां दर्शने व्रजन् । लकुटाकारकल्पश्च धावंश्चापि ततस्ततः
malena digdhasarvāṅgaḥ śavānāṃ darśane vrajan | lakuṭākārakalpaśca dhāvaṃścāpi tatastataḥ
with all his limbs smeared with filth, going about at the sight of corpses, taking on the form of a cudgel-bearer and running here and there:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 7 24.29
अस्मिञ्छव इदं मौल्यं शतं प्राप्स्यामि चाग्रतः । इदं मम इदं राज्ञ इदं चाण्डालकस्य च
asmiñchava idaṃ maulyaṃ śataṃ prāpsyāmi cāgrataḥ | idaṃ mama idaṃ rājña idaṃ cāṇḍālakasya ca
"On this corpse (the fee) is this much; I shall get a hundred first; this is mine, this is the king's, and this is the Caṇḍāla's" —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.30
इत्येवं चिन्तयन् राजा व्यवस्थां दुस्तरां गतः । जीर्णैकपटसुग्रन्थिकृतकन्थापरिग्रहः
ityevaṃ cintayan rājā vyavasthāṃ dustarāṃ gataḥ | jīrṇaikapaṭasugranthikṛtakanthāparigrahaḥ
thinking thus, the king reached a state hard to endure, wearing a patched rag made of a single worn-out cloth well knotted together,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.31
चिताभस्मरजोलिप्तमुखबाहूदराङ्घ्रिकः । नानामेदोवसामज्जालिप्तपाण्यङ्गुलिः श्वसन्
citābhasmarajoliptamukhabāhūdarāṅghrikaḥ | nānāmedovasāmajjāliptapāṇyaṅguliḥ śvasan
his face, arms, belly and feet smeared with the dust and ash of the pyres, his hands and fingers smeared with various fats, greases and marrow, panting,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.32
नानाशवौदनकृतक्षुन्निवृत्तिपरायणः । तदीयमाल्यसंश्लेषकृतमस्तकमण्डलः
nānāśavaudanakṛtakṣunnivṛttiparāyaṇaḥ | tadīyamālyasaṃśleṣakṛtamastakamaṇḍalaḥ
intent on stilling his hunger with the rice offered to various corpses, the crown of his head made (a garland) by the clinging of the garlands belonging to them,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 24.33
न रात्रौ न दिवा शेते हाहेति प्रवदन्मुहुः । एवं द्वादश मासास्तु नीता वर्षशतोपमाः
na rātrau na divā śete hāheti pravadanmuhuḥ | evaṃ dvādaśa māsāstu nītā varṣaśatopamāḥ
he sleeps neither by night nor by day, crying "alas, alas" again and again. Thus twelve months were passed, which were like a hundred years.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition