Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 7 — Chapter 27
DB 7 27.1
हरिश्चन्द्राख्यानश्रवणफलवर्णनम् सूत उवाच - ततः कृत्वा चितां राजा आरोप्य तनयं स्वकम् । भार्यया सहितो राजा बद्धाञ्जलिपुटस्तदा
hariścandrākhyānaśravaṇaphalavarṇanam sūta uvāca - tataḥ kṛtvā citāṃ rājā āropya tanayaṃ svakam | bhāryayā sahito rājā baddhāñjalipuṭastadā
The description of the fruit of hearing the tale of Hariścandra. Sūta said: Then the king, having made a pyre and placed his own son upon it, the king then, together with his wife, with hands joined in reverence,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.2
चिन्तयन्परमेशानीं शताक्षीं जगदीश्वरीम् । पञ्चकोशान्तरगतां पुच्छब्रह्मस्वरूपिणीम्
cintayanparameśānīṃ śatākṣīṃ jagadīśvarīm | pañcakośāntaragatāṃ pucchabrahmasvarūpiṇīm
(He was) thinking upon the supreme Ruler, the Hundred-eyed one, the Mistress of the world, who dwells within the five sheaths, whose form is the Brahman that is the "tail" (of the Upaniṣadic teaching),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.3
रक्ताम्बरपरीधानां करुणारससागरम् । नानायुधधरामम्बां जगत्पालनतत्पराम्
raktāmbaraparīdhānāṃ karuṇārasasāgaram | nānāyudhadharāmambāṃ jagatpālanatatparām
clad in red garments, an ocean of the essence of compassion, the Mother bearing many weapons, intent on protecting the world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.4
तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । धर्मं प्रमुखतः कृत्वा समाजग्मुस्त्वरान्विताः
tasya cintayamānasya sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ | dharmaṃ pramukhataḥ kṛtvā samājagmustvarānvitāḥ
As he was thinking (thus), all the gods together with Indra, putting Dharma at their head, came in haste.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.5
आगत्य सर्वे प्रोचुस्ते राजञ्छ्रुणु महाप्रभो । अहं पितामहः साक्षाद्धर्मश्च भवगान्स्वयम्
āgatya sarve procuste rājañchruṇu mahāprabho | ahaṃ pitāmahaḥ sākṣāddharmaśca bhavagānsvayam
Having come, they all said to him: "O king, listen, great lord! I am the Grandfather (Brahmā) himself, and this is Lord Dharma in person,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.6
साध्याः सविश्वे मरुतो लोकपालाः सचारणाः । नागाः सिद्धाः सगन्धर्वा रुद्राश्चैव तथाश्विनौ
sādhyāḥ saviśve maruto lokapālāḥ sacāraṇāḥ | nāgāḥ siddhāḥ sagandharvā rudrāścaiva tathāśvinau
the Sādhyas with the Viśvas, the Maruts, the guardians of the worlds with the Cāraṇas, the Nāgas, the Siddhas with the Gandharvas, and the Rudras, and likewise the two Aśvins,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.8
एते चान्येऽथ बहवो विश्वामित्रस्तथैव च । विश्वत्रयेण यो मैत्रीं कर्तुमिच्छति धर्मतः विश्वामित्रः स तेऽभीष्टमाहर्तुं सम्यगिच्छति । धर्म उवाच - मा राजन् साहसं कार्षीर्धर्मोऽहं त्वामुपागतः
ete cānye'tha bahavo viśvāmitrastathaiva ca | viśvatrayeṇa yo maitrīṃ kartumicchati dharmataḥ viśvāmitraḥ sa te'bhīṣṭamāhartuṃ samyagicchati | dharma uvāca - mā rājan sāhasaṃ kārṣīrdharmo'haṃ tvāmupāgataḥ
these and many others, and Viśvāmitra as well — that Viśvāmitra who wishes to make friendship with the three worlds in accordance with dharma fully desires to bring about what you wish." Dharma said: "Do not, O king, do this rash deed; I, Dharma, have come to you,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 7 27.9
तितिक्षादमसत्त्वाद्यैस्त्वद्गुणैः परितोषितः । इन्द्र उवाच - हरिश्चन्द्र महाभाग प्राप्तः शक्रोऽस्मि तेऽन्तिकम्
titikṣādamasattvādyaistvadguṇaiḥ paritoṣitaḥ | indra uvāca - hariścandra mahābhāga prāptaḥ śakro'smi te'ntikam
well pleased by your virtues, such as patience, self-restraint, and goodness." Indra said: "Hariścandra, greatly fortunate one, I, Śakra, have come into your presence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.10
त्वयाद्य भार्यापुत्रेण जिता लोकाः सनातनाः । आरोह त्रिदिवं राजन् भार्यापुत्रसमन्वितः
tvayādya bhāryāputreṇa jitā lokāḥ sanātanāḥ | āroha tridivaṃ rājan bhāryāputrasamanvitaḥ
Today the eternal worlds have been won by you together with your wife and son. Ascend to heaven, O king, along with your wife and son,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.11
सुदुष्प्रापं नरैरन्यैर्जितमात्मीयकर्मभिः । सूत उवाच - ततोऽमृतमयं वर्षमपमृत्युविनाशनम्
suduṣprāpaṃ narairanyairjitamātmīyakarmabhiḥ | sūta uvāca - tato'mṛtamayaṃ varṣamapamṛtyuvināśanam
(that world) very hard for other men to attain, won by your own deeds." Sūta said: Then a rain made of nectar, destroying untimely death,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.12
इन्द्रः प्रासृजदाकाशाच्चितामध्यगते शिशौ । पुष्पवृष्टिश्च महती दुन्दुभिस्वन एव च
indraḥ prāsṛjadākāśāccitāmadhyagate śiśau | puṣpavṛṣṭiśca mahatī dundubhisvana eva ca
Indra released from the sky upon the child who lay in the middle of the funeral pyre; and there was a great shower of flowers and the sound of kettledrums too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.13
समुत्तस्थौ मृतः पुत्रो राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः । सुकुमारतनुः स्वस्थः प्रसन्नः प्रीतमानसः
samuttasthau mṛtaḥ putro rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ | sukumāratanuḥ svasthaḥ prasannaḥ prītamānasaḥ
The dead son of that great-souled king rose up, his body most tender, in good health, serene, glad of heart.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.14
ततो राजा हरिश्चन्द्रः परिष्वज्य सुतं तदा । सभार्यः स्वश्रिया युक्तो दिव्यमालाम्बरावृतः
tato rājā hariścandraḥ pariṣvajya sutaṃ tadā | sabhāryaḥ svaśriyā yukto divyamālāmbarāvṛtaḥ
Then King Hariścandra, embracing his son, together with his wife, endowed with his own splendour, wrapped in heavenly garlands and garments,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.15
बभूव तत्क्षणादिन्द्रो भूपं चैवमभाषत
babhūva tatkṣaṇādindro bhūpaṃ caivamabhāṣata
became (such) that very instant; and Indra spoke thus to the king:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 7 27.16
सभार्यस्त्वं सपुत्रश्च स्वर्लोकं सद्गतिं पराम् । समारोह महाभाग निजानां कर्मणां फलम्
sabhāryastvaṃ saputraśca svarlokaṃ sadgatiṃ parām | samāroha mahābhāga nijānāṃ karmaṇāṃ phalam
"Together with your wife and your son, ascend to the world of heaven, the supreme good destination, O greatly fortunate one — the fruit of your own deeds."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.17
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - देवराजाननुज्ञातः स्वामिना श्वपचेन हि । अकृत्वा निष्कृतिं तस्य नारोक्ष्ये वै सुरालयम्
hariścandra uvāca - devarājānanujñātaḥ svāminā śvapacena hi | akṛtvā niṣkṛtiṃ tasya nārokṣye vai surālayam
Hariścandra said: "O king of the gods, not having been given leave by my master, the dog-cooker, and not having made recompense to him, I will not ascend to the abode of the gods."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.18
धर्म उवाच - तवैवं भाविनं क्लेशमवगम्यात्ममायया । आत्मा श्वपचतां नीतो दर्शितं तच्च पक्कणम्
dharma uvāca - tavaivaṃ bhāvinaṃ kleśamavagamyātmamāyayā | ātmā śvapacatāṃ nīto darśitaṃ tacca pakkaṇam
Dharma said: "Knowing that such suffering was to befall you, by my own magic I brought myself into the condition of a dog-cooker, and that outcaste settlement was (only) a show."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.19
इन्द्र उवाच - प्रार्थ्यते यत्परं स्थानं समस्तैर्मनुजैर्भुवि । तदारोह हरिश्चन्द्र स्थानं पुण्यकृतां नृणाम्
indra uvāca - prārthyate yatparaṃ sthānaṃ samastairmanujairbhuvi | tadāroha hariścandra sthānaṃ puṇyakṛtāṃ nṛṇām
Indra said: "That highest station which is prayed for by all men on earth — ascend to that, Hariścandra, the station of men who have done meritorious deeds."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.20
हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - देवराज नमस्तुभ्यं वाक्यं चेदं निबोध मे । मच्छोकमग्नमनसः कौसले नगरे नराः
hariścandra uvāca - devarāja namastubhyaṃ vākyaṃ cedaṃ nibodha me | macchokamagnamanasaḥ kausale nagare narāḥ
Hariścandra said: "King of the gods, homage to you; but hear this word of mine. In the city of Kosala the people remain with their minds sunk in grief for me;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.21
तिष्ठन्ति तानपास्यैवं कथं यास्याम्यहं दिवम् । ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं गोवधः स्त्रीवधस्तथा तिष्ठन्ति तानपास्यैवं कथं यास्याम्यहं दिवम् । ब्रह्महत्या सुरापानं गोवधः स्त्रीवधस्तथा
tiṣṭhanti tānapāsyaivaṃ kathaṃ yāsyāmyahaṃ divam | brahmahatyā surāpānaṃ govadhaḥ strīvadhastathā tiṣṭhanti tānapāsyaivaṃ kathaṃ yāsyāmyahaṃ divam | brahmahatyā surāpānaṃ govadhaḥ strīvadhastathā
casting them off thus, how shall I go to heaven? Killing a brahmin, drinking liquor, killing a cow, and killing a woman — (repeated:) casting them off thus, how shall I go to heaven? Killing a brahmin, drinking liquor, killing a cow, and killing a woman —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.22
तुल्यमेभिर्महत्पापं भक्तत्यागादुदाहृतम् । भजन्तं भक्तमत्याज्यं त्यजतः स्यात्कथं सुखम्
tulyamebhirmahatpāpaṃ bhaktatyāgādudāhṛtam | bhajantaṃ bhaktamatyājyaṃ tyajataḥ syātkathaṃ sukham
equal to these is declared the great sin that comes from abandoning a devotee. For one who abandons a devoted follower who must not be abandoned, how can there be happiness?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.23
तैर्विना न प्रयास्यामि तस्माच्छक्र दिवं व्रज । यदि ते सहिताः स्वर्गं मया यान्ति सुरेश्वर
tairvinā na prayāsyāmi tasmācchakra divaṃ vraja | yadi te sahitāḥ svargaṃ mayā yānti sureśvara
Without them I will not go; therefore, Śakra, go to heaven (yourself). If they go with me to heaven, O lord of the gods—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.24
ततोऽहमपि यास्यामि नरकं वापि तैः सह । इन्द्र उवाच - बहूनि पुण्यपापानि तेषां भिन्नानि वै नृप
tato'hamapi yāsyāmi narakaṃ vāpi taiḥ saha | indra uvāca - bahūni puṇyapāpāni teṣāṃ bhinnāni vai nṛpa
—then I too shall go; or else (I shall go) to hell together with them. Indra said: Their merits and sins are many and separate, O king;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.25
कथं सङ्घातभोज्यं त्वं भूप स्वर्गमभीप्ससि । हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच - भुङ्क्ते शक्र नृपो राज्यं प्रभावात्प्रकृतेध्रुवम्
kathaṃ saṅghātabhojyaṃ tvaṃ bhūpa svargamabhīpsasi | hariścandra uvāca - bhuṅkte śakra nṛpo rājyaṃ prabhāvātprakṛtedhruvam
how, O king, do you desire heaven as something to be enjoyed in a group? Hariścandra said: Śakra, a king surely enjoys his kingdom by the power of his subjects;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.26
यजते च महायज्ञैः कर्म पूर्तं करोति च । तच्च तेषां प्रभावेण मया सर्वमनुष्ठितम्
yajate ca mahāyajñaiḥ karma pūrtaṃ karoti ca | tacca teṣāṃ prabhāveṇa mayā sarvamanuṣṭhitam
he sacrifices with great sacrifices and performs works of public benefaction; and all that has been carried out by me through their power.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.27
उपदादान्न संत्यक्ष्ये तानहं स्वर्गलिप्सया । तस्माद्यन्मम देवेश किञ्चिदस्ति सुचेष्टितम् सप्तमस्कन्धे हरिश्चन्द्राख्यानश्रवणफलवर्णनं नाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः
upadādānna saṃtyakṣye tānahaṃ svargalipsayā | tasmādyanmama deveśa kiñcidasti suceṣṭitam saptamaskandhe hariścandrākhyānaśravaṇaphalavarṇanaṃ nāma saptaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ
I will not abandon them out of a craving for heaven. Therefore, O lord of the gods, whatever little good deed of mine there is— [colophon: In the seventh book, the twenty-seventh chapter, called the description of the fruit of hearing the story of Hariścandra.]
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.28
दत्तमिष्टमथो जप्तं सामान्यं तैस्तदस्तु नः । बहुकालोपभोज्यं च फलं यन्मम कर्मगम्
dattamiṣṭamatho japtaṃ sāmānyaṃ taistadastu naḥ | bahukālopabhojyaṃ ca phalaṃ yanmama karmagam
—what has been given, what has been sacrificed, and what has been muttered in recitation—let that be shared in common by us with them; and whatever fruit accrues from my deeds, to be enjoyed for a long time,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.29
तदस्तु दिनमप्येकं तैः समं त्वप्रसादतः । सूत उवाच - एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा शक्रस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः
tadastu dinamapyekaṃ taiḥ samaṃ tvaprasādataḥ | sūta uvāca - evaṃ bhaviṣyatītyuktvā śakrastribhuvaneśvaraḥ
let it be, even for a single day, equal with them, by your favour. Sūta said: Having said "So shall it be," Śakra, lord of the three worlds,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.30
प्रसन्नचेता धर्मश्च विश्वामित्रश्च गाधिजः । गत्वा तु नगरं सर्वे चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकुलम्
prasannacetā dharmaśca viśvāmitraśca gādhijaḥ | gatvā tu nagaraṃ sarve cāturvarṇyasamākulam
with a gladdened mind, and Dharma, and Viśvāmitra son of Gādhi—all of them, having gone to the city crowded with the four classes,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.31
हरिश्चन्द्रस्य निकटे प्रोवाच विबुधाधिपः । आगच्छन्तु जनाः शीघ्रं स्वर्गलोकं सुदुर्लभम्
hariścandrasya nikaṭe provāca vibudhādhipaḥ | āgacchantu janāḥ śīghraṃ svargalokaṃ sudurlabham
the lord of the gods spoke, near Hariścandra: "Let the people come quickly to the world of heaven, so very hard to attain,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.32
धर्मप्रसादात्सम्प्राप्तं सर्वैर्युष्माभिरेव तु । हरिश्चन्द्रोऽपि तान्सर्वाञ्जनान्नगरवासिनः
dharmaprasādātsamprāptaṃ sarvairyuṣmābhireva tu | hariścandro'pi tānsarvāñjanānnagaravāsinaḥ
which has been obtained by you all through the favour of Dharma." And Hariścandra too (spoke) to all those people dwelling in the city:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.33
प्राह राजा धर्मपरो दिवमारुह्यतामिति । सूत उवाच - तदिन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रीतास्तस्य च भूपतेः
prāha rājā dharmaparo divamāruhyatāmiti | sūta uvāca - tadindrasya vacaḥ śrutvā prītāstasya ca bhūpateḥ
the king, devoted to dharma, said, "Let (you all) ascend to heaven." Sūta said: Hearing that speech of Indra and of that king, pleased,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.34
ये संसारेषु निर्विण्णास्ते धुरं स्वसुतेषु वै । कृत्वा प्रहृष्टमनसो दिवमारुरुहुर्जनाः
ye saṃsāreṣu nirviṇṇāste dhuraṃ svasuteṣu vai | kṛtvā prahṛṣṭamanaso divamāruruhurjanāḥ
those people who were weary of worldly existence, having laid the burden upon their own sons, ascended to heaven with delighted minds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.35
विमानवरमारूढाः सर्वे भास्वरविग्रहाः । तदा सम्भूतहर्षास्ते हरिश्चन्द्रश्च पार्थिवः
vimānavaramārūḍhāḥ sarve bhāsvaravigrahāḥ | tadā sambhūtaharṣāste hariścandraśca pārthivaḥ
All of them, mounted on an excellent celestial chariot, with shining bodies; then, with joy arisen in them, and King Hariścandra—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.36
राज्येऽभिषिच्य तनयं रोहिताख्यं महामनाः । अयोध्याख्ये पुरे रम्ये हृष्टपुष्टजनान्विते
rājye'bhiṣicya tanayaṃ rohitākhyaṃ mahāmanāḥ | ayodhyākhye pure ramye hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanānvite
the great-minded (king), having consecrated his son named Rohita in the kingdom, in the lovely city called Ayodhyā, filled with glad and well-fed people,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.37
तनयं सुहृदश्चापि प्रतिपूज्याभिनन्द्य च । पुण्येन लभ्यां विपुलां देवादीनां सुदुर्लभाम्
tanayaṃ suhṛdaścāpi pratipūjyābhinandya ca | puṇyena labhyāṃ vipulāṃ devādīnāṃ sudurlabhām
and having honoured and congratulated his son and his friends, (attaining) the vast (fame) obtainable by merit, very hard for the gods and others to win—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.38
सम्प्राप्य कीर्तिमतुलां विमाने स महीपतिः । आसाञ्चक्रे कामगमे क्षुद्रघण्टाविराजिते
samprāpya kīrtimatulāṃ vimāne sa mahīpatiḥ | āsāñcakre kāmagame kṣudraghaṇṭāvirājite
having attained incomparable fame, that lord of the earth took his seat in the celestial chariot that goes at will and is adorned with little bells.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.39
ततस्तर्हि समालोक्य श्लोकमन्त्रं तदा जगौ । दैत्याचार्यो महाभागः सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित्
tatastarhi samālokya ślokamantraṃ tadā jagau | daityācāryo mahābhāgaḥ sarvaśāstrārthatattvavit
Then, seeing this at that moment, the preceptor of the demons, the greatly fortunate one who knows the truth of the meaning of all scriptures, sang a verse-formula:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.40
शुक्र उवाच - अहो तितिक्षामाहात्म्यमहो दानफलं महत् । यदागतो हरिश्चन्द्रो महेन्द्रस्य सलोकताम्
śukra uvāca - aho titikṣāmāhātmyamaho dānaphalaṃ mahat | yadāgato hariścandro mahendrasya salokatām
Śukra said: Ah, the greatness of endurance! Ah, the great fruit of giving!—since Hariścandra has come to share the world of great Indra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.41
सूत उवाच - एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यानं हरिश्चन्द्रस्य चेष्टितम् । यः शृणोति च दुःखार्तः स सुखं लभतेऽन्वहम्
sūta uvāca - etatte sarvamākhyānaṃ hariścandrasya ceṣṭitam | yaḥ śṛṇoti ca duḥkhārtaḥ sa sukhaṃ labhate'nvaham
Sūta said: This is the whole story told to you, the doings of Hariścandra. Whoever, afflicted by sorrow, hears it, obtains happiness day by day.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 7 27.42
स्वर्गार्थी प्राप्नुयात् स्वर्गं सुतार्थी सुतमाप्नुयात् । भार्यार्थी प्राप्नुयाद्भार्यां राज्यार्थीं राज्यमाप्नुयात्
svargārthī prāpnuyāt svargaṃ sutārthī sutamāpnuyāt | bhāryārthī prāpnuyādbhāryāṃ rājyārthīṃ rājyamāpnuyāt
One who wants heaven would gain heaven; one who wants a son would gain a son; one who wants a wife would gain a wife; one who wants a kingdom would gain a kingdom.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition