Chapter 3 - Hariścandra Coronated as King

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1. Thereafter, he bowed down to the eminent sage Vasiṣṭha once again and went to the place where his (Vasiṣṭha’s) sons numbering a hundred were present.

2. To them also the king mentioned the same topic after bowing down (in courtesy) to them. Everything that Vasiṣṭha had said earlier was repeated by them to him.

3-5. Thereupon he told them again: “Your father who is now unable to take me to heaven along with my physical body, has been abandoned by me. So if you do not perform the Yajña on my behalf, I will abandon you too and quickly make another person my preceptor who will lead me to heaven by the power of the Yajña, along with this physical body, O sons of the preceptor.”

6-7. On hearing his words, all those exellent sages became excessively angry and spoke to him these harsh words: “Since the preceptor who has been your benefactor is abandoned by you, you are a sinner. Hence, O evil one, be a Cāṇḍāla now, censured by the world.”

8-10. Immediately at the end of those words, the king became one with a form of a low-born (Śūdra) having the body of hideous features. His waist resembled a barley grain. The neck was lean, the eyes became tawny-coloured and the nose very crooked. His body and his limbs were dark in complexion. He was stinking awfully. The king observed himself having become ugly and deformed with the characteristics of a Cāṇḍāla and instantly he stood with down-cast face due to shame.

11-14. He was repeatedly scolded with words. “Go away; get away.” All round he was pestered by dogs unleashed and let loose. He resembled crows and cuckoos (in complexion) and was clad in rags. Thus overwhelmed with great misery he began to think worriedly, “What can I do? Where shall I go? How can there be peace? Is this the rare position desired by me so foolishly? With it even my traditional practice has become upset. Shall I enter a water pond or burning fire? Shall I take in poison? How can I bring about an end of my life?”

15-24. “With this defiled body, how dare I look at my wives with whom I earlier sported about in my previous excellent physical form? How can I look at my sons, grandsons, friends, relatives and kinsmen? How can I look at the other attendants too? Formerly I had conquered many enemies in battle. All of them will be joyous now on hearing about such a transformation of me. They will cease to be afraid of me. The Brāhmaṇas having great mastery over the Vedas who had been propitiated by me through gifts will become miserable now on hearing that I have fallen into this plight. Similarly, what will be the state of those beloved friends of mine who are always engaged in acts beneficial to me? On seeing me in this situation they will be really miserable. I have numerous elephants of the Bhadra class aged sixty years and blind in the state of rut. Without me, who will engage them in mutual duels? My horses of variegated colours have been broken and rendered tractable by experienced trainers. Without me who will engage them in diverse types of gallops and trots. My servants of good nobility are irrepressible in their spirit for battle. In case they are distressed, to whom will they go in my absence? My treasury contains many gems and jewels and it is immeasurable. It has been well-preserved by me. When I am not present who is going to enjoy it? My storehouses of food-grains, my sheds of cattle and goats, are also vast and innumerable. They have been well-looked after by my loyal servants. But what will be their state in my absence?”

25. Lamenting thus in various ways, the king in his misery wended his way on foot towards the city.

26-27a. He reached his city at night when it was practically devoid of people. Stopping at the gate he summoned his son along with the ministers and told them everything arising from the imprecation.

27b-28. Standing far off, he repeated the thunderbolt-like words of the sons of the noble-souled Vasiṣṭha. On hearing them they became grief-stricken. They cried with tears dimming their faces:

29-31. “O Lord, O great king ever fond of pious rites, how can we, the miserable ones, be alive in your absence? Is this proper on the part of those evil-minded sons of Vasiṣṭha? They have cursed one for whom they are bound to perform Yajña and particularly one who is very polite. O tiger among kings, we too shall renounce our household effects. Undoubtedly, along with you we too shall accept the state of being a base-born one.”

Triśaṅku said:

32-34. If you have unrestrained devtion to me be the ministers of my son now. This is Hariścandra, my eldest son and my dearest one. Without delay and unhesitatingly appoint him in my place. As for me, I shall proceed ahead in doing what I have decided in my mind. Either I will die or I will go to heaven along with this physical body.

35-36. After saying thus and leaving all of them the king went away through the forest slowly on foot.

Those good ministers soon installed his honoured son as king with proper rites accompanied by instrumental and vocal music.