“ The Brâhman left him; and the king, o'ercome
With fear—a fugitive—robbed of his wealth—
Degraded to unfathomable depths—
The victim of his evil creditor—
Heard once again the counsel of his wife:
"O king! sell me! nor let the fiery curse
Dissolve thy being!" Urged repeatedly,
The king at length replied: "Most loving one!
What the most wicked man could hardly do,
That same will I:—and I will sell my wife.
Alas! that I should utter such a word!"
And going with his wife into the town—
Eyes dimmed with tears, voice choked with grief—he cried:
"Come hither, townsmen! hearken unto me! ”

“ ONCE upon earth there lived a saintly king
Named Harišchandra; pure in heart and mind,
In virtue eminent, he ruled the world,
Guarding mankind from evil. While he reigned
No famine raged, nor pain; untimely death
Ne'er cut men off; nor were the citizens
Of his fair city lawless. All their wealth,
And power, and works of righteousness, ne'er filled
Their hearts with pride; in everlasting youth
And loveliness the women passed their days. ”

“ Behold, we cast off all for thee! Our wives,
Our wealth, our children, our possessions, all
Have we relinquished; like thy shadow,
We would follow thee. Oh leave us not!
For wheresoe'er thou art is happiness,
And heaven itself would be no heaven to us
Without our prince." Then, overwhelmed with grief
At these laments, the king stayed on his course,
In pity for his loving citizens. ”

“ Resting from all his toils, his faithful friends
Surrounding him with a protecting wall.
And Indra spoke and said: "Upon this earth
Great Harišchandra's equal has not been
Nor shall be. Whosoe'er may hear his life,
His toils, his sorrows, and in sympathy
For him lament, transcendant happiness
Shall he attain, and all his heart's desire
Shall be accomplished. Is his prayer a wife,
Or son, or kingdom, he shall gain them all,
E'en heaven itself. And he who imitates
The truth, and steadfastness, of that great king,
Like him shall enter everlasting rest. ”

“ Aught of that kingdom which thou hast renounced,
But, casting off thy royal ornaments,
Thou should'st depart, clothed in a dress of bark."
The king, obedient to the sage's word,
Stripped off his royal dress, and, with his wife
And son, made haste to go. Then said the saint:
"Stop, Harišchandra! Hast thou then forgot
The offering for the kingly sacrifice
That thou hast promised us?" Replied the king:
"O mighty saint! the kingdom now is thine;
All have I given to thee: and as for me,
What have I left?—nought! save myself,
My wife, my son!" ”

“ While lies and falsehood are destruction's way
To men of low and evil minds.' There lived,
'Tis said, a king upon the earth, by whom
The kingly sacrifice—burnt offerings too,
Were offered in abundance. That same king
Fell once from truthfulness, and by that fall,
He lost his righteousness, and forfeited
His place in heaven. Prince! I have borne a son"—
Her utterance failed her, issuing forth in nought
But sighs and lamentations. Then the king,
With eyes o'erflowing, said, "Behold thy son!
He stands beside thee! cast away thy grief! ”

“ Commanded thus, the king
Departed as an outcast;—he, the king
Of all the earth, an exile with his wife
Unused to go afoot, and with his son
Went forth: while cries and lamentations rose
On every side: "Our hearts are filled with pain,
Why dost thou leave us thus? O virtuous king!
Show mercy to thy subjects. Righteousness
Indeed shines forth in thee; if thou art full
Of mercy, may it overflow on us.
Stay! Mighty Prince! one moment, while we gaze
With lover's eyes upon thy beauteous form.
Alas! our Prince! Shall we ne'er see thee more? ”

“ Hast purchased, by thy virtues and thy toils."
Then spoke the king: "Hear me! most holy gods!
Unbidden by my master, will I not
To heaven itself ascend." Then Dharma spoke:
"I am thy master. I assumed the form
Of a Cha.n.dâla. All thy pain and woe
Was brought upon thee by my magic power,
And thou wast made a slave! I have beheld
Thy truth, and thy uprightness. Saintly king!
The highest place that heaven accords to men,
Whose virtue has been tried and proved:—to that
Ascend!" ”

“ Were passed; then to the burying-place was brought
A Brâhman seeking sepulture: in life
He had been poor, but honest; and the king,
Though he knew this—the dead man's poverty
And his uprightness—pressed his friends to pay
The funeral dues. "Enforce thy right," they said,
"And do this evil deed; yet know thou this:
Once upon earth there was a mighty king
Named Harišchandra; though he but disturbed
A Brâhman's sleep, through that offence he lost
His merit, and by Višvâmitra's curse
Became a base Pukkasa." "Yet the king
Spared not the dead man's friends, but still required
His fee. ”

“ Can I give up my wife? Yes! even so!
For know thou this: one who is steeped in woe
Cares not for evil chances; not the state
Of the most loathsome beast, nor yet the wood
Of sword-leaved plants, nor even hell's dread stream,
Could add the smallest fraction to the pain
I have already borne. My son is dead! ”

“ What grief he suffered! Did he e'er attain
To any comfort answering to his woe?
Noblest of Birds! Oh tell me this, I pray.
The Holy Birds continued: Then the king,
O'ercome with grief and pain, hearing the words
Of Višvâmitra, with his wife and son
Journeyed along, dragging his weary steps.
At length the holy place appeared in view—
The shrine of Šiva; thus within himself,
He said: "Benares, sacred to the god,
Lies now before me; there shall I find rest,
For there man has no power." The king approached
The gates on foot: lo! at the entry stood
The Brâhman Višvâmitra. Mighty Saint! ”

“ On thee." "More will I give thee," said the king,
"But wait, most noble saint! Nought have I left!
Even my wife and child are sold." Replied
The Brâhman: "Hold! be silent! Further time
Than the remaining fourth part of to-day
I grant thee not." Enraged, he turned away,
Departing with the money. And the king,
Immersed in grief and fear, with face cast down,
Cried out: "If there be any one of you
Who wants a slave, let him make haste and speak
While day remains." Then Dharma, putting on
The form of a Cha.n.dâla, hastily
Came forward, taking pity on the king. ”