{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/db/bk07ch23.htm","path":"hin/db/bk07ch23.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk07ch23.htm","text":"THE SEVENTH BOOK\nChapter XXIII\nOn the King Haris\u2019chandra\u2019s acknowledging of the slavery of the Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la\n1-5. Vy\u00e2sa said :-- O King! Speaking these harsh and cruel words to the King, the Muni took that money and went away. When Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra went away, the King Haris\u2019chandra became very much perplexed with sorrows and sighed frequently. He then began to say with his face bent downwards. \u201cSuffering from constant pain and troubles, I am now turned into a Preta; if anybody finds me serviceable, he may purchase me with value in gold as proper; but he should do this quickly before the sun sets.\u201d Dharma, then, assuming the form of a heartless\nCh\u00e2nd\u00e2la, came there quickly to test Haris\u2019chandra. The body of that low mean person was of a black colour, his air looking ferocious, his belly elongated, body emitting stench odours, teeth very long, and his face, covered with beards. He had one bamboo in his hand; in his neck, the bones of the dead were hanging and his chest was very distorted.\n6. The Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la said :-- \u201cI am in urgent need of a servant; I will keep you as my slave; say, then, quickly what is your price?\u201d\n7. Vy\u00e2sa said :-- O King! When the cruel, extremely ferocious and heartless Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la said thus, the King Haris\u2019chandra was surprised to see his appearance and said :-- \u201cWho are you?\u201d\n8-12. The Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la said :-- \u201cO King! I am the famous Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la, Prav\u00eera; you will have to remain always subject to me and to collect the clothes of the dead persons.\u201d Hearing his word, the King said, \u201cI want to be purchased by a Br\u00e2hmin or a Ksattriya. See! The sages say, that the Dharma of good people is excellent; the Dharma of the persons intermediate is middling; and the Dharma of the mean is depressing. You belong to the low and mean class. So my Dharma cannot be observed if I remain in your house.\u201d The Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la said :-- \u201cO King! This is the Dharma of yours now mentioned by you; then why did you mention that anybody can purchase you; without any previous consideration, you spoke before me. He who speaks with preconsideration attains his desired object; but, O Sinless One! You did not consider and you spoke that ordinarily. However, if I take your words that you spoke first to be true, then you are no doubt, purchased by me.\u201d\n13. Haris\u2019chandra said :-- The villain that speaks untruth, goes downright to a terrible hell; so to become a Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la is far better for me than to use an untrue word.\n14-15. Vy\u00e2sa said :-- O King! When the King was speaking thus, the ascetic Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra arrived there out of anger and impatience; he rolled his eyes and said :-- This Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la is come to give you your desired money; why, then, are you not giving me the remnant of my Daksin\u00e2!\n16. Haris\u2019chandra said :-- \u201cO Kaus'ika! Nothing is unknown to you. My this body is born for the Solar Line; how then can I accept this slavery of a Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la!\u201d\n17-20. Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra said :-- If you do not sell yourself to a Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la, be certain that I will just now put you under my curse. Give me immediately\nmy Daksin\u00e2, be it whether from a Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la or from a Br\u00e2hmana. There is no other purchaser at present than this Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la. But know this as certain that I won\u2019t go back until I get my money. O King! If you do not give me money just now, then when half the Ghatik\u00e2 of the day is remaining, I will burn you up by my fire of anger.\n2l. Vy\u00e2sa said :-- O King! Hearing these words of Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra, the King became almost dead; bewildered with fear, then he clasped the feet of the Risi and said, \u201cBe friendly, please.\u201d\n22-23. Haris\u2019chandra said :-- \u201cO Viprarsi! I am now very humiliated and have become very afflicted and distressed. Especially I am your Bhakta, I am your servant; so be graciously pleased and free me from this painful companion of a Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la. O Muni! In lieu of my remnant Daksin\u00e2, I will be your obedient slave; I will do your work and follow your commands.\u201d\n24. Visvamitra said :-- \u201cO King! You are then my slave, you will obey always my commands.\u201d\n25-26. Vy\u00e2sa said :-- O King! When Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra said so, the King, out of joy, thought that he regained his life and said to Kaus\u2019ika. Always I will obey your words; now order me what work I will have to do.\n27-28. Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra, then addressed the Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la and said :-- \u201cO Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la! Come to me and give me the price for this slave. I am now handing this slave over to you; give me the price and take him. I want money; I have no need for a servant.\u201d\n29. Vy\u00e2sa said :-- O King! When Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra spoke thus, the Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la, overflowed with joy, came immediately to the Risi Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra and said :--\n30. O Dv\u00eeja! The relief that you have given me by selling this servant, for that I will give you the ten Yoyanas wide land of Pray\u00e2ga Mandalam, covered over with jewels.\n31-36. Vy\u00e2sa said :-- O King! The Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la then gave one thousand gems, one thousand jewels, one thousand pearls and one thousand gold Mohurs and Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra took them. No signs of distraction nor unpleasantness were visible on the face of the King Haris\u2019chandra. Rather he laid hold of his patience and thought within himself, \u201cVis\u2019v\u00e2mitra is now my master; I will do any work that he puts\nme in.\u201d At this time, the incorporeal voice, the voice of the fourth dimensional space, sounded from the Heavens :-- \u201cO Fortunate One! You are freed from the Daksin\u00e2, the debt before that you promised to give me.\u201d A shower of flowers fell on the head of the King from the Heavens. At this time the powerful Indra and the other hosts of the Devas praised the King, saying :-- \u201cS\u00e2dhu! S\u00e2dhu! Well-done, Well-done.\u201d The heart of the King was then filled with intense joy and the King then said to Kaus\u2019ika :--\n37-38. O Intelligent One! You are a greater benefactor to me than my father, mother and friend as you have freed me in a moment from my debts. So, O mighty armed one! Your words are beneficial to me. Now order what am I to do.\n39. When the King said so, Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra then said :-- Go and observe from today the words of the Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la. Let good befall on you! Thus saying, the Maharsi Vis\u2019v\u00e2mitra took the money given by the Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la and went away to his own place.\nHere ends the Twenty-third Chapter of the Seventh Book on the King Haris\u2019chandra\u2019s acknowledging of the slavery of the Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la in the Mah\u00e2pur\u00e2nam S'r\u00ee Mad Dev\u00ee Bh\u00e2gavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vy\u00e2sa.","title":"The Devi Bhagavatam: The Seventh Book: Chapter 23","type":"page"}