Shloka 31
Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)
यो वै हरिश्चन्द्रमखे विक्रीत: पुरुष: पशु: । स्तुत्वा देवान् प्रजेशादीन् मुमुचे पाशबन्धनात् ॥ ३१ ॥
yo vai hariścandra-makhe vikrītaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ stutvā devān prajeśādīn mumuce pāśa-bandhanāt
In King Hariścandra’s yajña, Śunaḥśepha was sold by his father as a human victim. He hymned the devas and the prajāpatis, and by their mercy he was released from the bonds.
Here is a description of Śunaḥśepha. When Hariścandra was to sacrifice his son Rohita, Rohita arranged to save his own life by purchasing Śunaḥśepha from Śunaḥśepha’s father to be sacrificed in the yajña. Śunaḥśepha was sold to Mahārāja Hariścandra because he was the middle son, between the oldest and the youngest. It appears that the sacrifice of a man as an animal in yajña has been practiced for a very long time.
FAQs
This verse states that the sold human victim in Hariścandra’s sacrifice was freed from the noose’s bondage after offering prayers glorifying the demigods headed by Prajāpati.
The man who had been sold as the puruṣa-paśu (human sacrificial victim) was released after he praised the devatās led by Prajāpati.
When facing intense fear or constraint, take shelter of sincere prayer and remembrance of the divine; heartfelt glorification and humility can transform one’s inner state and open the way for relief.