Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala
इदं मम इदं राज्ञे मुख्यचण्डालके त्विदम् ।
इति धावन् दिशो राजा जीवन् योन्यन्तरं गतः ॥
idaṃ mama idaṃ rājñe mukhya-caṇḍālake tv idam /
iti dhāvan diśo rājā jīvan yony-antaraṃ gataḥ
“Ini milikku; ini milik raja; dan ini milik ketua caṇḍāla!”—sambil menjerit demikian, raja itu berlari ke segala arah; dan ketika masih hidup, baginda pun memasuki rahim yang lain (lahir semula).
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Clinging to ‘mine’ and social labels (‘king’, ‘chief’) is shown as madness at the edge of death; such attachment propels saṃsāra—rebirth follows unresolved grasping.
While not a formal manvantara/vaṃśa list, it aligns with Purāṇic dharma teaching through ākhyāna: illustrating karmic bondage and transmigration (a common didactic purpose alongside pañcalakṣaṇa).
‘Living yet entering another womb’ points to moment-to-moment rebirth: identity shifts with craving and fear; liberation requires cutting the ‘mine-making’ (mamatā) impulse.