Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala
पापिष्ठमशुभं कर्म कुरु त्वं पापकाकरक ।
हरिश्चन्द्रः पुरा राजा विश्वामित्रेण पुक्कसः ॥
pāpiṣṭham aśubhaṃ karma kuru tvaṃ pāpakāraka |
hariścandraḥ purā rājā viśvāmitreṇa pukkasaḥ ||
“अत्यन्तपापं त्वमशुभं कर्म करोषि, दुष्कृतिन्! पुरा विश्वामित्रेण राजा हरिश्चन्द्रः पुक्कसत्वं नीतः।”
{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
Adharma is not merely private wrongdoing; it can precipitate loss of dignity, status, and wellbeing. The text reinforces that arrogance toward the righteous invites consequences as severe as social ruin and suffering.
Not a direct pancalakṣaṇa unit; it is didactic narrative (vaṃśānucarita-like exemplum) used to ground dharma teaching in remembered tradition.
‘Becoming pukkasa’ can be read as the soul’s fall into tamasic identity when truth and humility are abandoned—an inward exile mirrored outwardly as degradation.