# SB 9.16.31 > यो वै हरिश्चन्द्रमखे विक्रीतः पुरुषः पशुः > स्तुत्वा देवान्प्रजेशादीन्मुमुचे पाशबन्धनात ॥३१॥ ## Text > yo vai hariścandra-makhe > vikrītaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ > stutvā devān prajeśādīn > mumuce pāśa-bandhanāt ## Synonyms *yaḥ*—he who (Śunaḥśepha); *vai*—indeed; *hariścandra-makhe*—in the sacrifice performed by King Hariścandra; *vikrītaḥ*—was sold; *puruṣaḥ*—man; *paśuḥ*—sacrificial animal; *stutvā*—offering prayers; *devān*—to the demigods; *prajā-īśa-ādīn*—headed by Lord Brahmā; *mumuce*—was released; *pāśa-bandhanāt*—from being bound with ropes like an animal. ## Translation **Śunaḥśepha's father sold Śunaḥśepha to be sacrificed as a man-animal in the yajña of King Hariścandra. When Śunaḥśepha was brought into the sacrificial arena, he prayed to the demigods for release and was released by their mercy.** ## Purport 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.