Long aago there was a pious king called Harishchandra. He took well care of his subjects. One evening, in a forest, the king heard someone calling out for help. It was the voice of a woman. This was actually the voice of an evil spirit who wanted to distract Vishwamitra . Entering deeper into the forest in search of the voice, the king disturbed the sage who was angry.
The king told the sage he had come with good intentions, wanting to help someone in distress. Wanting to test the king, the sage he would approach him soon and ask for something. If the king was just, all wishes would have to be fulfilled. The king was delighted to have got an opportunity to serve the sage and agreed.
Vishwamitra then asked for his entire kingdom. Without thinking for a minute, the king agreed. Vishwamitra told Harishchandra that all he owned at that moment was his own body, his wife and son. he asked to wear dress made of leaves and bark and even leave the royal garments to which he no longer a right to.
The king fetched his wife and son and all having changed to attire of forest dwellers when Vishwamitra asked for Dakshina. Harishchandra said he had nothing left. Vishwamitra gave him time of a month to earn the dakshina, to which the king agreed.
Five gods were feeling sympathy for Harishchandra. Seeing this, Vishwamitra cursed the Gods to be born as mortals. Though born as men, they would not have the pleasure of leading the lives of normal people, and would die before they marry. These gods were then born as sons for Draupadi, this is the reason why they had to die before they could marry.
Meanwhil, Harishchandra left for the city of Varanasi. There, after sometime he was approached by Vishwamitra, who asked for the dakshina. With one more day left for the month to complete, Harishchandra asked the sage to return the next day. Wondering what to do, the queen advised Harischandra to sell her in the market, and pay the sage with that money.
An old Brahman bought the queen and took her home as his maid. Paying extra money, the brahman also bought Harishchandra's son. With the money, Harishchandra paid Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra wanted more money. With time of the day fast fading, Harishchandra then sold himself to a keeper of the funeral pyre, Chandala,
Time passed. Harishchandra's job was to take over the clothes of corpses as a fee. The king's appearance had also changed. His body was pale and rough. His body was stinking from the smell of corpses. He was wearing a blanket which he had gathered from a rotting corpse. He had become stern and lost all sense of pity.
One day taking her own dead son, bitten by a serpent, his wife brought her son there. Harishcnadra asked for the fee for last rites of teh body. Not recognizing who they were, Harishchandra's behavious was harsh. The queen cried over fate and that of her husband Harishchandra.
Hearing her words and recognizing them, Harishchandra consoled the queen. Then making a funeral pyre and placing his son on it, the king, with his wife, began to meditate upon Vishnu, asking for death.
Indrs then appeared before Harishchandra and promised him a place in the heaven. His son was brought back to life. Harishchandra wanted to talk to Vishwamitra and take his permission before he left for heaven.
Vishwamitra then appeared before the king and returned hiss kingdom back to him. Harishchandra then went back to his kingdom with his wife and son, where his son was crowned 'crown prince'.
The king told the sage he had come with good intentions, wanting to help someone in distress. Wanting to test the king, the sage he would approach him soon and ask for something. If the king was just, all wishes would have to be fulfilled. The king was delighted to have got an opportunity to serve the sage and agreed.
Vishwamitra then asked for his entire kingdom. Without thinking for a minute, the king agreed. Vishwamitra told Harishchandra that all he owned at that moment was his own body, his wife and son. he asked to wear dress made of leaves and bark and even leave the royal garments to which he no longer a right to.
The king fetched his wife and son and all having changed to attire of forest dwellers when Vishwamitra asked for Dakshina. Harishchandra said he had nothing left. Vishwamitra gave him time of a month to earn the dakshina, to which the king agreed.
Five gods were feeling sympathy for Harishchandra. Seeing this, Vishwamitra cursed the Gods to be born as mortals. Though born as men, they would not have the pleasure of leading the lives of normal people, and would die before they marry. These gods were then born as sons for Draupadi, this is the reason why they had to die before they could marry.
Meanwhil, Harishchandra left for the city of Varanasi. There, after sometime he was approached by Vishwamitra, who asked for the dakshina. With one more day left for the month to complete, Harishchandra asked the sage to return the next day. Wondering what to do, the queen advised Harischandra to sell her in the market, and pay the sage with that money.
An old Brahman bought the queen and took her home as his maid. Paying extra money, the brahman also bought Harishchandra's son. With the money, Harishchandra paid Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra wanted more money. With time of the day fast fading, Harishchandra then sold himself to a keeper of the funeral pyre, Chandala,
Time passed. Harishchandra's job was to take over the clothes of corpses as a fee. The king's appearance had also changed. His body was pale and rough. His body was stinking from the smell of corpses. He was wearing a blanket which he had gathered from a rotting corpse. He had become stern and lost all sense of pity.
One day taking her own dead son, bitten by a serpent, his wife brought her son there. Harishcnadra asked for the fee for last rites of teh body. Not recognizing who they were, Harishchandra's behavious was harsh. The queen cried over fate and that of her husband Harishchandra.
Hearing her words and recognizing them, Harishchandra consoled the queen. Then making a funeral pyre and placing his son on it, the king, with his wife, began to meditate upon Vishnu, asking for death.
Indrs then appeared before Harishchandra and promised him a place in the heaven. His son was brought back to life. Harishchandra wanted to talk to Vishwamitra and take his permission before he left for heaven.
Vishwamitra then appeared before the king and returned hiss kingdom back to him. Harishchandra then went back to his kingdom with his wife and son, where his son was crowned 'crown prince'.
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