Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam: 37. A KING IS PUT TO TEST

 

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam:

37. A KING IS PUT TO TEST

God Varuna went away, and the king was plunged in gloom. Harischandra realised that the god was determined to claim Rohit.

“Father! Why do you look so remorseful?” Prince Rohit asked him one day.

The king told him all that was going on between himself and Varuna.

Rohit discussed the problem with the sons of the ministers who were his friends. They advised him to stay away from the palace.

Rohit escaped to the forest. The king tried to locate him, but failed.

When Varuna made his next visit, the king said with folded hands, “My son, for the fear of his life, has gone into hiding. I haven’t been able to trace him. What should I do?”

“You’re trying to deceive me!” blurted our Varuna. He cursed the king. As a result, he took ill.

The news of the king’s illness reached Rohit in the forest. He decided to return to the palace.

But Indra stopped him on his way. “Is there any sense in your going home? You can’t cure your father of his illness. Varuna will soon be there again, and you’ll be sacrificed. That will only aggravate your father’s illness. Better continue to be in hiding. Return to the palace only after your father’s death and then occupy the throne,” advised Indra.

Accordingly Prince Rohit went back to the forest.

The ailing king asked Vasishtha for a way out of the predicament. The sage said, “Varuna wants that you must sacrifice your son. Well, an adopted son is as good as one’s real son. Adopt a son and sacrifice him. That should be appeasement enough for Varuna.”

The king summoned his senior minister and asked him to look for a boy who should be fit for the Yajna. The minister went from place to place and came upon a Brahmin who had three sons, all fit for the Yajna.

The minister requested the Brahmin to spare one of his sons for the purpose. “You can take any, except the eldest one,” said the Brahmin.

“You can take any, but not the youngest one,” said the Brahmin’s wife.

Naturally, only the second son, Sunahsefa, was left. The king adopted him. Preparations for the Yajna began.

Sunahsefa shed tears thinking of his fate. That saddened all who were present. King Harischandra was no exception.

Suddenly Sage Viswamitra appeared on the scene. “Harischandra, spare the boy’s life. Don’t forget what I did for your father. You should not ignore my advice,” said the sage.

The king bowed to him and said, “But how can I come out of the curse to which Varuna has subjected me? How long can I suffer?”

“Have patience,” said the sage. He went near Sunahsefa and taught him a certain hymn that had the power to please Varuna.

The boy recited the hymn with great sincerity. Soon Varuna appeared there and declared that he had been satisfied. The boy was set free. The curse was lifted from the king.

Sunahsefa asked the assembled priests, “To whom should I look upon as my father? The Brahmin of whom I was born, or the king who adopted me?”

The priests gave the opinion that he should look upon Sage Viswamitra who saved him from certain death as his true father. Sunahsefa followed Sage Viswamitra.

Sage Vasishtha and Sage Viswamitra had become enemies of each other. They often quarrelled even in the presence of gods and kings. King Harischandra showed great respect to Vasishtha who was his guru and had thus annoyed Viswamitra on many occasions. Viswamitra decided to harass the king as much as possible.

One day, while the king was performing a certain fire-rite alone. Viswamitra approached him, putting on the appearance of an old Brahmin.

“O King, I’m in dire need of something. Can you fulfil my need?” he asked.

Years ago, in the course of performing a great Yajna, the king had taken an oath that he would never refuse anything to anybody.

Moreover, the old Brahmin had met him at an auspicious moment. There was no question of the king showing any reluctance to oblige him. He said, “Tell me, what is your need and I’ll give my life, if that is necessary, to fulfil it!”

“Very well. Remember, the God of Fire is witness to your promise. I want your kingdom and all your wealth!” spoke out the old Brahmin.

“They are yours!” readily declared King Harischandra without raising an eyebrow!

The old Brahmin nodded and said: “You and your family must vacate the palace by tomorrow morning but not before giving me my dakshina!”

According to the tradition, after making a donation, the donor had to give a supplementary gift known as dakshina. Without it, the main donation would have no meaning.