| Great Kings & Queens |
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| Biographies of Great Indians & Hindus |
HARISCHANDRA |
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| Rohitashwa A son was born to Harischandra. Thus they were relieved of their chief worry. But they were confronted by another anxiety, haunting them spectrelike. The god Varuna, who had graced them with a son, appeared before them. "Give me back the child," demanded. "O! the child is young. Please wait till he develops his teeth," pleadedHarischandra. I child's teeth appeared. The god came back. The father said: "Please wait till the boy's initial tonsure ceremony. The god granted another term reprieve. Even as the father was thus putting off his promise, the boy developed sufficient awareness. I came to know that his father had consecrated his life to the god. He suddenly absconded from the country. God Varuna was angry. Consequent Harischandra contacted a deadly form of dropsy. But the god himself took pity and said relentingly: "I do not want thesacrifice. Let Harischandra be cured of the disease." |
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