Viravara’s family went to the temple and he sacrificed his son and offered his head to the goddess. Miserable without his son, Viravara killed himself also with his sword. His unhappy wife too did not wish to live without her husband and her son, so she too killed herself with the same sword. Shudraka was horrified at the terrible deaths and very unhappy that he had failed to see the worth of this great warrior. He decided to kill himself too, as he felt he did not deserve to live or to be a king. As he drew out his sword, the goddess appeared. She brought Viravara and his family back to life. Viravara, when questioned, merely said that a lady had wept, but had vanished when he came there. The King was so pleased that he told the court about Viravara’s deeds and made him the prince of Karnataka.
A King’s Reward
