Harishchandra, the King of Ayodhya, was famous for his honesty. The gods decided to test his honesty, with the help of sage Vishwamitra. Once, while hunting, he heard the cry of a woman and went to look for her. He reached the ashrama of Vishwamitra, who was angry at being disturbed. Harishchandra donated his kingdom to him, but he also asked for dakshina. Harishchandra asked for one month’s time. In Kasi he sold his wife, Shaivya, as a servant to a Brahmana, who also bought Rohitashwa. The money not being enough, he sold himself to a chandala, who worked in a cemetery, burning bodies. He then paid Vishwamitra. One day, Rohitashwa was bitten by a snake and died. Shaivya took him to the cremation ground where she saw her husband. He asked her for the tax. She had nothing, so she gave half her sari. The chandala was tansformed into Yama. The gods appeared and blessed the family.
King Harishchandra
