Markandeyapurana 8.4

8.4

sa gatvā vasudhāpālo divyāṃ vārāṇasīṃ purīm /
naiṣā manuṣyabhogyeti śūlapāṇeḥ parigrahaḥ //

The birds spoke:
Hearing Viśvāmitra’s speech, the king moved on slowly, full of sorrow, followed by his wife Śaivyā with her young boy. The king having reached the divine city[1] of Benares—the choice of Śiva who pronounced that it was not to be enjoyed by men. Distressed with sorrow, he travelled afoot with his compliant wife. On entering the city, he saw Viśvāmitra present. Seeing he had already arrived, Hariścandra bowed reverently and, joining his hands respectfully, addressed the great Muni“Here is my life, and this is my son, and this is my wife, O Muni! Take that as the choicest arghya offering with which thou shouldst quickly deal. Whatever else we should do, deign to excuse that.”