[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c4.937 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.937 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c4.937 - **Language:** English ### [c4.937](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.937) Long ago there lived a Brahmin named Govindasvāmī, near the river Kālindī. He had two sons, Aśokadatta and Vijayadatta. They were good men like their father. Once there occurred a great famine in the country. Scarcity prevailed everywhere. Govindasvāmī told his wife, "I cannot bear to see the difficulties of our people. So let us give everything we have for famine relief and then go to Kāśī and live there." His good-natured wife agreed to it and giving everything for the relief work, Govindasvāmī with his wife and children started for Kāśī. On the way he met a hermit sage who had renounced the world. He had his whole body besmeared with ashes. With his tuft of hair and garment made of the barks of trees, he seemed to be Śiva. Govindasvāmī bowed before him, and asked about the future of his children. The Yogī (hermit) said, "the future of your two sons is good. But this Vijayadatta will go away from you. Reunion will become possible by the goodness of Aśokadatta." Govindasvāmī felt glad and sad at the same time. Leaving the hermit they proceeded to Kāśī. They neared Kāśī. There was a temple on the way. They stayed there and conducted worship in the temple and took shelter for the night under a tree outside the temple. Other travellers also were there. Being tired of walking all went to sleep. Vijayadatta the second son of Govindasvāmī caught cold. So he woke up in the night. When he began to shiver, because of cold, he called his father and said, "Father, it appears that I have caught cold and I am shivering. I would grow better if I could get some fire. So please get some twigs and make a fire. I don't think, I may complete this night otherwise". They saw a fire close by. It was in a burial-ground. Govindasvāmī took Vijayadatta to that place where a dead body was burning. - [Previous: c4.936](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.936) - [Next: c4.938](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.938) - [Up: c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.937](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c4.937) · Pramāṇa