Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3889

c9.3889

VARATANU. A King of the Kurus. Because of his sinful deeds in the previous birth he was denied the happiness of getting children in the next birth. In the rebirth his name was Śrīdhara. He lived with his wife Prabhāvatī for a long time, but did not get children. When the hermit Vyāsa came to his palace once, the King asked him for the reason of his remaining childless. Vyāsa replied “Oh King, hear why you have only one wife and why you do not get children. In the previous birth you had been a brahmin named Varatanu. Your wife was called Śaṅkarī. When both of you were somewhere once, you happened to see a low-caste child falling into water. Without paying any heed to it, you went on your way. The child was drowned. Though both of you have taken births in royal families due to the several good deeds of yours, you have become childless because of that one sinful act.”