Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4759

c9.4759

With his wife Candramati and his young son, Hariścandra reached Kāśī. After a month Viśvāmitra came to Kāśī for the amount of dakṣiṇā. Finding no go, Candramati said to her husband. “My Lord ! sell me to some one and clear off this debt.” The King with tears agreed to this proposal. Because of their woe and misery, both fell on the ground and fainted. The child sat near them hungry and crying. Viśvāmitra stood near them compelling him to pay the amount. When Hariścandra came to himself, he sold his beloved wife to a Brahmin in the village close by. The Brahmin who bought Candramati was Viśvāmitra. Hariścandra was not aware of this. After counting out a crore of gold pieces in a cloth and placing it on the ground Viśvāmitra caught hold of Candramati by her hair and dragged her away. He bought the crying child also paying its price. The Brahmin led the mother and the child, beating and dragging them along, like animals. They disappeared from the sight of the King.