Then spoke the king, and told his sorrowing wife How he had fallen to this wretched state,-- The state of a Cha.n.dâla. She, in turn, Weeping, with many sighs, poured out her tale, Telling him how the serpent's bite had killed Their child. "Beloved one! I suffer not These evils," said the king, "by mine own will-- Thou seest what I endure; my evil fate Depends not on myself. I am a slave, And if I fly from the Cha.n.dâla's bonds, The fiery torment in the depths of hell Will overtake me, and I shall become A slave again. My doom is fixed! lo! hell Is my abode hereafter; and in forms, Creeping and loathsome, shall my soul abide. Yet from this miserable life on earth There is one only refuge. He! my son! My hope! my stay! is dead; drowned by the sea Of my misfortunes. But I am a slave! I am dependent on another's will! Can I give up my wife? Yes! even so! For know thou this: one who is steeped in woe Cares not for evil chances; not the state Of the most loathsome beast, nor yet the wood Of sword-leaved plants, nor even hell's dread stream, Could add the smallest fraction to the pain I have already borne. My son is dead! Who then will make atonement for my sins? Yet listen to my words, beloved one, If I have offered sacrifice, and paid Due reverence to the saints; if I have given Alms to the needy--may we meet again Hereafter, in the world to come, and find The refuge for our woes denied us here. Let us together follow in the path By which our son has gone. Our hopeless fate Can never alter here. Whatever words I may have uttered, thoughtlessly, in jest, These, when I pray for pardon, shall receive Fullest forgiveness. Thou must not despise Thy lord: nor pride thee on thy queenly state Now passed and gone." The prince's wife replied: "I am prepared to tread that path with thee, O king, most saintly! and with thee that world To enter." While she spoke these words, the king Made up the funeral pile, and placed thereon His son, himself ascending with his wife. And then, in meditation wrapt, he thought Upon Nârâyana, the lord supreme, And Vâsudeva, lord of deities, Šiva, and Brâhma the eternal god, And Krish.na clothed in glory. As the king Was meditating, all the gods from heaven Came down headed by Dharma. And they said: "Hear us, O king! hear us, O lord! The gods-- Even the mighty gods have come to earth, And at their head is Dharma. Gods, and saints, And heroes--yea, and Višvâmitra too, The sage implacable,--all summon thee-- Ascend! to heaven: receive the due reward, That thou hast gained. O king! slay not thyself! I, perfect Righteousness, I summon thee To enter now the heaven that thou hast gained By thy transcendant virtues, self-control, Patience, and truth." Then Indra spoke, and said:-- "O Harišchandra! King, most eminent! In virtue! lo! before you Indra stands-- For I am he.