In the sacred narrative, the holy places are first enumerated: Śamī tīrtha stands foremost, followed by Vaiṣṇava; then come Ārka, Śaiva, Saumya, and Vāsiṣṭha, each renowned for granting all desires to those who approach them with faith. When the grand sacrifice was completed, all the gods and sages, fully satisfied, gathered and addressed the sage Vasiṣṭha and the noble sacrificer Priyavrata. The trees and the Ganges, approached repeatedly with joy, were visited again and again for the fulfillment of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. The gods declared that these holy places bestow the fruit of the Aśvamedha itself; thus, Nārada, by bathing and giving charity at these tīrthas, one attains the sacred reward of the Aśvamedha sacrifice—this is assured and not mere words. The story then turns to the names of other sacred tīrthas: Viśvāmitra, Hariścandra, Śunaḥśepa, Rohita, Vāruṇa, Brāhma, Āgneya, Aindra, Aindava, Aiśvara, Maitra, Vaiṣṇava, Yāmya, Āśvina, and Auśana. These holy places, each bearing the name of a sage or deity, are recounted for their sanctity. Among these names, Hariścandra, a king descended from the illustrious Ikṣvāku lineage, is introduced. In his house, the sages Nārada and Parvata arrived. Hariścandra honored them with due respect and then, with a heart full of curiosity, spoke to the sages: "People strive for sons; but what will happen with a son? Will he be wise or ignorant, excellent, middling, or otherwise? Tell me, O revered sages, for this question has always troubled me." Parvata and Nārada responded to Hariścandra, explaining the significance of having a son. "O king, the result of having a son is onefold, tenfold, hundredfold, and thousandfold; the highest result is attained, yet this is declared thus. For one without a son, there is no higher world; but when a son is born, the father who bathes attains that world. He obtains the fruit of the consecration of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices; self-establishment comes from the son, and the best banner is born. The gods became immortal through nectar; Brahmins and others through sons. A son frees his father and grandfathers from the three debts. Without a son, O king, heaven and liberation are remembered as coming from the son. The son alone is the highest world, dharma, desire, and wealth; the son is liberation, the supreme light, the deliverer of all embodied beings. Without a son, O king, heaven and liberation are very difficult to attain; the son alone is the highest in the world for the accomplishment of dharma, desire, and wealth. Whatever is given as charity without a son, whatever is offered in sacrifice without a son, and whatever birth occurs without a son—all that appears to me as fruitless. Therefore, there is nothing in the three worlds as desirable as a son." Hearing this, Hariścandra, filled with wonder, asked again: "Tell me, by what means might I obtain a son—where, how, and in what manner? By any method, through effort, mantra, sacrifice, or charity, I must produce a son." The two sages addressed Hariścandra, who longed for a son: "Meditate for a moment well, then go to Gautamī, O giver of honor. There, the lord of waters, Varuṇa, grants the highest wish of the mind; Varuṇa, renowned among sages as the giver of all. Pleased, he will in time grant you a son." Hariścandra listened and acted according to their guidance. He pleased Varuṇa, who dwelt on the bank of the Gautamī. Satisfied, Varuṇa spoke to Hariścandra: "I will give you a son, O king, an ornament of the three worlds; if you sacrifice with him, your son will surely be born." Hariścandra replied, "I will sacrifice with him," and prepared a Varuṇa-offering. The king gave it to his wife, and a son was born to him. When the son was born, the lord of waters, Varuṇa, spoke: "Today itself the son must be sacrificed; do you remember the promise made before?" Hariścandra then responded, as was proper: "When the animal becomes ten days old and pure, then I will sacrifice with him." Varuṇa accepted this and departed. When ten days had passed, Varuṇa returned and said, "Sacrifice now." The king replied, "The animal is toothless and unfit; when the animal’s teeth have come in, then come, O lord of waters." Varuṇa departed once more. When the child’s teeth appeared at seven years, Varuṇa returned and urged, "Sacrifice now." The king answered, "These teeth will fall out, O lord of waters." "They will grow again, and others as well; then I will sacrifice—go now," Hariścandra said, and Varuṇa departed. When the new teeth had come in, Varuṇa again pressed, "Sacrifice now." The king replied, "When a Kshatriya becomes the sacrificial animal in a ritual, O lord of waters, and when he knows the science of archery, then he becomes the best of sacrificial victims." Varuṇa departed again. When Rohita, Hariścandra’s son, became skilled in weapons and missiles, learned in all the Vedas and treatises, and reached sixteen years—attaining the position of crown prince—he rejoiced with his father. Varuṇa arrived and said, "Now offer your son in sacrifice." Hariścandra, uttering "Om," addressed the priests as Rohita, his eldest son, and Varuṇa listened: "Come, my son, great hero; I will sacrifice you to Varuṇa.