King Hariścandra, beset by his vow to Varuṇa, found himself in a difficult predicament. When Varuṇa first appeared, the king explained, “The animal I have for sacrifice is toothless and unfit. When its teeth have come in, then, O lord of waters, you may return.” Accepting the king’s words, Varuṇa departed. When the animal’s teeth finally grew in after seven years, Varuṇa returned and urged the king to fulfill his promise. Yet again, the king replied, “These teeth will soon fall out, O lord of waters.” Varuṇa was told, “When the teeth grow back anew, then I will sacrifice. Please go now.” So Varuṇa departed once more. When the new teeth came in, Varuṇa returned and pressed the king, “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.” Hearing this, Varuṇa returned to his own abode. In time, Rohita, the king’s son, became skilled in all forms of weaponry and missiles. He mastered the Vedas and all the treatises, and when he reached his sixteenth year, he was installed as crown prince. Joy filled the palace as father and son were united. Varuṇa appeared again and insisted, “Now offer your son in sacrifice.” King Hariścandra, with solemn resolve, called upon his priests in the presence of Rohita and Varuṇa, saying, “Come, my son, great hero; I will sacrifice you to Varuṇa.” Rohita, startled, asked his father, “What is this?” The king explained everything in detail as Varuṇa listened. Rohita then addressed his father, “O great king, with the priests and the chief priest, let us quickly and purely sacrifice to Viṣṇu, lord of the worlds, with an animal. O Varuṇa, you should permit this.” Hearing Rohita’s words, Varuṇa became greatly angered and afflicted the king with dropsy. Rohita, son of Hariścandra, took up his divine bow, mounted his chariot, and departed for the forest, free from sorrow. He journeyed to the very place on the banks of the Ganga where his father had once worshipped Varuṇa and prayed for a son. There Rohita dwelled for five years. In the sixth year, he heard news of his father’s illness. He pondered, “What purpose is there in a son who, having been born, brings suffering to his father?” On the riverbank, Rohita saw holy sages, the best of seers, living there. Among them was Ajigarta, famed as the son of a sage, accompanied by his wife and three sons. Their means of living were exhausted, and they appeared emaciated and dejected. Rohita respectfully bowed and asked Ajigarta, “Why are you so worn and sorrowful?” Ajigarta replied, “There is no means of sustenance for my family. Without food, we will die. Tell me, what should we do?” Rohita encouraged him, “What is in your mind? Tell me, best of speakers.” Ajigarta lamented, “I have no gold, silver, cows, grain, garments, or any such thing, O tiger among kings. I have only my sons and wife; I am the fifth among them. These cannot be bought with food.” Rohita asked, “What do you wish to sell, O wise Ajigarta? Speak the truth to me; nothing else should be said, for brahmins are speakers of truth.” Ajigarta replied, “Of my three sons, or myself, or even my wife—take any one of us; by selling, we may live.” Rohita said, “What use is a wife? What use is an old man like you? Give me your young son, whichever you desire.” Ajigarta answered, “I will not sell my eldest son, Śunahpuccha, nor does their mother wish to part with the youngest. Therefore, I will give you the middle one, Śunaḥśepa; name the price.” Rohita said, “A human is a more worthy offering to Varuṇa than an animal. If you are selling, O great sage, tell me the true price.” Ajigarta agreed and set the price for his son: a thousand cows, grain, gold coins, and garments. “Give the price, O prince, and I will give you my son.” Rohita accepted, gave the wealth and garments, and took Śunaḥśepa, the sage’s son, to his father. He told Hariścandra, “Offer sacrifice to Varuṇa with this human victim, and you will be freed from disease.” Thus Hariścandra prepared to follow his son’s words. Yet he reflected on the tradition: “Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas are to be protected by the king, especially the brahmins, who are the teachers of all. Even those like me are to be honored as much as Viṣṇu; how much more so! If kings show contempt for brahmins, their own lineage is destroyed.” He asked himself, “How can I, by making this wretched one an animal for sacrifice, protect him? How could I make a brahmin an animal? That is not proper. Better to die at once than ever make a brahmin an animal for sacrifice. Therefore, my son, go happily with the brahmin.” At that moment, a bodiless voice resounded in the air.