In ancient times, King Hariścandra found himself afflicted by a terrible disease, and, seeking relief, he resolved to offer a sacrifice to Varuṇa, the lord of waters. Learned sages advised him that a human was a more worthy offering to Varuṇa than an animal. Rohita, the king’s son, took this advice to heart and approached the sage Ajigarta, asking if he would sell his own son as the sacrificial victim, and to name the true price. Ajigarta agreed, setting the price at a thousand cows, grain, gold coins, and garments. “Give me this wealth, O prince,” he said, “and I will give you my own son.” Rohita accepted the terms, gave the wealth and garments, and brought the sage’s son to his father, announcing that he had bought the boy for the sacrifice. Rohita urged his father, “Offer this human victim to Varuṇa, and you will be freed from your disease.” Hariścandra, trusting his son’s counsel, prepared for the sacrifice. Yet, Hariścandra remembered the sacred duty of kings: to protect brahmins, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas, especially the brahmins, who are teachers of all classes. He reflected, “Even those like me should be honored as much as Viṣṇu. If kings show contempt for brahmins, their lineage is destroyed. How can I make this wretched one an animal for sacrifice? 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 echoed through the air, instructing the king: “O king, go to the Gautamī River with your officiating priests, chief priest, sacrificial animal, the Brahmin boy, Rohita, and your son. Perform the sacrifice there, but do not kill Śunaḥśepa; the sacrifice will be completed in this way.” Hearing these divine words, Hariścandra, accompanied by the sage Viśvāmitra and chief priest Vasiṣṭha, quickly journeyed to the Ganges. With sage Vāmadeva and other ascetics, he reached the Gautamī Ganges and was consecrated for the human sacrifice. The altar, pavilion, fire-pits, sacrificial posts, and animals were prepared according to sacred rules. Śunaḥśepa, as the sacrificial victim, was bound to the post with mantras and sprinkled with water. Seeing this, Viśvāmitra spoke: “Let all the gods, sages, Hariścandra, and especially Rohita, give their consent for this excellent Brahmin, Śunaḥśepa. To whom this oblation is to be offered, let all those gods individually give their consent, especially for Śunaḥśepa. With fat, hair, skin, and flesh, all properly consecrated with mantras, this excellent Brahmin Śunaḥśepa is to be offered as the victim in the fire. Let all the foremost Brahmins, having approved me, go to the Gautamī, bathe, and then worship the gods individually. Praising with mantras and hymns, let them, delighting in auspiciousness, go joyfully; let the sages and gods, the enjoyers of the oblation, protect him.” The sages and the king agreed, and Śunaḥśepa went to the Ganges, purifier of the three worlds. After bathing, he praised the gods who were recipients of the oblation. The hosts of gods, pleased, spoke to Śunaḥśepa in the presence of Viśvāmitra: “Let this sacrifice be completed without the killing of Śunaḥśepa.” Varuṇa himself addressed the king, declaring the famous human sacrifice fulfilled. By the grace of the gods, favor of the sages, and sanctity of the holy place, the king’s sacrifice was accomplished. Viśvāmitra honored Śunaḥśepa before the assembly and the gods, making him his own son. Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) made Śunaḥśepa his eldest, but his other sons did not accept this. Kauśika cursed those sons who considered themselves superior to Śunaḥśepa in seniority, and honored those who did not. Thus, O best of sages, all this took place on the southern bank of the Gautamī. There are many sacred and renowned pilgrimage sites there, celebrated by gods and others. Listen, O wise one, to their names: eight thousand and fourteen holy places, beginning with those of Hariścandra, Śunaḥśepa, Viśvāmitra, and Sarohita. Bathing and offering gifts at these places bestow the fruit of a human sacrifice; their greatness has been declared. Whoever recites, causes to be recited, or listens to this story with devotion, though childless, obtains a son and whatever else is dear to the heart. Now, hear of the Soma-tīrtha, which increases the joy of the ancestors. Listen carefully, Nārada, to the highly meritorious event that took place there. Soma, the king made of nectar, was once among the Gandharvas, not among the gods. The gods came to me and spoke: “Soma, brought by the Gandharvas, once gave life to the gods; but now the gods and sages, greatly distressed, said: 'Let a way be devised so that Soma may become ours.'” Then Speech said to the gods: “The Gandharvas are always passionate for women; after giving them me, O gods, you should obtain Soma from them.” The immortals replied to Speech: “We are not able to give you away; yet, without you, we cannot remain, nor can we be without Soma.” Again Speech said to the gods: “I will return here again; meanwhile, let a plan be made and a great sacrifice be performed.