Overwhelmed by sorrow, the queen turned to the royal sage and declared, “I too, unable to bear the weight of grief, will go with you today into the blazing fire.” The birds watching all this described how, after preparing the funeral pyre, the king gently placed his son upon it. With his wife at his side, they stood together, hands joined in reverence. In that solemn moment, King Harishchandra fixed his mind upon the Supreme Self, Lord Narayana—Hari, who dwells in the cave of the heart; Vasudeva, Lord of the gods; the beginningless and endless Brahman; Krishna, clad in yellow robes, the most auspicious one. As he meditated deeply, all the gods, led by Indra and with Dharma at their head, descended swiftly to the scene. Arriving before the king, the gods spoke: “O King, listen, Lord! Here is the Grandfather himself and Dharma, the Blessed One, come in person.” With them came the Sadhyas, Visvedevas, Maruts, guardians of the worlds with their celestial vehicles, Nagas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Rudras, and the Ashvins, along with many others. Vishvamitra was among them, he who once could not establish friendship with the threefold universe. Now, Vishvamitra wished to make friendship with Harishchandra, and together with Dharma and Indra, the son of Gadhi, he ascended and arrived. Dharma addressed the king: “Do not act rashly, O King! I, Dharma, have come, pleased by your virtues of forbearance, self-control, truth, and more.” Indra spoke next: “O Harishchandra, greatly fortunate one! I, Shakra, have come to you. With your wife and son, you have conquered the eternal worlds. Ascend to heaven, O King, together with your wife and son—by your deeds you have attained what is exceedingly difficult for others.” Indra, seated among the gods, released a rain of nectar from the sky, destroying death itself. Flowers showered down, divine drums resounded, and the assembly of gods rejoiced. Then, the king’s son arose—his body delicate and healthy, his senses and mind clear and serene. Harishchandra, adorned with celestial garlands and garments, embraced his son and wife, radiant with splendor. His heart, completely fulfilled and brimming with supreme joy, was transformed in that very moment. Indra spoke again: “With your wife and son, you shall attain the highest blessed state; ascend, O greatly fortunate one, by the fruits of your own deeds.” Harishchandra replied, “Though permitted by you, O Lord of the gods, I will not ascend to the abode of the gods without first fulfilling my obligation to my master, the outcaste.” Dharma explained, “Understanding your future hardship, I myself led you to the state of an outcaste and revealed that fickleness to you.” Indra urged, “Ascend, O Harishchandra, to that supreme place sought by all men—the realm attained by the righteous.” Harishchandra bowed to Indra, his face bright with grace, and spoke humbly: “The people of Kosala, their minds sunk in grief because of me, remain there—how can I go to heaven, abandoning them today? To abandon a devotee is declared a sin equal to killing a Brahmin, teacher, cow, or woman. To leave an innocent devotee who serves with devotion may bring ease, but I see no good in this world or the next. Therefore, O Indra, go to heaven without me. If they may go to heaven with me, O Lord of the gods, then I too will go; otherwise, I will go even to hell together with them.” Indra explained, “Their many merits and sins are distinct and separate; how can you, as a group, again attain heaven?” Harishchandra replied, “O Shakra, a king enjoys his kingdom through the power of his subjects, performs great sacrifices, and carries out works of charity. All this I have accomplished through their power; I will not abandon my benefactors out of desire for heaven. Therefore, O Lord of the gods, whatever good deeds I have performed—giving, sacrificing, reciting, or any other act—may all that be with us. The fruit of my actions, which is to be enjoyed over many ages—may that, by your grace, be attained by us in a single day.” Indra, together with Dharma and Vishvamitra, was pleased at heart and declared, “So it shall be.” Then, ascending from earth to the heavenly realms in aerial chariots, they addressed the people of Ayodhya, saying, “Ascend to heaven.” Hearing Indra’s words, Vishvamitra, the great ascetic, brought Rohitashva to the king. In the beautiful city of Ayodhya, he anointed the prince as king, with the gods, sages, and perfected beings installing him as lord of men. Then, together with the king, all the people—joyful, prosperous, and with their friends, sons, servants, and wives—ascended to heaven. At every step, from one aerial chariot to another, the people ascended, and great joy arose, with King Harishchandra among them. Having attained incomparable prosperity through the aerial chariots, the king established dwellings within the heavenly city, enclosed by ramparts and walls. Witnessing this prosperity, Ushanas, the great and blessed preceptor of the Daityas and knower of all scriptures, spoke: “There has never been, nor will there be, a king equal to Harishchandra. Whoever hears this tale, afflicted by their own sorrow, will obtain great happiness. One desiring heaven will attain heaven; one desiring a son will obtain a son; one desiring a wife will gain a wife; one desiring a kingdom will obtain a kingdom.