Viśvāmitra, the illustrious sage, spoke to King Hariścandra: “O hero, the earth with its oceans, its rulers, villages, and cities—all your kingdom, filled with chariots, horses, and elephants—let it be given. Your treasury, your storehouses, and all else that belongs to you except your wife, your son, and your own body, O sinless one, I ask for. And the virtue, O knower of dharma, that follows one who departs—why say more? Let all this be granted.” The birds, witnessing the exchange, recounted how King Hariścandra, hearing these words, responded with a joyful mind and an unwavering face. With joined palms, he replied, “So be it.” Viśvāmitra pressed further, “If you have truly given me everything—kingdom, land, strength, and wealth—who, O royal sage, holds authority when the ascetic is established in the kingdom?” Hariścandra answered, “Even when I gave land to a Brahmin at any time, you were its master then; how much more so now, O king?” Viśvāmitra declared, “If you have given me all the earth, O king, wherever my authority prevails, you must depart from there.” Obediently, Hariścandra left behind all his ornaments, including girdles and sacred threads, and donned bark garments. His wife Śaivya and their young son did the same. The birds described how, saying “so be it” and doing as he promised, the king began to depart, accompanied by his wife and son. As they were leaving, someone blocked their path and challenged the king: “Where are you going without giving me the royal sacrificial gift?” Hariścandra replied, “O revered one, this kingdom has been given to you, cleared of all obstacles. Now, O Brahman, only these three bodies of mine remain.” Viśvāmitra insisted, “Even so, you must give me the sacrificial gift. It is promised that Brahmins are harmed if the gift is not given. As long as the Brahmins are satisfied in the Rājasūya, O king, so long must the royal sacrificial gift be given. Having promised, you must give; you must fight with aggressors; and you must protect the afflicted—this was previously promised by you.” Hariścandra said, “O revered one, at present I have nothing; I will give to you in due course. Show your grace, O sage, considering my sincerity.” Viśvāmitra pressed, “What measure of time should I wait for you, O lord of men? Speak quickly, or the fire of my curse will consume you.” Hariścandra humbly answered, “O sage, I will give you the sacrificial wealth within a month. I have no riches now; you should permit me to give.” Viśvāmitra allowed him, “Go, go, O foremost of kings, uphold your own duty. May your path be auspicious, and may there be no obstacles.” The birds recounted how, permitted to depart, the lord of the earth went forth; his beloved wife followed him, walking by foot, though it was not her custom. Seeing the great king leaving the city with his wife and son, the citizens and the king’s followers cried out in anguish: “Alas, why do you abandon us, always afflicted and suffering? You are devoted to righteousness, O king, and have shown favor to the citizens. Take us also, O royal sage, if you regard righteousness. Wait a moment, O king, so we may see your lotus-like face. Let us drink with our bee-like eyes; when will we see you again?” Those who went before and behind the departing king saw his wife carrying their young son, and his servants walking ahead, standing in the path like elephants. The citizens lamented, “This king Hariścandra now goes by foot; alas, O king, your tender-skinned, beautiful-browed son walks with you. What will his face become, covered with dust along the road? Stay, stay, O foremost of kings, uphold your own duty. Compassion is the highest duty, especially for Kṣatriyas. What are wives, what are sons, O lord, what are riches or grains? Having abandoned all this, we have become your shadow. Alas, O great king, alas, O master, why do you leave us? Wherever you are, there we are also; happiness is where you dwell. The city is where you reside, and heaven is wherever our king is.” Hearing these words of the townspeople, the king was overwhelmed by sorrow and paused on the path out of compassion for them. Viśvāmitra, seeing Hariścandra disturbed by the people’s words, approached, his eyes wide with anger and indignation, and rebuked him: “Shame on you, wicked in conduct, speaking false and crooked words! Having given me my kingdom, why do you now wish to take it back?” Addressed so harshly, Hariścandra trembled and said, “I will go,” quickly departing, grasping his beloved by the hand. As he dragged his delicate wife, weary from exhaustion, Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) suddenly struck her with a stick. Seeing her struck in this way, King Hariścandra, afflicted with grief, said only, “I will go,” and spoke nothing else. Then the five compassionate gods spoke among themselves: “What worlds will Viśvāmitra, so sinful, attain? By whom the best of sacrificers has been cast down from his own kingdom—by whose faith will we drink the purified soma at the great sacrifice and depart joyfully, led by the mantras?” Hearing their words, Kauśika, filled with great anger, cursed them: “All of you shall attain human birth.” Appeased by them, the great sage spoke again: “Even in your human birth, you shall have no offspring. There will be no taking of wives, nor envy; freed from desire and anger, you will become gods again.