The telling of this story, O King, is itself a purifier of all sins and brings great auspiciousness. Listen, then, to this account: Once, there lived a sage of supreme righteousness. His son, too, was remarkable—endowed with great brilliance, wise, and firmly established in yoga. Yet, in a moment of anger, the supremely righteous son was cursed by his father. Despite this, the son, ever devoted to dharma, accepted his father’s words without protest. In an instant, he vanished from sight, yet spoke to his father with calm resolve: “Let your words never be false, for one who is righteous. I will certainly return here again—there is no doubt.” Thus, the son of great brilliance, unwavering in virtue, agreed to his father’s decree. He then added, “Father, he whom you wish to rescue, who falsely invokes, will indeed be saved by you. But I, who have spoken falsely, am unfit to act or to be addressed.” To this, the father replied, “Son, I am not a speaker of untruth, nor do I tolerate the violation of dharma. You know the ways of righteousness, are renowned, ever patient, and have mastered your senses. I have pleaded with you, my child, not to go there—you should not.” The father’s concern deepened: “If King Vaivasvata happens to arrive there by chance, I will perish—witness the destruction of the family bridge. The place called ‘pudita’ is known as hell for its suffering. For one without a son, all of that becomes futile, certainly. Whether it is a Shudra who serves, a Vaishya who tills the land, one who performs great austerity, or gives unsurpassed charity—birth is attained through a son, and the grandfather through a grandson. I will not abandon you, my child, who increases my lineage.” Hearing these words, the supremely righteous son became joyful and his form grew robust. He said, “Having seen that god, revered by all the worlds, I come here again, and I have no fear of death. Abide in truth, O greatly fortunate one, and uphold the truth. The sun shines by truth, and the wind blows by truth. The ocean does not cross its boundary, preserved by truth. By truth, sacrifices proceed, purified by mantras and duly honored. Truth is the foundation of the Gāyatrī and the Sāma; everything is established in truth. By truth, everything is obtained, as I have heard, dear father.” He continued, “Once, the embryo of the Vedas was protected by Rudra, the god of gods; Brahmā undertook initiation, being well restrained by him. Long ago, father, at the dissolution, all the worlds with their deities—Virocana’s son, dwelling in the netherworld, upheld truth and was bound. The great Vindhya mountain, established in truth, though growing, does not increase. Household duties are observed, and forest-dwellers are adorned by truth. A thousand horse sacrifices and truth are weighed in a balance. By truth, dharma is protected; and dharma, in turn, protects the one who upholds it.” Having spoken thus, delighted and strengthened in his own body, the sage’s son—possessed of great brilliance, ever truthful in speech, and free from deceit—stood radiant, upholding the eternal law.