| Harischandra - III
The Brahmin who had bought Chandramathi, bought their son Rohithan also, along with her. Then, pulling her by the hair and beating both of them, he dragged them away. Later, Viswamitra appeared and when Harischandra gave him the money, the sage expressed his dissatisfaction as it was the amount promised. So, Harischandra promised to give him the remaining amount before sunset. Feeling distraught, he decided to sell himself. Yama who disguised himself as Praveeran, the chief of the lower caste people came to him and expressed his wish to buy him. At the same time, Viswamitra too came there, and Harischandra was sold to Yama in the form of Praveeran. Yama handed over the money to him. The sage was finally satisfied and took leave of them. Yama took Harischandra to the cremation ground and ordered him to keep a watch and collect cremation tax from the people.
Meanwhile, Rohithan, who was playing with his friends near the river side was bitten by a snake and he died. On hearing this, Chandramathi screamed with sorrow and fainted. Regaining her consciousness, she requested her master to allow her to see her son. But he was callous in his attitude. He refused her permission, and filled with rage at her repeated requests, he whipped her. Chandramathi suffering with pain and grief, performed the household duties. In the night when her master retired to bed, she started pressing his feet. Relenting a little, the master gave her permission to see her son and cremate him but reminded her that she should be back in the morning to attend to her daily chores.
Chandramathi went to the riverside and on seeing her son's corpse, cried with grief. On hearing her cry, the people nearby came to see what had happened and started asking questions. But Chandramathi was drowned in sorrow and their questions went unanswered. Thinking her to be a Devil, they started hurling stones at her and finally tied her up with a rope and dragged her to the cremation ground. Then they asked Harischandra who was the caretaker of the place, to cut her into pieces. But he refused on the grounds that it was a sin to kill a woman. Praveeran who arrived at that moment, gave him a long sword and ordered him to kill her. Chandramathi pleaded with him to give her time, so that she can cremate her son who was lying dead at the banks of the river Ganges.
Chandramathi brought her son's body to the cremation ground and laid it before him. Though he could not identify his wife by sight, he realised that by her lamenting voice and that it was his son who was lying dead at his feet. He too started crying in sorrow. Chandramathi was shocked beyond words when she realised that it was her husband. He told her that he had to collect the tax to cremate his son and that he would be failing in his duty if he failed to do so. Feeling helpless, they decided to cremate their son and commit suicide. Harischandra made the necessary arrangements and after cremating his son, both prepared themselves to jump in the fire.
At that time, Lord Brahma appeared before them and stopped them from doing so. The Devas too appeared, and poured nectar over the burning body of Rohithan. To everyone's surprise, and the joy of his parents, Rohithan was restored to life. Yama discarded his disguise and as Yama blessed them. Viswamitra accepted his defeat that even during intense grief, Harischandra stood by the truth, and pleased with this quality of his, returned his Kingdom and his belongings to him. Harischandra ascended the throne once more with his wife and son, and his subjects gave him a royal welcome. He crowned his son Rohithan as his successor and went to Heaven accompanied by the Devas. ( Devi Bhagavatham-7th Skandham )
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