Harischandra

Just as we approached Harischandra ghat, the most scared smashan or cremation area, I noticed two white bundles float past us.

Dawn Boat Ride on the Ganges 2007

King Harischandra said that the gift of gold is sin-cleansing, leads to long life, and becomes productive of inexhaustible merit unto the Pitris.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 Books 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Kisari Mohan [Translator] Ganguli

-- And know, O monarch, O bull of the Bharata race, it was for this reason that Harischandra shone more brightly than thousands of other kings.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose Sabha Parva Kisari Mohan [Translator] Ganguli

The powerful Harischandra having concluded his great sacrifice, became installed, O king, in the sovereignty of the earth and looked resplendent on his throne.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose Sabha Parva Kisari Mohan [Translator] Ganguli

O king of the Kuru race, O son of Kunti, thy father Pandu, beholding the good fortune of Harischandra and wondering much thereat, hath told thee something.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose Sabha Parva Kisari Mohan [Translator] Ganguli

Liberality is encouraged by the recitation of legends, such as that of the good king Harischandra who gave away his whole kingdom to the great Brahman saint Visvamitra, and retired to Benares with a loin-cloth which the recipient allowed him to retain from his possessions.

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume II R. V. Russell

Thou hast heard that the great king Harischandra, having performed sacrifices, earned great merit and great happiness.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 Books 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Kisari Mohan [Translator] Ganguli

It is by truth that Harischandra roves through heaven like a second

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 Books 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Kisari Mohan [Translator] Ganguli

Similarly, when Visvamitra sent beautiful maidens to tempt the good king Harischandra he instructed them to try and induce the king to marry them, and if he would not do this, to ask him for the Puchukra Undi or State Umbrella, which was the emblem of the king's protecting power over his kingdom, with the idea that that power would be destroyed by its loss.

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume II R. V. Russell

Having heard of this glory of the illustrious monarchs (of old) and being certain about the acquisition of regions of felicity by performers of sacrifices in consequence of their sacred deeds, and thinking especially of that royal sage Harischandra who had performed the great sacrifice king Yudhishthira desired to make preparations for the Rajasuya sacrifice.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose Sabha Parva Kisari Mohan [Translator] Ganguli