The Irony Of Life

This is a tale from Indian Mythology.

King HarishChandra of the Ikshavu dynasty had many wives but no children.He always wanted to enjoy his fatherhood. Despite all his money, power and fame he did not have any child .

   One day Narada, the messenger of gods visited him and saw him upset.He asked the king "O King ! Why are you upset ? Please tell me if I can help you." The king replied "O Heavenly one!I have everything but not a child I also want to enjoy my fatherhood life like anyone else" Narada said "Pray to God Varun, the god of water he is very kind and may bless you with a child."Harish Chandra followed his advice and started to pray to God Varun.

God Varun appeared infront of Harishchandra and asked him for a boon.The King requested to bless him with a child.Varun said "Will you do the responsibility of a father, to care, to correct, to teach and to know that he himself is wrong." The king agreed . Varun put a condition infront of Harishchandra of that he must return the child whenever he asks for.the king agreed to this also .

After a year the king was blessed with a son and named him Rohit.One year later Varun arrived and asked him to return the child but the king said"Please spare Rohit for one more year because I want to see him walk his first steps."Varun agreed.

One year later Varun arrived and asked him to return the child but the king said"Please spare Rohit for one more year because I want to hear him say his first words ."Varun agreed.

Thus whenever Varun came Harish Chandra made excuses and he ran out of excuses. He was searching for another excuse but Varun interrupted his thoughts and said"This time I will not listen to you wise king! I want Rohit back.". Rohit heard everything and ran away into the woods. When Varun came to know about this he cursed Harishchandra to suffer from Jalodara , a disease from water.

The king was suffering from high pain he was advised to do yagya and offer someone else son to Varun by Narada. The next day he ordered his messenger to go to the villages in his kingdom and spread his message"Whoever will give me his/her son will be granted by a hundred cows." A Villager fisherman heard that and rushed to his house to tell his wife about it.

They had three sons . His wife agreed to do so. They discussed about which son should be given to the king. The fisherman said "I will not give our eldest son because he is my most beloved son." his wife said "I will not give my youngest son to the king because he is my most beloved son." Thus they decided to give their second son, Shunshepa to the king .

The next day Harish Chandra arranged a yagya but the Sages refused to chant the mantras as they did not wanted to do the sin of giving someone else son to Varun for own benefit. So the king asked the fisherman to chant the mantras in exchange of a hundred cows.the fisherman agreed and the yagya was started. Varun appeared infront of Harishchandra but refused to take Shunshepa in exchange of Rohit.

Sage Vishwamitra was also present thier.He saw Shunshepa laughing and asked him"Why are you laughing my child?" Shunshepa replied"O great one I am laughing at the irony of my life." Vishwamitra said" Could you explain me in brief?" Shunshepa replied"My pleasure to tell you about what am I laughing."

He continued "My father should be protective for me but instead he is selling me to the king for my brothers. A king should think for the welfare of people of his kingdom but for his benefit is sacrificing me instead of his son. On the other hand god Varun is like father to everyone but wants a child who ran away in woods . What an irony!" Varun was listening every word of the child and appeared infront of Shunshepa and Vishwamitra and said"I was just taking a test of the king and he failed, I don't want Rohit and I will take my curse back . I bless you with luck and success my child ." he blessed Shunshepa.

Sage Vishwamitra was impressed and asked him to become his student and named Shunshepa 'Bharat'. Bharat became a great scholar.

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