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King Hariccandra's courageous endurance
95
They traveled on the high-road, until Sutārā was worn out with fatigue. The king consoled her by pointing out that they were near Vārāṇasī (Benares), and bade her rest under a campaka tree on the shore of the Gañgā. While she was sitting there in sad thought, crying, with her head covered, Rohitāçva began to whimper for food. The king forgetfully cried out: Sirrah, give the child sweetmeats !' When no one responded, the child again cried. His mother grieved over the sad lot of a descendant of the imperial house of Bharata, while the king realized that he had fallen low indeed, when he no longer could give his child some breakfast. He entertained him, by pointing out the birds disporting themselves on the Gañgā, but, after a little, the boy again wailed: 'Daddy, I am very hungry!' It happened that an old woman came journeying along, carrying her provisions for the journey on her head. As she asked the way to the city, she observed that the family, notwithstanding their sorry plight, bore the marks of royalty. When Rohitāçva again begged his mother for food, the old woman offered some of hers. But the boy, keen set as he was, yet being the son of a courageously enduring man (sāttvikasya sutatvataḥ), refused. The king told her that he did not accept doles given in pity. Whereupon she went her way (762).
The king bade the queen rise, if she were over her fatigue, but she tried to discourage the journey, because Vārāṇasī belonged to an enemy. The king averred that he must somehow get the money for the Sage; Sutārā offered herself to be sold as a slave. The king replied that they must be sold altogether, if any were sold. Touchingly Rohitāçva begged his mother not to sell him, but to let him stay with her: he would do without sweetmeats. She consoled him by promising that he would become an emperor (cakravartin). They arrived at Benares, and
