Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala
अनन्तरं स जातस्तु तदा पुक्कसबालकः ।
श्मशानमृतसंस्कारकरणेषु सदोद्यतः ॥
anantaraṃ sa jātas tu tadā pukkasa-bālakaḥ / śmaśāna-mṛta-saṃskāra-karaṇeṣu sadodyataḥ
Poco después, nació como un muchacho pukkasa, siempre dedicado a realizar en el crematorio los ritos funerarios para los difuntos.
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The narrative links prior conduct to the conditions of birth and work. Constant engagement with death-rites emphasizes the inescapability of karmic environments until inner transformation occurs.
Carita (individual story) employed to teach dharma and karmaphala.
Serving among the dead can also be read as forced contemplation of mortality—an austere teacher that can mature detachment and humility.