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Raja Harishchandra (सत्यहरिश्चन्द्रः) was the son of Raja [[Trishanku (त्रिशङ्कुः)|Trishanku]], belonging to the Suryavamsha or Ikshvaku dynasty.<ref name=":1">Vettam. Mani, (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature].'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>

Raja Harishchandra (सत्यहरिश्चन्द्रः) was the son of Raja [[Trishanku (त्रिशङ्कुः)|Trishanku]], belonging to the Suryavamsha or Ikshvaku dynasty.<ref name=":1">Vettam. Mani, (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature].'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>

== Harishchandra's Story From Markandeya Purana ==

== Harishchandra's Story From Markandeya Purana ==

 

Markandeya Purana details the story of Satyavaadi Raja Harishchandra. One day, while hunting in a forest, he heard a woman cry for help. He could not figure out where she was and started calling out for her. This disturbed the penance of sage Vishwamitra. He was angry and wanted to know why he was disturbing his penance.  

Markandeya Purana details the story of Satyavaadi Raja Harishchandra. One day, while hunting in a forest, he heard a woman cry for help. He could not figure out where she was and started calling out for her. This disturbed the penance of sage Vishwamitra. He was angry and wanted to know why he was disturbing his penance.{{Citation needed}}

Harishchandra introduced himself as a king who was very benevolent and generous. He requested sage Vishwamitra to ask for some charity from him. Vishwamitra said that he planned to conduct a yajna and that Harishchandra could give him gold for the purpose of giving dakshina to yajna-purohitas. The king said this was very less and insisted that he ask for more. So, Vishwamitra asked for whole of his kingdom including people, animals, treasury and army. When these were given, Harishchandra became destitute. He had to leave his kingdom. He was not able to give the promised gold dakshina to Vishwamitra. Since he had already given his word, he asked for a month's time to fulfill his promise to which Vishwamitra agreed.

Harishchandra introduced himself as a king who was very benevolent and generous. He requested sage Vishwamitra to ask for some charity from him. Vishwamitra said that he planned to conduct a yajna and that Harishchandra could give him gold for the purpose of giving dakshina to yajna-purohitas. The king said this was very less and insisted that he ask for more. So, Vishwamitra asked for whole of his kingdom including people, animals, treasury and army. When these were given, Harishchandra became destitute. He had to leave his kingdom. He was not able to give the promised gold dakshina to Vishwamitra. Since he had already given his word, he asked for a month's time to fulfill his promise to which Vishwamitra agreed.