Meghavahana became the king of Kashmir. He passed a law against killing of living beings. Once, on his expedition, he and his army were taking rest in the shadow of the palm groves. He heard the plaintive call of a man.

Meghavahana went in search of the man and came near a Durga temple where a barbarian was about to kill a man. Meghavahana ordered the barbarian to stop and asked him why he was killing the man. The barbarian said that his son was suffering from a fatal disease and was on his death bed. He wanted to kill the victim in sacrifice and appease the gods. He hoped the gods would save his son’s life.

He pleaded with the king to allow him to kill the innocent man to save his son and relatives. Meghavahana decided to save the victim and the dying boy. He asked the barbarian to kill him and offer his body in sacrifice to goddess Durga. When the barbarian refused to kill him, Meghavahana drew out his sword and was about to strike himself. Then, someone held back his hand. He turned round and saw god Varuna appear before him. The ailing boy, the victim and the barbarian had vanished by then. God Varuna said that he had created that illusion to test Meghavahana’s nobility of mind.