"One day, feeling very disheartened, he left home and went to the forest. As the sun reached its zenith he was thirsty and approached a pond. Owing to lack of progeny he was depressed, weak and tired,4 and after drinking he sat down to rest.5 By and by a sannyasi came there to drink. The brahmana approached him and fell at his feet breathing heavily. The sannyasi asked, "O brahmana, why are you crying so anxiously? Tell me what is your problem?"
The brahmana said, "O Maharaja, I am suffering from sins committed in my past life. Even my forefathers are in such anxiety that when I offer oblations of water, they accept, but remain full of worry. The demigods and brahmanas do not happily accept my offerings of food. I am so miserable for want of children that my life appears wasted. I have come here to give up my useless life, as I have no son. A house without children is like a forest, and wealth loses all value. Indeed a family without children is very inauspicious. O Maharaja, even the cows I acquire become barren! When I plant a tree, it yields no fruits or flowers. And when I bring fruit to my home, it spoils very quickly. I am most unfortunate because I have no son, therefore my life has no purpose."
Saying this, the brahmana began crying piteously and the saint's heart became filled with compassion.6 He was a perfected yogi and by seeing the lines on the brahmana's forehead, he could understand everything about his life.
The sannyasi said, "O brahmana, give up your attachment and desire for children, for Fate is very powerful. Take shelter of discrimination and give up attachment to this world. O brahmana, I can understand your fate and am certain that you will have no son for the next seven lives. Previously, King Sagara and King Anga had to suffer repeated miseries because of not having a son. Therefore, brahmana, give up all hope for success in family life. Happiness is only in the life of renunciation."
The brahmana said, "O Swamiji, what is the value of such discrimination? There is simply no spice in sannyasa life. Somehow or another give me a son, otherwise, I will plunge into lamentation and give up my life. One who does not experience the happiness of wife and children lives in a desert. Happiness exists only when the house is filled with wife, sons, and grandsons.7
Seeing Atma Deva's great attachment, the saint said, "O brahmana, King Citraketu had to suffer excessively because he wanted to undo his fate.8 Providence is very powerful, hence none of your endeavors will be successful. For this reason, you will not get the happiness of a son, but I see that you are very obstinate, and since you have approached me desiring a son, what can I say in these circumstances?"
Understanding the brahmana's determination the saint offered him a fruit and said, "Your wife will surely get pregnant and bear you a son on her eating this fruit. She should follow a vow of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, and charity and eat only one meal a day for one year. By doing so, she will have a son who will be pious and righteous."