Once upon a time there lived a boy named Shravan Kumar. Both his parents were blind. He had to do all the work for them. Shravan took great care and did everything for his father and mother with sincerity and love. He used to fulfil every wish of his parents.

One day his parents expressed their desire to go out on a pilgrimage. Shravan wanted to take them. So he made a device like a balance, to carry them on his shoulders. His parents were pleased. During the journey Shravan managed to get them some roots and fruits from the forest. They ate them and never accepted corn or cereal offered by anyone.

While on pilgrimage they arrived in a forest near Ayodhya. His parents were thirsty. So Shravan Kumar took a vessel to fetch water from the river Sarayu. He left his parents and went to the banks of the river.

Dasarath was the king of Ayodya and he was fond of hunting. He had come to the forest alone to hunt. He had the unique skill of shooting the mark with his arrow from where he heard the sound. As soon as Shravan Kumar dipped the vessel to fill water, Dasarath thought it was the sound of an elephant drinking water. So he shot an arrow aiming at the place from where the sound came. The arrow pierced into Shravan. He gave out a cry and fell on the ground.

On hearing the moaning sound, King Dasarath came to the place to see who it was. He saw an innocent boy crying in pain. The vessel was lying on the ground. His body was all splashed with blood and mud.

When Shravan saw the king, he told him, "O, King! Please don't worry. I came to take water for my parents. They are thirsty. I am in severe pain. Please pull out this arrow and take some water and tell them the sad news."

The king removed the arrow and went to Shravan's parents with water and conveyed the message about the death of their son. The old and blind parents were shocked. They cried and told the king to take them to their dead son.

The king carried them on his shoulders to the place where Shravan had died. Dasarath found that in place of Shravan's dead body there was a Muni sitting on a high mound.

Just then, Shravan Kumar spoke to his parents, "Through my services to you I have attained a place in the heaven. Do not worry about me. I shall wait for you both and render my service to both of you when you come to me."