Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam: 33. A PRINCESS’S ATONEMENT

 

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

Glimpses of The Devi Bhagavatam:

33. A PRINCESS’S ATONEMENT

Once upon a time there was a king called Saryati. He had a charming daughter named Sukanya. The king loved his daughter very much. He had already started looking for an eligible bridegroom from among the princes.

Not far from the king's castle was a forest. Close by was a lake. The place was remarkable for its natural beauty. Late one afternoon the royal family was taking a leisurely stroll around the lake. Princess Sukanya broke away from her parents and entered the forest in the company of her maids. They frolicked about, plucking flowers and fruits.

The attention of the princess was drawn to a pair of glittering dots on an ant-hill. Had someone stuck two precious stones there? Curious, she pierced them with a stick, when she heard a muffled cry. She could not understand from where the sound came. She got frightened and ran back to her parents. Soon she forgot the incident.

At sundown the party returned to the castle. But soon every member of the royal family fell sick. The king realised that one of them must have done something wrong to somebody while they were near the lake. A curse must have fallen on them.

All those who had accompanied the king to the lakeside were asked: “Did you harm anyone or any creature, knowingly or by accident?” Nobody could remember having done anything wrong. The princess, however, recollected what she had done to the two bright points on the ant-hill and the cry that followed.

The king went back to the forest himself. On examining the ant-hill carefully, he guessed that inside sat a sage in meditation. The king got the ant-hill demolished, taking all precaution so that the sage was not harmed. When the ant-hill, revealed the sage, it was found that he had lost his eyes. Needless to say, it was Princess Sukanya who had blinded him without knowing what she was doing. Chyavan was the name of the sage. “O great soul, the ignorant action of my daughter has brought down a curse on us. Kindly pardon us.” The king pleaded with the sage.

“How can you escape the consequences of tormenting an innocent sage so lightly? I’m old. Besides, I’m now rendered blind. How can I live?” asked the sage.

“Do not worry on that count, O sage. I shall put a number of servants to attend on you,” replied the king.

“The care I need now cannot be expected of servants. Only a devoted wife can give that. I propose that you give your daughter in marriage to me,” said the sage.

The proposal which came so sudden and unexpected stunned the king. He had no objection to giving the princess in marriage to a sage, but how can he do it when the sage was old and blind, too?

The king requested for time to take a decision. Back in his castle, he told his minister, “To marry Sukanya off to the old sage in the forest is in no way better than throwing her into a cavern and shutting its mouth. At the same time, there is no chance of the curse on us being lifted unless we accept the sage’s proposal. What is to be done?”

“My lord, whatever might happen to us, the sage’s proposal is unacceptable,” said the minister.

The princess overheard the conversation. She came out and said, “O father, I entreat you not to be blinded by your love for me. How long can you and the others continue to suffer the curse?

Besides, I’ve no objection to marry the old sage. Although you have brought me up in great luxury, I’ve no attachment to any worldly life. I shall be happy to live in a forest and serve the sage.”

“My daughter, you are unique for your character and nobility. I know that you mean what you say. But how can I, as your father, give you away to an old sage? Won’t that be sinful of me?” asked the king.

“No, father, you won’t be committing a sin by agreeing to my voluntary choice for marriage,” replied the princess firmly. The princess succeeded in making the king agree to her point of view. He called on the sage and invited him to his castle. The sage came and the marriage was duly performed.

The king was willing to make all arrangements for the sage and Sukanya to live comfortably. But the couple expressed a desire to live in the forest. They politely rejected every offer of help. While taking leave of her parents, the princess left behind all her ornaments.

Sukanya and Chyavan lived in the forest in a small hut. Sukanya served her husband with much sincerity. She got up before it was dawn and heated water for the sage to bathe. She then collected flowers for his puja and fruits and roots for his food.

Time passed smoothly. One evening Sukanya was returning to her hut after bathing in a lake. She attracted the attention of Aswini and Revanta, the twin sons of the Sun god. They were charming and famous as the physicians of gods. Sukanya’s beauty surprised them. “You must be a nymph. What makes you live in this desolate forest?” they asked her.

“I’m no nymph, but the daughter of King Saryati. I’m living here with my husband, Sage Chyavan” replied Sukanya.