Chapter 30 - History of Sati’s marriage

Siva once went to the house of Daksha in the disguise of a mendicant, in order to see Sati. He had an old patched up cloth, full of dust, on his shoulders, and an earthen pot containing a small quantity of rice mixed up with dust, in his left hand. His right hand held an old stick which was shaking with the weight of his body. His whole body was shrivelled with age, and his head was shaking.

As he was walking about in the vicinity of the house, he saw Sati and her seven maids.

Approaching the latter he said,

“Who are you, and who is that beautiful being yonder whose complexion is shining like burnished gold”.

One of the maids whose name was Ratnamukhi said,

“She is the daughter of Daksha, and her name is Sati. Her father had convened a meeting of the gods to enable her to choose her bridegroom therefrom, but she rejected all those present, and offered her garland, in thought, to Siva. She has, therefore, lost her father’s affection, but she is not at all sorry for what she has done. On the contrary, she considers herself very fortunate, and is always steeped, as it were, in happiness. Her parents, on the other hand, are very unhappy, and so are their friends and relatives. Now, although she has offered herself to Siva, she has no tyet been able to see him”.

The old man said,

“It is certainly a pity that she has chosen Siva, and more pity that Siva has not come to her. He does not deserve such a jewel. Be that as it may, if you permit me, I shall assume the form of Siva and accept her as my bride. What shall Siva do with a wife? Let her be mine.”

The maid said,

“Old man, thou art a fool, otherwise thou wouldst not have uttered such words. Thou art a beggar and shrivelled with age. Dost thou think Sati will accept thee? If thou carest for life, leave this place at once”.

Hearing this, another maid, Nilakuntala, said,

“Ratnamukhi, this old man does not look like an ordinary human being. I am inclined to think that he is Siva himself in disguise. Look how intently Sati is gazing at him. Nothing is impossible for the gods”.

Ratnamukhi said,

“You and Sati always think alike. It, however, matters very little to me whether he is an old beggar or the god Siva himself.”

Nilakuntala said,

“I certainly have recognized him as Siva and the lord of the world. You are a fool, and so is Daksha who will ere long be sorry for blaspheming Siva. Do you think that the wise and accomplished Sati has given herself up to a worthless husband? Whatever people may think on the subject, I am sure that she has chosen as her husband the god whose feet are adored by Indra and the other gods”.

Ratnamukhi said,

“Nilakuntala you are a confirmed idiot and there is no use in wasting words on you. Suffice it to say that your intelligence is like that of a bull, and, as you are an admirer of Siva, you ought to have been a real bull to enjoy the pleasure of carrying him on your back.”

Nilakuntala answered that she would be very happy if she was transformed into Siva’s bull, because she would then always be near him or his bride.

No sooner were these words uttered than Nilakuntala became transformed into a bull, and Siva, giving up his disguise, mounted upon the animal. Flowers began to rain from the sky and shouts of delight were heard issuing from it.

A rumour went round in Daksha’s city that the husband of Sati had come, and developed into an uproar. But Siva had disappeared in the meanwhile.

Some said, “He came here just now mounted on a bull;” others said that they had seen him at the house of so and so.

Siva thus went from place to place, but became invisible to people. A certain logician, Nandi by name, went out in search of him, and found him outside the city. He saw Siva in the form of an old man who looked quite tired and hungry, but was sleeping peacefully, while his strong white bull was grazing close by.

Nandi recognized him and exclaimed, “Obeisance to the great lord Siva.”

The old man said,

“I am an old beggar. Why do you hail me as Siva? I could not stand the outrage of the people, and have, therefore, sought refuge in this lonely place.”

Nandi said,

“O Lord, I have found you out. Why have you come here in disguise? I know you perfectly well as the husband of Sati. My knowledge is your own gift, my Lord. I am a servant of Daksha, and my name is Nandi. I was instructed in all your wonderful glories by my father Dadhichi.”

Siva was well pleased with Nandi’s answer and showed him his real form. His radiance outshone a million moons, and he mounted his bull. Nandi bowed down before him, and began to pray most fervently.

After praying for a long time Nandi requested to be accepted as his constant attendant and Siva granted the prayer.

Siva then assumed the form of a Brahmana and went with Nandi to the place where Sati lived with her maids.