Chapter 7 - Preparations for the Marriage of Padmālayā (Padmāvatī)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Information about Śrīnivāsa as Reported by Bakulamālikā to Queen Dharaṇī]:—

Dharaṇī said:

1. Tell me, who is that excellent maiden? Where did she come into contact with you? Why has she come here? She appears, to me to be worthy of veneration.

The girls replied:

2-5. O Queen, this is a divine lady. She has come to see you. She came into contact with us at the temple in the presence of Śiva. On being questioned, she said that she had come to see Your Highness. “Is it possible to see the queen conveniently at the palace by me?” When we were asked by her thus we said, “Be pleased to come with us. We are the servants of Dharaṇī. We are going to the palace.”

On being told thus, O Queen Dharaṇī, she has approached you. Let her be asked by Your Highness, “What for have you come here?”

Śrī Varāha said:

6-7. On hearing their words thus Queen Dharaṇī asked her:

Dharaṇī said:

O gentle lady, where have you come from? What can be done by me for you? Tell me the truth. I shall try to help you to achieve the purpose of your visit.

Bakulamālikā said:

8-12. I have come from the mountain Veṅkaṭādri. My name is Bakulamālikā. Our Lord Nārāyaṇa dwells on the mountain Śrīveṅkaṭācala.

Once he mounted his horse as white as a swan and as quick as the mind and went for hunting. In the splendid season of spring he was roaming about in the forests of the king near the mountain Veṅkaṭādri. He saw on his way deer, elephants, lions, a variety of ox called Gavaya, the eight-footed animal Śarabha, Ruru deer, parrots, partridges, swans and other types of birds in the forest. The excellent god pursued a lofty leader of elephants, shedding ichor profusely and accompanied by cow-elephants.

[Performance of Penance by King Śaṅkha at Svāmitīrtha at the Instance of Śrīnivāsa]:—

13-15. After going from forest to forest he came near King Śaṅkha who was engaged in penance on Bṛhacchaila after installing Janārdana accompanied by Śrī and Bhūmi and worshipping him constantly with great devotion.

There is an excellent and sacred lake named Śaṅkhanāgabila. When he came near the bank of that lake, he got down from his horse. Assuming the attire of a king, he went near the excellent King Śaṅkha and asked him:

16-21. “What is it that you are doing, O excellent king, at the foot of this mountain Śeṣa?”

Śaṅkha replied:

I am the son of King Śveta. I belong to the land of Haihaya. For the propitiation of Mahāviṣṇu I performed all types of sacrifices here. I became dejected and frustrated because I could not get the vision of Mahāviṣṇu, O Prince. At that time a divine voice destructive of all worries spoke clearly:

“O king, I will not become visible to you here. Listen to my words. Go to Nārāyaṇādri and perform penance.”

So I left my land. Here, O king, I propitiate the inconceivable Lord of Śrī after installing (him). I propitiate him by means of penance. Thanks to the blessings of Agastya, I worship him daily in accordance with the injunctions.

On hearing these words of his the Lord said with a derisive laughter:

22-25. “Go to Nārāyaṇādri. Why do you stay at the foot of this (mountain). Climb the mountain along this path and bow down to Viṣvaksena stationed on the western peak in the form of a boy at the foot of a Nyagrodha tree (Indian fig tree). Go to Svāmipuṣkariṇī and take bath there. O prince, you will see a Valmīka (anthill) and an Aśvattha (holy fig tree) there on the western bank. Perform your penance in between those two. A certain white boar roams about in this anthill. But it is visible only to the meritorious, O king.”

Śrī Varāha (? Bakulamālikā) said:

26-27. After commanding him thus, the Lord mounted his horse and went for hunting. O lady of excellent eyebrows, he wandered from forest to forest and reached the river Araṇī. Getting down from his horse, he walked about on its excellent bank. The gentle breeze coming from the extremities of the forest, which was cool due to its blowing over lotuses and Kahlāra flowers, dispelled his fatigue and thus served Puruṣottama.

28-30. The trees served him by throwing showers of flowers. Thus the Lord was wandering amongst the trees heavily laden with blossoms and bending low. He was in search of a lordly tusker. He saw those well-dressed beautiful girls plucking flowers like streaks of lightning among clouds. He saw a young maiden among those girls. She had golden complexion. She was as exceedingly charming as Lakṣmī. The Lord became attached to her in his heart.

31-35. Desirous of getting her he asked those girls, “Who is this girl?” The man was told by them, “O mighty one, this is the daughter of King Viyat.”

On hearing these words of theirs he mounted the horse and returned speedily to his abode, the beautiful mountain.

After reaching his abode on the banks of Svāmipuṣkariṇī the Lord sent for me and said, “Well Bakulamālikā, go to the city of King Viyat, dear friend, and enter the inner apartment. Go to his wife Dharaṇī. After enquiring about her health and welfare request for her beautiful daughter Kamalālayā (Padmālayā). O beautiful woman, return immediately after getting the approval of the king.”

36. I have been ordered by the Lord thus, O Queen, and so I have come to your abode. What is suitable in this connection may be done (by you) along with the king accompanied by (the council of) his ministers.

37. Consult your daughter and let the reply be given.

[Decision of Dharaṇī and Others about the Marriage (of Padminī) at the Instance of Bakulamālikā]:—

Śrī Varāha said:

38-39. On hearing her words the queen became delighted. She called King Ākāśa and both of them went to Kamalālayā. In the midst of the assembly of ministers the queen repeated the words of Bakulamālikā. On hearing them the king became delighted and spoke to the ministers and the priests:

King Ākāśa said:

40-44. This girl is not born of a womb. Kamalālayā is divine and highly fortunate. She has been sought by the Lord of Devas residing on Veṅkaṭādri. My desire is fulfilled today. Tell me whether it (the proposal) is acceptable to you.

On hearing the excellent words of the king all the ministers became delighted. They said to King Viyat:

“We are satisfied and happy, O great King. Your family will become the highest of all. Your matchless daughter will sport about along with Śrī. Let her be given to the Śārṅga-wielding Lord of Devas, the Supreme Soul. This spring season is glorious. Let the auspicious rite be performed quickly.

45-46. Let Dhiṣaṇa (Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of gods) be called and the auspicious hour for the marriage be fixed.”

[Confirmation of the Exact Auspicious Time for Marriage as per Advice of Bṛhaspati]:—

Saying “so be it” the Lord of men called Bṛhaspati from the world of Suras and asked him about (the hour) for the marriage of the girl and the bridegroom.

The King asked:

47. The native star of the girl is Mṛgaśīrṣa; that of the Lord is Śravaṇa. Let the conjunction of these two be considered.

48-49. On hearing it Dhiṣaṇa said: “The star Uttarāphālgunī suits both of them for the increase of their happiness. It is declared so by the divine astrologers. Let their marriage be celebrated on the Uttarāphālgunī day.” He said, “Let it be celebrated duly in the month of Vaiśākha.”

Śrī Varāha said

50-52. The king honoured Dhiṣaṇa duly and bade him farewell. He then said to the lady messenger, “O splendid lady, go to the abode of the Lord. Intimate to the Lord of Devas, O lady of holy rites, that the wedding shall be in the month of Vaiśākha. Let him be pleased to come here after making all arrangements for the marriage.”

Thereafter, he sent Śuka, one of the favourites of the queen, as a messenger along with her. He sent his son Vāyu to bring Indra and others.

[Decoration of the City by Viśvakarmā and Others]:—

53. He called Viśvakarman and employed him in the job of decorating the city. He did it within a moment.

54. Indra discharged a shower of flowers. Groups of celestial damsels danced. Dhanada (Kubera) filled that abode with wealth, food-grains etc.

55. Yama made the men on the earth free from sickness. Varuṇa filled (the place) with clusters of jewels and precious stones such as pearls etc.

56. After making arrangements for everything Devas went to Vṛṣācala.^[1]

[Bakulamālikā Accompanied by Śuka Comes to Śrīnivāsa]:—

Śrī Varāha said:

57-59. Then Bakulamālikā accompanied by Śuka mounted a horse and went ahead. She reached Śrīveṅkaṭādri and got down from the horse near the abode of the Lord. Accompanied by Śuka she went inside and met the bright-eyed Lord seated on a jewel-set throne along with Śrī.

After bowing down she said with great delight: “O Lord, the mission has been duly accomplished there. Here Śuka has along with me to announce the auspicious tidings.

[Śuka’s Announcement of the Decision about the Marriage of Padmāvatī to Śrīnivāsa]:—

60-65. On being commanded by the Lord to speak out Śuka bowed down and spoke:

Śuka submitted:

The daughter of Dharaṇī says to you: “O Mādhava, accept me. I speak out (i.e. repeat) your names. I always remember your person. O Lord of Ramā, your symbols are worn on arms and other limbs (by me). I worship your devotees who have undergone the five consecratory rites. I perform every holy rite only to please you, O Slayer of Madhu. I am obedient to my parents. I carry on all my activities for ever. O Lord of Devas,, be pleased to shower your grace. Accept me, O Mādhava.” So submits the daughter of Dharaṇī stationed on the lotus.

On hearing the words of Śuka pleasing to himself, Hari said:

Śrī Bhagavān said:

I shall come there along with Devas in order to celebrate the marriage. O Śuka, go and tell her that the Lord has said thus.

[Padmāvatī Wears the Garland of Śrīnivāsa Handed over to Her by Śuka]:—

66. After hearing the utterance of the Lord and taking the garland of sylvan flowers given by the Lord with him, Śuka hastened to the daughter of King Viyat.

67. He handed over the garland of basil, rendered fragrant by means of musk, to the gentle lady and told her the auspicious words of the Lord.

68. On hearing them and accepting the garland with head bowed down the daughter of Earth placed it on her head. Eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Lord she adorned herself with proper ornaments.

69-72. King Viyat joyously and eagerly invited Indu (Moon-god) and said:

“O king, let cooked rice of various tastes be prepared. Let the Paramānnam (Supreme Cooked Rice) fit to be offered to Viṣṇu, be prepared. It should be one approved by Devas, sages and the human beings. Let the four kinds of food-stuffs with good flavour be prepared by means of your nectarine rays, O Sudhākara.”

After making every arrangement like this he waited for the arrival of the Lord. He seated himself in the assembly with delighted mind. The king was accompanied by Dharaṇī who had adorned her daughter adequately.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A hill on the northern side of Suvarṇamukharī.