Part 3: Bhīru and Śāmba

Now Bhāmā had assembled ninety-nine fair maidens for Bhīru and sought for one maiden zealously. Pradyumna learned that from Prajṭapti and immediately created an army and became a king, named Jitaśatru, himself. Śāmba became his daughter, resembling a goddess, and, as she was playing surrounded by friends, was seen by Bhīru’s nurse. After enquiring about her, she told Satyabhāmā about her at once and Bhāmā asked Jitaśatru for her for Bhīru through a messenger.

Jitaśatru said: “I will give the girl at that time, if Bhāmā takes her by the hand and enters Dvārakā. Furthermore, if Bhāmā puts her (the girl’s) hand over Bhīru’s hand at the time of the wedding, then my daughter may be Bhīru’s.” So informed, the messenger went and reported it to Bhāmā. Saying, “Very well,” Bhāmā went quickly to his camp, seeking her. Śāmba said to Prajṭapti: “Have Bhāmā and her people see a girl and other people see just me, Śāmba.” This being done by Prajṭapti, Prince Śāmba entered Dvārakā, his right hand held by Bhāmā. Śāmba was led by Bhāmā to Bhīru’s marriage-festival and the townswomen said: “Oh, this is strange! This is strange!” Śāmba went to Bhāmā’s house and, deceitful-minded, took Bhīru’s right hand with his left hand placed over it.

Having taken with his right hand the hands of the ninety-nine girls, he circled the fire at the same time according to rule. The. girls, looking at Śāmba said, “You, equal to Rati’s husband, have been joined with us as a husband by the Creator because of the maturing of our merit.” When the marriage with these girls bad been concluded, Śāmba went to the marriage-chamber. When Bhīru went there, he was terrified by Śāmba by a frown and went away. He went and told Bhāmā and she, incredulous, went there herself and saw Śāmba. Śāmba bowed to her. She said angrily, “By whom were you brought here, impudent villain?” He said: “I was brought here and made to marry the girls by you. All the people of Dvārakā, spectators, are authority for this.”

Told this, she asked the townspeople who had come there. They said: “Do not be angry, queen. Śāmba was made to enter (the city) by you. While we were actually looking, he was made to marry the girls.” Saying, “You, a cheat, the son of a cheat, the younger brother of a cheat, borne by a cheat, tricked me in the form of a girl,” she went away angrily. In the presence of all the people, Kṛṣṇa himself gave the girls to Śāmba and made great joy to Jāmbavatī.

Śāmba went to bow to Vasudeva^[1] and said: “Father, you married women after you had roamed over the earth for a long time. I married one hundred maidens at the same time without roaming. There is a distinct difference between you and me.” Vasudeva replied: “O villain, resembling a frog in a well, you were banished by your father. Shame upon you devoid of pride! But I, being insulted by my brother, left by conduct proper for heroes, and roamed everywhere without hindrance and married maidens, villain. Begged urgently by their relatives whom I had met at the proper time, I went to their houses, but not like you.” Realizing that he had shown disrespect to a venerable person, Śāmba bowed deeply to his grandfather, his hands folded respectfully, and said: “I said that from ignorance. It was the bad behavior of a boy. The honored father must pardon it. The father is superior by his virtues.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

His grandfather.