Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

Author(s): Dharmdas Gani, H C Bhayani, R M Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 23

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Vasudevahimdt: Majjhima-khamda
then in charge of Meghanala, all of his previous wives cracked jokes. about his insatiable thirst for women. The marriage ceremony was attended by some gods from heaven. One of these gods was V's friend in the previous birth. He presented V. with heavenly garments and ornaments. Bbaradvāja also arrived from his hermitage. He told V. that Vayuratha, the Vidyadhara king of Lalitapura, was inimical to him ( i. e. Bharadvaja ) and to his brother Hemadarhátra. As Vayuratha was deprived by V. of Hemayasa and other girls in which he was interested, he was on lookout for an opportunity to attack Hemadamstra and Vasudeva. Consequently to counter his moves, on Bharadvaja's advice, V. along with his thirtytwo wives, went to Bharadvaja's hermitage. Hemadamṣtra came there with family to welcome V.
V Winning of Virajā (pp. 112-119)
Hemadamatra's army-scouts arrived there shortly and informed him. about Vayuratha's imminent attack on the hermitage. Bharadvaja equipped V. with magic weapons. V. was also taught the Gauri-vidya. Hemadamsta's army led by V marched forth to confront Vayuratha's army. In the battle that ensued, Vayuratha magically created a Goblin which seized. Hemadamhstra and assailed V. V. rescued Hemadamṣtra, overpowered the Goblin and attacked Vayuratha, who along with his army fled and retur. ned to his city. All bonoured V. as a great hero.
While V. was strolling in the wood-land surrounding the hermitage, he chanced to seek several times a beautiful girl. Once while he was tak ing a stroll on the bank of the river Visamavähint he saw the same girl being carried away by the forceful stream, which was known to have a very dangerous whirlpool. V. promptly jumped into the water to save the girl. He caught hold of her with his right hand, when all of a sudden a coral bracelet got tied on that hand from nowhere. In the meanwhile V. along with the girl was caught in the whirlpool. They were whirling round and round. A miraculous fire was seen enkindled in the stream-water. Oblations fell into this fire from the air. Flowers were showered. Song and music filled the air. A mysterious voice proclaimed that the wedding had been duly celebrated. Immediately the whirlpool subsided. V. along with the girl safely reached the bank. Afterwards the girl narrated her account as follows:
I am Viraja, daughter of Prabhanjana, the ruler of Lalitapura, who was superseded by his nephew Vayuratha. An astrologer had predicted that