Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

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

Page 42

Introduction
When they reached Kundinapura, Ṛtuparna saw no signs of a Svay amvara being held. He told Hundika to return forthwith, but the latter said the horses could not run any more without resting. They were received by Bhimaratha. Damadanti saw Hundika, and her heart told her he was nobody else but Nala. Bhimaratha tasted the sun-cooked dishes that were prepared by Hundika. He felt the taste was the same as that of the dishes formerly prepared in the same way by Nala. This was also confirmed by Damadant. She carried out another test. She arranged a meeting with Hundika. As he touched her fingers at her request, she exeperienced horr ipilation. She appealed to him to reveal his identity, but he denied that he was her husband. At this Damadanti swooned. Hundika then went into the kitchen, put on the divine garments and ornaments. His natural form now restored, he came out and met Damadants and others. Bhimaratha celebrated the occasion, and freshly performed their wedding ceremony. Nala thanked Rtuparna for the shelter he was given. Taking the armies of Rtuparna and Bhimaratha with him, he went to Kosala and challenged Kübara to a gambling match. Because of his mastery of the dice charm, Nala won. He generously offered Kübara to share kingship with him. Bhimaratha and Rtuparna returned to their respective cities. Nala ruled happily for many thousands of years. In the end he crowned his son. Puskara as king, and along with Damadanti renounced the world. He died and was reborn in the Saudharma heaven as Vaisravana alias Kubera, the guardian deity of Sakra. That is myself. Damadanti also died. and was reborn as my wife. As she was destined to be in heaven with me for a shorter period, her life-span as a goddess ended, and she was reborn as Kanakavati. Once I attended the sermon of Lord Vimala. In reply to my question, he told me I would attain liberation in the fourth birth after the present one. He also told that Kanakavatı would attain liberation during her present birth and that she would marry in a Svayamvara the Great Man Vasudeva of the Harivarsa dynasty. Because my companion gods and Apsarases wanted to see a Great Man and also the Swayamvara, I came here along with them. By sending you as my messenger to Damadanti, I demonstrated to my companions how nobly a Great Man behaved. In the Svayamvara, I made your form resemble mine just for fun.
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Vaisravana concluded his account and returned to his heavenly abode along with his retinue. Kanakavati's Svayamvara was remembered for long as a wonder of the world and the place where the Svayamvara took place came to be known as the Descent of Vaisravana.
V. passed his days happily in Kanakavati's company. (pp. 258)
V.-5