RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN --CHAPTER 33

                                              RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN –CHAPTER 33

                                                                     BRAHMADATTA

The hundred daughters of Kusanabha laid their heads at his feet. And they spoke, “Vayu would even compel us to his wishes. And forgetful of all sense of right and duty, he had recourse to evil ways. ‘We are under our reverend father’ we pleaded, ‘ and are not our own masters. You ask our father if he would give us to you as wives’. He would not listen to us. But with a heart bent upon evil, he made us into the objects you see, sir”

The king was a rare model of patience and virtue. He replied to his daughters, “You have done well, and gloriously. Forgiveness must be with them who want to be self-restraint and serene. And you have borne patiently a deadly insult. I cannot praise you enough. You have all acted well and kept our tradition of our race. And forgiveness is a great virtue. It is a hard task for a woman to brave a man’s wiles and seductions. And it is harder to have a giant’s strength and not use it like one. In the face of the insult, it is very difficult. It is harder to keep our thunderbolt unused in the face of grave insult. And one hundred girls have acted as one. How wonderful it is. If a man is endowed with Forgiveness, he need not seek any other virtue. Forgiveness holds the world. Forgiveness rules the world.”

After sending them away, he consulted with his wise ministers. He consulted as to the marriage of his daughters. The time, place and parties were consulted.

It was about this time a yogi practised the Brahma Tapas. His name was Chuli. Somada was a Gandharva, the daughter of Urmila. She attended upon him devotedly. One day the sage asked her, “Fair Lady! You have served me well. You have won my favours. Is there anything I can do for you?”

She answered, “Lord! I make no difference between you and the Supreme Brahman. I would like to have a son endowed with Brahma Tapas. I shall take no husband. Nor anyone has me for a wife. Give me a son. I approach you according to Brahma mode of marriage.”

Chuli was pleased with her purity of heart and nobility of purpose. He gave her a mind-born son, named Brahmadatta.

And Kusanabha made up his mind to bestow his hundred daughters on Brahmadatta. Respectfully he invited him to his capital city. And prayed him to accept his daughters in marriage. And lo! The moment he took them by the hand, their deformity dropped away. They shone with more beauty if possible. At this, the father’s joy knew no bounds. Later on, he sent away his daughters to their husband’s capital. They all went with splendour.

Somada, the fond mother, rejoiced most at the glorious choice of her son. She fondled her daughters-in-law and praised their noble father.