Sriramayana on telebridge#28

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Srimathe Ramanujaya namaha

 

Kusanabha's daughters fell at his feet and said, "O father, the all-pervading

air god Vayudeva tried to insult us. He tried to marry us against dharma and we

didn't agree to it. We told him that we abide by our father's decision, and to

ask you for our hands in marriage, but he didn't like it, and he did this to us

in retaliation." The king who was very pleased with their behaviour thus spoke

to them, "My dear daughters, you did what people with tolerance do and defended

our family's good name. Having self-control is very important for both men and

women. The kind of restraint you have shown in this situation is very rarely

seen in humans or in devathas.

 

kshamAdAnam kshamA yajna: kshamA satyamhi putrikaa:

kshamAya Sa: kshamA dharma: kshamaya vishThitam jagat

 

Theresults of good deeds like charity, digging wells, ponds and laying orchards

for the benefit of people can be obtained by the simple act of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is equated to performing Vedic rituals, forgiveness is like

practicing truth and forgiveness is fame. The whole world revolves around the

single great quality called kshama." The king thus praised and consoled his

daughters and went onto consult with his ministers how to find suitable grooms

for his daughters.

 

During that time period, there was a great Rishi called `Chooli' who was

following strict brahmacharyam and doing thapas for attaining Brahmalokam. A

gandharva kaantha (divine being) called 'Urmila' had a daughter by name 'Somada'

who came to Chooli and was doing all household work and was serving him with

devotion. After some time, Chooli asked Somada - "I am pleased with your service

and dedication, you may ask for anything you like". Somada was ecstatic with His

words and she replied thus, "I am a single woman and not a wife to anyone. You

seem to be equal to Chathurmukha Brahma in your radiance and have great power

due to Your Tapas. Please bless me a son, with your power, who will be as

radiant as Brahma and I don't want to go through any physical contacts." Chooli

granted her the boon and she had a son called brahmadatta who is also called

Chooli's 'maanasa putra' because he was not born from Chooli physically, but was

born from His power of thought.

 

Brahmadatta was ruling his kingdom from his capital city 'Kampilya', and the

noble King Kusanabha who had heard of him decided to give his hundred daughters

in marriage to him. Kusanabha invited him to his kingdom and performed the

wedding. Ceremony, and when Brahmadatta did the paanigrahanam (holding the hand

of the bride) for each one of the hundred girls, their deformity was instantly

removed and they regained their previous beauty. Brahmadatta returned to his

kingdom with his hundred wives making both their parents very happy with the

turn of events.

 

Jai Srimannarayana

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