Lord Venkateshwar Part 4

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Young Padmavati grew as beautiful as Rathi, as learned as Sarasvati,

as pure as Parvati, and as charismatic as Lakshmi. This was a source of

distress for her parents because although Padmavati had come of age, they

could not find any suitable partner to match Her outstanding qualities. To

ease their anxiety, Narada muni read Padmavati's palm lines and predicted

She would marry Narayana.

 

One day, against the advice of His mother, Srinivasa went hunting in

the forest. He had dressed Himself in hunters dress and chased elephants

here and there. He happened upon a kund where He quenched His thirst.

Suddenly He heard a sweet, singing, melodious voice. Walking in the

direction of the sound, He saw Padmavati sitting with Her associates. He was

stunned and lost Himself in love for Her.

Padmavati also saw Srinivasa and immediately sent her attendants to

enqiuire about the identity of the hunter. Her attendant chastised Srinivas

for entering the princesess's garden, but Srinivasa ignored them and

approached Padmavati directly. "May I know who your are? What is your name?

Who is your father? Your beauty has captivated Me and I would like to marry

you." In this way Srinivasa reveled His inner desire to Padmavati.

Padmavati replied, "You fool! Whoever heard of a low born hunter

marrying a princess? If my father heard this he would hang you!" Srinivasa

persisited with His demands, and Padmavati signalled her attendants to chase

Him out of the garden. They threw stones and rocks at Srinivasa as He ran

away, sustaining heavy injuries.

Srinivasa arrived home and told His mother how He had received all

the wounds on His body. He told her of the beauty of Padmavati and that He

longed to marry Her. Vakuladevi also thought the proposition was foolish and

advised Srinivasa to forget the marraige. Srinivasa then told his mother of

His previous incarnation as Rama and how he had promised to marrying

Vedavathi, who had taken birth as Padmavati.

Srinivasa could not sleep at nights, thinking all the time of

Padmavati. The scene in the forest garden constantly flashed in His mind.

Padmavati was in the same state. She could not eat nor sleep and was

practically bed ridden. Whether Her eyes were open or closed, the image of

the hunter appeared before Her. It was a subtle feeling feeling of joy and

anxiety, and her natural shyness prevented her from disclosing Her mind to

her attendants or Her parents. Besides, what would Her parents say to

marrying a hunter! But however she tried, She could not forget Him.

 

(to be continued)

 

Your servant,

Dinanatha das