॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Monday, 28 November 2022 V.02- King Agnidhra's courtship, marriage and progeny.
***
After Priyavrata took up a life of asceticism, his son Agnidhra took over the kingdom and ruled dutifully. Sage Vyasa says he cared for his citizens as if they were his own children.
But Agnidhra also wanted to continue the royal line and so desired offspring. That would also enable him to enter Pitriloka in his afterlife. He propitiated Brahma for that purpose in a valley near the Mandara mountain, full of beautiful fauna, and flora, patronised by celestial damsels. He started his austerities after collecting flowers and fruits for worship.
Lord Brahma was pleased. He sent down an outstanding apsara by the name of Purvachitti to entice and wed Agnidhra.
Purvachitti made her entry in that forest where Agnidhra was meditating which was magnificently beautiful because of the foliage, the clear lakes, the lotus flowers and the sweet singing of various kinds of birds.
Agnidhra was practising yoga with half-open eyes, controlling his breath and senses. But then he saw Purvachitti and heard the sweet tinkling of her bangles. He opened his eyes slightly more and saw her nearby.
Sauntering around enticingly, Purvachitti could attract both humans and gods with her playful movements, her bashful femininity, her glances, the very pleasing sounds that poured from her mouth as she spoke, and the motion of her limbs. She set the stage for Manmatha (god of love) to attack Agnidhra. As Purvachitti tried to ward off the bees, her curvy body shook most attractively.
Poor Agnidhra could not make up his mind about who this being was. He addressed Purvachitti both in masculine and feminine terms of address, begging her to tell him who she was and saying how he was captivated. Her shapely eyes seemed to him to be a hunter's bows and her glances arrow!
"You must be loitering in this forest to shoot those arrows at someone, but I cannot understand whom. My intelligence is dull, and I cannot combat you. Indeed, no one can equal you in prowess, and therefore I pray that your prowess will be for my good fortune."
"The bees buzzing around you are incessantly chanting the mantras of the Sama Veda in prayer like great sages! They are after the lovely flowers falling from your hair. The tinkling of your ankle bells sound like tittiri birds chirping. Seeing your curves, I wonder if you have forgotten to clothe yourself fully!"
Then Agnidhra eloquently described Purvachitti's breasts. He said her perfume had put his ashrama in a daze. These amorous advances of Agnidhra continued with more imagery.
"My mind is already restless, and by playing with a ball, moving it all about with your lotus-like palm, you are also agitating my eyes. Your curling black hair is now scattered, but you are not attentive to arranging it. Are you not going to arrange it? Like a womaniser, this wind also seems besotted as he is trying to take off your lower garment. Are you not mindful of it? Where did you get this wonderful beauty that dismantles the austerities performed by others? Where have you learned this art? What austerity have you undergone to achieve this beauty, my dear friend? I desire that you join me to perform austerity and penance, for it may be that the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, being pleased with me, has sent you to become my wife."
Sage Vyasa says Agnidhra's eloquent advances won over Purvachitti.
सा च ततस्तस्य वीरयूथपतेर्बुद्धिशीलरूपवय:श्रियौदार्येण पराक्षिप्तमनास्तेन सहायुतायुतपरिवत्सरोपलक्षणं कालं जम्बूद्वीपपतिना भौमस्वर्गभोगान् बुभुजे ॥ (A lot of this Skandha is in prose form!)
T: Purvachitti fell for Agnidhra with his intelligence, learning, youth, handsomeness, behaviour, kingly wealth and magnanimity, being the King of Jambudweepa. and foremost of all heroes. She married Agnidhra and lived with him for many thousands of years and luxuriously enjoyed both worldly and heavenly happiness.
They begot nine sons. Purvachitti gave birth to these nine sons, one each year, but after they grew up, she left them at home and again went back whence she had come, the Brahmaloka.
Agnidhra made his competent and strong sons kings of different parts of Jambudweepa.
Agnidhra did not cease pining for his beloved apsara wife and joined her in his afterlife.
Agnidhra's sons married the nine daughters of Meru.
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
