Read the previous part here…
The wise should only consider seven factors when offering the girl in marriage – family status, character, family support, education, wealth, physical looks and age.
The next morning, using his powers, the Guru summoned the Sun God to him, and said, “Please accept my daughter’s hand. I wish you to marry her, if she chooses so.”
But the daughter said, “Father, the Sun God lights up the entire world, but he is unbearably hot and fiery-tempered. I do not wish to marry him. Please seek a better husband for me.”
The Guru wondered, “Who might be better than even the Sun God?”
The Sun God advised, “Guruji, you can seek the alliance of the King of Clouds. He is superior to me, for he can cover me and my light.”
So the Guru, using his powers, summoned the King of Clouds, and said, “Please accept my daughter’s hand. I wish you to marry her, if she chooses so.”
But the daughter said, “Father, the King of Clouds is dark, wet and too cold. I do not wish to marry him. Please seek a better husband for me.”
The Guru wondered, “Who might be better than even the King of Clouds?”
The King of Clouds advised, “Guruji, you can seek the alliance of the Lord of Winds. He is superior to me, for he can blow me away.”
So the Guru, using his powers, summoned the Lord of Winds, and said, “Please accept my daughter’s hand. I wish you to marry her, if she chooses so.”
But the daughter said, “Father, the Lord of Winds is too fast and restless. He keeps changing his direction. I do not wish to marry him. Please seek a better husband for me.”
The Guru wondered, “Who might be better than even the Lord of Winds?”
The Lord of Winds advised, “Guruji, you can seek the alliance of the Lord of Mountains. He is superior to me, for he can stop me from blowing.”
So the Guru, using his powers, summoned the Lord of Mountains, and said, “Please accept my daughter’s hand. I wish you to marry her, if she chooses so.”
But the daughter said, “Father, the Lord of Mountains is too hard and rigid. He is immovable. I do not wish to marry him. Please seek a better husband for me.”
The Guru wondered, “Who might be better than even the Lord of Mountains?”
The King of Mountains advised, “Guruji, you can seek the alliance of the King of Rats. He is superior to me, for he can make holes all over me.”
So Yājnavalkya, using his powers, summoned the King of Rats, and said, “Please accept my daughter’s hand. I wish you to marry her, if she chooses so.”
When the daughter met the King of Rats, she was delighted beyond belief, and quickly agreed to the marriage.
Yājnavalkya then transformed his daughter into a beautiful female rat, through his powers of penance, and the marriage of the rat was conducted in a solemn but happy manner.
“And that is why I say”, concluded Raktāksha,
सूर्यं भर्तारम् उत्सृज्य पर्जन्यं मारुतं गिरिम् ।
स्व-जातिं मूषिका प्राप्ता स्वजातिर् दुरतिक्रमा ॥ १९९ ॥
sūryaṃ bhartāram utsṛjya parjanyaṃ mārutaṃ girim |
sva-jātiṃ mūṣikā prāptā svajātir duratikramā || 199 ||
She rejected the Sun, the Clouds, the Wind and the Mountain, saying that they were not fit to be her husband, and married the rat instead. One cannot overcome the attachment to one’s own kind.
The owls ignored Raktāksha again, and brushed him aside and continued to carry Sthirajeevin to their fort. When they finally reached there, Sthirajeevin saw the entrance to the fort that the crows had always wondered about, laughed in his own mind, and thought to himself…
हन्यताम् इति येनोक्तं स्वामिनो हित-वादिना ।
स एवैको ऽत्र सर्वेषां नीति-शास्त्रार्थ-तत्त्व-वित् ॥ २१५ ॥
hanyatām iti yenoktaṃ svāmino hita-vādinā |
sa evaiko ‘tra sarveṣāṃ nīti-śāstrārtha-tattva-vit || 215 ||
The minister who advised that I should be killed was the only person actually concerned about the welfare of this clan. He alone has the true knowledge of politics.
“If they had followed his advice, no harm would have befallen them.”
to be continued…