An Earlier Account

Narada said

Wise Vidhatri, now with affection tell me of Mena's origin. Dispel my doubt, and tell me also about the curse.

Brahma replied

Noble Narada, with the sages use your discrimination and hear of Mena's origin. Earlier I told you of my son named Daksha, to whom sixty daughters were born to carry creation forward, and he gave them in marriage to Kashyapa and other grooms. You know all that. Now hear what I will say. Among them the daughter named Svadha was given to the ancestors. She had three most fortunate daughters, embodiments of dharma. Lord among sages, hear their sacred names, which are very auspicious and always remove every obstacle. The eldest was Mena, the middle Dhanya, and the youngest Kalavati. All were born from the ancestors' mental power rather than from a womb, though by custom they were reckoned as Svadha's daughters. When people speak their excellent names they obtain everything they wish. These mothers of the world are always supremely worshipped by the world. They are supreme yoginis, reservoirs of knowledge, able to go anywhere in the three worlds.

Once the three sisters, wanting to see Vishnu's world, went to Shvetadvipa. They bowed to Vishnu and praised him devotedly, and at his command stayed on where a great assembly was gathering. Then Brahma's siddha sons, Sanaka and the others, came there, bowed to Hari and praised him, and at his command stayed too. Seeing Sanaka and the other sages, everyone present quickly rose, bowed and honoured those whom the gods and others in the worlds worship. But the three sisters, deluded, did not stand. By destiny and the maya of the paramatman Shankara they were rendered immobile. Shiva's great maya confounds all the worlds; everyone in the universe is subject to it, and it is known as Shiva's will. It has many names and is called prarabdha, but it is nothing other than Shiva's will. One need not think further about it. Under its sway the sisters showed no respect and merely sat there, surprised.

Sanaka and the other lords among sages saw their state. Though they had knowledge, intolerable rage seized them. Sanatkumara, lord among yogis, confounded by Shiva's will, spoke angrily and laid a curse as punishment: "Because of your pride you did not rise or bow to us. Since you were deluded by human feelings, you will go far from heaven. Your knowledge was deluded, so you will become human women. You will reap the fruit of your own deeds." Hearing this, the three virtuous sisters were greatly surprised. They lowered their heads and fell at his feet. The ancestors' daughters said: "Noble sage, you are an ocean of compassion; be pleased with us now. We were foolish and did not bow to you, with no thought behind it. Brahmana, great sage, we have reaped the result, though it was not our fault. Show us favour so that we may return to heaven." Son, hearing them, the sage was pleased, and Shiva's maya also urged him to lift the curse. Sanatkumara said: "Three daughters of the ancestors, listen gladly. My words will end your misery and bring you happiness in every way. The eldest will become the beloved wife of the Himalayas, the mountain who is Vishnu's portion, and Parvati will be her daughter. The second, Dhanya, will be a yogini and Janaka's beloved, and her daughter will be Mahalakshmi under the name of Sita. The youngest, Kalavati, will be the beloved of the vaishya Vrishabhana, and at the end of dvapara yuga Radha will be her daughter. By a boon given by Parvati, the yogini Menaka will go with her husband in her body to the great goal, Kailasa. Siradhvaja, born in Janaka's line, will be blessed with Sita; he will be a jivanmukta and great yogi and will go to Vaikuntha. Kalavati will enjoy life with Vrishabhana; she will be a jivanmukta and certainly, with her daughter, go to Goloka. Without some calamity how does anyone achieve greatness? For those with good karma, misery goes and that power leads to a happiness hard to obtain. All of you, daughters of the ancestors, will enjoy yourselves in heaven. Your karma has been exhausted by seeing Vishnu."

Having said this, and his rage gone, the lord among sages remembered Shiva, who gives knowledge and confers pleasures and liberation, and spoke again: "Listen affectionately to something more; my words always bring happiness. You will be blessed and loved by Shiva, instantly revered and worshipped. Mena's daughter will be Parvati, the Devi who is mother of the universe, and after austerities hard to bear she will become Shambhu's beloved. Dhanya's daughter, Sita, will become Rama's wife and, following worldly practice, enjoy life with Rama. Kalavati's daughter Radha is one who dwells directly in Goloka. She will become Krishna's wife, bound to him in a love that stays secret." Having said this, the illustrious sage Sanatkumara was praised, and vanished with his brothers. Son, the three sisters, born to the ancestors through their mental powers, were freed of their sins, gained happiness and returned swiftly to their own abode.