Shankhachuda's Austerities and Marriage

Sanatkumara said

Shankhachuda was instructed by Jaigishavya. For a long time he stayed happily in Brahma's Pushkara, controlling his senses and doing japa with the knowledge of the brahman his guru had given him, single-minded and holding his organs of action in check. The danava Shankhachuda tormented himself at Pushkara. Brahma, the lord and guru of the worlds, quickly came to give him a boon. Vidhatri told the Indra among danavas, "Ask a boon." Seeing him, Shankhachuda bent humbly and praised him in virtuous words. He asked Brahma for the boon that he not be vanquished by the residents of heaven. Pleased, Vidhatri agreed. He gave Shankhachuda Sri Krishna's divine kavacha, the most auspicious of all auspicious things in the universe, which brings victory everywhere. "Go to Badari and marry Tulasi. She is doing austerities there, as she wills. She is the daughter of Dharmadhvaja." So Vidhatri instructed him, and while Shankhachuda looked on he vanished at once.

Shankhachuda's austerities at Pushkara had succeeded. He tied the kavacha, the most auspicious of all things in the universe, round his neck. His wishes met and austerities successful, as Brahma had told him, he went rejoicing and quickly to the hermitage of Badarika. Wandering as he pleased, the danava Shankhachuda came to where Tulasi, Dharmadhvaja's daughter, was doing austerities. She was beautiful, smiling, slender and adorned with sparkling ornaments, and she cast sidelong glances at the great man. He saw the charming, lovely, virtuous lady, well conducted, and stayed near her and spoke sweet words.

Shankhachuda said

Who are you? Whose daughter? What are you doing here? Why are you silent? You should think of me as your servant.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing him, she was filled with desire and replied.

Tulasi said

I am Dharmadhvaja's daughter, an ascetic doing austerities. I stay in this hermitage. What are you? As you like, you can go where you want. Women as a class bewilder even Brahma and others. They are like poison. They commit sins and are condemned. They are bonds of maya and can lead to repentance.

Sanatkumara said

So Tulasi spoke to him in jest and stopped. As he began to speak he saw that she was smiling.

Shankhachuda said

Beautiful lady, what you said is not wholly false, but in my view it is partly false too. Listen to me. You are the foremost of women devoted to their husbands. I am neither a sinner nor a lecher, and I do not think your inclinations are like that either. At Brahma's command I have come to you. Beautiful one, I will marry you by the gandharva rites. I am Shankhachuda, who drove the gods away. Fortunate one, do you not know me? Have you never heard of me? I come from Danu's line, and in particular I am a danava, Dambha's son. Earlier I was a gopa named Sudama, Hari's companion. By Radhika's curse I have become an Indra among danavas. I am a jatismara and know this. All this is by Krishna's favour.

Sanatkumara said

Shankhachuda said this and stopped, standing before her, and lovingly and truthfully told her so. Satisfied, Tulasi smiled and began to speak.

Tulasi said

I have now been defeated by one whose thoughts are full of sattva. In this world that man is blessed who is not defeated by a woman. Even if a man keeps virtuous rites, if a woman has defeated him he stays impure. The ancestors, gods and all people censure him. After a birth or a death a brahmana is purified in ten days, a kshatriya in twelve, a vaishya in fifteen and a shudra in a month, so say the Vedas. But a man defeated by a woman is not purified until he is burned on a funeral pyre. His ancestors do not want to accept his pindas or water offerings, and the gods do not accept the flowers, fruits and other things he offers. What good do knowledge, excellent austerity, japa and oblations do him? If a woman has stolen his mind, what use are learning and gifts? I wished to test the extent of your learning and power. Before a woman accepts a groom she must test her beloved.

Sanatkumara said

As Tulasi was saying this, Vidhatri arrived at that very instant, and the creator spoke.

Brahma said

Shankhachuda, why do you talk with her like this? Accept her by the gandharva rites of marriage. You are a jewel among men and this virtuous one is a jewel among women. The union of a learned man and a learned woman has good qualities. King, unmixed happiness is rare; who would give it up? One who gives up unmixed happiness is certainly an animal. Virtuous lady, he has qualities. Why test such a man? He has crushed gods, asuras and danavas. Beautiful lady, you can enjoy him for a long time, in any place you like and in all the worlds. In the end he will win Goloka and Shri Krishna again. When you die you will gain the four-armed one in Vaikuntha.

Sanatkumara said

Having so blessed them, Vidhatri went home. By the gandharva rites of marriage the danava accepted her. After marrying Tulasi, he went back to his father's residence, and in a beautiful house he enjoyed himself with her.