Guṇakeśī

Guṇakeśī is the daughter of Mātali, the divine charioteer of Indra. The search for a fitting husband for her is the subject of the Mātali Upākhyāna, which Kaṇva Maharshi tells in the Udyoga Parva of the Mahābhārata (Chapters 97–100).

Mātali could not find a worthy husband for her among the devas or among men. He asked Nārada for help. Together they went down through Varuṇaloka and the realms of Pātāla.

Who she is

Guṇakeśī is a woman of great virtue and beauty. Her father Mātali serves Indra as his divine charioteer. Being the daughter of one of Indra’s most trusted servants, she holds a high place among the devas.

Mātali went through the candidates among the devas and among the human kings. Then he came to Nārada Maharshi. Nārada travels through all the worlds and knows every important being in each of them. He agreed to go with Mātali on a careful search through the realms.

They went first to Varuṇaloka, then to the realms of Pātāla, and last to Hiraṇyapura in the lower world. The search through these lower realms shows that great families and powerful beings live below the human world. Mātali looked for Guṇakeśī’s husband among them too.

Her place in the Upākhyāna

Kaṇva tells Guṇakeśī’s story in the assembly (sabhā) during the peace mission of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. It carries one of the fullest descriptions of the worlds in the Mahābhārata, including Varuṇaloka, the realms of Pātāla and Hiraṇyapura. She is the reason for the teaching, while the world outside the story moves toward war.

Sources

  • Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 97–100