Kṛshṇaśarman

Kṛshṇaśarman was the family priest (purohita) of Vīravikrama, a Śūdra of good character. The account is in the Brahma Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa. Vīravikrama promised his daughter in marriage to an unknown stranger. The stranger was secretly a caṇḍāla disguised as a brāhmaṇa. Kṛshṇaśarman warned Vīravikrama not to go on, because the “brāhmaṇa” was of unknown family, country, race and character. Vīravikrama still would not break his promise. In the end Bhagavān Vishṇu took Kṛshṇaśarman, Vīravikrama, his whole family and even the caṇḍāla to Vaikuṇṭha.

The warning

Vīravikrama made his promise by stretching out his right hand to give his daughter in marriage to the stranger. He then called Kṛshṇaśarman and told him of the agreement.

Kṛshṇaśarman advised care. He said: “How do you give your daughter to a brāhmaṇa when you wish to give her to a śūdra? Do not give her to an unknown person who does not belong to a good family.”

The father of Vīravikrama and the other relatives agreed to the match. Even so, Vīravikrama stood firm. He said: “I have offered my right hand. Now I shall not at all be able to change my words.”

Taken to Vaikuṇṭha

Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared and praised the unbreakable loyalty of Vīravikrama to his promise. A golden vimāna (aerial vehicle) arrived. Vishṇu placed all of Vīravikrama’s family, the caṇḍāla and Kṛshṇaśarman himself in it. He took them to Vaikuṇṭha, where they enjoyed rare pleasures for a long time.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 26