Hemaprabhāvatī
Hemaprabhāvatī was the devoted queen of Śrīdhara, a king of the Tretā Yuga. She was his only wife. In spite of their prosperity, the couple had no children. Vyāsa told them the reason, and after they did what he prescribed, a son was born to them.
Meeting Vyāsa
When Vyāsa came to their court, the king and queen washed the ṛshi’s feet together. Both drank the pādodaka, the water from the washed feet.
The reason for their sonlessness
Vyāsa told them what happened in a former life. In that life Śrīdhara was Varaṭanu, whom the Padma Purāṇa also calls the moon. Hemaprabhāvatī was his wife Śaṅkarī. Together they saw a boy of low jāti drowning. They walked past him with contempt, and the child died.
Husband and wife did this together. For this reason they both lacked a son in their present life.
The remedy and the birth of a son
The remedies Vyāsa prescribed were the same for both. They were the dāna (gifts) laid down for them. Hemaprabhāvatī shared in all of it with Śrīdhara. After they carried them out, they received a son within a year.
Hemaprabhā of Chapter 15
Hemaprabhāvatī, in Chapter 5, is not the same person as Hemaprabhā. Hemaprabhā is the quarrelsome wife of Vallabha in Chapter 15.
Sources
- Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 5 (Hemaprabhāvatī and Śrīdhara)
- Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 15 (Hemaprabhā, wife of Vallabha)