Kṛīḍā

Kṛīḍā is “Play” or “Sport” personified. She was the dūtī (emissary and go-between) of Manmatha, who is Kāma, the deva of desire. Her task was to test the pātivratya (devotion to her husband) of Sūkala, the devoted wife of Kṛkala. The account is in the Bhūmi Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 53 to 58.

Kṛīḍā disguised herself as a pativratā (devoted wife) who was away from her own husband. She became Sūkala’s friend and led her to the divine garden. This was the domain of Manmatha. Indra, Manmatha and Rati were waiting there. Sūkala stayed unmoved at every step. She felt nothing from the scents and intoxicants of the forest. She overcame Spring (Vasanta) himself. When Indra met her in person, she answered with a talk on the guṇas (virtues) of her husband as her protection. The whole attack failed, and Indra and Manmatha withdrew.

Mission and disguise

Manmatha sent Kṛīḍā as the subtlest tool in the attack on Sūkala. She was not to tempt Sūkala openly. She was to become her friend slowly, win her trust, and draw her step by step into a place where the forces of Manmatha could act.

She took the form of a devoted woman (sati-rūpa) and came to the home of Sūkala. She presented herself as a friend in the same situation: separated from her husband, keeping dharma in his absence, and devoted to her patī (husband).

Kṛīḍā’s words were made to match Sūkala’s own mind, so that she seemed a kindred spirit and not a threat. She spoke of the virtues of her own husband, of her service to him and her longing for him. She drew out the natural sympathy and trust of Sūkala. Sūkala received her as a true sati and a friend. This is told in the Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Bhūmi Khaṇḍa, Chapters 57 and 58.

The invitation to the garden

Once trust was set, Kṛīḍā suggested that they visit a beautiful forest together. She described it as a place of divine trees, pure tīrthas (holy places) and rare flowers. Sūkala agreed and went.

The forest was in fact the kingdom of Manmatha. It was a divine vana (forest) full of pleasures for the senses, with the full beauty of Spring, and with scents and music made to open the senses to desire.

Once inside, Kṛīḍā watched the power of the forest try to work on Sūkala. The scent of the flowers did not enter her nose. She did not taste the rasas (flavours) of the fruits. Vasanta (Spring personified and the great ally of Manmatha) tried to use all his force and was defeated. Sūkala walked through the domain of Manmatha and it did not touch her. This is told in Chapter 58.

The withdrawal

Rati was also turned back. Then Indra himself appeared. Sūkala gave him her final answer: her protection by dharma, satya (truth), dama (self-control) and jñāna (knowledge) could not be broken.

Kṛīḍā then withdrew with the whole company. The text says they all went back to where they had come from, “filled with fear of the great curse” (śāpa). The failure was complete. Not one part of the plan had worked.

Sūkala went back to her home, which the text calls sarvayajñamaya (equal to all yajñas). She returned in the same state of purity and devotion in which she had left. This is told in Chapter 58.

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Bhūmi Khaṇḍa, Chapters 53–58