Pramadvarā

Pramadvarā was the beloved of the ṛshi Ruru. Her mother was the apsarā (a heavenly dancer) Menakā, and her father was the Gandharva Viśvāvasu. The ascetic Sthūlakeśa raised her with deep love. A serpent bit her on the eve of her wedding to Ruru, and she died. She came back to life when Ruru gave half of his own remaining life to her, and Dharmarāja accepted the gift.

Birth and upbringing

Pramadvarā was not born of human parents. Her mother was Menakā, and her father was Viśvāvasu, a Gandharva (a heavenly musician) of great fame. As a baby she was left in a forest near the āśrama (hermitage) of the ascetic Sthūlakeśa. Some readings call him Sthūlaśira. He found her, felt compassion, and raised her as his own daughter.

She grew into a young woman of rare qualities. Her name, Pramadvarā, means she who surpasses all women in beauty, virtue and auspicious conduct. She lived in the forest āśrama among ṛshis, and the quiet discipline of that life shaped her character.

Betrothal to Ruru

The ṛshi Ruru was the son of Pramati, the grandson of Cyavana, and the great-grandson of Bhṛgu. He came upon Pramadvarā while walking in the forest. The moment he saw her, his heart was seized. He had never felt such love before. He went to his father Pramati and told him of his wish.

Pramati understood how deep his son’s feeling was, and he saw Pramadvarā’s noble birth. He went to Sthūlakeśa’s āśrama and made the betrothal formal. An auspicious muhūrta (a fixed time) was set for the wedding. The āśrama was full of joy as the preparations went on.

The serpent’s bite

On the eve of the wedding, the āśrama was busy with the festival preparations. Pramadvarā walked through its grounds. She stepped on a serpent that lay hidden, and it bit her. She fell. She died before a single wedding rite had been done, before Ruru had even taken her hand.

The ṛshis who had gathered wept. Sthūlakeśa, who had raised her as his daughter, wept. The whole forest was in grief. Ruru had only just found his heart, and now he lost everything.

Revival through Ruru’s gift

Ruru could not accept her death. He left the āśrama and wandered alone in the forest, filled with grief. A devadūta (a divine messenger) sent from Brahmā’s realm appeared before him and said:

“There is a way. Give half of your own remaining life to Pramadvarā. If you agree, Dharmarāja will grant her the years you give up, and she will live.”

Ruru agreed at once. He did not stop to count what half a life means. He gave it freely, out of love. Viśvāvasu, Pramadvarā’s Gandharva father, had also come down when he heard of his daughter’s fate. The devadūta went with Viśvāvasu before Dharmarāja. Dharmarāja accepted the gift and granted the vara (a boon). Pramadvarā was revived. She rose from the ground like one waking from sleep, alive and whole.

Marriage

After her revival, the wedding was held on an auspicious muhūrta. Ruru and Pramadvarā were married in the proper Vedic way. She lived out her years, now a gift drawn partly from Ruru’s own life, in the peace of their life together in the āśrama.

Place in the Pauloma Upākhyāna

Pramadvarā’s account is part of the Pauloma Upākhyāna. The Ādi Parva tells it inside the story of the Bhārgava line. That line runs from Bhṛgu through Cyavana, Pramati and Ruru, and finally to Āstīka.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Pauloma Upākhyāna, Chapters 8–9