Vadānya
Vadānya, “the generous one”
Vadānya is a great ṛshi of the Anuśāsana Parva of the Mahābhārata. He is the father of the maiden Suprabhā. Her matchless beauty, virtue (guṇa) and character (śīla) drew the desire of the ṛshi Ashṭāvakra.
When Ashṭāvakra came to ask for Suprabhā’s hand, Vadānya agreed in principle but set a condition. Ashṭāvakra must first travel to the far north, beyond Kubera’s Alakāpurī, and find a tapasvinī (a woman of tapas) living near Kailāsa. This was in truth a request Vadānya had himself made to that tapasvinī. She is revealed to be Uttarā Diś, the devatā who presides over the northern quarter. The aim was to test the dṛḍhacitta (steadiness of mind) of the man who would be his son-in-law, before trusting his daughter to him.
The suitor and the condition
Ashṭāvakra was moved at the sight of Suprabhā, who was as lovely as a woodland in full bloom in spring. He went to Vadānya and asked for her hand. Vadānya did not refuse. He promised that he would give his daughter, but only after Ashṭāvakra had first gone north (uttarā diś). He was to go beyond the golden gate of Kubera’s Alakāpurī and beyond the Himālaya, to the holy dwelling-place of Rudra near Kailāsa.
There, Vadānya said, Ashṭāvakra would meet a tapasvinī, aged, of noble spirit (mahānubhāvā) and consecrated (dīkshitā). He must seek her out, honour her and serve her with respect, and only then return to claim Suprabhā. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 19)
Ashṭāvakra accepted the condition. He asked Vadānya in turn to hold firm to his word, and Vadānya agreed. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 19)
The hidden purpose
Only at the end of Ashṭāvakra’s journey is Vadānya’s true aim made known. The tapasvinī whom Ashṭāvakra found, and who tested him through a night of changing forms and temptation, was Uttarā Diś herself, the presiding devatā of the northern direction.
She told Ashṭāvakra that Vadānya had asked her in particular to test his dṛḍhacitta. She was to find whether his wish to marry Suprabhā for the sake of children in dharma, and not out of kāma (desire), could stand against even the most extraordinary temptation. She saw Ashṭāvakra’s complete steadiness. She declared him successful and sent him home to claim his bride. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 21)
The marriage
Ashṭāvakra returned and told Vadānya the whole story of his journey. Vadānya was glad. He gave Suprabhā to him in marriage under an auspicious nakshatra-yoga, with the full rites (vidhi). Ashṭāvakra’s mind was now free of every care. He lived happily with Suprabhā in his āśrama. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 21)
Why the account is told
Bhīshma tells Vadānya’s test to Yudhishṭhira as an itihāsa. It shows that a householder’s taking of a wife (dāra-saṃgraha) may arise from natural attraction (rāga-prāpta), yet it must still be won through dharma and satya (truth). It also shows that even a union born of desire, when ruled by śakti (the power of self-restraint) and dhṛti (steadiness), gives fruit in dharma and not only the fruit of desire.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapters 19–21