14 - The stories of Vedavati, sita and Draupadi

Narayana said—О sage, both Dharmadhvaja and Kushadhvaja performed severe tapas for Lakshmi and achieved their desired boons.

With the boon of Mahalakshmi both Dharmadhvaja and Kushadhvaja received all the riches and sons.

After the passage of the sometime the chaste wife of Kushadhvaja named Malavati gave birth to a daughter who had the ray of Lakshmi in her. On appearing on earth, she was bestowed with all knowledge. At the very birth of the daughter the labour room was echoed with the reciting of the Vedic hymns and she at once got up.

Therefore, people called her by the name of Vedavati, after her birth she took a bath properly and at once proceeded to the forest inspire of the people of the country opposing her. She did not listen and being a devotee of Narayana went to the forest and performed tapas. Though the ascetic lady performed tapas in the Pushkara region for a manvantara, yet she was not reduced in her strength but her strength remained stable and she continued to be well-built and youthful. Suddenly she heard a divine voice from the sky. “O beautiful one, after many births you will get lord Vishnu as your husband. The one who is beyond the reach of the gods like Brahma and others will surely be your husband.”

On hearing this she got annoyed and she went to Gandhamadana mountain and started performing tapas at a lonely place.

She performed tapas at that place for a long lime but once she had an encounter with the terrific demon Ravana.

On his arrival before her, she offered him the customary welcome besides sweet fruits and cold water. After consuming everything Ravana remained there and ask her, “O beautiful one, who are you”?

The beautiful and chaste lady was having round and stiff breasts and a face like the lotus of the winter season. She wore a serene smile on her face, her teeth were attractive. Finding that Ravana was getting passionate she fainted. He then pulled the chaste lady towards him with evil intention. (14-I

Finding him so misbehaving, the chaste lady made him stand still and he became motionless. He was unable to move his hand nor could he speak anything.

Thereafter he offered prayers to the lady mentally who was born of the rays of Lakshmi. Getting pleased with his prayers the damsel released him.

Thereafter she pronounced a curse on him, “You will be completely destroyed because of me since you have touched me with evil intentions. I am, therefore, ending my life here before you.” 

Thus, speaking with the applications of the Yogic practices, she burnt her body. Thereafter Ravana said: “What a surprise have I met with today? What type of an evil act did I perform?” Thus, thinking Ravana started repenting again and again. The chaste lady in due course of time was born in the house of Janaka as a result of which Ravana was killed. The chaste lady in earlier times performed tapas as a result of which she got Rama as her husband.

The beautiful damsel performed tapas for Rama and getting him, she served him for a long time, enjoying his company. She remembered the events of her earlier birth but she did not mind the difficulties she had to face for performing tapas. Keeping in view her present pleasure she forgot about her earlier troubles.

Achieving Rama as her husband, who was quite tender, youthful, virtuous, passionate, peaceful, extremely beautiful, attractive to the females, Vedavati enjoyed many of the worldly pleasures with him for a long time.

The truthful Rama who was the best king of the race of Raghu, honouring the words of his father went to the forest.

Thereafter with the moves of the destiny, Rama stayed near the oceans with Sita and Lakshmana. There, lord Rama met with Agni who had taken to the form of a Brahma. 

Finding Rama in a melancholy mood his heart was moved. Being truthful and a lover of truth, he spoke to Rama, who indeed was the form of truth.

Agni said—You kindly listen to my words. The time for the abduction of Sita is drawing nearer. The moves of the destiny are sometimes cruel and one cannot escape from them. The destiny is always powerful; therefore, you entrust the care of mother Sita to me and in her place, you keep her shadow with you. 

I shall return her to you at the time of the fire ordeal. The gods have entrusted this job to me. I am not a Brahmana but I am the god of fire.”

On hearing this, Rama without disclosing anything to Lakshmana, with a painful heart agreed to the proposal.

О Narada, the god of fire then at once created an illusory Sita who resembled the real Sita in all respects. He then entrusted the care of the shadow Sita to Rama.

Soon after that, the Brahmana left the place along with Sita asking Rama not to disclose the secret to anyone. That is why this secret remained unknown to Lakshmana even, what to speak of others. In the meantime, Rama spotted the golden deer and Sita desired Rama to get it by following it.

Lord Rama entrusted the care of Janaki to Lakshmana and he himself went after the deer in the forest and he killed it with his arrow.

While meeting its death, the deer cried aloud, “O Lakshmana”. Thus crying, finding Rama before him and remembering Lakshmana he met with his death. 

Discarding the body of the deer, he achieved the divine form and proceeded on to Vaikuntha mounted on a divine plane studded with gems.

On the gate-way of the Vaikunta, there were two gate-keepers by name of Jaya and Vijaya. In the both Jaya was very powerful.

Because of the curse of Sanaka and Sanatana, he was turned into a demon but he again got back his original position. 

Thereafter Sita hearing the cry calling for Lakshmana, asked him to go in search of Rama.

After Lakshmana left the place in search of Rama, the wicked Ravana with the application of his illusion kidnapped Janaki and proceeded towards Lanka. 

Finding Lakshmana in the forest, the mind of Rama was disturbed and he fainted. Thereafter, he at once went back to his abode with Lakshmana and finding Sita missing from the hermitage, he continued lamenting for a long lime. Thereafter they started wandering in the forest in search of Sita.

After sometime, they met with Jatayu at the bank of Godavari who conveyed the news to them about Janaki. Thereafter, with the help of the monkeys they reached Lanka, constructing a bridge over the ocean. Reaching Lanka, Rama killed Ravana together with his entire family and friends. He got back the grief-stricken Sita. 

Soon thereafter he made Sita to perform the fire-ordeal when the god Agni himself appeared out of the fire and handed over the real Sita to lord Rama.

Thereafter the shadow Sita meekly stood there. And asked both Rama, Agni “What should I do now you tell me”?

Agni said—О goddess you go to the sacred region of Pushakara and perform tapas there. By doing so, you will become Lakshmi of the heaven.

On hearing the words of Agni, she performed great tapas for divine three lakhs of years and thereafter she went to heaven. Again, after emerging from the fire-altar, she became the daughter of Drupada and was known as Draupadi and became the wife of the five Pandavas.

Thus, in the krutayuga Vedavati happened to be the daughter of Kushadhvaja, she became the daughter of Janaka known as Sita in the tretayuga and became the wife of Rama. In the Dvapara that shadow Sita emerged from the fire after as Draupadi. Because she remains present m all the three yugas she is known as Trihayani.

Narada said—О great lord, how did Draupadi get five husbands. You kindly remove this doubt of my mind. 

Narayana said—О Nerada, after Rama got back the real Sita in Lanka, the youthful shadow Sita was upset.

Thereafter at the command of Rama and Agni she performed tapas and with the blessings of Shiva and she begged Shiva for her husband. She repeated this desire five times.

Lord Shiva smiled on hearing to her request and said: “O dear you will get five husbands."

Therefore, she became the wife of five Pandavas. I have told you the broad outlines and now listen to me about the details.

After getting back the charming Sita, Rama entrusted the care of Lanka to Vibhishana and returned to Ayodhya. 

He ruled in Bharata for eleven thousand years, enjoying all the royal pleasures and thereafter he proceeded on to Vaikuntha to all his people. 

And Vedavati who was born of the rays of Lakshmi entered into the body of Lakshmi. Thus, you have listened to the divine story which removes sins and grants merits.

She was called Vedavati because all the four Vedas resided at the tip of her tongue in every time.

Thus, I have narrated in detail the story of the daughter of Kushadhvaja. Now you listen to the story of the daughter of Dharmadhvaja.