Baal Kaanda
30 - Ego's sway over Narada and the effect of the Lord's Maya
Chaupais
Description
It was inhabited by graceful men and women, whom you would take to be so many incarnations of the god of love and his wife Rati. A king, Silanidhi by name, ruled over that city; he owned numberless horses, elephants and troops. He possessed the grandeur and luxury of a hundred Indras, and was a repository of grace, splendour, might and wisdom. He had a daughter, Visvamohini by name, whose beauty enraptured even Laksmi. She was no other than Sri Hari's own Maya (enrapturing potency), the fountainhead of all virtues; who can describe her charm? The princess was going to marry by self-choice; hence kings beyond number arrived there as suitors. The sportive sage (Narada) entered the city and inquired everything from the people. Hearing all that had been going on there, he wended his way to the king's palace. The king paid him homage and gave him a seat.