Baal Kaanda
31 - Princess Visvamohini's self-election of a husband; Narada's pronouncing a curse on the attendants of Siva as well as on the Lord Himself and his subsequent freedom from the spell of infatuation
Chaupais
Description
"Hark, O contemplative ascetic! if a patient distracted by his malady asks for something which is harmful to him, the physician would not give it. In a like manner I have resolved on doing what is good to you." So saying, the Lord disappeared. Under the spell of His Maya the sage was so mystified that he could not understand even such unambiguous words of Sri Hari. The chief of seers hastened to the spot where the arena for the choice-marriage had been prepared. Richly adorned, the royal suitors had occupied their respective seats, each with his retinue. The sage was glad at heart; for he thought within himself, "My beauty is so surpassing that the princess will never commit the error of choosing for her husband anyone else than me." In the sage's own interest the gracious Lord had made him hideous beyond description. But no one could mark the change that had taken place in him; everyone knew him to be Narada and greeted him as such.