CHAPTER CLI
(PRADYUMNA APPEARS BEFORE PRABHAVATI AND MARRIES HER)
Vaishampāyana said:—Afterwards thinking "This maiden has been completely possessed by me." Krishna's son delightedly said to the goose:—"Tell the daughter of the Daitya king, that in the guise of a black-bee, I have come here along with other black-bees, attached to the garland (1-2). I am now at present under her command. Let her do what she likes to do with me." Saying this, the beautiful husband of Rati appeared there in his own form (3). At that time the house was lighted up with the effulgence of the person of the intelligent Madana. And the beautiful rays of the moon were put to shame (4). As the lord of waters (the ocean) rises with the lord of night (moon) on a Parva day, so Prabhāvati's ocean of love increased on seeing Kāma (5). Then turning her eyes a little with bashfulness, Prabhāvati, having eyes like lotuses, sat there with her face cast down (6). Seeing it Pradyumna held, with his own, the hands of thin-built and beautiful Prabhāvati bedecked with handsome ornaments. Then with hairs of his body standing erect he said:—"Why have you cast down your face resembling the full-moon and acquired after desiring for it a hundred times? Why do you not speak with me (7-8) O you of a fair face, do not crush the effulgence of your countenance. Cast off your fear and favour this servant of yours. There is no more time, O timid girl. The hour for my return has well-nigh arrived. I pray to you with folded hands, shake off your fear. As you are peerless in beauty and fidelity so according to the condition of time and place favour me by a Gandharva marriage" (9-11).
Thereupon touching fire existing in the jem (he put on) and reciting the mantra the Bhaima hero Pradyumna performed the Homa ceremony with flowers. Thereupon holding Prabhāvati by the arm embellished with most excellent ornaments he circumambulated the fire of the jem (12–13). O king, at that time to keep the honor of Achyuta’s son, Hutāshana, the divine lord of effulgence, the witness of virtue and sin in the world, blazed up. Thereupon settling in his mind about the Dahshinā (money-gift) the heroic descendant of Yadu said to the goose:—"O bird, remaining at the gate, do you guard us" (14–15). Hearing it the goose saluted him and went away. Afterwards spending the whole night he, early in the morning, went to the theatre. Although reluctant Prabhāvati gave him farewell, and he too, thinking in his mind of the beauty of his love, went away. Thus awaiting the orders of Indra and Keshava, the Bhaimas, for the great work, lived there disguised as actors. Keeping the secret close those high-souled ones awaited the hour when Vajranābha would go out for conquering the three worlds. O king, as long as Kashyapa was engaged in his sacrifice so long there did not take place any dissension between the high-souled and virtuous celestials and the Asuras ready for conquering the three worlds (16–24).
Thus while the intelligent Yādavas were waiting there for the proper hour there appeared the rainy season delightful to all creatures (25). The swans, fleet like the mind, used daily to carry the intelligence of the highly powerful princes to Shakra and Keshava. Thus well protected by those Dhārtarashtras the highly powerful Pradyumna used to spend every night with the beautiful Prabhāvati (26–27). The Asuras, possessed by Death, could not perceive that they had been surrounded by the swans and actors in the city of Vajra at the command of Vāsava (28). By and by, well protected by the swans the heroic son of Rukshmini began to spend even the day in Prabhāvati's house (29). O descendant of Kuru, on account of his illusory powers, one half of his body used to appear on the stage—and with the other half he lived with Prabhāvati. The Asuras used to envy the high-souled Yadavas for their prosperity, humility, character, sportiveness, cleverness, simplicity and learning. Their women used to envy the Yādava women for their beauty, luxury, scents, pure words and conduct (30–32).
O king, Vajranābha's illustrious brother Sunābha had two beautiful and accomplished daughters—one of them was named Chandravati, and the other Gunavati. They daily used to go to Prabhāvati's house (33–34). One day seeing Prabhāvati engaged in love affairs in her house they asked her about it on account of their confidence in her love for them (35). She said:—"I possess a learning which can soon bring a desired-for husband and gives prosperity. It has such a wonderful power, that whoever, may he be a Dānava or god, is thought of he at once comes losing all control over himself. By the power of this learning I sport with the son of a god. See, by my power, Pradyumna has become my most favourite." Seeing him, endued with beauty and youthfulness, they were filled with wonder (36–38). Afterwards smiling gracefully the beautiful Prabhāvati again addressed to her sisters words suited to the time:—"The gods are always engaged in virtuous acts, ascetic penances and are truthful: on the other hand the great Asuras are haughty, fond of pleasures and untruthful. So the gods are superior, for victory is there where reign virtue, asceticism and truth (39–41). I will instruct you in this learning; you may select two celestial youths as your becoming husbands. By my power you will soon get them" (42).
Hearing it the two sisters said to Prabhāvati having beautiful eyes "So it will be." Thereupon when the honorable daughter of Vajranābha asked Pradyumna about it he mentioned the names of his uncle Gada and the hero Shāmva for both of them were beautiful, accomplished and valiant (43-44).
Prabhavati said:—Formerly pleased with me Durvāsa conferred on me this learning: it gives good luck and always preserves maidenhood (45). The great saint said: "He, whom amongst the gods, Dānavas and Yakshas you will think of, will be your husband. I desired for this hero. Do you take this learning and you will in no time be united with your loves."
Thereupon, O king, those two beautiful daughters of Sunābha, filled with joy, accepted the learning from the mouth of their sister and practised it. Then they thought of Gada and Shāmva. Covered with illusion by Pradyumna those two heroic Bhaimas entered there with him. Those two heroes, fond of the pious and the slayers of their enemies, espoused them according to Gandharva rites after reciting the mantras. Of them Gada married Chandravati and Keshava's son Shāmva Gunavati. Thus awaiting the orders of Sakra and Keshava those leading Yadus lived there happily with Asura girls (46-51).
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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