SYNOPSIS- Satyan 3 - Marriage Proposal
Marriage Proposal - Satyan 3 - Vasudev got two marriage proposals on the same day! He mulls over them and then made his decision known to his King Bharadwaj Read on...
SATYAN3
-4. The Marriage Proposal
King Bharadwaj led Vasudev to a chamber and addressed him, “O Satya! This chamber belongs to one of my forefathers. After his death, it has been lying vacant. I have re-decorated this chamber especially for you. I know that you are not going to stay with me for a long time now.” Vasudev could easily notice the tinge of sadness laced in the King’s voice as he spoke these words. “…But then, till the time you are here, I want you to stay in this chamber. It would make me feel happy.”
Vasudev could do little but agree.
It was a splendorous chamber which had marble flooring, golden pillars, decorative walls, cozy beds, majestic seats and mullioned windows from where a breathtaking view of the palace garden could be had.
The next day after taking his minister into confidence, Bharadwaj sent a written message to Dharmaraja that Vasudev was ready for his task which he had promised to take up once his education got over. The King gave specific instructions to the messenger that this message should be read by his father-in-law in absolute privacy.
Later on during the day, a sage sought an audience with Vasudev. The young minister was very well conversant with all the sages of his kingdom for he met them quite often to enquire about their well-being. Thus, Vasudev could easily recognize his visitor as Sage Amulya. After they were seated, Vasudev enquired with the sage about the purpose of his visit. “O Satyan! During one of your visits to my ashram, I had introduced you to my only daughter Manorama.”
Vasudev agreed.
“In an attempt to inculcate good and noble values in her and my students, I always used to take your example. Hearing so much about your greatness, Manorama began to adore you. When she personally saw you in our ashram, she liked your physical appearance as well and this adoration gradually changed into a deep affection towards you. I learnt about all this today morning when I was discussing with Manorama about her marriage. Thus, I have come here to learn your mind!”
Vasudev was taken aback to hear all this. Although he had wished others to marry and settle down in life, he had never imagined himself getting involved in such a commitment!
The sage continued, “However before you decide anything in this matter, there is something else I would like to tell you.” Swallowing hard, the sage continued with a glum face, “My child suffers from a defective heart right from childhood. As a result there is every possibility that she may meet an….” The sage looked at the ground and concluded with much difficulty, “…untimely death. Even the great physician and sage, Pradayumna does not have a remedy to her illness.”
Vasudev was deeply moved to hear this. “Does your daughter know about this?”
“No, Vasudev. I could never gather the strength to inform her about it. Nobody in the ashram knows about her illness. Her mother, of course, knew it but then she is no more now.”
Vasudev nodded in understanding.
The sage then looked at him and said, “Whatever you decide would be acceptable to me.” He then took his leave.
For a long time, Vasudev sat alone in his chamber lost in deliberation. Thereby, he decided to pay a visit to Bharadwaj. On the way, he found Dyanchand, the merchant who traded with pickles, emerging out of the King’s chamber. Both of them exchanged greetings and after a brief conversation, Dyanchand took his leave.
King Bharadwaj welcomed Vasudev with open arms. After they were seated, Vasudev queried, “I just met Dyanchandji outside your chamber! I felt happy to meet him!”
The King nodded his head thoughtfully and revealed, “He had come here to discuss something relating to you, Satya!”
“Me?” Vasudev asked surprised.
Bharadwaj paused for a few moments and then began, “Dyanchand had come here to persuade me to make you marry his daughter, Anupama!”
Vasudev was bewildered to hear this. It was raining marriage proposals for him that day! “Satya! All this while during your education tenure, you had decided to lead the life of a brahmachari. Now that it is over, there is no harm if you can think of getting married! I know Dyanchand and his family very well. I am sure that Anupama would serve to be an ideal wife for you and always keep you happy!”
Nodding his head softly, Vasudev asked the King, “Is this Dyanchandji’s wish or that of his daughter, Maharaj?”
“It is the desire of Dyanchand! Anupama is a girl who would always abide by what her parents want!” The King replied.
Vasudev borrowed some time to think over this matter and took his leave.
Later the next day, Vasudev met the King and told him about Sage Amulya’s proposal and the fact about her defective heart. Thereby he concluded, “…After much thought, I feel that if I do not marry Manorama it could cause her immense sorrow for she loves me, Maharaj! On the other hand, Anupama may not feel that much sorrow if we do not marry for she is doing all this at the behest of her father! Therein lies the difference! Also, I feel that Manorama’s father should be honoured for speaking the truth about her health. In his desire to get his daughter married, he did not conceal this fact from me. As far as the possibility of her untimely death is concerned, Maharaj, it is a fact that all of us are going to die someday. Thus, I do not feel that this should be any criteria behind rejecting her father’s proposal.”
Vasudev could do little but agree.
It was a splendorous chamber which had marble flooring, golden pillars, decorative walls, cozy beds, majestic seats and mullioned windows from where a breathtaking view of the palace garden could be had.
The next day after taking his minister into confidence, Bharadwaj sent a written message to Dharmaraja that Vasudev was ready for his task which he had promised to take up once his education got over. The King gave specific instructions to the messenger that this message should be read by his father-in-law in absolute privacy.
Later on during the day, a sage sought an audience with Vasudev. The young minister was very well conversant with all the sages of his kingdom for he met them quite often to enquire about their well-being. Thus, Vasudev could easily recognize his visitor as Sage Amulya. After they were seated, Vasudev enquired with the sage about the purpose of his visit. “O Satyan! During one of your visits to my ashram, I had introduced you to my only daughter Manorama.”
Vasudev agreed.
“In an attempt to inculcate good and noble values in her and my students, I always used to take your example. Hearing so much about your greatness, Manorama began to adore you. When she personally saw you in our ashram, she liked your physical appearance as well and this adoration gradually changed into a deep affection towards you. I learnt about all this today morning when I was discussing with Manorama about her marriage. Thus, I have come here to learn your mind!”
Vasudev was taken aback to hear all this. Although he had wished others to marry and settle down in life, he had never imagined himself getting involved in such a commitment!
The sage continued, “However before you decide anything in this matter, there is something else I would like to tell you.” Swallowing hard, the sage continued with a glum face, “My child suffers from a defective heart right from childhood. As a result there is every possibility that she may meet an….” The sage looked at the ground and concluded with much difficulty, “…untimely death. Even the great physician and sage, Pradayumna does not have a remedy to her illness.”
Vasudev was deeply moved to hear this. “Does your daughter know about this?”
“No, Vasudev. I could never gather the strength to inform her about it. Nobody in the ashram knows about her illness. Her mother, of course, knew it but then she is no more now.”
Vasudev nodded in understanding.
The sage then looked at him and said, “Whatever you decide would be acceptable to me.” He then took his leave.
For a long time, Vasudev sat alone in his chamber lost in deliberation. Thereby, he decided to pay a visit to Bharadwaj. On the way, he found Dyanchand, the merchant who traded with pickles, emerging out of the King’s chamber. Both of them exchanged greetings and after a brief conversation, Dyanchand took his leave.
King Bharadwaj welcomed Vasudev with open arms. After they were seated, Vasudev queried, “I just met Dyanchandji outside your chamber! I felt happy to meet him!”
The King nodded his head thoughtfully and revealed, “He had come here to discuss something relating to you, Satya!”
“Me?” Vasudev asked surprised.
Bharadwaj paused for a few moments and then began, “Dyanchand had come here to persuade me to make you marry his daughter, Anupama!”
Vasudev was bewildered to hear this. It was raining marriage proposals for him that day! “Satya! All this while during your education tenure, you had decided to lead the life of a brahmachari. Now that it is over, there is no harm if you can think of getting married! I know Dyanchand and his family very well. I am sure that Anupama would serve to be an ideal wife for you and always keep you happy!”
Nodding his head softly, Vasudev asked the King, “Is this Dyanchandji’s wish or that of his daughter, Maharaj?”
“It is the desire of Dyanchand! Anupama is a girl who would always abide by what her parents want!” The King replied.
Vasudev borrowed some time to think over this matter and took his leave.
Later the next day, Vasudev met the King and told him about Sage Amulya’s proposal and the fact about her defective heart. Thereby he concluded, “…After much thought, I feel that if I do not marry Manorama it could cause her immense sorrow for she loves me, Maharaj! On the other hand, Anupama may not feel that much sorrow if we do not marry for she is doing all this at the behest of her father! Therein lies the difference! Also, I feel that Manorama’s father should be honoured for speaking the truth about her health. In his desire to get his daughter married, he did not conceal this fact from me. As far as the possibility of her untimely death is concerned, Maharaj, it is a fact that all of us are going to die someday. Thus, I do not feel that this should be any criteria behind rejecting her father’s proposal.”
(To ConTINUE)
