понедельник, 9 сентября 2013 г.

The Marriage of Shreemati Revati Devi and Bhagavan Shree Balarama (story from "Shree Vishnu-Purana")


It is written in Wikipedia, that the story about the Marriage of Shreemati Revati Devi and Bhagavan Shree Balarama is from Mahabharata and "Shreemad Bhagavatam", but "Shree Vishnu-Purana" also tells us this very beautiful story ("Shree Vishnu-Purana", Book 04, Chapter 01). 

According to "Shree Vishnu-Purana" Shreemati Revati-Devi was from preceding Yuga and Bhagavan Shree Balarama had to transform Shreemati Shreemati Revati-Devi by the touch, so Shreemati Revati-Devi could look as the Princess from Dwapara Age. 

If you are interested in the translation of the Name "REVATI" (रेवति), the Name translates as "Brilliant, Splendid, Opulent, Beautiful". 

The following is the excerpt from the English translation of "Shree Vishnu-Purana". Shreemati Revati Devati is called "VIRGIN GEM" in this passage (I liked this epithet very much):

"Shree Vishnu-Purana", Book 04, Chapter 01


"Shreemati Revati-Devi was the Daughter of Raivata (Kukudmin).

Not finding any one worthy of Her Hand, Raivata repaired with Her, to the region of Brahma, to consult the God where a fit bridegroom was to be met with. 

When he arrived, the quiristers Haha, Huhu, and others were singing before Brahma; and Raivata, waiting till they had finished, imagined the Ages (Yugas) that elapsed during their performance to be but as a moment.

At the end of their singing, Raivata prostrated himself before Brahma  and explained his errand. 

"Whom should you wish for a son-in-law?" demanded Brahma; and the king mentioned to Him various persons with whom he could be well pleased. 

Nodding his head gently, and (graciously) smiling, Brahma said to him: "Of those whom you have named the third or fourth generation no longer survives; for many successions of agest have passed away, whilst you weere listening to our songsters.

Now, upon earth, the twenty-eighth great age of the present Manu is nearly finished, and the Kali period is at hand. 

You must, therefore, bestow this Virgin Gem (Shreemati Revati-Devi) upon some other Husband: for you are, now, alone; and your friends, your ministers, servants, wife, kinsmen, armies, and treasures have long since been swept away by (the hand of) time." 

Overcome with astonishment and alarm, the Raja then said to Brahma: "Since I am thus circumstanced, do Thou, lord, tell me unto whom the Maiden shall be given."

And the creator of the world, whose throne is the Lotus, thus benignantly replied to the prince, as he stood bowed and humble before him :

"The Being of whose commencement, course and termination we are ignorant; the Unborn and Omnipresent, The Essence of all things; He Whose Real and Infinite Nature and Essence we do not know, is The Supreme Bhagavan Shree Vishnu.

Bhagavan Shree Vishnu is Time, made up of moments, and hours, and years; One, whose influence is the Source of perpetual change. 

Bhagavan Shree Vishnu is the Universal Form of all things, from birth to death. 

Bhagavan Shree Vishnu is Eternal, without name or shape.

Through the Favour of The Imperishable Bhagavan Shree Vishnu:

I am (Brahma) the agent of his power in creation; 

through His Anger is Rudra the Destroyer (of the world); 

and the Cause of preservation, Purusha, proceeds, also, from Bhagavan Shree Vishnu. 

Bhagavan Shree Vishnu, The Unborn, having assumed my person creates (the world); 

in His Own Essence, He provides for its duration; 

in the Form of Rudra, He devours all things; 

and, with the body of Ananta, He upholds them. 

Impersonated as Indra and the other gods, He is The Guardian of mankind and, as the Sun and Moon, Bhagavan Shree Vishnu disperses darkness. 

Taking upon Himself the nature of Fire (Agni), Bhagavan Shree Vishnu bestows warmth and maturity, and, in the condition of the earth, nourishes all beings.

As one with air, Bhagavan Shree Vishnu gives activity to existence; and, as one with water, He satisfies (all wants); whilst, in the state of ether, associated with universal aggregation, He furnishes space for all objects.

Bhagavan Shree Vishnu is at once the Creator,and that which is created; the Preserver, and that which is preserved; the Destroyer, and, as one with all things, that which is destroyed: and, as the Indestructible, He is distinct from these three vicissitudes. 

In Him is the world; He is the world; and He, the Primeval Self-Born, is again present in the world. 

The Mighty Bhagavan Shree Vishnu, who is Paramount over all beings, is now, in a portion of Himself, upon the Earth (annotation by Vishnudut1926 - according to "Shree Vishnu-Purana" Krishna was born from the black hair of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu and Balarama from the white hair of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu , so Krishna is Black and Balarama is White, and under the phrase "in a portion of Himself" Balarama is implied). 

That (city) Kushasthali, which was, formerly, your capital, and rival-led the city of the immortals, is now (known as) Dwaraka; and there reigns a Portion of that Divine Being (of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu) in the person of Baladeva. 

To Him, who appears as a Man, present Shreemati Revati-Devi, as a Wife. 

Balarama is a worthy Bride-groom for this Excellent Damsel; and She is a suitable Bride for Him."

Being thus instructed by the Lotus-Born Brahma, Raivata returned (with Shreemati Revati-Devi) to Earth, where he found the race of men dwindled in stature, reduced in vigour, and enfeebled in intellect. 

Repairing to the city of Kushasthali, which he found much altered, the wise monarch bestowed Shreemati Revati-Devi on the Wielder of the Ploughshare (Balarama), Whose Breast was as Fair and Radiant as crystal.

Beholding the Damsel of excessively lofty height, the Chief whose banner is a palm-tree shortened Her with the end of his plough-share, and Shreemati Revati-Devi became his Wife. 

Balarama espoused, agreeably to the ritual, Shreemati Revati-Devi, the Daughter of Raivata. 

The king returned to the mountain Himalaya and ended his days in devout austerities.