The tilt of Vardhman towards the matters of spiritualism sometimes frightened the king and the queen. Their son was clearly on the road of the holy spiritual mission which meant that sooner or later they were going to lose their beloved son. But the two kept hoping against the hope.
Their hopes rose as Prince Vardhman grew into a youngman of exceptional beauty and glow. The youthful energy had charged up his body. It particularly pleased the queen. She began to think in terms of getting her son married to a worthy princess to enable him to start a family and gratify his parents. The queen broached the idea to the king who liked it instantly. That was the time tested trick to domesticate a youngman. In that way Vardhman’s route to sainthood would get blocked leaving the only option of becoming an all conquering king open to him.
The king and the queen secretly started working in the direction of trapping Vardhman in the marital hole. They sent messengers to the neighbouring lands to convey the message or look for a suitable princess.
The choice finally narrowed down to one princess, Yashodhara, the daughter of King Jitshatru of the land of Kalinga. She was a beauty, educated, well mannered and worthy in every respect.
Infact King Jitshatru himself was on the look out for the groom for his marriageable daughter. The message of Siddhartha for a bride came as a god sent gift. Prince Vardhman could be a prize catch.
King Jitshatru at once sent a messenger to King Siddhartha with the proposal for his daughter’s marriage to Prince Vardhman. It pleased the king and the queen. Vardhman was informed about the proposal.
The prince rejected the proposal outrightly. King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala tried their best to persuade him to agree to the marriage but the prince would not pay heed.
Queen Trishala played her mother card. She asked the prince to say ‘yes’ because it was her order. She swore by her motherly love and affection.
Vardhman bowed his head to his mother and said, “Mother! I will do anything you wish of me except getting married. That is something I can not do. I am helpless in that matter.”
“What is your helplessness, son? I fail to understand what is the problem?”
“Mother dear, if you insist on knowing the cause of my helplessness, I must tell you. Listen carefully then…” said Vardhman fixing his gaze at a point in the space.
And his explanation began in the form of a bizarre tale—
‘Mother! I was a Vasudev in my previous life. My name was Triprishta. Once at my order a mightily dance and song programme was organised in the palace theatre. All my courtiers were also invited.
Before the show began I had to be busy in dealing with an urgent matter. It took a lot of my time and energy. I was a tired person. Infact the entire day had been demanding. The show was very good. But due to exhaustion I could not help dozing every now and then.
I summoned the programme incharge and said to him, ‘The show you have organised in extremely good. Due to a busy day I feel very tired. So, carry on the show till I manage to stay awake. As soon as I fall asleep wind up the show and make announcement accordingly.’
“As you wish, my Lord,” said the incharge and assured me, “It will be done so.”
After issuing that order I again paid attention to the song and dance performance that was going on. I enjoyed it but the tiredness proved too overpowering. I dozed and then fell asleep.
The programme organiser got too engrossed in the captivating performance to remember my strict instructions. The show continued. It irritated me. I screamed and ordered the incharge organiser to present himself before me.
My scream shocked everyone. The show abruptly came to a halt. The organiser had realised his mistake of his dereliction of duty. He presented himself to me shaking with fear.
“Organiser!” I screamed at him and thundered, “You have disobeyed my order…”
He begged, “Your Mercy! I am guilty of the carelessness. But I didn’t disobey your order deliberately. It was a terrible mistake. I beg for your pardon, my lord. Please take pity on me.’
I was unrelenting and barked, “No! You don’t deserve any mercy. Your crime is unpardonable. You indulged yourself in song and dance in preference to your sacred duty to your master. You deserve a punishment…exemplary punishment.”
He begged for mercy. But his begging was making me angrier. I was behaving like a snake.
I hissed, “Soldiers! Punish this disobedient theatre organiser in such a way that he should become an example for others. No one else must dare to ignore my commands in future.”
The soldiers carried out my order. The organiser put in chains was dumped infront of me and the soldiers waited for my specific punishment order. The culprit was still begging and crying for my mercy.
I said, “Pour molten lead into the ears of this offender. Those ears are too careless to hold the orders of the master. It must be done right away.”
The soldiers at once arranged for the crucible and molten lead was poured into the ears of the organiser. The excruciating pain made his body rock violently and he died crying in agony. Everyone looked at the scene horrified. I had won no admirers.
But my anger got satiated.’’
After telling the story Vardhman remarked, “O mother! I must do penance for that horrible act of mine done in the previous life. That macabre violence must be paid for. I have taken this birth to pay the penalty for that merciless act. I must concentrate all my devotion, sentiments and the moods to neutralise the violence. I am getting very restless to bury the desire for violence. Allow me to do my principle duty of this life, mother dear. I have to make a great sacrifice. I must do penance and go through untold ordeals to cleanse myself. That is all I have to say.”
“But son, what about your duty towards your parents and your family?”
“I am aware of that too, mother. Of course I owe a lot of you and the father. Don’t worry, I will do my duty…but in my own way.”
“But…”
“There is no place for any but in my life. Please mother, do not push me off my chosen path. I love you and I respect you deeply. Through penance I want to redeem my life. And you all are parts of my life. For this reason I can’t marry.”
“Son, that means you are going to renounce us. It would kill us,’’ Queen Trishala was crying.
“No mother! Don’t say that,” Vardhman tried to console her and promise, “It won’t happen. I give you my word that I won’t renounce my worldly relations as long as you are alive.”
“Alright son, as you wish,” Trishala said thankfully and sighed deeply.