Pradyumna was the son of Shri Krishna and his chief consort, Queen Rukmini. His was the complexion of dark clouds. Having chiseled features, he was physically strong, courageous and endowed with all the qualities that make a man complete. It had to be, for Pradyumna was none other than Kamadeva incarnate. So alluring was his presence that people often mistook him for his father, Shri Krishna.
Ancients Speak
Suman K Sharma
Pradyumna was barely ten days old when the demon Shambrasura stole him from the royal nursery and threw him into the sea. There, a big fish swallowed the infant alive. Fishermen caught that fish and brought it to the demon’s house as a prize catch. Shambrasura’s cooks axed the creature and what came out of its belly was the charming little Pradyumna. They did not know what to do with the baby. A kitchen maid by the name of Mayadevi came forward to nurture it.
Mayadevi was in fact Rati, Kamadeva’s widow. In an earlier epoch, Kamadeva was scorched to death when Bhagwan Shiv in His fury had glared at him with His Third Eye for creating disturbance in His meditation. Later, moved by Rati’s entreaties, Bhagwan Shiv had relented and said that she would be reunited with her husband in theDwapar Yuga, the age of Shri Krishna.
So, Pradyumna, thanks to the tender care showered on him by Mayadevi, did not take long to grow up to a glorious youth. The Goddess of eroticism as Rati-Mayadevi was, she could not help giving her young love amorous glances. That confused Pradyumna. One day, when in the heat of passion, Mayadevi openly declared her desire, Pradyumna admonished her. ‘Revered Lady,’ he said, ‘you are a mother to me. Why do you embarrass me with your improper assertions?’ Rati had then to narrate to him the whole story of their true identity and how Shambrasura had heartlessly separated him from his parents. Pradyumna took her in his arms and told her that he would soon avenge himself on the wicked demon.
From that day on, Pradyumna deliberately showed rudeness to Shambrasura so as to provoke him to a fight. The demon was perplexed. One day he called himto his presence and asked why he had turned unruly and thankless to him who had been like a father to him. Pradyumna shot back that he, Shambrasura, was a lowly thief, a baby-snatcher and a murderer. Reminding him of his true parentage, Pradymna drew out his sword and challenged him. Before the shocked demon could understand what was happening, Pradyumna cut off his head with a mighty sway of his sword.
Pradyumna took Mayadevi as his wedded wife. Then the couple proceeded to Dwarka to meet Shri Krishna and Queen Rukmini. Everyone who saw Pradyumna was amazed how closely he resembled Shri Krishna. At the royal palace, even the queen was at a loss how to place him. It took the sageNarada to remind her of the grievous loss of her first-borne. It was thus that Pradyumnawas reunited with his parents.
Questions may arise: Were Shri Krishna and Queen Rukmini so engrossed in their affairs that they did not bother to make adequate arrangements for the security of their first borne? if Shambrasura wanted to kill the infant Pradyumna, he could have killed him in so many ways.Why did he throw him into the sea? How could Pradyumna survive all that time in the belly of a fish? And where was the need of a third party, that is Narada, to tell Rukmini that the man visiting with his wife was her own son? Pradyumna could himself have told his mother who he was.
The one answer to all such doubts is that it is a myth and not history. The Divine Will had to be done. Evil Shambrasura had to be given sufficient cause for being killed at the hands of Kamadeva reborn. If the giant fish had not swallowed baby Pradyumna, he would have drowned. And if the myth says he went on breathing inside the belly of the fish, he must have. Destiny quite often takes a circuitous route to arrive.
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Follow our WhatsApp channel