Chanda 2. Narad told Himwan, ‘The creator is definitely favourably inclined towards
you. Hence everything is possible for you, and therefore you need not worry (about
the future of your daughter.
Remember, the creator Brahma has first created a tree symbolized by the
would-be groom before he created your daughter who is a personified form of all
good virtues and auspiciousnesss. [That is, the Creator is very deligent and careful
while determining the destiny of all those who are crearted by him. When a girl child
is born, who would be her future husband is already decided by the Creator, so there
is no reason to worry. However, since it is natural for a father to be worried about his
daughter’s future, here is something secret that I will tell you now. Listen carefully.]
Once when I was in Brahma-loka (the heavenly abode of the creator Brahma),
there was some talk about you. At that time, the four-headed Brahma had said that
though the groom who is suitable for the daughter of Himwan is crazy, he is
nevertheless most auspicious, and will be highly revered and universally worshipped
even by the Gods.^1 ’ [This would be groom is Lord Shiva. He is regarded as ‘crazy’
because of his unconventional lifestyle. For instance, though Shiva is married he
prefers to live alone in the mountains, submerged in deep meditation. He never wears
proper clothes as he prefers to remain naked like a hermit, never wishes to have any
worldly comforts, has serpents wrapped around his body, and in general leads a life of
an hermit, unconcerned with the world outside. Inspite of this seeming indifference,
the Lord is extremely wise and is honoured by the title of ‘Mahadeva’—the Great
God. He is the most enlightened amongst all the Gods. In fact, Lord Ram, the
incarnate Supreme Being, has expressly said that if one wishes to have devotion for
him and attain him, then he must first have devotion for Lord Shiva. Refer: Ram
Charit Manas—(i) Uttar Kand, Doha no. 45; and (ii) Lanka Kand, Chaupai line no. 6
that precedes Doha no. 2—to Chaupai line no. 3 that precedes Doha no. 3.] (Chanda
no. 2)
[Note—^1 Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Doha no. 67 along with Chaupai line
no. 2-8 that precede it; and Doha no. 71.
In this Chanda, the groom is likened to a tree and the would-be bride to a creeper.
This allusion to a creeper vis-à-vis a woman is indicative of the dependence of the
latter on her husband. The husband is the provider of support and all necessary
wherewithals needed by a woman for her survival in this world, and this fact is also
expressed in verse nos. 29 and 23 below. The creeper can’t stand on its own; it needs
the support or prop of the tree. Similarly, in tradition-bound cultures and societies
such as an Indian household, the woman is dependent on her husband and father for
all her needs.
Hence, Parvati is likened to a creeper, and her husband, Lord Shiva, to a tree.]
eksjsgq¡ eu vl vko fefyfg c# ckmjA
yf[k ukjn ukjnh mefg lq[k Hkk mjAA17AA
lqfu lges ifj ikb dgr Hk, naifrA
fxfjtfg yxs gekj ftouq lq[k laifrAA18AA
mōrēhum̐ mana asa āva milihi baru bā'ura.
lakhi nārada nāradī umahi sukha bhā ura. 17.
suni sahamē pari pā'i kahata bha'ē dampati.
girijahi lagē hamāra jivanu sukha sampati. 18.