Skandapurana 2.1.7

Now, the account of Śrīnivāsa related by Bakulamālikā to Queen Dharaṇī:

Dharaṇī said:

“Ah, who is this excellent lady? Where did she meet you?

And for what purpose has she come here? She appears venerable to me.”

The maidens said:

“This divine woman, a noble lady, has come on a matter concerning you.

She met us in the temple in the presence of Śiva.

When asked, she said, ‘I have indeed come only to see your ladyship.

Can the queen be seen by me easily in the royal palace?’

Having been questioned thus, we then said, ‘Please come with us.

We, the maidservants of Dharaṇī, are going to the king's palace.’

Addressed thus by us, she has come into your presence, O Dharaṇī.

Let her be asked by you: ‘Why is this arrival of yours?’”

Glorious Varāha said:

Having heard their words, Dharaṇī asked her:

Dharaṇī said:

“Whence have you come, O lady, or what business do you have with me?

Speak the truth; I shall accomplish the purpose of your coming.”

Bakulamālikā said:

“I have come from Mount Veṅkaṭa, Bakulamālikā by name.

Our master, Nārāyaṇa, dwells on glorious Mount Veṅkaṭa.

Once, having mounted a horse as white as a swan and swift as thought,

he went out from near Mount Veṅkaṭa for the royal sport of hunting,

wandering through forests at a beautiful time, during spring,

beholding deer, elephants, lions, forest oxen, śarabhas, ruru deer,

parrots, pigeons, swans, and other winged birds in the forest interior.

There, a lord of elephants, the leader of a herd shedding rutting juice,

lofty and accompanied by a female elephant—[that] the foremost of gods pursued.

Now, the performance of austerity by King Śaṅkha at Svāmitīrtha according to Śrīnivāsa's instruction:

Going from one forest to another, he approached King Śaṅkha,

who was performing austerity on the great mountain, having established Janārdana

accompanied by Śrī and Bhūmi, and was constantly worshipping him with devotion.

[There was] an excellent, purifying lake named Śaṅkhanāgabila. 14

Having reached the shore of that lake and dismounted from his horse,

assuming the appearance of a king, he asked that best of kings: 15

“O best of kings, what are you doing at the foot of this mountain of Śeṣa?” 16

Śaṅkha said:

“I am from the Haihaya country, the son of King Śveta.

Here I performed all sacrificial rites to please Mahāviṣṇu. 17

Despairing because I had not obtained the darśana of Mahāviṣṇu, O prince,

at that time a heavenly voice destroying all distress spoke: 18

‘O king, I shall not appear visibly before your eyes here; listen to my word:

Go to Nārāyaṇādri and perform tapas!’—thus [it spoke] clearly to me. 19

Then, having left my country, I worship with tapas,

having installed here, O king, the Lord, the husband of Śrī, beyond thought. 20

By the grace of Agastya, I constantly worship [him] according to the ritual rules.”

Having heard his words, the Lord said to him sarcastically: 21

“Go to Nārāyaṇādri! Why do you sit at its foot?

Climbing up by this path, [go to] the one who resides on the western peak. 22

Having bowed to the young Viṣvaksena at the root of the banyan tree,

and having gone to the Svāmipuṣkariṇī, having bathed on the western bank, 23

you will see an aśvattha tree and an ant-hill there, O prince.

Going between the two, perform tapas!”—thus he instructed [him]. 24

“A certain white boar indeed roams near this ant-hill;

he grants darśana only to the meritorious, O king.” 25

Śrīvarāha said:

Having instructed thus, the Lord, mounted on his horse, went to hunt.

Roaming from forest to forest, the handsome-browed [Lord] reached the Araṇī river. 26

Dismounting from his horse, he strolled there on the auspicious bank.

A wind coming from within the forest, cooled by lotuses and white water lilies,

removing fatigue, gently served Puruṣottama. 27

The trees served [him], scattering showers of flowers.

Thus roaming about, the god, [seeing] trees bent by the weight of flowers, 28

searching for that royal elephant, saw flower-gathering maidens,

well-adorned, radiant young women, like lightnings among clouds. 29

Among them, he saw a slender, exceedingly charming woman,

equal to Lakṣmī, golden-hued; his mind became attached to her. 30

Longing for her, the man said to those maidens: “Who is this?”

He was told by them: “This is the daughter of King Viyat, O mighty one.” 31

Hearing this word of theirs, mounting his horse swiftly,

the Lord quickly returned to his abode on the beautiful mountain. 32

Having reached his abode there on the bank of the Svāmipuṣkariṇī,

the god summoned me and said: “O Bakulamālikā,

having gone to the city of King Viyat and entered the inner apartments, friend,

approach his wife Dharaṇī, inquire after her welfare, 34

and ask for her lovely daughter, Kamalālayā.

Ascertain the king's intention and return quickly, O fair lady!” 35

[Bakulamālikā said:] “Thus commanded by the deity, O queen, I have come to your house.

Do what is proper here, together with the king and the minister! 36

Then, through the words of Bakulamālikā, the determination of the marriage by Dharaṇī and others [is told]:

Having deliberated with the maiden, let an answering word be spoken!” 37

Śrīvarāha said:

Then, having heard her words, the queen was delighted.

Summoning King Ākāśa and approaching Kamalālayā, 38

the queen related the words of Bakulasraj in the presence of the ministers. Having heard [them], the delighted king said to the ministers and the family priests: 39

King Ākāśa said:

“This maiden not born from a womb, divine and fortunate Kamalālayā,

has been sought [in marriage] by the god of gods who dwells on Mount Veṅkaṭa. 40

My wish is fulfilled today! Speak, what is your opinion?”

Hearing the excellent words of the king, all the ministers, 41

their minds well-pleased, spoke to King Viyat, the lord of the earth:

“We have achieved our purpose, O best of kings! The lineage will become the most exalted of all! 42”

This peerless daughter of yours will delight [in union] with Śrī.

Let her be given to the God of gods, the wielder of the Śārṅga bow, the Supreme Self.

This is the auspicious spring; let the auspicious [event] be arranged swiftly.

Now the fixing of the wedding lagna according to Bṛhaspati's counsel.

Having summoned Dhiṣaṇa, let the lagna be fixed for the marriage.

Saying 'So be it,' he summoned Bṛhaspati from the world of the gods.

The ruler of men inquired for the sake of the marriage of the bride and bridegroom.

The king said:

The birth constellation of the maiden is known to be Mṛgaśīrṣa;

The constellation of the god is Śravaṇa. Let their union be considered.

Hearing this, that Dhiṣaṇa said: 'For the two of them, Uttaraphalgunī

is approved for the increase of happiness, as stated by astrologers.

Let their marriage be performed under Uttaraphalgunī;

let it be duly performed in the month of Vaiśākha,' thus he said.

The venerable Varāha said:

Then the king, having worshipped Dhiṣaṇa there and dismissed him,

said to the female messenger of the god: 'Go to the abode of the god, O auspicious lady.

Announce the wedding to the God of gods in Vaiśākha, O woman of virtuous vows,

and return having made the wedding arrangements.'

Then, having sent forth the parrot, the messenger pleasing to the goddess, along with her,

he dispatched Vāyu, his own son, to fetch Indra and the others.

Now the sequence of decorating the city and other tasks performed by Viśvakarman and others.

Having summoned Viśvakarman, he assigned him to the work of decorating the city;

and he accomplished it in the space of a twinkling of an eye.

Indra sent down a shower of flowers, and the troops of apsarases danced.

The Giver of Wealth filled that residence with wealth, grain, and the like.

Yama made the men on earth free from disease;

Varuṇa filled [it] with heaps of jewels, pearls, and other treasures.

Having thus accomplished everything, the gods went to Vṛṣācala.

Now Bakulā's journey to the presence of Śrīnivāsa along with the parrot.

The venerable Varāha said:

Then, mounting a horse, she departed along with the parrot.

Reaching Mount Śrīveṅkaṭa, near the temple of the god,

she dismounted from the horse and went inside with the parrot.

Beholding the beautiful-eyed god on a bejeweled seat along with Śrī,

she bowed down and said with joy: 'The task there has been accomplished, O Lord.

Indeed, this parrot has arrived to speak the auspicious news.'

Now the news of Padmāvatī's marriage announced to Śrīnivāsa by the parrot.

Commanded by the god, 'Speak,' the parrot bowed down and addressed him.

The parrot said:

The daughter of the Earth says to you: 'Accept me, O Mādhava!

I speak your names; I ever remember your form;

your marks are borne on my arms and other limbs, O Lord of Ramā!

Here I worship your devotees who are endowed with the five sacraments;

indeed, I perform all actions for your pleasure, O Madhusūdana!

Upon me who ever act thus with the consent of my parents,

bestow your grace, O Lord of gods; accept me, O Mādhava!'

Thus the daughter of the Earth residing on the lotus made her entreaty.

Hearing the words of the parrot, which were exceedingly dear to him, Hari—

Now Padmāvatī's wearing of the garland from Śrīnivāsa brought by the parrot.

The Blessed Lord said:

'I shall come with the immortals to celebrate the auspicious wedding.

O parrot, go and tell her thus: "The god has spoken in this manner."'

Hearing the words of the god and taking the woodland garland

given by the god, the parrot quickly departed toward the daughter of King Viyat.

Having delivered the garland of tulasī fragrant with musk,

and having bowed down, the parrot spoke the auspicious words of the god to the goddess.

Hearing that, the Earth-born maiden took the garland and placed it upon her head.

Longing for the arrival of the god, she adorned herself suitably.

King Viyat too, full of joy, respectfully summoned the Moon...

"Let food of various kinds, possessing [all] flavours, be prepared, O King!

Let supreme food, worthy of being an offering to Viṣṇu, be prepared,

Approved by gods, by seers, and even by men,

Of four kinds, rich in sweet scents, with portions of nectar, O moon!"

Having thus made the arrangements, awaiting the arrival of the Lord,

The king sat in the assembly hall together with his ministers, delighted in mind.

Having adorned his daughter, the king [sat] together with Dharaṇī.

Thus ends the seventh chapter, titled "The Description of the News of Śrīnivāsa Related by Bakulamālikā to Queen Dharaṇī, the Marriage Rituals of Kamalālayā, and Other Events," in the dialogue between Dharaṇī and Varāha, in the glorification of Śrī Veṅkaṭācala, in the second Vaiṣṇava Section of the glorious Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.