Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.991

c4.991

Accepting this challenge Aṣṭāvakra went north. When he went to the Himālayas Kubera entertained him. He remained there for a year enjoying the dances of celestial maidens and then, after worshipping Śiva and Pārvatī went further north. There he came across seven very attractive women. At the command of Aṣṭāvakra the eldest of the lot, Uttarā, remained with him; all the rest left the place immediately she started making love with him and requested him to marry her. But Aṣṭāvakra did not yield and told her about his promise to Vadānya. Pleased at this reply Uttarā revealed that she was the queen of the north in disguise and was testing him. She then blessed Aṣṭāvakra who fulfilling his mission successfully, returned and married the girl he wanted. (Chapter 19, Anuśāsana Parva, M.B.).