Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2062

c9.2062

After bidding adieu to Yajñaśarman, who proved his devotion to his father as above, Śivaśarman called his second son Vedaśarman to him and told him thus: "I find it difficult to get on without a woman. Look, there is a beautiful woman there endowed with all qualifications. (And he created such a woman by illusion). You go and fetch her to me." Vedaśarman, after saluting his father went to the woman and requested her to become the wife of his father. But, the woman did not want to become the wife of an old man, and she told Vedaśarman that she would love him, and not his father, to have as her husband. He shuddered to be told thus, and by the power of his tapas he got down Indra and other Devas on earth and showed them to her. She then told him in indifferent tone the following: "Yes, I have seen the prowess of your tapas. But, I have nothing to do with Devas. If you want me as wife for your father, please cut off your head with your own hands for my pleasure." Vedaśarman drew his sword and very happily cut off his head and presented it to the woman. She came to Śivaśarman and requested him to accept his son's head, which he (son) had voluntarily cut off for the sake of his father.