In ancient times, there was a girl named Keshini, the princess of Panchala. She was known far and wide for her beauty, wisdom, and virtue. Many sought her hand in marriage, but Keshini had her own plans. She wanted to marry a noble man from a respectable family. To her, the status of the family was most important in choosing a groom. She prioritized family prestige above all else and decided she would marry Sudhanwa, the son of Maharshi Angira.

Many princes came to propose, but she turned them all down. One day, Emperor Prahlad's son, Virochan, came to ask for her hand. Prahlad, you should know, the ardent devotee of Narasimha Bhagavan, son of Hiranyakashipu.

Keshini knew that marrying Virochan would bring many worldly benefits. Yet, she said to him, 'Prince, I have promised to marry Sudhanwa, the son of Maharshi Angira, because he belongs to a noble family. Now tell me, is a sage's family superior or a royal family?

Virochan argued that his royal lineage was superior. Keshini then invited him to come the next morning before the Swayamvara  ceremony to discuss the matter with Sudhanwa.

The next morning, both Virochan and Sudhanwa  came to Keshini's house. Virochan arrived first and asked Sudhanwa to sit beside him. Sudhanwa refused, saying that only equals could sit together. He pointed out that in Virochan's father's court, Sudhanwa  was given a higher seat and Virochan's father served him with respect.

A dispute arose, and they decided to seek judgment from an unbiased authority. Virochan objected to someone from Sudhanwa's side becoming the judge., Sudhanwa suggested they seek the judgment of Prahlad, Virochan's own father.

They went to Prahlad and explained everything, including the high stakes. Prahlad, though initially hesitant because of his love for his son, engaged in a discussion about righteousness with Sudhanwa. Sudhanwa quoted scriptures that highlighted the importance of truth and the grave consequences of false judgment. He stressed the virtues of righteousness.

Virochan, on the other hand, argued for his own royal lineage's superiority, emphasizing their power and status.

After much discussion, Prahlad faced a dilemma. He loved his son but was also bound by the principles of righteousness and justice. Considering the scriptural evidence and the moral arguments, Prahlad concluded that Sudhanwa's adherence to dharma and high values made him the rightful choice.

Prahlad declared that Sudhanwa, being the son of a great sage, was superior in wisdom and virtue to Virochan. Consequently, Sudhanwa was declared the winner.

Sudhanwa, was pleased with the fair judgment. 

Keshini’s choice to marry Sudhanwa highlighted her prioritization of virtue and noble lineage over worldly benefits. The story underscores the importance of righteousness, truth, and moral integrity in making just decisions and setting an example in society.

Prahlad, despite his paternal love for Virochan, chose to uphold dharma and truth over familial ties. This emphasizes the importance of righteousness and justice over personal biases.

Keshini valued the virtue, wisdom, and noble lineage of Sudhanwa over the worldly benefits of marrying a prince like Virochan. This teaches that true worth is found in character and wisdom rather than power and wealth.

Sudhanwa’s superior status was acknowledged due to his lineage and adherence to dharma, demonstrating the high regard for learned and virtuous individuals in society.

The story also underscores the severe consequences of falsehood and the importance of truthful judgment. Sudhanwa's arguments from the scriptures highlight that truth and integrity are paramount and that falsehood can lead to disastrous consequences for many generations.

Prahlad’s fair judgment, even against his son, sets an example of ideal leadership and justice, where decisions are made based on principles of dharma rather than personal gain.

Knowledge Bank

What happened to Sanjaya after Dhritarashtra died?

When the forest fire broke out, Dhritarashtra sent Sanjaya away. Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti died in that fire. Later, Sage Narada saw Sanjaya with some Rishis on the banks of Ganga. From there, Sanjaya went towards the Himalayas to observe tapas.

What is the difference between dharma and bhakti?

In dharma, most of the time, action is there, You have to do something. Bhakti is an attitude of complete surrender to Bhagavan and love for Bhagavan

Other languages: Hindi