Dance competition of Rambha - Urvasi in Devendra’s Assembly

Vinoda Ranjitha idol said, “Oh Bhoja Raja. Follow the story with care and clear mind.”


She continued…


Days were passing like that. In such time … one day… at Devendra’s [Devendra is heaven’s king] assembly.


Among the divine dancers in AmaraVathi [city of deities] like Rambha, Urvasi, Menaka, Thilothama, Ghrathachi etc, a dispute had raised. Rambha and Urvasi felt competitive with each other in the talent of dancing. They were challenging each other, as ‘I’m the best’. It reached up to Devendra. He thought that it was not advisable to quarrel the divine persons who live together at AmaraVathi. He had called on both and said, “Oh Rambha and Urvasi! Why are you quarrelling with each other? What makes if one of you is greater or lesser than the other? What is the benefit of it? Hence I advise you to leave your quarrel and be peaceful.”


Rambha and Urvasi put namaskar [greeted him] and said, “Oh Devendra! You are the king of deities. Untalented people can live without proving themselves. We can’t live like that. Depend up on our skills only we will be eligible to get regards in public. The king should not treat skilled and unskilled as equivalents. If a king treats the people according to their eligibility, he will be known as righteous king, otherwise it will be immoral.”


Devendra recognized the truth in those words … He ordered them as “Okay! If you want to be competitive with each other, come to the court i.e. Sabha with suitable appearance i.e. get up. Perform dance in the assembly. The courtiers can decide who will be the best dancer in between you.”


On the prescribed day, in the assembly, Rambha and Urvasi had performed their dance in beautiful and many styles. Both were beautiful. Both had made up their appearance with beautiful dress and ornaments. Both had danced in marvelous way. Devendra was not able to decide who the best was. He asked his courtiers to decide. Nobody could. He asked the saints “Oh saints! You had seen the dance of Rambha and Urvasi. Please decide who the best is.” The saints also were helpless to justify. They kept silence.


At that time, Narada Maharishi [He is the son of God Brahma] got up in the assembly and said, “Oh Devendra! It is not correct to say, as we like to decide who the best in between Rambha and Urvasi is. It is useless to say like that. That’s why only our elders used to tell to do not go to the courts or assemblies. Because if a person in any assembly says something without knowing, say something with knowing or keep silence by knowing the faults, it will be notorious in the world. To decide anything in any assembly as acceptable by all is a tough task. Hence, to decide who the best in between Rambha and Urvasi is will be a difficult issue. How to decide it? To solve this, there is a man on the earth who knows these arts. He is famous as Vikramadithya. He is great worrier and adventurous. He has his brother Bhatti, very wise man as his Prime Minister. They are liberal and peaceful. They are other forms of knowledge, kindness, helping nature, dare and adventurous. They learnt 64 art forms. They know ‘Manu Smruthi’. [It was the ancient constitution of Indians] you invite such Vikramadithya to know the victory and defeat in between Rambha and Urvasi. It not, though it takes long time, nobody can absorb the art of Rambha and Urvasi to decide who the best in between them is.”


By hearing this, Devendra was happy. He felt wonder. He thought “Oh God! Is there such person on the earth? It not, how this great saint Narada Maharishi will tell? It is
good to watch such great person.”


He had called on his chariot driver, Mathali and ordered him “Oh Mathali! You go to Ujjain city on the earth. Visit Vikramadithya, the great king of that country. You inform him about my invitation and bring him here.”


Mathali got shocked. He thought “What! In this heaven, the deities and Satwa Guna people are there. To this heaven, have I to bring Rajo Guna people like kings on the earth? Is Devendra getting mad?”


He didn’t respond to Devendra. He feared to express his dislike. He thought, “If I say this to Devendra, it may be wrong.” Mathali kept silence and watching the earth from heaven.


Narada Maharishi, being the son of God Brahma sensed the thoughts of Mathali. He said, “Mathali! I know your doubts. But you should not doubt Vikramadithya, the king of Ujjain. He is equivalent to the deities. Hence, you go fast and bring him here.”


Then Mathali felt fear that the saint might curse him if he delays the work further. He had decorated the chariot of Devendra and he travelled to earth through sky. He reached Ujjain by night sixteen Ghadious. [It was the ancient measure of time of Indians] He kept the chariot near Goddess Maham Kali temple. He approached the king’s palace. He met the king Vikramadithya and said, “Oh! Rajendra! [The best in the kings] Devendra had wanted to see you. Hence, he sent me with chariot to take you to heaven. What do you say?”


Vikramadithya consulted Bhatti. Bhatti said, “Oh King! This is special and good. Your fame might reach up to heaven. Otherwise, why Devendra would call you? You please go there immediately. There is nothing to worry!”


Vikramadithya decorated himself with rich dress and ornaments. He had gone to the temple of Goddess Kali Devi. He prayed her as “Oh Devi! Oh, Mother! You are protecting me and all the world. I’m your son. I’m your devote. Look me with kind. Protect me with affection.”


Goddess Kalika Devi appeared to him. She said, “Oh Child! Vikramadithya. You go to heaven. You will have faith and fame. Everybody will be happy, in the heaven and earth.” She had given Vibhuthi [A powder that Indians wear on their forehead as the mark of devotion as per their tradition] and lemon fruit.


Vikramadithya obediently took them and came to the chariot. Because it was the divine chariot, Vikramadithya had turned round the chariot thrice and put namaskar to it obediently. Then he kept his right leg in the chariot. Before he lift left leg from the earth, Mathali had driven the chariot with high speed.


But the king Vikramadithya didn’t fear. He pressed his left toe to the earth and stood strongly. Wonderful! The chariot didn’t move. Mathali surprised and thought, “What is this? Why the chariot is not moving? How surprising is this? What is the reason?”


Then he observed king Vikramadithya’s effort. He felt fear and wonder. He thought, “What Narada Maharishi said is true. I thought that it might be false. But now I’m watching this miracle. No human being can do this. This Vikramadithya might be equivalent to deities.”


Immediately he got down from the chariot and stood before Vikramadithya. He put namaskar to the king and said, “Oh king, the best among all! Please forgive me for my mistake.” Mathali felt shy and guilty. He said the above words obediently. His face was pity. But the king Vikramadithya smiled gently at him.


Mathali had taken him to AmaraVathi and served him with respect. He had taken Vikramadithya to the court of Devendra.


Vikramadithya put namaskar [greeted] to Devendra. Devendra was pleased by watching Vikramadithya. He thought, “Narada Maharishi told the truth. His glory is equivalent to that of deities.”


Devendra received Vikramadithya with honor and well treated him as a guest. Vikramadithya sat on his seat. Devendra said, “Oh Vikramadithya Maharaja! Is your kingdom with evergreen crops and wealth? Do your people respect you and behave with obedience? Are you protecting the people by giving all their requirements according to the practicality? Do your people like your employees and officials?”


Vikramadithya replied “Devendra! With your kindness, all is good and prosperous in my kingdom.” Devendra had provided a guesthouse to him. Kamadhenuvu [the divine cow that can give whatever we wish] had given all needful things to Vikramadithya including food. Vikramadithya was there in heaven for 15 days. He was engaged in discussions with deities and attending the court of Devendra twice in a day. One day in the assembly of Devendra, Rambha and Urvasi were dancing. They were beautiful with nice dress and ornaments. Devendra said, “Oh Vikramadithya Maharaja! You have to decide who the best in between these two dancers Rambha and Urvasi is.”


Vikramadithya said, “Tomorrow I’ll decide. Let them stop for today.”


Next day, Vikramadithya secretly fetched so many different and beautiful flowers. To test the talent of the dancers, he had made two flower garlands. He kept some poisonous worms and creatures inside the garlands carefully in such a way others cannot notice them. Secretly he brought them to the assembly.


The dance competition was about to start. Vikramadithya called on Rabha and Urvasi and said, “If you dance with empty hands, it won’t be attractive. Hence, you take these garlands in your hands and dance.” He had given the garlands to them. They started dancing.


While dancing, Rambha had held her flower garland with stress. Hence, the hidden poisonous worms, creatures got disturbed and they disturbed her. By the way, her dance also got disturbed. The flowers in her garland got tore off to some extent.


Where as, Urvasi had held her flower garland without stress. Hence, the hidden poisonous warms and creatures didn’t get disturbance. So that she didn’t disturb by them. Her performance was also perfect. The flowers in her garland were fresh as it was given to her.


After the performance, Devendra asked him “Oh great adventurous man! Who win the competition? You decided whom as the best dancer?”


Vikramadithya said, “Devendra. Urvasi is the winner.”


Devendra said, “How do you decide like that?” Vikramadithya called Rambha and Urvasi and said, “Where are the garlands that I have given to you?”


Urvasi immediately had handed over her flower garland. The flowers in that garland were fresh. Rambha had thrown away the garland because of irritation due to the poisonous worms and creatures. She had picked it up and handed over it to the king Vikramadithya. The flowers in that garland were torn off and the garland was spoiled.


Vikramadithya said, “Devendra! You had seen the difference in between them. Rambha had thrown away the garland. Urvasi had danced by holding the garland. I had given the garlands to both of them. Might be the garland became weight to Rambha.”


By saying like this, Vikramadithya had opened the both the garlands. The poisonous worms and creatures had came out. He said, “Oh, the king of clouds. [Devendra!] Urvasi had held this garland freely, without stress; hence, these creatures didn’t hurt her. Rambha had held the garland with stress, so that the creatures had hurt her. That’s why she had thrown it away. Urvasi was confident on her talent. She didn’t bother about the victory. That’s why she is peaceful and with free mind. Hence, she had held the garland freely. Rambha worried about the victory. Hence, she spoilt her dance. She was with tense while dancing. Hence, she had held the garland with tight hands so that she got hurt by the poisonous creatures. This is the difference in their talent. Hence, I said Rambha defeated and Urvasi won the competition.”


[In fact, this is the extract of Sri Bhagavad Geetha. People should think about their work only, but not about the result. You are eligible to do work. But you have no authority on its result. You should not perform works with the desire on its result. On the other hand, you should not drop the work to do [Ref. 2-47].


By hearing Vikramadithya’s decision, the members in that assembly including deities, divine people, and saints were happy. They praised Vikramadithya’s wisdom and sensitive thinking. Devendra had awarded Urvasi. Rambha also got well treat and rewards from Devendra.


Devendra said, “Vikramadithya. You have to stay here as our guest for 4 more days. I wish to gift you with a great thing.”


Vikramadithya puzzled about it. But out of curiosity even, he didn’t ask Devendra what it was. He was balanced and not eager towards anything. While send off, Devendra presented this golden throne with 32 steps. On each step, there are 32 golden idols like beautiful girls. God Shiva gifted this throne to Devendra on the occasion of coronation. Devendra said, “Oh! Vikramadithya! Bhupathi! [Raja i.e. king] You rule the country for 1000 years by sitting on this golden throne. It is my boon. God bless you.”


Vikramadithya had expressed his thankfulness to him and took send off. Devendra ordered Mathali to drop him at Ujjain. Mathali with regards and respect, brought Vikramadithya along with the golden throne on his chariot and left them at Ujjain.


Vikramadithya visited Goddess Kali temple and performed pooja [Devotion]. Later he had gone to his palace to relax. Bhatti came to him. Vikramadithya ordered him “Oh Bhatti! Devendra had gifted me with a golden throne. It is at the temple of our Goddess Kali Devi. Send servants to bring it. Keep it at our court.”


Bhatti arranged so. He informed the same to the king. He said, “Oh Rajendra. [The best among kings] You please tell us what happened since you had reached heaven till now.” Vikramadithya narrated everything in detail. He said, “My dear brother, Bhatti! This throne was given to Devendra by God Sankara. Because Devendra pleased with me, he had gifted it to me. He had given boon to me to rule the country for 1000 years by sitting on this throne. He sent this with me through Mathali’s chariot. This is all happened.”


Bhatti said, “Oh Brother! You got the boon to live 1000 years. Did you get any boon to me, as your dear brother?” Vikramadithya said, “Brother! I had forgotten to ask.” Bhatti said, “Yes. It is natural to forget earthen things and issues in the heaven. Okay! Leave it off. Why should we cry towards passed issues? If we cry, what will be the benefit?”


By saying like that, Bhatti left to his palace. He had dinner with delicious dishes and lay on the bed, which made with the feathers of swans. But he was not able to sleep. He thought, “I also have the wish to live 2000 years. How it is possible? Vikramadithya got boons from Devendra. Why don’t I get boons from Bhadra Kali, the Goddess of our race? Yes! That is the right work to do.” He thought like this and left to the temple of Maham Kali, by wearing his ornaments and weapons at the time of 10 ghadiyas at night