Srivatsa united with Chinta

Hearing Krishna talk about the troubles of Srivatsa, the Pandavas and Draupadi asked happened to Chinta.
Krishna said Listen patiently, while I tell you more.

Srivatsa was not happy living on food provided by the king. Bhadra consoled him, saying things would improve. Having heard from his whole story, Bhadra said you have suffered a lot and soon happy days will come and you will regain your kingdom.

Thus twelve years passed and effects of Shani's eveil eye also started diminishing.

One day Srivatsa said he wanted to do something and asked Bhadra if it was possible for her father to arrange for some work for her, near the river bank, where they lived.

Bhadra spoke to her mother, who then spoke to the king. Srivatsa was given work. He would sit at the river bank and would inspect all the passing boats of the merchants and would then release them.

One day the merchant who had captured Chinta, came there. Srivatsa recognized the boat and asked them to stop. He asked his men to inspect the boat and unload the wealth that was in the boat. In that, were the golden slippers that Srivatsa had made. Srivatsa asked the slippers to be taken off the boat.

The merchant went to the king and complained that all his wealth had been looted by his son in law.

The king came asked Srivatsa why he had taken the wealth of the merchant away. Srivatsa said the merchant had stolen the wealth. If he could separate the slippers into two, then he would return the wealth back.

The merchant tried to break them but was unable to do so.

Srivatsa said he would separate them as he had made them. He then requested help from Taala and Betala. They came in a split second the slippers were in two pieces.

The king, surprised, asked Srivatsa who he really was.

Srivatsa said I may look unhealthy and poor but I do not belong to a low caste. I am Srivatsa. Saying this, Srivatsa, told the king all that happened to him.

Srivatsa also said that his wife, Chinta, had been abducted by this merchant and was prisoner there, and should be released.

Bahudeva bowed down before Srivatsa. He said It is my daughter's good luck that she has got you as her husband. He then went to the boat where he saw Chinta, sitting there. He took her to Srivatsa, who asked her, what had happened to her beauty.

Chinta said when she had been captured by the merchant, she had asked the Sun God to take her beauty away. She then prayed to the Sun God to restore her original self.

Srivatsa was pleased to have Chinta and Bhadra with him. 

Srivatsa weds Bhadra

Srivatsa spent his days, making garlands and worshiping Narayana with fruits, flowers and water. Not disclosing his true identity, he thus lived in the garden.

One day when the king Bahudeva was sitting for his meal, his daughter Bhadra came to him. The king, who was engrossed in his meal, did not notice who had come. Thinking it to be his wife, he touched her wrongly.

Shocked, the princess ran to her mother and told her about this. The queen came and shouted at the king for performing a sinful crime. She said while he should be looking for a suitable groom for the daughter, he was on the contrary performing heinous acts.

The king then said - You are accusing me of something that I did not do. You never told me it was time to look for a groom for her. Narayana knows my mind is clean. I will arrange for a swayamvar for my daughter today.

Saying this, the king went to call his ministers. He said he was thinking of arranging a swayamvar, where his daughter would choose her own husband.

Invitations were sent out all over to invite people for the ceremony. Kings and princes from many lands arrived there. All were welcomes and taken care of.

Hearing about this, from the gardener's wife. Srivatsa wanted to see the ceremony. He went there, and instead of entering the ceremony hall, he went sat under a Kadamba tree.

The princess came bearing a plate made of sandal wood, on which was the garland with which she would wed her chosen suitor.

When she was looking around, she heard a voice say to her, that her husband was sitting under a Kadamba tree. She went there and saw Srivatsa. She went around him and placed the garland at his feet, choosing him as her husband.

Seeing this, the invited kings and princes said that Bahudeva had made a joke out of them. Some said this was destiny. All the invited guests left.

The king went inside and spoke to his queen. He said this was what the Gods had written for her. He was feeling ashamed to have a poor gardener as his son in law. The queen said this was what the Gods had written. No amount of worry or grief would remove what had happened.

The king then asked his ministers to erect a house outside for Bhadra, where she could live with her chosen husband. The king said he did not want to see the face of his daughter any more, as she had chosen a husband whose caste was unknown.

When the house was built, the queen went and helped Bhadra settle down in the house with Srivatsa. She told her not worry. It was a matter of time, before she would be happy again. 

Princess Bhadra

Days passed for the king in the garden. He helped in cooking and making garlands.

Listen, Yudhistira, that how things happen for good. In that land was a king called Bahudeva. He had a beautiful daughter called Bhadra.

Bhadra  prayed to Shiva and Parvati. Pleased Parvati  appeared before her, and  asked her to ask for a boon.

Bhadra wished to be the wife of the great king Srivatsa. Parvati  said that would happen. Parvati also told Bhadra that Srivatsa was there in the house of the gardener's wife.