Search for a bridegroom

　　In olden times， there was a hermit named Sadananda. He had his hermitage on the bank of the Ganga. He lived there along with his pupils.

　　The hermit possessed deep occult powers and could perform miracles of various types. One day， the saint was meditating in front of his hut. A flying hawk happened to pass over him. It had a small mouse in its claws. By chance， the hawk lost its grip on the mouse and it fell down in the hermit's lap.

　　The hermit opened his eyes and found a small mouse in his lap. He moved with pity for the tiny animal and changed it into a lovely baby-girl by dint of his power. Taking the girl into his arms， the hermit went to his wife Savitri and said， “Darling！ You were carving for a child. I have brought a baby-girl for you. Bring her up and discharge the duties of a mother.”

　　“Baby-girl！” said the saint's wife in joy mixed wonder. She named her Mandakini and said， “Don't worry， dear！ I shall bring her up as my own daughter.”

　　Well looked after by the hermit's wife， Mandakini began to grow up gradually. In due course， she was a charming girl of sixteen years. The hermit's wife could well see that Mandakini was now of marriageable age. So， she said to her husband， “Darling！ Our daughter has grown up. We must find a suitable match and marry her off.”

　　“Oh yes！ You have reminded me my duty well in time. I'll invoke the sun-God to come and accept the hand of our daughter.”

　　On the hermit's invocation， the Sun-God came down to the earth and said， “What can I do for you， O saint？”

　　“My charming daughter is of marriageable age. Make her your wife， sir，” requested the hermit.

　　Mandakini was standing near by at that time. Seeing the fiery face of the Sun-God， she felt frightened and said， “No， daddy！ I won't marry him. He is so hot that even hard rocks tend to melt under his heat. He will reduce me to ashes.”

　　The saint felt hurt at what his daughter had said. But what could he do when she herself was not willing to marry the Sun God？ So， he said to the God， “Could you suggest for her a suitor who is superior to you even？”

　　“Why not， sir， the cloud is certainly more powerful than I. He has the capacity to block my rays and thus diminish my light. You had better talk to him.” Saying so， the Sun God disappeared.

　　Now the hermit invoked the cloud. He descended on the earth and coming to the saint he said， “What made you remember me， your holiness？”

　　“I have an extremely charming daughter. I want to give her hand to you. Please accept her as your bride，” replied the hermit.

　　Before the cloud could give any reply， Mandakini intervened saying， “Daddy， I won't marry him. His dark body and demon-like thunder are so fearful indeed.”

　　“I think the Wind-God is the most suitable match for your charming daughter.” Saying so， the cloud flew up.

　　The hermit now invoked Wind-God and requested him to marry his daughter Mandakini. Hearing her father's words， Mandakini flew into rage and screamed， “Wait daddy！ I am not ready to have this gypsy wanderer as my husband.”

　　Feeling hurt at his daughter's uppish behaviour， the saint said to the wind-God， “Sir， I am so very ashamed of the rude behaviour of my daughter. Be kind enough to suggest a suitable match for her.” And the wind suggested the name of Mountain before going back.

　　Now the hermit invoked the Mountain and said， “Sir， you are the highest and greatest in the world. I want to give you my daughter in marriage.”

　　But Mandakini burst out hatefully， “I would never marry this stone-hearted giant， daddy. I want a kind-hearted husband even if it is tiny.”

　　“Excuse me， sir！ I troubled you for nothing，” said Saint Sadanand.

　　“Don't lose heart， O saint. There is only one creature stronger than I am and that is the Mouse， who can dig holes in me too. I think him to be the most suitable match for your charming daughter.”

　　As soon as Mandakini saw the mouse， she jumped up in the joy and said， Daddy！ He is the match I was looking for.“

　　The saint smiled and said， “It is true， my daughter， that I changed you from a mouse into a girl by dint of my occult power. But I failed to change your lot， which is destined by the Almighty. It is His will and we must bow to it.” Saying so the saint changed Mandakini into a mouse again and performed her marriage with the mouse.

　　MORAL - Children！ Change of form can not change one's lot. Fate is unchangeable. What is to be， must be.

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