The Story of Promila
Promila is the wife of Ravana’s oldest son, Indrajit. Promila and Indrajit rule a great kingdom and their love for each other is unmatched. One day when they were enjoying their bliss, a message comes that Rama has killed Indrajit’s brothers in the battle against Ravana. Indrajit decides that he has to go avenge his brothers, and he promises his wife he will return that very night. However, as evening draws nearer, Indrajit does not return and Promila starts to worry. She decides she cannot stay away from her love, so she gathers a small army and leads them to Lanka and Indrajit.
On the journey, she must cross Rama’s camp to get to her husband. However, Rama is willing to allow her to pass through safely. He admired her devotion to her husband. As Promila went, Rama’s army looked to her with respect. She was able to pass safely through and reunite herself with her husband. The next morning, after Promila helped him dress for battle, Indrajit went to go pray. As he was praying, Lakshmana came out behind the altar ready to fight Indrajit. Indrajit confused Lakshmana as a god but then realized who he was and that Lakshmana was being accompanied by Ravana’s brother, Bibhisan. Indrajit calls Bibhisan a traitor saying that the anger of Ravana will follow him forever. Lakshmana takes his opportunity and strikes Indrajit down.
When Ravana heard about this, he could not believe that Lakshmana would kill a disarmed man. When Promila found out her love had died, her grief overtook her. At the funeral, she went up to kiss her lover and then sat next to him as flames surrounded them. Once again, they were able to be together.
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The Story of Shakuntala
Once there was a sage named Bishwamitra who lived in the forest. All the men feared him so they convinced the fairy Menaka to become mortal and seduce him to distract him from his duties. They met and instantly fell in love. Later on, Menaka gave birth to a little baby girl. The sage was horrified and retreated into the forest by himself to cleanse his soul. Menaka decided to leave the baby near a tree and retreated to heaven saying that if the girl grew to womanhood, they would surely meet again.
Here the baby was found by two birds who raised the child. Later, a holy man found her and took her to his sister. Here she grew up in the virgin forest surrounded by great companions. One day, as she was in the forest with her two friends, she spoke of the great Dushmanta Maharaj. As they were speaking the topic of their conversation showed up!
Dushmanta was captivated by Shakuntala’s beauty and could not look away from her. They quickly get married and live in the forest together for months. However, Dushmanta has to return to his kingdom. He told his wife to wait for him to call her. He gave her a ring to keep to remember him by, but many more months went on but the king never called for her. Shakuntala decides to go to him. However, whenever they arrive, Dushmanta has no recollection of marrying anyone in the forest. She cannot prove it with the ring either because it has disappeared! There was a giant earthquake knocking the crown off Dushmanta’s head. This caused everyone to say that the gods were angry with the king. Shakuntala and her companions left the palace disheartened.
Later that night, Dushmanta could not forget the face of the beautiful woman that claimed to be his wife. As he looked at the ring that the King always wore, Durbasa’s curse lifted off of him and he remembered his dear Shakuntala. However, it was too late. After a few years passed, he finally found a hint of where his love might be. When he went to investigate, he saw a little boy with dark hair and a face like his Shakuntala. This had to be his!
The little boy took Dushmanta to Shakuntala and the two returned to the palace as husband and wife. When the boy, Bharat, was old enough, Dushmanta placed him on the throne so that he and Shakuntala could retreat to the forest. The couple happily spent the rest of their days leading a simple life.
Bibliography: Nine Ideal Indian Women by Sunity Devee
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