The Three Suitors & The Sanjeevani Resurrection

With unbreakable resolve, Emperor Vikramaditya returned to the pitch-black cemetery, climbed the blackened Shinshapa tree, and hauled the spectral corpse onto his back. Betal chuckled: 'Listen, O King! To lighten the burden of your midnight trek, hear this profound tale of love, devotion, and resurrection!'

In the sacred town of Brahmashthala on the banks of the Yamuna lived a pious scholar named Keshava. His daughter, Mandaravati, was celebrated across kingdoms for her peerless grace, intellect, and radiant beauty.

Mandaravati's pure character and celestial beauty captivated all who beheld her. Her father searched earnestly for a suitor worthy of her divine virtues.

Three noble, scholarly Brahmin youths—Chandrakanta, Somadatta, and Hariswami—arrived simultaneously at Keshava's estate, each passionately seeking the hand of the maiden.

The first suitor, Chandrakanta, was a youth of selfless emotional devotion, dedicating his very breath to Mandaravati's happiness.

The second suitor, Somadatta, was a master of Vedic rituals and sacred vows, devoted to Dharma and holy austerities.

The third suitor, Hariswami, was a bold, intrepid seeker of hidden esoteric sciences, possessing the resolve to achieve the impossible.

The father fell into a deep dilemma. All three suitors were completely equal in lineage, physical beauty, Vedic learning, and courage! Choosing one would break the hearts of the other two.

Before a choice could be made, tragedy struck! While plucking blossoms in the twilight garden, a deadly black cobra struck Mandaravati's ankle from beneath the dense foliage!

The lethal venom coursed through her veins in heartbeats. Mandaravati collapsed lifeless onto the soft grass while maidens shrieked in horror!

Physicians and poison-healers chanted counter-spells and applied herbal antidotes, but in vain. The household was plunged into boundless wailing and grief.

The three heartbroken suitors arrived. Refusing to let her body be consumed to ash on a funeral pyre, they vowed to preserve her form with sacred herbal oils on a floral bier!

The first suitor, **Chandrakanta**, built a floral hermitage beside her bier, keeping unbroken day-and-night vigil, bathing her form in lotus perfumes.

The second suitor, **Somadatta**, donned monk's robes and set out with a holy kamandalu along the sacred Ganga, performing deep austerities and prayers across all holy tirthas.

The third suitor, **Hariswami**, journeyed into the frozen peaks of the Himalayas, scaling precipitous cliffs to seek the legendary lost occult science of *Mrita-Sanjeevani Vidya*!

After months of perilous trekking, Hariswami arrived at the cave sanctuary of an ancient immortal sage, serving the master with absolute humility and devotion.

One day, a weeping mother brought her dead son. The sage read a sacred verse from an ancient palm-leaf manuscript, sprinkled energized water, and the boy awakened alive in golden radiance!

Overjoyed, Hariswami memorized the sacred Sanjeevani verses and transcribed the mantra onto birch bark, holding it close to his chest!

Running day and night across mountain gorges and river valleys, Hariswami raced tirelessly back toward Brahmashthala.

Arriving at the hermitage, he found Chandrakanta still keeping faithful vigil, while Somadatta had just arrived carrying holy Ganga water from the sacred tirthas!

Hariswami chanted the potent Sanjeevani verses in a ringing voice while Somadatta sprinkled the consecrated Ganga water over Mandaravati's preserved body!

A supreme miracle unfolded! In a blaze of divine golden light, life-energy surged through her veins, color returned to her cheeks, and Mandaravati sat up alive, radiant, and whole!

Joyful celebrations echoed throughout the town. But immediately, a fierce dispute erupted among the three suitors as to who rightfully earned her hand!

Hariswami argued: 'My mantra gave her life!' • Somadatta claimed: 'My sacred waters purified her soul!' • Chandrakanta declared: 'Had I not guarded and preserved her body day and night, upon what would you have chanted your mantra?!'

Pausing his tale amidst the midnight mist, Betal leaned into Vikramaditya's ear with the profound question of kinship and dharma.

Emperor Vikramaditya declared: 'He who bestowed new life through mantra is her Life-Giver, hence her **Father**. He who performed sacred rites with holy tirtha water acted as a **Son**. But he who never abandoned her body, guarding and serving her form day and night in unwavering love, is her true and lawful **Husband**! Therefore, Mandaravati rightfully belongs to Chandrakanta!'

The spoken truth shattered the king's vow of silence! With a mocking cackle, Betal dissolved into smoke and soared back toward the Shinshapa tree.

Alone under the ink-black sky of the moonless night, Emperor Vikramaditya turned back into the haunted forest, fearless and determined to capture the spirit once more.