The Bridegroom for Leela
A Humble Beginning
A poor couple had no child, so they adopted an orphan girl who grew up to be a beautiful maiden. She was named Leela.
Ravi the Farmer
In a neighboring village lived a young man named Ravi. He was an able-bodied farmer who possessed an acre of land that he had transformed into a flourishing orchard. Ravi was prospering well.
The Father’s Suggestion
One day, Leela’s father told her, “There is a young farmer named Ravi who would make a fine husband for you.”
““A mere farmer? Don’t I deserve anything better, father?” grumbled Leela.
“But Ravi is such a nice choice! I do not know a better young man than him!” her father replied.
“My friends say I deserve the hand of a king or a general,” said Leela.
“That may be a compliment to your beauty, which I fully acknowledge. However, I must remind you that marrying a king or a general does not guarantee happiness. Besides, being a poor man, I cannot find a king or a general for you,” her father explained.
Leela’s Ambition
Leela was not satisfied with her father’s explanation; she had grown quite ambitious. Often, she was heard making inquiries with her friends about the possibility of marrying a wealthy or influential young man. Unfortunately, her friends were not much help.
An Unexpected Encounter
On a summer noon, while the village streets were quiet, Leela sat alone on the veranda of her house, brooding over her future. Suddenly, she heard the sound of galloping horses. She went out into the street to see what was happening. A captain of the king’s army was on urgent business, accompanied by some soldiers.
The captain pulled the reins and stopped his horse upon seeing the maiden. He mentioned that he was thirsty, and at his request, Leela fetched him a mug of water. After learning that she was unmarried, the captain proposed, “Why not marry me?”
“Why not, if my father agrees?” said Leela. “I wanted to marry a king or a general, but a captain will do!”
Seeking Approval
The captain met Leela’s father and expressed his desire to take Leela with him. The father discovered that Leela was quite eager to go. “You may take her away if you promise to marry her,” the father said. The captain agreed and made Leela sit behind him as they galloped off.
However, on their way, they encountered the king’s general. Under the pressing circumstances, a captain was not expected to carry a maiden with him, a discovery that could cost him his position. The captain, aware of the general’s stern demeanor, dismounted and bowed, saying, “This maiden desired to marry a king or a general. That is why I thought it wise to bring her to your notice.”
“Hmm,” the general murmured gravely as he assessed the girl. “I don’t mind marrying her. Put her on my horse.”
The King’s Arrival
Leela was transferred from the captain’s horse to the general’s. But they hadn’t gone far when they encountered the king unexpectedly.
“Who is this maiden, general?” the king asked. Leela was delighted to see him. She hopped down, greeted him, and the general nervously stuttered, “My lord, she desired to marry a king. I thought it best to bring her to your presence.”
The king replied, “Thank you. Let her come with us. We will see what can be done about her desire.” A palanquin with four bearers was summoned from a nearby village. Leela sat in the palanquin and followed the king’s party.
A Change of Heart
The king was en route to inspect an old, dilapidated temple that he wanted to repair. Upon arriving at the deserted temple, the king entered and saw a large stone image within, long neglected in worship. After the king’s servants cleaned the statue, he stood before it with folded hands for a moment.
Leela then realized that although the general was greater than the captain, and the king was greater than the general, the image was greater than the king. She decided she would no longer follow the king, but would instead marry the deity and remain in the temple.
As the king prepared to leave for his palace, Leela said, “Kindly allow me to stay here. I have decided to consider the deity my husband and lord!”
The king was moved by Leela’s words. He perceived her as a genuine devotee and replied, “If you wish to dedicate yourself to the deity, I have no right to claim you as my bride. Do as you wish. I will send maidservants to attend to you and provisions for your comfort.”
A Surprising Revelation
Once the king’s party departed, the temple was once again deserted. While Leela remained in the temple, a dog entered, having grown accustomed to visiting the abandoned space. To her surprise, the dog climbed atop the deity’s head and settled down comfortably.
“This dog seems to be greater than the deity!” Leela thought to herself, and when the dog eventually left, she decided to follow it.
The dog glanced back at her, and she said, “I recognize your greatness. I would have married you if you were a human being.”
Finding True Love
As evening fell, the dog returned to its master’s house. “Where have you been, you wretched creature?” shouted the young master, giving his pet a soft kick. The dog licked its master’s feet in submission.
“Here is an even greater being,” Leela said to herself. She approached the young man and asked, “Will you kindly accept me as your wife?”
The young man looked astonished for a moment, then replied warmly, “I have already given my word to your father, haven’t I, Leela? What doubt is there that I will be glad to marry you?”
Realizing he was Ravi, the farmer, Leela felt happiness as they soon married—bringing joy to Leela’s father, immense happiness to Ravi, and the greatest joy to Leela, for she discovered that Ravi was greater than the king!