Table of Contents
- The Prince's Desire
- The Curtain of Illusion
- Reality Revealed
- A Happy Reunion
- Lessons Learnt
- Relevance in Today's World
- Philosophy
The Prince's Desire
Ritadhvaja went quiet. Ashvatara sensed something. The prince wanted to say something but had stopped. The king said, "O prince, do say what you want to. Do not hesitate. I will try my best to fulfil your desires. What is it that I can get for you?”
Ritadhvaja thought for a moment and slowly said, "O king, there is one thing I do desire. If, somehow, you could create my Madalasa—show her face to me—I will be very happy. I know what I am saying is not possible, and I also know that it will be an illusion, but that is my heart's desire: to see Madalasa."
Ashvatara said, "You are a dear friend of my sons. Also, you are my guest. As the host, I need to respect the guest and the guest's wishes. Please come with me."
---The Curtain of Illusion
Ashvatara, his sons, and the prince had been seated in a room. Ashvatara got up, and the princes followed him. He came near a locked door. Closing his eyes, Ashvatara uttered some mantras. He then said to Ritadhvaja, lowering his voice, "Slowly enter this room. There is no light in there. Do not be afraid. I am with you. Watch what happens when you enter the room."
They stepped in. It was pitch dark. Suddenly, a bluish light appeared in the centre of the room. The light began taking shape, and soon it was like a full-grown woman. Ashvatara said to Ritadhvaja, "See if you can recognize this woman."
Ritadhvaja could not control himself. He had recognized her and, saying, "This is my Madalasa," he rushed towards the woman. Ashvatara stopped the prince. He said, "Ritadhvaja, I understand your desire. Also, know that what you are seeing is an illusion. If you touch that, it will vanish. Do you want that to happen? Control yourself."
---Reality Revealed
Hearing this, Ritadhvaja sat down on the ground. He buried his face in his hands and began lamenting. "What did I just see? It seemed there was a curtain of illusion, and the person behind the curtain was a living person. Was I deceived? I wish I could have gone and touched her."
Ashvatara then asked the prince to get up. He said to the prince, "Listen to me. Hear what I have to say. My sons told me about you and Madalasa. That day, I made a promise that I would bring Madalasa back to you. What you felt was true. It was a curtain of illusion. The person behind the curtain is the living, breathing Madalasa who has returned to the land of the living. Take her with you. Go back home. Return to your kingdom with her."
---A Happy Reunion
Ritadhvaja took leave of the king and his friends. He thought of his horse, and immediately it appeared. He then climbed onto the horse along with Madalasa. He then asked the horse to carry them towards his father's kingdom. Ashvatara and his sons watched as Ritadhvaja, Madalasa, and the horse vanished in the sky.
The horse flew with the speed of the wind, and soon, flying over the river Karnavati, they reached the palace of Ritadhvaja's father. The prince rushed inside with Madalasa. The king, the queen, and everyone else were very pleased to see the prince so happy and, even more, a living, breathing Madalasa along with him. Ritadhvaja told everyone how Madalasa had come back from the land of the dead, by the grace of Shiva and Sarasvati. Festivities started in honour of the return of the prince and his wife.
Days passed, and Ritadhvaja and Madalasa spent many happy days in each other's company. When it was time, the old king crowned Ritadhvaja as the king, and he himself retired to the forests.
---Lessons Learnt
- Longing and Restraint: Ritadhvaja’s yearning to see Madalasa shows how deep human desire can be, yet Ashvatara teaches him the importance of restraint. Unchecked longing can destroy what little one has.
- Illusion and Reality: What first appears as a lifelike vision is, in fact, a veil. Life teaches us that appearances may deceive, and wisdom lies in distinguishing illusion from truth.
- Faith and Grace: Despite doubts, Ritadhvaja eventually receives Madalasa not through his own strength but through divine grace, reminding us that some outcomes are beyond human effort.
Relevance in Today's World
- Attachments in Relationships: Modern life is also filled with clinging—whether to people, memories, or ideals. The episode reminds us that love should not become desperate possession but should be tempered with patience.
- Virtual vs. Real: Today’s digital illusions—AI, screens, virtual personas—mirror the curtain of illusion. Just as Ritadhvaja was cautioned not to grasp at shadows, we too must discern between surface images and true presence.
- Grief and Healing: Like Ritadhvaja, many people struggle with loss. The narrative suggests that remembrance is natural, but healing requires faith that renewal is possible.
Philosophy
- Ashvatara represents wisdom and restraint, the role of a teacher who knows when to allow longing and when to check it.
- Return of Madalasa is not just a reunion but a message: love is sanctified when guided by divine will, not mere human impulse.
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