Back to Sukala

Sukala amazed her friends with this story.

Soon, the story of Sukala’s devotion to her husband spread far and wide. Sukala became famous not only among humans, but among the gods as well.

Indra, the king of the gods, decided to test Sukala. He sent a messenger to Sukala. “You are wasting your time,” the messenger told Sukala. “Your husband has been away for three years. You think that he has gone to visit places of pilgrimage. But in reality, he has deserted you. Why are you wasting your youth in this fruitless waiting? Marry my master instead.”

“Who is your master?” asked Sukala. “Ask him to appear before me.”

Indra then appeared before Sukala in all his pomp and glory. He did his best to persuade Sukala to marry him. But Sukala spurned all Indra’s advances. Not only did she not marry Indra, but she gave the king of the gods a long lecture on the duties of faithful wives.


Meanwhile, Krikala had more or less finished his pilgrimage and was on his way home. Suddenly, a divine voice addressed him. “Krikala,” said the voice, “all your search for punya has been in vain. You have done this only to tickle your ego. But your ancestors will continue to rot in hell.”

“Why should that be?” asked Krikala. “Why should my visit to all the sacred tirthas be in vain?”

“That is because you did not take your wife with you,” said the voice. “A devoted wife must take part in all her husband’s endeavours. Otherwise, no punya is accumulated. A house where there is a devoted wife is superior to all the tirthas combined. Why did you leave your wife at home? Was that a proper thing to do?”

Hearing these words, Krikala hastened home. Husband and wife embraced each other with delight. And they jointly performed a religious ceremony so that Krikala’s ancestors might be rescued from hell.

Indra arrived to bless the couple. “I tried to tempt Sukala into marrying me. I was unsuccessful,” he told Krikala. “Blessed is your wife. I wish to grant the two of you a boon.”

“Please grant us the boon that we may never deviate from the righteous path,” said the couple. “Let us always be devoted to the gods and the sages.”

This boon was readily granted. The place where Sukala and Krikala lived is now a famous tirtha known as naritirtha.