Listen, O contemplative ascetic; if a patient, distracted by his disease, asks for food that is harmful to him, the physician would not give it; even so have I resolved to do what is good to you.” So saying, the Lord vanished.

Under the spell of his illusion the sage was so mystified that he understood not Hari’s obscure speech. The chief of seers hastened to the place where the arena for the maiden’s choice-marriage had been prepared.

Richly adorned, the royal suitors had occupied their seats, each attended by his retinue. The sage was so glad at heart that he thought within himself, “My beauty is so surpassing that the princess will never commit the error of choosing anyone else for her husband.”

But in the sage’s own interest the gracious Lord had made him unspeakably hideous. Yet no one could mark the change that had taken place in him; everyone thought him to be Narada and bowed before him.

Two of Shiva’s henchmen too happened to be there. They knew the whole secret and, disguised as Brahmans, went about seeing the fun. They too were very playful creatures!

In that rank where sat Narada, exceedingly proud of his beauty, sat also the two attendants of Mahesha. In their Brahmanical attire they could not be recognized (for no one could guess who they were).

They uttered sarcastic words in Narada’s hearing; “Hari has given this man such excellent beauty that the princess will be charmed with his appearance, and will surely wed him, taking him for Hari himself.”