In the city of Avanti, there lived a merchant named Dhana, whose wife’s name was Kamalashri. He had a daughter born to him after eight sons. She was named Bhatta. She was loved by everybody in the household, and no one ever addressed her by the belittling ‘Tu’ (you). Because of this, she took the prefix an-tu-kari (one not addressed as ‘Tu’) before her name. Her education started at the age of eight, under many teachers, some experts in arts, and others in spiritual matters.
When she stepped into her youth, the merchant started to look for a suitable groom for her. When Bhatta came to know of this, she announced that she would marry only one who would never disobey her. Otherwise, she preferred to remain a spinster. Now, this was a difficult condition, and it was by no means easy to find a man who would be so very submissive to his wife.
Bhatta was a real beauty, and reports about her spread far and wide. Many young men wanted to marry her but were discouraged by her overbearing condition. Years passed, and Bhatta’s youth was now fading out.
One day, minister Subuddhi’s eyes fell on her, and he decided to accept her hand, despite the condition; and made the proposal to her father. The merchant was happy, and Bhatta was at last settled in domestic life.
At her new home, Bhatta started as a severe task-mistress. No one dared to disobey her, not even the minister. Bhatta ordered her husband to return from his office before sundown without fail, and the minister agreed.
The king noticed this change in the minister’s routine and asked him one day about it. The minister was hesitant to come out with the truth and also didn’t want to make a false statement before the king. The other courtiers said in joke, “Sire ! It’s the order of his newly acquired wife which the minister fulfills. He dares not to disobey.” At this, the king turned to the minister and said, “Is that right ?”
The minister did not hide anything. As the minister stood up to go before it was evening, the king detained him. The minister was restless and trembling, but he could say nothing. The king let him to go only at late hours of the night.
Anger blinds and deprives one of all senses. Bhatta was all fire and locked the entrance. The minister knocked and knocked, but there was no response for a long time. Then suddenly the door opened, and Bhatta walked away at a hurried pace without speaking a single word.
This was sheer foolishness. To move alone at midnight could not be a venture free from danger, particularly for a young lady. She fell in the hands of thieves, who were happy to get a nymph-like woman in costly clothes and ornaments. They took her to their den and stripped her of all her valuables. Then, clad in ordinary dress, she was passed on as a gift for the chief’s use.
As the chief approached her, Bhatta thundered, and the chief had no more courage to touch her. But she was not allowed to leave the den either; and she was severely tormented every day. What an irony of fate for a woman who had spent her life in great care and comfort ! Bhatta silently bore physical suffering, but did not deviate from the path of purity. It virtually turned out to be a trial of strength between purity and villainy.
The chief’s mother saw the ordeal of the captive woman day after day. At last, she said to her son, “My son ! This does not seem to be an ordinary woman. In agonizing her, you are committing great sins. If she curses you, I am sure you will be nowhere. So I suggest that in your own interest, you should desist from tormenting her and should not invite unnecessary danger.”
From that day, the chief stopped his tortures, and after some time, he sold her out to a trader in exchange for a handsome amount. Now, it was the trader’s turn to feel attracted toward her, and he started seeking her company. But Bhatta was firm as a rock. The trader then started agonizing her. Every day, he contrived to take blood from her body so that the woman soon became pale and weak. Bhatta had the most miserable time.
One day, Bhatta’s brother came to the same city. He saw her from a distance and recognized her. He came to the trader to make inquiries about how he came to have her in his house, but the trader could not give him true facts. But the little that he came to know about her from the man was enough for him to understand his sister’s misery. He at once paid the price to the trader and recovered his sister. He bought proper clothes and ornaments for her and took her to his home. When the minister came to know of this, he took the lady back with all honor and dignity due to her.
This brought a major change in Bhatta’s life. She was no longer dominant, but became the very embodiment of humility and docility. This earned her great esteem at home and even outside.
Once there was a discussion on this point in heaven, and the king of the Devs spoke in very eloquent terms of Bhatta’s patience and forgiveness. “No one can knock her out from these virtues,” he said. One Dev decided to give a test and came down to the earth and hid in a corner of Bhatta’s house, wholly invisible.
It was at this time that two Munis came to beg oil for Muni Munipati who had been severely burnt. Bhatta asked her maid to bring the container, but the invisible Dev pushed it down from her hand. Bhatta remained calm and asked the maid to bring the second container, which was also pushed down in the same manner; and this happened for the third time also.
Now, the Munis were about to leave, telling the lady not to disturb her mind because of the loss, nor to be angry with the maid after they were gone. Bhatta said, “Oh Munis ! I bear anger toward no one. I have myself drunk the bitterest cup of life on account of this passion (anger), and I know perhaps more than anyone where it leads to and how much it costs. But I am sorry I could not give the oil. If you kindly give me a chance, I shall go myself and bring it for you. “
The Munis waited as Bhatta went in. The Dev tried his prank with her too, but he was no match to her purity and couldn’t bother her. After the Munis left, the Dev made his appearance and begged to be forgiven. He restored the oil in all the three containers, so that nothing was really wasted. While departing, he said, “Great lady ! I am overwhelmed at your purity and equanimity. Ask for a boon.”
To this Bhatta said, “Oh Dev ! Thank you so much for your appreciation and kind words. But I don’t desire anything, and I am content with all that I have. I need no more.” The Dev once again expressed his admiration for her and departed for heaven.
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