Padmāvatī, the Jewel Among Women
In Jagannātha Purī lived the divine couple—Śrī Jayadeva and his devoted wife Padmāvatī. She was no ordinary woman but a manifestation of Lakṣmī-devī herself, the goddess of fortune. Padmāvatī’s every action was steeped in devotion. Her beauty radiated purity; her speech was gentle, her mind serene, and her heart rested always at the lotus feet of her husband and Lord Jagannātha.
One day, the King of Krauncha, who was Jayadeva’s disciple, sent for Padmāvatī to come to the palace. He said to his queen, “The wife of my Guru, Padmāvatī, is our revered mother. Serve her day and night with full devotion.” The queen, pleased by her husband’s words, agreed.
Thus, Padmāvatī became honored in the royal household. Her grace, humility, and modesty inspired all who saw her. She shone like the moon among stars, radiating divine dignity and self-control.
The Jealousy of the Queens
One day, all the king’s wives gathered together, adorned in fine garments and ornaments. Padmāvatī sat among them, glowing with inner purity rather than decoration. Like the sacred river Gaṅgā among lesser streams, she shone above them all. Her serene beauty and unshakable modesty filled the queens with awe—and, in some, envy.
At that moment, news arrived that the brother of one of the queens, a prince named Sujana, had died unexpectedly. Hearing this, the prince’s wife decided to follow her husband in death and burn herself on his funeral pyre, as was then the custom among chaste women.
The royal ladies were overcome with emotion and began speaking among themselves. “Such devotion! A wife who burns with her husband’s body remains united with him for seven births!”
Padmāvatī, however, sat silently, her eyes calm and steady. One of the queens, noticing her composure, said sharply, “Padmāvatī, do you not marvel at this? The wife is giving her life for her husband, and you sit without sorrow?”
Padmāvatī replied softly, “Why should a wife wait for her husband’s death to prove her fidelity? A chaste woman’s heart follows her husband at every moment. When he departs from this world, she should not delay, but surrender her life at once.”
The other women were astonished by her words. They thought, “She speaks without experience. She has never faced such a trial; her words are hollow.” Yet her tone was not proud—it was filled with conviction born of purity.
The Queen’s Cruel Test
One of the queens, moved by envy, decided to test Padmāvatī’s words. She called her minister secretly and said, “Go and spread the false news that Jayadeva has been killed by a tiger while hunting with the king. Bring back some blood-stained garments to make the story convincing.”
The minister obeyed. The next day, when the king went hunting with Jayadeva, he sent a messenger ahead with false tidings: “A tiger has killed Jayadeva in the forest!” The minister dipped garments in blood and showed them to the queens.
Hearing this, all the royal ladies began to weep. The queen who had planned the test rushed to Padmāvatī and said, “O sister, a great calamity has befallen you! Your husband has been killed by a tiger!”
Padmāvatī asked quietly, “Is it true?” The queen swore it was, holding up the blood-stained cloth. Padmāvatī closed her eyes and said, “Then I have no reason to live.”
Before anyone could stop her, she gave up her life instantly, through the power of her devotion. Her body fell lifeless like a flower detached from its stem, yet her face shone with divine serenity.
The King’s Return
Soon after, the king and Jayadeva returned safely from the forest. When the king learned of what had happened, he was struck with horror and grief. He confronted the queen, who confessed her cruel act.
The king said, “I cannot raise my hand against a woman, though you have caused such a sin. Therefore, I shall give up my own life in repentance.” He prepared a great funeral pyre outside the city and declared his intention to burn himself.
Jayadeva’s Compassion and the Miracle of Resurrection
Hearing of this tragedy, Jayadeva approached the place where Padmāvatī’s body lay. His heart, though serene in devotion, trembled with love. Sitting beside her, he took his vīṇā and began to sing softly, his voice trembling with divine emotion.
“O Keśava, O Nārāyaṇa, O Mādhava, O Govinda, O Lover of the cowherd maidens, Protector of the devotees—come to my aid.
You saved Gajendra the elephant when he cried from the lake. You rescued Prahlāda from his father’s cruelty. You protected Draupadī from shame. O Merciful Lord, why do You delay now?”
As Jayadeva sang, his voice grew radiant. His verses flowed like the Gīta-Govinda itself—each note filled with longing, surrender, and divine sweetness. He sang twenty-four verses in the rhythm of love, describing the Lord’s compassion and the reunion of the soul with its beloved.
Moved by his devotion, the Supreme Lord appeared before him in a golden light. With His lotus hands, the Lord embraced Jayadeva and said, “O blessed poet, whoever sings your songs or listens to them with love will find Me standing by their side, ready to protect them.”
Then the Lord looked upon Padmāvatī’s still form. He touched her forehead gently, and she opened her eyes, glowing with life once more.
Heavenly Celebration
At that moment, the sky burst into divine music. Celestial beings showered flowers upon the couple, and cries of “Victory! Victory to Jayadeva and Padmāvatī!” filled the air. The king and his subjects bowed in awe, their hearts overflowing with faith and joy.
Padmāvatī rose and fell at her husband’s feet, her eyes brimming with tears of gratitude. Jayadeva smiled and said softly, “Beloved, your faith has conquered even death. The Lord Himself bears witness to your devotion.”
Reflection
Padmāvatī’s story is the crown of all tales of chastity and faith. Her love was not born of emotion but of spiritual conviction. She did not merely love her husband as a man but as a servant of God. Her heart was so pure that even death obeyed her will.
Jayadeva’s response reveals the perfection of devotion—he did not curse those who wronged him or lament his wife’s death. He turned his pain into prayer, his grief into song. That song became the bridge between Earth and Heaven, awakening the Lord’s mercy.
For those who walk the path of bhakti, this story teaches that faith conquers even death. When love for God fills the heart, it transforms sorrow into sanctity and tragedy into transcendence.
Source: Bhaktavijaya, Chapter II, Verses 200–247.
