“Is there anyone, though immersed in the sea of samsara and leading the life of a grihastha, bereft of the effect of the good and bad, pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow and other twins?” questioned Yudhistira seeking an answer from the grand old man Bhishma! It is really rare to see such a great individual.In the Moksha Dharma Parva of Shanthi Parva Bhisma answers innumerable questions posed by the Pandava warrior and counsels how to rule righteously and establish Peace in the country. In answering the question, he narrates the story of Devarshi Devala who performed rituals as per the mandates of the Vedas and an embodiment of Dharma. He had a daughter by name Suvarchala. She was of medium height and an ideal personality. She was pretty and good looking. As she approached her marriageable age he was visibly worried to find a suitable match for her. How can he find a Vedic scholar, a celibate, sweet spoken tapasvi as a good match for his darling daughter?
Sensing the intention of her dear father, Suvarchala requested him to give her away to a person who is Blind and at the same time not blind! She told him that he is considered as all knowing. She wanted him to remember her condition for marriage always. Devala was shocked at her words! The condition for her marriage was strange and seemed practically impossible. He wondered if she was mad to lay such a condition. She replied that she was in her senses and directed her father to bring Vedic scholars from whom she could select her match! Devala called all his disciples and instructed them to fan out to find Vedic scholars, people with good antecedents, eligible bachelors, and handsome young men with exceptional good character. A number of sages with such credentials came to the ashram of Devala in the hope that one of them would be fortunate to marry Devala’s daughter Suvarchala. Pointing them to Suvarchala, her father said they were all great Vedic scholars intent on marrying and belong to renowned clans. They are all of spotless character! He directed her to select one among them and marry him.
Pretty Suvarchala offered her respects to the assembled sages and stated the one who is Blind and at the same time not blind shall be her spouse! The words of Suvarchala confused them and all of them left the place thinking that she was senseless! They were angry with Devala for inviting them needlessly! Devala was terribly disappointed at this incident! Suvarchala remained unperturbed and calm! Meanwhile a famous sage, Swetaketu, heard of the disappointment of the other sages that went to marry Suvarchala. He was a great Vedic scholar, a realized soul, specialist in Nyaya Sastra, an eligible bachelor, and full of many other good qualities! He was the son of sage Uddalaka. Desirous of marrying Suvarchala he quickly came to sage Devala. He introduced Swetaketu to Suvarchala, described his qualities and qualifications and asked her to marry him! Even as she extended an angry look at Swetaketu, he began speaking!
Truly speaking, he said he is blind! Because he has no doubts, his eyes are broad and so he is
not blind! One who has no eye of self realization is born blind! “I do not possess the eye of ‘ajnana’! In that sense I am a blind man! In worldly procedures I perform karma. But they don't affect me because of my 'atma jnana’! The world is the effect and the cause is ‘Paramatma’ whom I experience and remain calm and peaceful! In short, I am blind to the materialistic workaday world while I experience the illumination of the Divine!”
Swetaketu explained his position to Suvarchala and said he is the best suited groom for her! He pointed out he has totally satisfied the condition that her spouse should be blind and at the same time not blind. He asked her to join him in wedlock! Suvarchala’s joy was indescribable! She accepted his proposal and as per the practice wanted Swetaketu to approach her father Devala for conducting the wedding! Extremely overwhelmed at the turn of events, Devala invited Swetaketu’s father Uddalaka and in the presence of many famous sages gave away his daughter Suvarchala in marriage to Swetaketu! As husband and wife they lived happily with wonderful cooperation, adjustment and accommodation! As his better half, Suvarchala participated in all the activities along with her husband and lived happily! Bhishma told Yudhistira that it's not impossible for man to remains a grihasta- and at the same time remain untouched by gross materialism as in the story of Swetaketu!
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