In the Courtroom of Naimisharan - a court full of courtiers.

“Saint, what is happening here? Why did the wishful characteristics of my daughter’s future husband, sought by her, manifest in different men?” Prabhupada asked impulsively.

“I don’t know. Perhaps your daughter knows,” the saint replied. Dhani glanced at him clearly showing that she didn’t know. He laughed. 

“If this is the situation, who should my daughter marry?” Prabhupada asked the saint.

Saint Ujaini approached His Highness Aatreya and sought his approval to present a new marriage proposal to Prabhupada concerning his daughter. His Highness granted his consent. 

“Sir Prabhupada, your daughter is a remarkable individual for whom esteemed sages and powerful kings fervently pray to be blessed with her presence. Her grace and enlightenment are unparalleled. The Lord has destined her for a life abundant in blessings and love,” the saint proclaimed. Prabhupada and Mala beamed with pride for their daughter. “I wish to propose her hand in marriage to the five sons of the Late King Aryaman Mitramani. It is her fate to be united with them,” the saint declared. A hush fell over the court.

“What? All five of them? How can this be, Saint?” Prabhupada inquired, regaining his composure from the initial shock.

“Why not? She has received this divine blessing. Your daughter is destined to have five husbands, Prabhupada.”

“No, Saint. This is not possible. My daughter cannot marry five men.”

“Why not?” The saint chuckled at Prabhupada's resistance, aware of the societal constraints that bound him.

“Saint, you are suggesting that I marry my daughter to five men. How can a woman be married to five men? This is unacceptable. People will ridicule her and question her character. Her life will be fraught with suffering.”

“That is not the case. In ancient times, many women had multiple husbands, and this practice continues in various tribes of Avabhoomi even today. It is not unusual.”

“This is unacceptable to me. I cannot allow my daughter to face such a fate. Her life would be filled with anguish if she were to marry five men. People would tarnish her dignity, and her husbands would compete for their rights over her, directing their frustrations towards her.”

“Do you not have faith in the Lord? He is the one who has granted her five husbands,” the saint replied. 

Prabhupada pondered this once more, yet he remained uncertain. “Saint, I cannot allow my daughter to...”

“Dear Prabhupada, do not obstruct the blessings of the Lord.” 

“If the Lord has indeed given her five husbands, how can I oppose it? I accept this marriage proposal,” he finally declared, embracing the arrangement with a burdened heart. Joy illuminated the faces in the courtroom, and the five men were filled with excitement and happiness. However, one individual felt disheartened—Dhani. 

“I don’t want to marry five men,” she stated, her gaze cast downward. The smiles faded away.

When the proposal was put up in front of her father, Dhani felt devastated. She saw it as an ill fate. She devoted her life to this blessing and the blessing was doomed. That’s what she thought. Saint Ujaini tried to make her understand that all five of them were her destined husbands. But she couldn’t comprehend it, neither mentally nor emotionally. She decided to go with the original proposal and marry only one of them. But Saint Ujaini warned her against it specifically.

“Dear, if you leave them now, they will feel great pain of separation. For you will not live a happy life yourself. And, if you choose to marry only one of them, that will be the worst, because then, the rest of them will feel abandoned by their wife. Abandonment would make their lives living hell. Once you marry only one, the rest will not live with their brother in the same house as they would continue to feel the spousal attraction towards you, and you will feel it too. They won’t choose anyone else besides you for the rest of their lives. Wouldn't that be a miserable life?”

After a long back and forth on the topic between the saint and Dhani, her anxious heart desired to see the High Priestess of the Nilgiri Hills. On her one wish, His Highness Aatreya ordered the servants to prepare for her and her family’s journey. The Saint was of the same opinion; of letting her go. She wasn’t ready for the marriage. Manan was feeling intense depression in his heart. Other Princes tried to stop her, especially Prince Bali. He tried to persuade her into believing that they would always keep her happy. But, Saint Ujaini interfered.

“Let her go, Prince Bali. When a woman does not want to marry, it is against one's manhood to persuade or force her. Besides, she has to clear her doubts," he remarked, and facing Dhani he said; "Daughter, go and find answers to your questions first.” 

She left for the Nilgiri Hills. They saw her depart with a heavy heart. “I understand how you are feeling. Trust my words. She is destined to be your wife. But you are not allowed to force her,” the saint told them.

“We understand, respected saint,” His Highness replied and looked at the wagon which was on the verge of becoming invisible. Far had it reached after pulsating their hearts in a storm.