The Father's Dilemma
King Kakudmi ruled the kingdom of Anarta with wisdom and strength. His daughter Revati was exceptional — beautiful, learned, accomplished in every art. Men came from across the earth to seek her hand, but none seemed worthy.
Kakudmi decided to ask the highest authority. He took Revati to Brahmaloka — the realm of Brahma, the Creator — to ask which man would be a fitting husband.
The Wait in Brahmaloka
When they arrived, Brahma was listening to a celestial concert by the Gandharvas. Father and daughter waited respectfully.
The concert ended. Brahma looked up.
Kakudmi bowed and presented his question: "Lord, I have three candidates in mind for my daughter. Please tell me who is most suitable." He named three great kings of the earth.
Brahma laughed — a gentle, compassionate laugh.
"Kakudmi," he said, "the men you have named are gone. While you waited through this brief concert, twenty-seven *chaturyugas* have passed on earth — that is 116 million years by your reckoning. Those kings, their descendants' descendants' descendants — all dust. The entire era you came from is gone."
The Teaching Hidden in the Story
This is the Puranic teaching of time dilation — that time moves differently in different realms.
Then Brahma said: "But do not grieve. The Lord of this present age — Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna — is worthy of Revati. Go to earth. Seek him."
Revati and Balarama
Kakudmi and Revati descended to earth. The world was utterly different — rivers, mountains, people all changed. Revati herself, of her original time's stature, was taller and more radiant than those around her.
Balarama received them with honour. He touched Revati's head with the tip of his plough, and she took on the form appropriate for the present age. They were married. Revati became one of the most beloved figures of the Dvapara Yuga — a woman who had, quite literally, traversed time.