On the tranquil banks of a river, a maiden of surpassing beauty, the delight of the three worlds, was once seen at play. Conceived by the Gandharva Viśvāvasu and radiant as the dawn, this celestial being’s earthly journey was soon to begin. The apsaras who had cared for her brought the luminous child to the hermitage of the sage Sthulakesha, leaving her there on the riverbank before departing. When Sthulakesha found the abandoned girl, he took her into his care. With compassion, he raised her as his own daughter and gave her the name Pramadvara. As years passed, Pramadvara blossomed into young womanhood, adorned with every auspicious mark. Her beauty and grace captivated all who saw her, and among them was Ruru. Upon beholding her, Ruru was pierced by the arrows of love. Tormented by longing, Ruru returned to his own hermitage while his father slept. Noticing his son’s distress, his father asked, “Why are you so downcast, Ruru?” Overcome by love, Ruru replied, “In the hermitage of Sthulakesha dwells a maiden named Pramadvara—may she become my wife.” Hearing his son’s plea, Ruru’s father, Pramati, went at once to the great sage Sthulakesha. With humility and gentle words, he requested the radiant maiden’s hand for his son. Sthulakesha gave his word: “I will give her on an auspicious day.” Both families began to make joyful preparations for the wedding in the forest. As the two great souls, Pramati and Sthulakesha, busied themselves with the arrangements, Pramadvara delighted in the house courtyard. In that fateful moment, she accidentally brushed her foot against a sleeping serpent. The snake bit her, and the excellent maiden died instantly. A great outcry arose when Pramadvara was found lifeless. Sages from all around gathered, stricken with grief, and wailed for the untimely loss. Sthulakesha, her foster father, was overwhelmed by sorrow at the sight of her radiant form fallen to the ground. His cries of anguish reached Ruru, who hurried to see what had happened. Ruru beheld his beloved lying as if merely asleep, while Sthulakesha and the other sages wept. Unable to bear the pain, Ruru withdrew and, tormented by separation, lamented, “Alas, by fate this serpent was sent—truly astonishing! This is the cause of my misery, the destroyer of my happiness. What shall I do, where shall I go—my beloved is dead.” Despair overwhelmed him. “I do not wish to live, separated from her. She of lovely form was never embraced or kissed by me. By my misfortune, I have not obtained her hand in marriage; nor have I performed the sacred rites with her. Fie upon this human life—for today my very life departs. For one who suffers, even death does not come, though it is desired. How, then, can I ever attain the happiness I long for? I will plunge into a dreadful river or cast myself into fire. I will drink poison, or tie a noose and abandon my life.” Thus, he wept, his heart torn by grief. Yet, standing on the riverbank, Ruru paused to consider. “What fruit would come from my death, from this terrible act? My father and mother would be plunged into grief. Perhaps fate would be satisfied, seeing me gone, and others would rejoice at my destruction. But what benefit would there be for my beloved, even in the next world? If I die by my own hand, tormented by separation, even then, she would not be mine, for one who dies thus earns no reunion. The faults would be mine if I die, but not if I do not.” Thus reflecting, Ruru wept, then bathed and purified himself, standing firm in his resolve. With solemn intent, Ruru took water in his hands and spoke: “Whatever good I have done—worship of the gods, devotion to my teachers, offerings, recitation, austerities, study of the Vedas, sanctifying the Gāyatrī, and worship of the Sun—if I have gained merit, may my beloved be restored to life. If not, then I will abandon my own life.” Having prayed thus, he poured the water upon the ground, having worshipped the deities. As Ruru grieved and lamented, a divine messenger suddenly appeared and addressed him: “Do not commit such a rash act, O Brahmin. How can your beloved, who is dead, live again? Her life is ended—she, the daughter of a Gandharva and an Apsaras. Seek another beautiful woman, for this one has died unmarried. Why do you weep? What joy could you have with her?” But Ruru replied with unwavering heart, “Divine messenger, I will not choose another woman.” His words were true, sincere, and full of love. Then the divine messenger revealed, “Listen, O foremost of Brahmins, to the method once devised by the gods: by granting half of his lifespan, let Pramadvara be revived at once.” Without hesitation, Ruru declared, “I give half my life to the maiden; there is no doubt about this. Today, with her life restored, let my beloved rise again.” At that very moment, Viśvāvasu, Pramadvara’s divine father, arrived in his celestial chariot. Learning that his daughter had died and departed from the heavenly realm, the king of the Gandharvas and the noble divine messenger approached the Lord of Dharma. They said, “O Lord of Dharma, Ruru’s wife is also the daughter of Viśvāvasu. The maiden Pramadvara has died, bitten by a serpent. She is to be revived by half of Ruru’s lifespan, O son of the Sun, for she desires to live.” Thus, through Ruru’s selfless love and sacrifice, the celestial order itself was moved, and the possibility of Pramadvara’s return to life was placed before the Lord of Dharma.