Pradosh Vrat Katha - Brahmin Widow Story

Dadi**: Guddu beta, do you know what a Pradosh Vrat is?

Guddu**: A fast for Lord Shiva?

Dadi**: Yes! It's observed on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight. Tonight, I'll tell you the story of a poor widow and a lost prince, and how this fast changed their lives.

Guddu**: Tell me, Dadi!

Dadi**: Long ago, there lived a very poor Brahmin priest. He could barely feed his wife and young son. Then one sad day, the priest died, leaving the mother and child completely alone.

Guddu**: That's so sad! What did they do?

Dadi**: The widow had no choice - she had to beg for food. Each day, she would walk from house to house, asking for scraps to feed her child. It was a hard, humiliating life.

Guddu**: Poor woman!

Dadi**: One day, while returning home with whatever food she had collected, she saw a young man lying wounded by the roadside. He was handsome but clearly hurt badly.

Guddu**: Did she help him?

Dadi**: Despite having almost nothing herself, she took him to her humble home. She cleaned his wounds, gave him what little food she had, and nursed him back to health.

Guddu**: That was very kind of her!

Dadi**: Here's the twist, beta. This wounded man was actually Dharmagupta, the prince of Vidarbha! His kingdom had been attacked, his father imprisoned, and he had barely escaped with his life.

Guddu**: A prince in disguise!

Dadi**: Though he was a prince without a kingdom. The widow didn't know his identity. She simply raised him alongside her own son, treating him as family.

Guddu**: What happened next?

Dadi**: One day, they visited a temple where they met a great sage named Rishi Shandilya. The sage looked at the widow and her two boys and immediately understood their past and future through his divine vision.

Guddu**: What did he say?

Dadi**: He recognized Dharmagupta as the lost prince! But more importantly, he gave them advice. "Observe the Pradosh Vrat," he said. "Fast on the 13th day of each fortnight in honor of Lord Shiva. All your difficulties will be removed."

Guddu**: Did they do it?

Dadi**: With great devotion! The widow and both young men began observing the fast faithfully. They would eat nothing after sunset on Pradosh day and spend the twilight hours worshipping Lord Shiva.

Guddu**: Did Lord Shiva answer?

Dadi**: Magic began to happen! One day, while the young men were walking in the forest, they met a beautiful Gandharva princess named Anshumati. She was a celestial being, and when she saw Dharmagupta, she fell in love!

Guddu**: A princess for the prince!

Dadi**: Her parents wondered if they should allow this match - after all, Dharmagupta was a prince without a kingdom. But that night, Lord Shiva himself appeared in their dreams!

Guddu**: What did Shiva say?

Dadi**: "Let your daughter marry this prince. Great fortune awaits them." When Lord Shiva himself gives instructions, who can refuse? Anshumati and Dharmagupta were married.

Guddu**: But he still didn't have his kingdom back.

Dadi**: Through his marriage, Dharmagupta gained the support of the Gandharva army - celestial warriors of great power! With their help, he attacked his enemies, freed his father, and reclaimed his kingdom.

Guddu**: Everything worked out!

Dadi**: And he didn't forget those who had helped him. The widow who had saved his life when he was nothing but a wounded stranger - her son became his Prime Minister! She never had to beg again.

Guddu**: That's wonderful! From beggar to Prime Minister's mother!

Dadi**: The story teaches us, beta: help others without expecting reward, and the universe will reward you beyond your dreams. The widow's simple kindness to a stranger transformed her destiny.

Guddu**: And the Pradosh Vrat made it all happen?

Dadi**: The vrat opened the doors. When you worship with sincerity, Lord Shiva removes obstacles you didn't even know existed. Devotion plus kindness - that's the winning combination.

Guddu**: I want to try the Pradosh Vrat, Dadi!

Dadi**: When you're older, beta. For now, just remember to be kind to everyone, especially strangers in need. You never know who they might be!

Guddu**: Goodnight, Dadi!

Dadi**: Goodnight, beta. Har Har Mahadev!