The Weaver Goes to War

In the kingdom of Vishalanagar, a humble weaver had fallen in love with Princess Srimati. His friend, a carpenter, crafted a mechanical eagle, allowing the weaver to pose as Lord Vishnu and secretly marry the princess. They cherished their love, hidden from all—until a crisis arose.

One day, the King of Vishalanagar sat in court when a messenger from the neighboring king demanded tribute, threatening war if it wasn’t paid. The king worriedly assessed the situation; his army would be no match for the enemy.

Just then, a soldier burst into the court, bowing deeply. “My Lord, I have urgent news. Can we speak in private?”

Once alone, the soldier revealed troubling information: “It appears that a stranger visits Princess Srimati each night.”

“How does he get into her room?” the king demanded, angry.

“Sir, he flies in on a bird,” the soldier replied.

Shocked, the king proposed a plan to catch the intruder that very night.

As the weaver entered Srimati’s room, the king and queen, accompanied by soldiers, stormed in. Both the princess and the weaver trembled in fear.

“Who is this man, Srimati?” the king roared.

With a heavy heart, the princess explained everything, including how she had married Lord Vishnu.

Upon hearing this, the king and queen fell at the weaver’s feet, believing he truly was Lord Vishnu. Although the weaver felt awkward, he felt he had no choice but to play along.

The next day, the king sent a message to the neighboring king: “Vishalnagar will not pay tribute. Let him come with an army if he dares!”

Everyone in the court gasped. The queen turned to the king, “Can our army win?”

The king boldly replied, “With Lord Vishnu as our son-in-law, we can defeat any enemy!”

When the neighboring king arrived at Vishalanagar’s gates, eager for battle, he was skeptical of Lord Vishnu's presence on earth.

Meanwhile, the king and queen dressed the weaver for war, but he felt trapped. His carpenter friend urged, “You should flee on the bird with Princess Srimati.”

“No,” the weaver replied resolutely. “I would die of shame. At least in battle, I can die a hero.”

The real Garuda, the eagle of Lord Vishnu, heard of the weaver's plight and flew to Vaikuntha. He informed Lord Vishnu, “If this weaver is killed, everyone will believe the king has defeated you!”

Lord Vishnu chuckled, “Don’t worry; everything will be alright.”

The following morning, the weaver donned armor and climbed aboard the mechanical bird. Confidence filled the air in Vishalanagar; they felt victory was assured.

As he soared above the city, the weaver prayed fervently for the safety of his people, for the enemy king to be sensible, and for strength in battle.

Opening his eyes, the weaver felt a surge of unexpected courage. He let out a mighty roar that echoed through the air.

Hearing the roar, the opposing army trembled, but fear of their own king kept them in place. The weaver wanted to maneuver the bird safely away from danger, but suddenly the mechanical bird jerked—the gears were stuck. The wings faltered, and the bird began to plummet.

Panic spread through the enemy ranks as the mechanical Garuda crashed towards them. Soldiers scattered in all directions, fleeing in terror.

When the dust settled, the weaver stood up to find the enemy army had vanished. He returned to the city, where he was welcomed as a hero.

He approached the king, touched his feet, and confessed his true identity. The king, initially shocked, was grateful to the weaver for driving off the enemy. In a grand ceremony, the king blessed the weaver and Princess Srimati, and they were married again with great celebration.