tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79106227813053817892024-03-18T00:35:45.265-07:00Stories from Hindu MythologyStories for allSA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-34376190081833298642020-05-14T20:15:00.002-07:002020-05-14T20:15:52.228-07:00Andhaka - The Blind King of the Asuras - Part 1<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: page; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">1.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.1in;">Once Parvathi playfully closed the eyes of the three-eyed Lord when Shiva was in the form of a hermit, with ash sprinkled all over himself. At that time, Shiva was meditating in Mount Mandara.</span></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Parvathi was surprised with what happened after that.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Because without any reason, the entire world grew dark and nothing was visible anymore.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Parvathi was shocked because her hands with which she had covered the third eye of the Lord were almost burning.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Realizing immediately that the world was in darkness because of her, the Goddess removed her hands from the Lord’s eyes.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Shiva, I am sorry!” She was apologetic as she saw that now the world was getting brighter and everything was getting back to normal.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Shiva smiled and said nothing and that was when a wail of a child was heard from near them.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Shocked Parvathi turned.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">There was a small baby near them and by far it was one of the most ugliest baby that Parvathi had ever seen in her life.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Who…?”</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">You closed my eyes. You used your power against me. This child was born as a result of it.” Shiva said as he was studying the baby.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">You… mean..” Parvathi was shocked as she was studying the baby. “This baby...”</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes.” Shiva nodded again. “He is our child. He is born to us. Because he was born when I was blinded, I think he shall also be blind. He will be powerful and brave. But he will be blind.”</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">For a huge second, Parvathi looked at the baby with utter dismay.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">But Shiva said nothing as he looked at the Goddess and it is said that he even rebuked the Goddess for her refusal to accept the baby.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">A few seconds later, Parvathi looked at the innocent baby and then she smiled.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><a name="__DdeLink__4967_507219349"></a><a name="__DdeLink__4961_507219349"></a><a name="__DdeLink__4964_507219349"></a><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">She picked it up and cooed at it. “Andhaka. The blind one. You are Andhaka. My son.”</font></font></p>SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-3607380571744470912020-05-12T00:02:00.000-07:002020-05-12T00:02:27.761-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 11<p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Needless to say, the war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas could not be stopped.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Despite Krishna’s best efforts, Duryodhana rejected the Pandavas offering for peace. Krishna argued brilliantly for just five pieces of land – one for each Pandava – to avert the war. Duryodhana arrogantly refused.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Duryodhana was foolish enough to try and imprison Krishna himself, though Krishna had come to Hastinapur in the capacity of a messenger.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna escaped and came back to the Virata kingdom and war started between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">For the first ten days of the war, Bheeshma, the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army wrecked havoc on the Pandava army.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">However, when Bheeshma was brought down on the tenth day, the war started swinging in favour of the Pandavas.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately in the thirteenth day of the war, because of Jayadratha – a warrior of the Kauravas, Abhimanyu was trapped all alone among the Kaurava warriors. All of the Kaurava warriors including Karna attacked Abhimanyu at the same time, when Abhimanyu was deep inside the Kaurava army and there the Kaurava soldiers cut off Abhimanyu’s bow and in the end killed Abhimanyu there.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu’s father Arjuna was furious when he heard about this. He vowed to kill Jayadratha the very next day, in the battlefield. Arjuna was so incensed with the death of his son that he had promised himself that if he could not kill Jayadratha the next day, he would kill himself.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Despite the clinical annihilation of the Kaurava army by Arjuna the next day, Arjuna nearly failed in his task. It was only because Krishna could exploit the fact that the fourteenth day of the Kurukshetra battle had been a solar eclipse that Arjuna was able to fulfill his vow.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">However, that was another unfortunate fact.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Duryodhana was furious that he had been unable to protect Jayadratha.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Arjuna was easily one of the best warriors of the Pandava side.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>If</i>, Duryodhana had successfully protected Jayadratha on the fourteenth day of battle, Arjuna would have killed himself and after that, the victory of the Kauravas was certain.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">However, it was not to be, because of Krishna’s work.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Usually, it was the custom to stop the battle after the sun had set. However, on the fourteenth day, Duryodhana was so furious that that day he let the battle go on. The fourteenth day was the first time in the Kurukshetra battle that the battle continued even after the sun had set.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">I</font></font><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">n the beginning this move of Duryodhana backfired on him. In the evening, there was utter confusion in both the armies </font></font><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">who were </font></font><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">fighting at night time. It was so bad that Duryodhana had to modify his original order – he could not let the entire Kaurava army fight like this – because that caused more harm to the Kaurava army than to the Pandava army – the Kaurava soldiers were killing their own as they were not able to see properly in the night. </font></font><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">So Duryodhana ordered half the army to hold up the light for the other half to fight the Pandava army.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">In the battlefield, both Arjuna and Gatothgaja were fighting against the onslaught of Dronacharya, </font></font><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">the next general of the Kaurava army, after Bheeshma</font></font><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">That was when the two men heard that Karna was massacring the Pandava soldiers elsewhere in the battlefield.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Arjuna wanted to meet Karna when Krishna stopped him.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna turned to Gatothgaja. "Only two people can kill Karna. One of them is Arjuna and the other is you, Gatothgaja. I want you to face Karna, because it is night time now."</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">But Karna’s Shakthi…” Arjuna started.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Arjuna’s words were unheeded as Gatothgaja was already off to meet Karna during the night time.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja was brilliant. Already he was furious with Karna for having been one of the warriors </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">who had killed his </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">cousin and now that his army actually needed him, Gatothgaja was devastatingly efficient. He used his power of illusion to confuse the entire Kaurava army. </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Obviously, as a Rakshasa his powers were heightened after sunset. </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja wrecked havoc on the Kaurava army. It went so bad, that that night, Gatothgaja sent almost the entire Kaurava army running </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">away </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">from the battlefield.</font></font></font></span></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The only person who stood up against the might of Gatothgaja was Karna.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Karna was very knowledgeable about powerful weapons. One of the powerful weapons which Karna had was the Vasavi Shakthi. The Shakthi was a gift from Indra, the king of the Devas to Karna. However, the most important caveat about the Shakthi weapon was that Karna could use it only once.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><a name="__DdeLink__1766_1053699268"></a><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja continued with his massacre of the Kaurava army unmindful of anything. </font></font><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">It went so bad that Duryodhana for a second, actually feared that the son of Bh</font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">ee</font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">ma was going to win the war for the Pandavas on that </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">night</font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">.</font></font></font></span></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Naturally, </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Duryodhana </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">went to Karna for help seeing Gatothgaja’s work. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">"K</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">arna</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">d</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">o something! Please just do something. If we do not stop Gatothgaja..." Duryodhana gasped unable to finish the sentence.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Karna looked worriedly because he </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>knew</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> exactly how to stop Gatothgaja.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Karna mumbled something when Duryodhana yelled at him. "If you know what to do, just do it."</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">"I have the Shakthi weapon with me. It would kill Gatothgaja. There is no escape from it – be it a human or rakshasa." Karna mumbled unhappily.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">"</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Then use the Shakthi</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">!" Duryodhana screamed.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">"I was saving the weapon to use it on Arjuna," Karna mumbled. "Because I can use the Shakthi only once."</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">"Arjuna?" Duryodhana yelled angrily. "You think Arjuna is important right now? If you do not use the Shakthi against this son of Bh</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ee</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ma, there will be no tomorrow for the war!" Duryodhana shouted as he stared at Gatothgaja who had now changed his size to that of a mountain.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja was crushing the Kaurava soldiers just by running over them.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">**********</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Having no choice in the matter, Karna used the Shakthi – the weapon which Indra had granted Karna.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">The weapon flew straight to Gatothgaja's chest and after fatally wounding the </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">rakshasa</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">after that, the </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Shakthi </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">disappeared from there and went </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">back to Indra.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">"</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Fall o</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">n</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> the Kaurava army</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">!" Bh</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ee</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ma screamed </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">in utter horror </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">as he saw the damage that the Shakthi had done to his son.</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">T</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ears </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">were </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">rolling down </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Bheema’s </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">eyes </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">as Gatothgaja </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">tottered</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The huge Rakshasa fell on the Kaurava army and even as he fell, because of his huge size, he destroyed a battalion of Kaurava army, even in his death.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">*******</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">With tears stricken eyes Bh</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ee</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ma rushed forward to mourn for his </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">fallen </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">son.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">But even at that time, Bh</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ee</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ma could not miss the sad smile on Krishna's face.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">"Why are you smiling, Krishna?" Arjuna demanded hugging the dead Gatothgaja. "My son is dead and you are smiling. Why?"</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">"Bh</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ee</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ma's son has done more than just fight the war. He has practically won the war for you." Krishna said quietly. "The only person in the Kaurava army who has the capacity to win the war was Karna. He could do it if he had used his Shakthi on </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Arjuna</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">, my friend." Krishna took in a deep breath as he continued. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">"And today Karna has used the weapon. He cannot use it again. Gatothgaja has just won the war for you. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">He is the true hero of the Pandavas.</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">" Krishna repeated looking proudly at the dead rakshasa. “</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Gatothgaja </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">is</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> the rakshasa who saved the Pandavas.”</span></font></font></font></p>SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-2162766800692872532020-05-10T04:35:00.000-07:002020-05-10T04:35:12.405-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 10<p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Virata, the king of Matsya has accepted my marriage with Uttara.” A gushing Abhimanyu told his cousin, in the forests. “They want to formalize the wedding and they want us all to come to the Matsya kingdom for the proper wedding ceremonies.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu looked happily at his brother and hugged him tightly. “It is all because of you, my brother.” Abhimanyu told the rakshasa.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja smiled proudly. “You are my brother. Of course, I will help you.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">I want you to come with me to the Matsya kingdom. The Matsya king would have invited all of my relatives. Which means that he would invite our fathers and he would have invited Krishna <i>mama</i>, too.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja stared. “Krishna? Who is that?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu laughed. “Krishna is the king of Dwaraka and he is mother’s brother.” Abhimanyu looked proud. “I grew up in Dwaraka. Krishna has taught me all that I know. You should meet this man. I think he will love you as much as he loves me. Do you remember Daruka? Our charioteer? He was Krishna’s charioteer.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja suddenly laughed. “Then I must definitely meet this man. He has brought my brother to my forests, knowingly or unknowingly.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">************</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">You are Bheema and Hidimbi’s son.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja was in awe as he was looking at the dark man standing in front of him. The shade of the man was so black that Gatothgaja was sure that the man’s complexion was darker than the night. Added on top of it, the man was the most handsome human that Gatothgaja had ever seen. No, it could be the deep, intelligent eyes of the man which seemed to notice everything.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, my Lord.” Gatothgaja told the man.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">For a few minutes, the two men studied Abhimanyu’s wedding ceremony as all of Abhimanyu’s uncles including Gatothgaja’s father were in the front and happily looking at the blushing Uttara.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Do you see that there are many kings here in the Matsya kingdom – more than what King Virata has invited for the wedding?” The Dark One asked Gatothgaja.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja frowned for a few seconds. “Is there a reason why you brought that to my attention?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna laughed. “Yes.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna frowned for a few seconds and then finally seemed to convince himself of something. “The five Pandavas ruled the lands of Indraprastha, thirteen years back. The eldest Pandava Yudhishtara, was addicted to gambling. He gambled and lost the entire kingdom to their cousins – the Kauravas – Duryodhana, the prince of Hastinapur is the eldest of the Kauravas.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja was silent for a few seconds. “I know all this, my lord.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna smiled to himself sadly and it seemed like he was not paying any attention to Gatothgaja’s interruption. “Do you know that Yudhishtara played the dice game twice? Not once. The first dice game… it is best if it is not referred to. Because that single game sealed the fate of the Kauravas. Had they not been so cruel in that game, things would have turned out, a little differently. But they did not act like the kings and princes that they were supposed to be. The Kauravas humiliated their daughter-in-law and for that alone, they deserve to be annihilated.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja stared at the Dark One, feeling uneasy. “I did not know of this, my Lord.” Besides Gatothgaja was slightly confused. “Why would Yudhishtara play the dice game twice, when the first game ended in so much misery.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna gave a mirthless laugh. “That question has no answer. Blame it on fate if you believe in it. Yudhishtara said that it was the duty of a king to play the game when he was invited to it. The king of Hastinapur – King Dhirdharashtra – was ashamed of the things which had happened at the end of the first dice game and he wanted to hand over all that Yudhishtara had lost in the game, back to Yudhishtara. Dhirdharashtra’s son, Duryodhana did not want that and so he offered the second game for Yudhishtara to win back everything. Yudhishtara played it because he thought he was supposed to play the game, when invited to play the game. Naturally, Yudhishtara lost the second game and he spent the past thirteen years in exile as one of the conditions for losing the dice game. The condition of the second dice game was that if Yudhishtara and his brothers successfully spent the exile in the forests, Duryodhana would give back the kingdom of Indraprastha to the Pandavas.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja frowned as he looked at Krishna. “Why are you telling me this, my Lord?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna was silent for some time.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Karna.” Krishna told Gatothgaja finally.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Who is he, my Lord?” The rakshasa was confused.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna laughed at the question. “The answer is irrelevant. But what matters is that he is Duryodhana’s best friend. He was the main man responsible for the events of the court of Hastinapur after the first dice game. Karna goaded his friend to commit the crime out of spite for the queen of the Pandavas.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja shook his head. “I still do not understand.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna obviously changed the topic and studied the young rakshasa. “King Virata has already sent a learned man to the court of Hastinapur asking the Kauravas to return the kingdom of Indraprastha to Yudhishtara for having successfully completed the conditions of the second dice game.” Before Gatothgaja could ask the question, Krishna raised his hands. “The learned man was insulted and sent back. Duryodhana has absolutely refused to hand over the kingdom of Indraprastha to the Pandavas under any conditions.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Then Gatothgaja understood it. “The kings who have come here – it is not just for the wedding – they have come here to help King Yudhishtara fight back for his kingdom, isn’t it?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna nodded at Gatothgaja. “Yes.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja looked at Abhimanyu again. “So there is going to be a war?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna was silent again. “I am going to Hastinapur tomorrow in an attempt to make Duryodhana see his foolishness. I am going to try my best and make sure that the war is averted.” Krishna shook his head. “I do not think I will be successful. Duryodhana is too arrogant for that. But I will still give it my best.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">What do you want from me in the war, my Lord?” Gatothgaja asked the Dark One. “I will fight on my father’s side.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The Dark One studied the young rakshasa. “Alambusha.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja frowned. “Who is he?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna shook his head. “Alambusha is a rakshasa too and he is Bakasura’s brother. Bakasura was a rakshasa who was killed by your father long before all this. Alambusha had always maintained an enmity towards your father. I am sure that he would fight on behalf of Duryodhana. You are the only answer that we have for Alambusha and…”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja swelled with pride as he heard the words of Krishna; but he faltered as he heard the last word of the Dark One. “And?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Karna is the one that I am worried about, son of Bheema.” Krishna told the young rakshasa. “There are very few people in the Pandava side who can successfully fight Karna.” Krishna waved at the young rakshasa. “You are one of them.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja nodded proudly at the dark man. “I shall do what I can, my Lord.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna looked at the wedding again. “Abhimanyu will fight this war too.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja looked shocked and he shook his head. “Abhimanyu is sixteen, my Lord. He is just married. He cannot…”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Just like you, he is the son of a powerful Pandava, Gatothgaja. Abhimanyu has been trained by me too. He cannot stay away from the battlefield.” Krishna smiled sadly to himself. “He will not.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">For a second there was consternation in Gatothgaja’s face. Then he looked at Abhimanyu’s smiling face. “No one can defeat him, my Lord.” Gatothgaja said with a smile. “Abhimanyu’s technique is flawless and as long as he has a bow in his hands, he cannot be defeated.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Krishna was sad again. “As long as he has a bow.” The Dark One repeated studying the young rakshasa.</font></font></p>SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-71544957242149930142020-05-08T07:59:00.003-07:002020-05-08T08:00:16.068-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 9<p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja and a few of his trusted rakshasas – all of whom had the magical power of the rakshasas, entered the Virata kingdom. They all flew inside the kingdom in the dead of the night and none of the people or the guards in the kingdom were any wiser.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja and his friends were disguised as the normal humans and they looked around the city.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">There, Gatothgaja was in for a bigger surprise. The city had an absolutely beautiful and festive look. Asking around, the rakshasa realized that Uttara, the princess of Matsya was to be married the next day. She was to be wedded to Duryodhana’s son – Lakshmana Kumara.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Obviously, the king of Virata had not only decided to reject Abhimanyu as Uttara’s suitor, but he had also decided to marry Uttara to Abhimanyu’s father’s rival. The preparations for the wedding were on at a full scale and the entire capital was in a festive look.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Realizing that he would have to act fast, Gatothgaja asked his friends to make the necessary preparations.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja’s friends used their magic and created the most beautiful textile shop right in the middle of the city of the Matsya kingdom. The clothes of the shop were unbelievably beautiful.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Better still, knowing that the marriage of the beautiful princess would create a huge demand of rich clothes, the rakshasa friends took the rich and beautiful clothes to the part of the Matsya palace where the Kauravas and their soldiers were staying.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The rakshasas could have made a killing profit by selling their beautiful clothes at a high price, just before the grand royal wedding.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Instead of focusing on the profits, the disguised rakshasas undersold the clothes.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The Kaurava soldiers did not understand the purpose of why the people were almost giving away their rich clothes. The Kauravas bought all the beautiful clothes of the rakshasas and the Kauravas were snickering at the foolish people for having sold the beautiful and rich goods at a seeming loss.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">**********</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Meanwhile ignoring the buying spree outside, Gatothgaja entered the palace using his magic.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">For doing that, the rakshasa had changed himself into a beautiful woman. He looked around and went to the room of the princess.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The maids of the princess were surprised at the sudden arrival of a strange and beautiful woman, but the woman was so beautiful that the maids could not ask any questions.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">My princess….” The strange woman told Princess Uttara as soon as she had entered the room of the princess. The words of the woman however died in her throat as the woman was shocked on seeing the princess.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The hair of the princess was unkempt and the princess looked like she was not even going to get ready for any of the ceremonies of the wedding. Her friends had been trying to convince the princess to get ready when the woman had come inside.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Why are you not getting ready for the wedding ceremonies, my princess?” The woman asked.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Why should I get ready?” The princess demanded looking furious. “I do not want this marriage….”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Have you told your parents about this, your majesty?” The woman asked the princess.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Of course!” The princess nearly exploded. “You think I can marry anyone else other than Abhimanyu? How can my parents even think that…”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Prince Abhimanyu who is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, my princess?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The other maids were behind the woman and they could not see the face of the woman.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">But Uttara saw it and she nearly gasped. Uttara saw that the strange woman now had the face of the man whom Uttara loved with her whole heart.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Uttara stared blankly at the woman, unable to believe what she had just seen.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">What? How….” The princess was gasping.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">I think it would help if we talk alone, your majesty.” The woman told the princess. “I think it is best that you get ready for the wedding. You shall see that this match is the best one for you. I can convince you of it.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Princess Uttara recovered.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">I need to talk to her alone.” The princess said suddenly unable to hide the smile in her face as she had sent the other girls away from her room.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">******</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Who are you?” The slightly shocked princess asked the woman. “Do you know Abhimanyu?”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">I am Gatothgaja, Bheema’s son.” The woman said as she shed her false face.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The princess nearly screamed as she saw a huge male rakshasa appear in front of her. Then the princess heard the rakshasa’s words.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Bheema’s son? Bheema the Pandava?” Uttara demanded looking shocked.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, your majesty.” The rakshasa said smiling at the princess.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">What are you doing here?” The princess demanded and suddenly she looked worried. “My father is getting worried. He wants to get me married as soon as possible. Tomorrow is the wedding. Lakshmana Kumara is already here. It is a certainty that the wedding will take place tomorrow.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The rakshasa smiled at the agitated princess. “Just tell me where Prince Lakshmana Kumara is, and get ready and stay in your bed. Do not worry about anything else.” The rakshasa said looking proudly at the princess. “My brother loves you. And you also love him. I am here. I shall take care of it. Take rest and worry about nothing else.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">But…” The princess started.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Don’t worry, my princess.”</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">With those words, the rakshasa walked away leaving the princess in her room.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">**********</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">From there, the rakshasa went to the room of Lakshamana Kumara.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">It was said that the rakshasa went inside the prince’s room with the face of the princess.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">But once the rakshasa met Lakshmana Kumara, Gatothgaja took a huge and hideous form.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The rakshasa terrified the Kaurava prince with his appearance so badly that the prince fell unconscious!</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">********</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">From there, the rakshasa flew to the room of the princess and there he carried the princess who was sitting in her bed.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The rakshasa carried the princess from the balcony of the place. All the soldiers of the palace, especially, the Kaurava soldiers saw it. They all shouted as they ran after the flying rakshasa trying to catch them.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">It was at that time, that Gatothgaja’s friends also joined him.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The clothes that the Kauaravas had purchased from the disguised rakshasas also flew away along with the flying rakshasas!</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Embarrassed, the Kauravas went back to their room.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Now without any hindrance, Gatothgaja and his friends had carried Uttara to the forests, where Abhimanyu was waiting for them.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu married Uttara in the same auspicious time that Uttara’s father had fixed for her wedding with Lakshaman Kumara.</font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">In the end, Lakshmana Kumara was so terrified with the sudden apparition that he had seen that he vowed never to marry in his life!</font></font></p>SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-12257140825952067722020-05-08T00:32:00.001-07:002020-05-08T00:32:13.056-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 8<p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: page; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Subhadra looked around the forests and she was feeling uneasy. Till date, she had never seen Daruka lose his way.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">But somehow the forests made her uneasy.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Are you sure we are going to the Virata kingdom, Daruka?” Subhadra asked in a quiet voice.</font></font></span></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Abhima</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">n</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">yu </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">was </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">puzzled. “Why mother? Why do you doubt Daruka?”</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The forests make me uncomfortable.” Subhadra said in a quiet voice looking around, as Daruka drove around a tree and kept going in the same direction.</font></font></span></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Do not worry mother.” Abhimanyu said with a quiet pride. “Rest your mind. No matter what happens, I shall…”</font></font></span></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Abhimanyu had not even finished talking when the chariot skidded to a sudden halt. Daruka pulled the reins of the horses tightly as Abhima</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">n</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">yu caught the chariot in one hand and held his mother in the other hand.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Even at that time before Daruka spoke, the warrior in Abhima</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">n</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">yu was </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">instinctive and </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">powerful, as he was looking around and pulling </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">the </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">arrow from his quiver.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">What is it, Daruka?” Abhimanyu asked Daruka in a whisper as he was making sure that his mother was well hidden in</font></font></span><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">side</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> the chariot.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">I sense movement. There is someone in the forest watching us, my prince.” Daruka said in a quiet voice. “I do not think it is advisable to drive further without…”</font></font></span></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">That was when the two men saw it. A powerfully built rakshasa came from behind the tree and he was studying the chariot and its people with slight interest and a lot of suspicion </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">marked his face</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Abhimanyu’s arrow was in the bow as he pulled it back and </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">he looked at the rakshasa. “Step no further! Or the arrow shall decapitate you.”</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">The rakshasa laughed loudly. “I am a part rakshasa. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">I have magic in my blood. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">You think you can stop me with </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">mere mortal weapons</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">?”</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Saying this, the rakshasa vanished from the place.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Subhadra and Daruka from </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">inside </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">the chariot gasped as they saw the suddenly missing </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">rakshasa</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">. But then not for nothing was Abhimanyu the pupil of Krishna. He jumped out of the chariot and he did not even blink and he fired arrows in a clean trajectory in the direction that the rakshasa had been there.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Much to the rakshasa’s surprise, the aim of the boy was perfect.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Even without seeing him, Abhimanyu was able to pierce the rakshasa with his arrow.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Gasping, the rakshasa made himself visible as he pulled out the arrow from his arm. Seeing that his enemy was </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">in a </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">weakened </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">state</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">, Abhimanyu threw down his arrow </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">and bow </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">and stood before the rakshasa.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Subhadra and Daruka watched with baited breath as the two people fought bare handed and it almost seemed like Abhimanyu was going to win the fight.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">That was when Subhadra saw someone else in the forest. A feminine form which was walking towards the two fighters. A few seconds later, </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Subhadra could see better and the form </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">turned out to be an old female rakshasi. She had presumably been </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">dragged here by the sounds of the fighting of the two men.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">It was at that minute that Subhadra saw the fallen rakshasa looking wide-eyed with surprise to see the older rakshasi here. “Mother! What are you doing here?” The rakshasa demanded looking furious. “You were supposed to stay in the house with Ahilawati and the children.”</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu stepped back confused as he saw the older rakshasi.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">It seemed to Subhadra like the older rakshasi was shocked too. “How… How..” She stammered looking at the young Abhimanyu again. “How can a young human overpower the son of Bheema?” She shook her head looking shocked. “It is impossible.”</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Subhadra was shocked as she heard the older rakshasi’s words. She hurriedly came out of the chariot and stood before Abhimanyu before Abhimanyu could attack the fallen rakshasa. The older rakshasi seemed shocked too as she saw the woman.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“</span><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">The rakshasa </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">is the son of Bheema? Bheema the second Pandava?” Subhadra asked the older rakshasi in a dazed voice. “How…”</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Subhadra suddenly bowed to the older rakshasi. She turned to her confused son and waved him over.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhima</font></font></span><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">n</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">yu, meet your cousin, Gatothgaja. The son of Bheema uncle and Hidimbi, the queen of the rakshasas of the forest.”</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">*******</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Daruka claimed to have lost his way. Everybody was suspicious about it, but then no one asked any questions.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Abhimanyu was thrilled to find his cousin’s children in the beautiful house in the forest – </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">the children were </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Babarika and Anjanaparva. Abhimanyu also met Gatothgaja’s wife Ahilwati </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">in the forests </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">there.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu found the older Gatothgaja, a sweet and lovable older brother who seemed eager to help him.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Just like </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu</font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">, Gatothgaja had spent far too little time with his own father.</font></font></font></span></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“</span><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">There was a family which was passing through the forest. I was tracking them for the sacrifice before Goddess Kali. The family had a father, mother and three children. When they saw me and saw that I wanted one of them for the sacrifice of Goddess Kali, the wife wanted to come with me. The husband refused to listen to his wife and he wanted to come </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">instead</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">. Finally, the second son agreed and I was to take him to the temple, when a human came to the scene.” Gatothgaja told his cousin.</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">The human was huge and powerfully built. When he saw the second son, he asked what the matter was.” Gatothgaja shrugged. “The human offered to come with me, instead of the second son, on the condition that I had to defeat him in a fair fight.”</font></font></span></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Gatothgaja smiled in an absentminded tone, </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">as he studied Abhimanyu</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">. “We fought for hours together and the human could match m</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">y</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> speed for speed and ferocity for ferocity.” Gatothgaja smiled at his younger brother. “Just like the fight between you and me, mother interfered that time too. She told me that the human fighting me was Bheema, the second Pandava.”</span></font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu looked surprised as Gatothgaja continued. “After that day we no longer follow the practice of sacrifice. We have given it up all together.” Gatothgaja smiled at his younger brother. “Enough about me. You said you were going to Matsya kingdom? Why? What work do you have there?”</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Slowly over lunch, Abhimanyu told </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">him</font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"> </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">the reason for his travels </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">to the Matsya kingdom and </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">how Daruka </font></font></font></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">had lost the way.</font></font></font></span></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Gatothgaja looked slightly angry after Abhimanyu had finished.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">That was not fair. Yudhishtara uncle gambled away the kingdom. Why should the Virata king refuse to marry his daughter to Arjuna’s son for that?”</font></font></span></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Abhimanyu said nothing as he was looking dejected. The young prince was surprised as he saw a sudden smile in the face of the young rakshasa.</font></font></font></p><p align="justify" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 0.42in; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">“<font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">Fear not </font></font></span><font face="EB Garamond 08"><font style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">young </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">brother.” Gatothgaja told Abhimanyu with a sudden smile. “Whether you have lost your way or not, the fact remains that you have come to the right place. Uttara loves you and you love her. It is my duty to make sure that you marry the woman that you love.” That was all that the rakshasa said with a hearty laugh.</span></font></font></font></p>SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-3302089167207702592018-04-28T11:39:00.002-07:002019-07-06T21:38:50.496-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sixteen
Years Later</b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">This
is so unfair!” Subhadra was furious. “How could King Virata go
back on his word?”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Krishna
sighed not saying anything. There really was nothing for him to say.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">He
was so eager to get his daughter married to the Pandavas?” Subhadra
was ranting angrily. “What caused him to suddenly change his mind?”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">The
fact that Yudhishtara gambled away his kingdom.” Krishna said as
his dark eyes were glowing with a strange emotion. “That is what
made Virata rethink his offer to get his daughter Uttara married to
Abhimanyu.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">What
is Abhimanyu’s fault in that?” Subhadra wailed angrily.
“Abhimanyu is Arjuna’s son – Arjuna does not gamble. He does
not….”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">He
did not stop his elder brother from gambling either.” Krishna
interrupted in a soft voice. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Subhadra’s
shoulder’s sagged unhappily. “Ever since the dice game and the
thirteen year exile, everything has gone wrong. Duryodhana has taken
over all of the Pandavas kingdom.” Subhadra said angrily. “I have
not seen my husband properly. All I knew that my husband and his
brothers were suffering in the forests. In fact in the last year I
did not even know where my husband was...”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Arjuna
and the other Pandavas were in incognito.” Krishna reminded
Subhadra. “Naturally, you could not know where Arjuna was hiding.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Subhadra
did not bother replying. She knew that whether anyone else knew or
not, Krishna would have known. He always did.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Then
after the thirteenth year, I was thrilled when I got a message from
Arjuna.” Subhadra continued in a sullen voice. “Telling me that
King Virata wanted his daughter to marry Abhimanyu.” Subhadra
looked angrily at Krishna. “When I told Abhimanyu about it… he
seemed happy.” She looked glum. “Now, what do I go and tell him?”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Krishna
said nothing as Subhadra continued. “This seems unfair.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Why
don’t you go and talk to the king about it?” Krishna asked
Subhadra gently. His dark eyes suddenly turned mischievous. But
Subhadra was too angry to notice it.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Me?”
She asked angrily.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Krishna
nodded. “Arjuna and the other Pandavas are talking with Virata. I
think you should also go and talk to the king.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">What
do you think I can say….?” Subhadra started.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">You
are Abhimanyu’s son and you want your son to be happy. Isn’t that
what you want to tell Virata?”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">But...”
Subhadra started.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">No
buts.” Krishna said finally. “I am making arrangements for the
two of you to leave for the kingdom of Matsya to meet King Virata.”
Krishna nodded. “Please tell Abhimanyu to be ready.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Where
are you going?” Subhadra asked looking bewildered.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I
am going to tell Daruka to get ready.” Krishna said thumbing
towards outside their palace in the city of Dwaraka. “He is the
swiftest rider I have and I believe that he can get you where you
need to go as soon as possible.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Subhadra
frowned. But Krishna did not give her a chance to talk as he walked
out of the palace.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">*******</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I
want you to ride there now.” Krishna told Daruka who was getting
the chariot ready. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Your
Majesty, that forest is not the Matsya kingdom.” Daruka was not new
to the plans or the smiles of Lord Krishna. But still this was
completely new for the charioteer.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Nowhere
even close.” Krishna agreed. “And just make sure that Subhadra or
Abhimanyu do not know where you are actually taking them.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Daruka
opened his mouth and then looked at the dark hue of the Dark Lord and
then smiled. “Bheema’s son lives there, my Lord. He lives in the
forests there, with his mother – Hidimbi.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Is
it?” Krishna asked looking confused though his eyes looked amused.
“I did not know that.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">You
want Abhimanyu and Bheema’s son to meet, don’t you?”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">I
am not saying anything else, Daruka.” Krishna said with a smile.
“You are making all the guesses.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
could be no further talk between the charioteer and the Dark Lord,
because Abhimanyu – who was all of sixteen years came into the
stable, followed by his mother.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">What
good would it do to talk to Virata?” Abhimanyu asked without any
preamble. But all Krishna saw was that Abhimanyu’s eyes looked sad.
He tried to look cheerful, but it still seemed impossible for the
little boy.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes
talking can solve a lot of problems, son.” Krishna told Abhimanyu.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Abhimanyu
did not seem very convinced as he strapped on his bow and arrow.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Subhadra
got on the chariot as Abhimanyu followed his brother.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Get
them to where they need to go, Daruka.” Krishna told Daruka.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Daruka
smiled as he started the chariot without another word.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Author’s
Note</b></i>: The story of Gatothgaja helping in the marriage of
Abhimanyu and Vatsala is a part of folklore. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
the folk story, Vatsala is supposedly the daughter of Balarama –
the brother of Krishna. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">However,
no translation of the Mahabharatha mentions the second marriage of
Abhimanyu. Mahabharatha only states that Abhimanyu is married to
Uttara – the daughter of King Virata. He married her at the age of
sixteen and he died three months after his wedding in the
Mahabharatha war. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
author has merely borrowed the idea of the folk story of
Abhimanyu-Vatsala marriage into the marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttara.
</span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">However,
as per the original version, Virata had no problems with his daughter
Uttara marrying Abhimanyu – in fact he was very eager for it.</span></div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-3763116676395586892018-04-25T19:26:00.000-07:002019-07-06T21:38:50.504-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yudhishtara was the first to
sense that they were being followed as he turned sharply.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">His brothers turned with him
and they all saw the rakshasi woman following them.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Not knowing what to do they
all stared at each other. Because though they all were good warriors,
none of them had ever attacked a woman before.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But the problem was that they
knew that Hidimbi was a rakshasi and what she was capable of.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Kunti came forward angrily,
which was when Hidimbi smiled at them and bowed at Kunti.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">Please lady, listen to me.”
Hidimbi started in a gentle voice.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Kunti looked slightly stunned
as Hidimbi gave another beautiful glance at Bheema. “I am Hidimbi
and I am a rakshasi. Your son here has killed my brother. Me and my
brother used to attack and kill the travelers who used to travel in
this place. But after seeing your son, I….” Hidimbi fumbled as
she blushed a deep red. She was still in her human form and Kunti
looked slightly amused as she saw Hidimbi. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">At that minute, Kunti knew
that Hidimbi was not following them in spite.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">True enough.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hidimbi locked her eyes with
Bheema and nodded slowly. “I am in love with your second son.
Please let me marry me.”</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Kunti found that request quite
reasonable.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And even more was the fact
that even Bheema seemed to love the woman a lot.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And so it was Bheema, the
second Pandava who had his marriage conducted first among the five
Pandavas. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hidimbi being a rakshasi, she
was well-versed in magic. She promised to bring back Bheema, as and
when, the Pandavas needed.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Yudhishtara embraced his newly
wed brother and Hidimbi looked proud and she and her husband vanished
from the place there.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">******</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In due course, Hidimbi and
Bheema had a son – the child was bald. And the child was part
rakshasa and from his mother’s side, the child was capable of doing
any kind of magic. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The child became the favourite
of all the Pandavas and because his head was bald like a water pot
the child was named as ‘Gatothgaja’ which meant the ‘pot
headed. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The little Gatothgaja was the
first child of the next generation for the Pandavas. All the five
brothers adored the little rakshasa as he was filled with pranks and
made the living in the forests far too easy. He used his magic to
keep them entertained and they all loved it</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">******</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But after the birth of
Gatothgaja, Hidimbi knew that Bheema and the other Pandavas had to go
their way. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So she bid farewell to her
husband.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The little Gatothgaja promised
his parents that he would be appear before them anytime that he
needed and he also vanished from there and went with his mother.</span></div>
<br />
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-73168215661871324312017-08-04T19:33:00.000-07:002019-07-06T21:38:50.518-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="justify" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
Meanwhile,
Hidimba was waiting for his sister. She had never been late before.
She had always been quick and efficient in her kills.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
right now, Hidimba waited and waited and still there was no sign of
his sister.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally,
Hidimba got impatient and walked towards the direction that her
sister had gone.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
as he walked the entire forests trembled. Because Hidimba was a
really frightful looking monster. With red eyes, hairy body and arms
which were as thick as the truck of trees and long and sharp pointed
teeth, Hidimba looked like he could kill humans with a single blow.
He could.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimba
plodded through to the clearing where the Pandavas and their mother
was sleeping and on arriving there, he was stunned.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">His
sister, was now looking ravishingly beautiful and was talking with
the human.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shock
gave way to anger as Hidimba snarled loudly looking ferocious as he
bared his teeth at the human. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking
at his sister's beautiful dresses and her made up face, Hidimba could
almost immediately guess that his sister had changed her mind.
Hidimba looked furiously angry at his sister and then murderously
studied the human whom her sister loved.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimbi
naturally did not know anything about Bheema and she was afraid that
her brother was going to kill the human who she had so deeply
desired.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
for his part, saw the ferocious monster and gave a mirthless smile.
He looked at Hidimbi and shook his head. "Lady, do not be afraid
of anything. As long as I am here, that monster can do nothing to
anyone here," Bheema said in a sneering voice.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimbi
could not believe the audacity of the human before her. He was proud
and regal and looked completely confident. Hidimbi had seen enough
people to realize that the human was really not afraid of Hidimba.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
Hidimbi had seen her brother in action too and she knew that Hidimba
was not someone to be taken lightly. "That brother of mine is
really powerful, human!" Hidimbi said struggling not to get
afraid.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimba
looked at the human and his own sister and he could barely control
his hatred. "Hidimbi, in the mighty honour of the Rakshasas, who
are your ancestors," Hidimba said in a sneering tone, "I am
going to kill you and the human whom you hold so dear." </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimba
came closer as he was trying to kill his sister.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
wasted no time as he pushed Hidimba back angrily. "Your sister
was sent here by you. And she fell in love with me. By loving me, she
has committed no crime against you." Bheema said in a sneering
voice. "And I will never let you hurt a woman when I am here."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Talk
and boast!" Hidimba said angrily, as he turned his attention
from his sister to the human before her. "That is all you humans
can do." </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimba
gave a cursory glance at the sleeping Pandavas and Kunti and looked
at Bheema with contempt. "And take it from me. I will destroy
you and then I will kill you. And after that, I will kill every
single one of those people who are behind you."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimba
had not even finished speaking, when a terrible battle ensued between
the human and the Rakshasa.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimba
attacked Bheema, who deftly step sided the attack. Bheema with his
ferocious strength, clutched Hidimba by the throat and dragged him
far away from the clearing, because he did not want the Rakshasa's
yelling to wake up his brothers and mother. (It is said that Bheema
dragged Hidimba nearly 32 cubits which is about 0.14 kilometers).</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
then as the two fought each other ferociously, the other Pandavas
woke up. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first thing they saw on waking up, was Hidimbi who was keeping a
watch on them. She looked worried as she was watching the fight
between her brother and the human and she was struggling not to get
afraid.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimbi
quickly told the sleeping Pandavas and Kunti everything that had
happened.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Arjuna
wasted no time as he and his brothers ran towards the clearing that
their brother and Hidimba were fighting.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Let
us help you!" Arjuna yelled at Bheema as he saw the fight
between the two.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">"STAY!"
Bheema snarled angrily as his eyes did not even move an inch from
Hidimba.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Without
even pausing to take a breath, Bheema pushed the Rakshasa back who
fell down hard.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">"The
twilight hour is coming, Bheema!" Arjuna yelled. "Rakshasas
become extremely powerful during this time. It is practically
impossible to defeat them during the twilight. Finish him before
that!" Arjuna yelled. "Or let us help. You look tired!"</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
snarled as he looked at Hidimba and saw the skies behind and realized
that Arjuna was right.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
Bheema wasted no further time. Summoning up the power of the Wind God
within him, Bheema hurled Hidimba to the ground and smashed the
Rakshasa in one swift move.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
Rakshasa gave a fearful yell which resounded through the entire
forests. The entire forests seemed shaken with Hidimba's
earshattering roar.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">With
that Hidimba breathed his last.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
three Pandava brothers – Yudhishtara, Nakula and Sahadeva along
with Kunti and Hidimbi watched the impossible feat of Bheema unable
to believe what they were seeing.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
Arjuna was not even paying attention to the fight. He was more
worried about what the death of Hidimba signified. They were already
on the run from Duryodhana. As of now, the only reason they were safe
was that Duryodhana believed them to be dead. But if Duryodhana
learnt about the death of Hidimba, there was a chance that he could
suspect that this was the handiwork of Bheema leading to conclusion
that the Pandavas were still alive.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">So
the most prudent thing to do right now was to move away from the
place and get to the nearest town.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Let's
move." Arjuna told his brothers immediately.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
and the other Pandavas looked at the place and the dead Rakshasa.</span></span></span></div>
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<div align="justify" style="border: none; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "alfios";"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">They
all realized the logic of Arjuna. They moved away from the place,
making way to the nearest town. And all the while, they were followed
by Hidimbi, the Rakshasa woman.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-29917104657434494572017-08-04T19:32:00.000-07:002019-07-06T21:38:50.488-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="justify" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the underground tunnel, the Pandavas walked. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
crossed the town of Varanavatha and reached the banks of the river
Ganga. There, they met a boat man who happily took them across to the
other side.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anxious
to put maximum distance between themselves and the city of
Varanavatha, the Pandavas did not stop at the other side of the
river. They kept walking even after reaching the other side.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
by then it was dark.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still,
using the lights of the stars, the six people walked and they walked
until they were exhausted. And now they had reached a dense forest.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately,
the forest was so dark, that after walking for some time, the
Pandavas were completely lost.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
in the dark forest, they could not even make out which way they had
to go to get out of the forest. Stumbling, they kept walking and
slipped and fell often, because they could not see where they were
going.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tired
and hungry after hours of walking, the Pandavas were exhausted and
just did not know what to do. Feeling almost hopeless, Yudhishtara
turned to Bheema, “I cannot do this anymore. I do not know...”
Yudhishtara swallowed painfully as he continued. “I do not even
know what has happened to Purochana - whether that wretch survived
the fire or not. And all I have done is keep walking. Please,”
Yudhishtara said shaking his head tiredly. “Please, help us.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
was obviously not one to even find the request of his brother odd. He
was after all the son of Vayu – the powerful Wind God – the God
who could create tornadoes and shake up entire cities. Bheema did not
even hesitate as he carried all his brothers and his mother. He put
his mother on his shoulder, Nakula and Sahadeva on his arms and he
carried Yudhishtara and Arjuna in his hands. And with all this,
Bheema did not falter or run out of breath. He walked as if he was
walking normally.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
Bheema nearly smashed through the forest as he walked. The force with
which Bheema walked through the forest and even grown up trees did
not have a chance. Bheema kicked the trees and kept walking unmindful
of what was in his path.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
were almost in the middle of the forest, when the brothers were now
feeling thirsty.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yudhishtara
hearing the sounds of water birds, realized that there was a pond
nearby.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">So
under the instructions of his brother, Bheema left his mother and
brothers and walked towards the pond to get water. After drinking
water, he carried it back. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bringing
the water back in his soaking upper garmet, Bheema saw a
disheartening sight – his brothers and mother – the people who
were meant to be kings and queen, were lying fast asleep on the rough
forest ground. The people who until a day back were sleeping on the
softest bed in the entire kingdom, were now asleep in the rough and
rocky regions of the forests. That was the time Bheema cursed
angrily. <i>All this was happening because of the wretched son of
Dhirdarashtra. </i>Bheema looked at Yudhishtara almost with despair.
<i>I would kill all the sons of Dhirdarashtra. All at one go! The
only reason, I have not yet done it, is because Yudhishtara is not
yet angry with Duryodhana. </i>Bheema wondered what would make
Yudhishtara really angry at the sons of Dhirdarashtra....</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
as his brothers were asleep, Bheema looked around the forest and
decided that he would not sleep. The forest looked dangerous and
Bheema wanted to keep his brothers and mother safe. He kept watch
over his brothers, while they slept.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
the Pandavas rested there not knowing the dangers that they were
in...</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because
not far away from the place where the Pandavas were asleep, there
lived a Rakshasa by name Hidimba. Hidimba was a vicious cannibal. In
the forests which was his home, Hidimba with his heightened sensed
was able to smell the brothers as soon as they had stepped inside the
forest.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
Hidimba was ready for a tasty meal. He turned to his sister Hidimbi.
“I can smell humans in my territory, sister. Go and see who these
humans are. And after you find them, kill them.” Hidimba said with
mad, gleeful eyes.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidimbi
who had been living with his brother for as long as she could
remember, had done many such work for her brother. She did not find
it any odd to do her brother’s bidding this time too, as she walked
towards the sleeping humans.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Little
did she know that her life was about to change.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
Hidimbi saw the Pandavas fast asleep in the grounds of the forest,
she saw Bheema who was awake and keeping a watchful eye around.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
in the dark forest, as Hidimbi saw Bheema’s features, she
immediately fell in love with the human. It was love at first sight
for Hidimbi and she could not even remember that she was here because
she wanted to kill the humans. Right now, she could do nothing else –
she just wanted to keep staring at the handsome man in front of her.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
some time, Hidimbi just could not control herself, as she changed her
appearance and decided to talk with the human.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking
beautiful and decked up like a human, Hidimbi approached Bheema.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
stirred and saw a beautiful woman come near him and was wary. “Who
are you?” Bheema asked the woman keeping an eye, looking around.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
territory belongs to the cruel Rakshasa – Hidimba, human. Hidimba
is an evil man and feasts of human flesh. I am his sister and I was
sent by him. But on seeing you, I just cannot do anything that my
brother wants me to do. After seeing you, I realize that I want only
you as my husband, and no one else.”</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
stared blankly at the woman as she continued. “What are you doing
here at this time? Do not stay here all alone. Come away with me.
Come away with me so that I can keep you safe from my brother.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Bheema
laughed mirthlessly. “My mother and my brothers are sleeping. I
cannot leave them here all alone.” Bheema studied the woman again.
“And I do not fear Rakshasas.” There was a mad gleam in Bheema’s
eyes as he looked at Hidimbi. “In fact, rakshasas need to fear me.
I am so powerful that I can defeat anyone who fights me.”</span></span></span></div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-67858862890748552892017-08-04T19:31:00.000-07:002019-07-06T21:38:50.509-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; page-break-before: always; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chapter
3 – A Palace on Flames</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ould
there be anything else, my prince?” Purochana asked as he bowed to
Yudhishtara and the other Pandavas. Yudhishtara was struggling not to
let anything show on his face as he nodded to Purochoana, “That
would be all for today. Thank you so much,” Yudhishatara said with
the false smile that he had cultivated over the year that he had
stayed here in the Palace of Lac at Vanavarata. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
fact, Purochana did not even notice anything amiss as he nodded and
went back to his quarters, outside the palace.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yudhishtara’s
gaze followed the man as he made sure that Purochana was out of the
palace and could not overhear them. It was only after that
Yudhishtara went inside his own inner apartment where his brothers
and the miner were working on the tunnel as his mother was keeping a
watch making sure that the servants did not come inside the room. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
all stopped the work as Yudhishtara came inside and sat heavily on
the throne behind him. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yudhishtara
peered inside the tunnel and saw that the tunnel had reached outside
the palace, all the way underground. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
is time,” Yudhishtara said finally looking at his brothers.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now?”
It was Bhima who asked the question.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yudhistara
nodded. “We need to do it before Purochana beats us to punch. As of
now, Purochana believes that we are deceived. It would be difficult
to keep these appearances for much longer.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">One
by one, the other brothers nodded as they looked at the miner who was
watching and not saying anything. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
will be done, my princes,” The miner nodded finally. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
night Kunti spoke to her eldest son, “Son, we need to organize a
feast for tomorrow.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yudhishtara
looked at Kunti for a huge second and then blinked. He realized what
his mother was saying and knew that it was wrong to do it. But they
did not have a lot of choice in this matter. It needed to be done.
With a heavy head, Yudhishtara nodded not saying anything else.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">********</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
next day people thronged at the palace of the Pandavas. Though the
sons of Pandu were generous with the money, still for the people of
the kingdom, a feast was a feast. That was something which was
eagerly awaited by all the people in the kingdom. Especially, since
they all realized how much the second son Bhima enjoyed his food. The
food from the royal kitchens was almost unmatched with anything found
anywhere else in the kingdom.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Among
the people who came to the palace was a Nishada woman and like Kunti
she also had five sons. Probably, it was fate as the Nishada woman
came to the palace of Lac with her five sons to enjoy the feast.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Neither
the woman nor her sons realized that they had had more wine than they
should have had. Unable to control themselves, the woman and her five
sons slept in the very inside the palace, fast asleep and completely
oblivious to the real world.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
feast was over and the other guests had all gone back to their homes.
Purochana had helped the Pandavas during the entire day and was
completely exhausted as he went to his quarters just outside the
quarters and was asleep even before his head hit the pillow. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yudhishtara
saw all this and then nodded to Bheema as they opened the hole of
their floor. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bhima
took the fire torch from the place and lit it. Without another
thought, Bhima set fire to the entire palace. And Bhima set fire to
all parts of the palace and outside the palace, making sure that no
one who was inside or around the mansion could escape the fire.
Bhima, started the fire from outside the palace and came inside as he
walked inside the innermost room with the hole in it and closed the
door. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ignoring
the heat and spreading fire, the Pandavas entered the tunnel and
closed the hole behind them as they walked out of the passage.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">*******</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
townspeople were shocked as they saw the blazing fire. They all
brought buckets of water and tried to put out the fire and that was
when the townspeople realized something horrific. The palace was
completely combustible. No matter how much they tried putting out the
fire, the fire spread so quickly that there was never really any hope
of protecting anyone who was inside the palace. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Slowly,
the next day, as the townspeople saw the unrecognizably charred body
of the Nishada woman and her five sons and all the people arrived at
the conclusion that they were meant to arrive at – that the
Pandavas and their mother had perished in the fire. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
they saw the charred body of Purochana outside the house and they all
realized that it was a plan…A plan made by the prince of Hastinapur
to get rid of his cousins. The townspeople even believed that
Purochana had perished in the fire because he had been unable to get
out of the fire after setting the palace on fire.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
townspeople all cursed Duryodhana and Dhirdarashtra for their
wickedness.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">No
one noticed the well-made tunnel which was made right in the centre
of the palace mostly because none of them were looking for it and
more importantly because the tunnel was built brilliantly well to
make sure that it was not seen from the outside.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-3580800783142542312017-08-04T19:30:00.000-07:002019-07-06T21:38:50.500-07:00Gatothgaja - Chapter 2 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span>efore
leaving for Vanaravata, the Pandavas paid respect to all the elders
of Hastinapur. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the end the Pandavas met Vidura, the man who was wise beyond his age
and who through his extensive spy system knew almost everything which
happened in the kingdom of Hastinapur and outside it.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
Vidura was blessing Yudhishtara, the eldest Pandava, a rather strange
thing happened. </span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The learned Vidura spoke in the language of the
Mlechchas, instead of the language spoken in Hastinapur. This
language was hardly known to anyone in the kingdom of Hastinapur and
the words of Vidura sounded like utter garble - except to one person.
The person for whom it was intended – Yudhishtara. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yudhishtara,
the eldest Pandava knew the language of the Mlechchas and was
steadily getting worried as he understood exactly <i>what</i><span style="font-style: normal;">
Vidura was saying.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">You
need to know what your enemies are upto and avoid the dangers. And
remember that fire cannot destroy someone who is hiding under the
hole in the woods and when you are in a strange home it is best to be
like a jackal and make not one escape route, but make many ways out.” </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yudhishtara
stared at Vidura, who was studying his nephew with dangerous eyes as
Vidura continued in the same language, “Sometimes, son, it is best
to keep wandering from one place to another to acquire knowledge and
that way you would also keep your five senses safe.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Y</span><span style="font-style: normal;">udhishtara
was silent as Vidura and Yudhishtara studied each other.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
understand!” Yudhishtara said in the same language, as a sudden
crinkly smile broke in Vidura’s face.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">S</span><span style="font-style: normal;">oon
the Pandavas came out of the house of Vidura and bid goodbye to the
Pandavas and their mother Kunti, as they set out to Vanaravata. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
Pandavas then were out of the kingdom </span><span style="font-style: normal;">of
Hastinapur </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and were walking
when a confused Kunti came to her son.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">What
was it that Vidura said?” she asked Yudhishtara. “And I did not
even know what it was that you said in return.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yudhishtara
saw the kingdom of Hastinapur far behind him and took in a deep
breath as he saw his mother and brother</span><span style="font-style: normal;">s</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
look at him, questioningly.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">There
is going to be a fire. A huge fire and we need to escape it!”
Yudhishtara said finally. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">*********</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
Pandavas were met by a man called Purochana in the city of
Vanaravata. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">He saw the
Pandavas and told them that he was here to help them. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">The
Pandavas then met all the high officials in the city of Vanravata and
the people were all glad to see the Pandavas. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Finally
with Purochana’s help, they went to the palace built for them in the
city of Vanravata. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It was a beautiful palace, by any stretch of
imagination. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yudhishtara
saw the palace and nodded at Purochana. “We would like to inspect
the palace ourselves!” Yudhishtara told Purochana. “It has been
built so beautifully.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Purochana
nodded not saying anything as he walked away leaving the six of them
alone.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Hurriedly,
the Pandavas entered the palace and they were all shell shocked
because they made a sad discovery. The </span><span style="font-style: normal;">beautiful
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">palace was combustible and
was built out of resin, hemp, straw, bamboo and butter and lac! </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">All
it needed was a tiny spark and the fire inside the palace would be
uncontrollable and destroy </span><span style="font-style: normal;">everything
inside it. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yudhishtara
turned to Bheema, “We need to build an underground tunnel out of
the palace.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;">In
secret. No one can know about it. To the outside world we act
normally, but we work on the tunnel everyday.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Tunnel?”
Bheema asked as Yudhishtara nodded.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">After
we escape the fire, then what?” Bheema asked his eyes popping with
anger. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yudhishtara
remembered Vidura’s words. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">We
keep moving.” Yudhishtara said slowly. “Right now, we have
neither power nor rank in the country. Once, everyone believes that
we are dead, no one would be looking for us. Then, we can move freely
and we go to all the kingdoms in the country, to build alliances and
make ourselves strong!”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">*******</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Purochana
was being very friendly to the Pandavas and he tried to make their
stay as comfortable as possible. As he was talking animatedly about
the place, a strange man came to see Yudhishtara.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yudhishtara
stared at the man who with his hard and coarse hands looked to be
some sort of manual labourer. What really surprised Yudhishtara was
that the man introduced himself in the Mlechcha language. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Yudhishtara
left Purochana and turned to the newcomer and took him to the inside
quarters and for what it was worth replied in the language of the
Mlechchas. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Who
are you?” Yudhishtara asked the man.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
am a miner!” </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the man said
in the same language, “and I was sent by Vidura to help you.”</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: normal;">A
beautiful smile broke out in the face of Yudhishtara as he nodded
happily at the man. </span></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And
so with the help of the miner,
right in the middle of the palace, the Pandavas dug a tunnel out of
the palace. They hid the hole of the tunnel by a slab to make sure
that Purochana who was living outside the palace, did not know what
they were doing.</span></span></div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-72902791873286710712017-08-04T19:29:00.000-07:002019-07-06T21:38:50.513-07:00Gatothgaja<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chapter
1 - The Palace of Lac</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span>uryodhana,
the eldest Kaurava was really jealous of his cousins – the
Pandavas. After the death of Pandu and Madri, the Pandavas had
returned from the forests with their mother Kunti, Duryodhana just
could not bear it. Duryodhana saw the Pandavas as his enemy and did
not care who knew it. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Duryodhana’s
insane jealousy and eating him up and it was not helped by the fact
that Bheema, the second Pandava, was ferociously strong. Even as a
young boy, Bheema was a very strong and Bheema found the puny
Kauravas very funny. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
had been born and brought up in the forests. The rough jungles had
just made Bheema more stronger and Bheema had nothing but disdain for
the soft Kauravas, who had known nothing other than the the luxuries
of the palace. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bheema
used to bully the Kauravas and the Kauravas were really terrified on
him. In fact, whenever they used to see Bheema, the Kauravas used to
hide on the treetops. And Bheema would still not leave the Kauravas
alone. Bheema used to stand at the base of the tree and with his
ferocious strength, Bheema used to shake the very tree. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
Kaurava boys used to fall down from the tree like fruits and look
shaken and run away terrified of the young Bheema who would laugh at
the fleeing Kaurava princes.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
all these events only made Duryodhana hate the Pandavas even more. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Duryodhana’s
hatred for the Pandavas and Bheema is particular went so bad that
when they all started learning warfare and the science of the
administration of the kingdom from Dronacharya, Duryodhana actually
tried killing Bheema. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Duryodhana
poisoned the food which was to be eaten by Bheema and when the
drugged Bheema fell unconscious, Duryodhana tied up Bheema’s hands
and feet and pushed the second Pandava inside the river. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
without a second glance, Duryodhana walked away from the place. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Luckily
for Bheema, the place under the river where Duryodhana had pushed him
had a huge kingdom of snakes. The snakes bit the unconscious Bheema
as he sunk inside the waters. The poison in Bheema’s body and the
poison of the snake acted as antidotes to each other and the poison
from Bheema system was completely gone, when he reached the snake
kingdom. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
on talking with the snakes, Bheema realized that he was related to
the snakes through his mother – Kunti. The snakes were very glad
for their new visitor though he had come to them in unfortunate
circumstances. In honour of their new guests, the snakes fed Bheema
with the nectar of the snakes. It is believed that this drink
actually made Bheema even more strong than he previously was. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
that was how Duryodhana’s first plan of killing Bheema had badly
backfired. After pushing Bheema into the river, Duryodhana came back
to the palace and he claimed to have no knowledge of what had
happened to Bheema. Kunti and the Pandavas were distraught and they
kept combing the river for some signs of Bheema and that was when
they had some suspicion of foul play. But Duryodhana was quiet and
said absolutely nothing.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Duryodhana
almost thought that he had gotten away with it, when the impossible
happened. Bheema came back from the dead. And not only that, Bheema
came back even more stronger than before. And a little wiser.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
event was an eye-opener – both to the Pandavas and to Duryodhana.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Duryodhana
realized that he would have to be more careful of disposing off his
annoying cousins in the future because they seemed to be lucky and
the Pandavas realized that Duryodhana was really insane in his
jealousy and that there was no line that Duryodhana would not cross
if it meant the destruction of the Pandavas. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
was the reason, the Pandavas never spoke of the incident again. The
Pandavas feared that if they spoke about Duryodhana’s involvement
in the whole affair, Duryodhana might do something even more
horrific.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
just because the Pandavas were silent, it did not make Duryodhana
change his mind. Duryodhana was as bad as ever and his plans if
anything were becoming more and more bold and the next time,
Duryodhana had an even more audacious plan to kill the Pandavas. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Duryodhana
spoke highly of a place called Varanavatha where the huge festival
was to be organized in honour of Lord Shiva. Duryodhana manipulated
things that he sent the Pandavas to Varanavatha and at the time the
Pandavas went there, Duryodhana had a beautiful palace built. The
palace was one of the most beautiful constructions of its times and
definitely the most combustible – because the palace was made of
lac. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
Duryodhana was patient this time. He did not want any of the events
to ever lead back to him, which was why Duryodhana wanted for a whole
year. The Pandavas had lived in the lac palace of Vanaravatha for an
entire year when Duryodhana through one of his men called Purochana,
set his plan in action.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the dead of the night, when a huge feast was conducted during the
day, when Duryodhana was sure that the Pandavas were fast asleep,
Duryodhana asked Purochana to set the entire palace on fire.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the dead of the night, a fire broke out in the lac palace of
Varanavata. The lac palace was built completely of things which could
burn and burn very easily. Which was why, the time between the
commencement of the fire and the spreading of the fire was too short.
</span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
people from Varanavata were horrified when they saw the entire lac
palace go down in flames. The people tried dousing the flames of the
palace and that was when they discovered something impossible – the
fire was spreading too fast. Far too fast, than in the case of a
normal fire. The fire kept raging and there was no part of the palace
which even escaped the fire. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
next morning a charred body of a woman with five men were inside the
palace and the people were terrified.</span></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
all realized that the Pandavas were gone and this time, there was no
one who could bring them back. And the fire had started right from
the room where Purochana was sleeping, who was also killed in the
fire. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: medium;">So
the entire kingdom believed that the evil Purochana had set fire to
the lac palace and Purochana himself killed in the fire. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1cm;">
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<span style="font-family: "urw palladio l";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Back
in Hastinapur, Duryodhana could not hide his glee when he heard of
the six dead bodies found inside the lac palace. And with the death
of Purochana, Duryodhana realized that another loose end was tied up
and this time there was nothing which could lead back to him. And
Duryodhana was actually happy. He felt that he had got rid of the
Pandavas in a masterly stroke and he had done with with absolutely no
suspicions leading back to him.</span></span></div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-86112838856014867042017-08-03T01:45:00.000-07:002019-07-25T02:12:06.552-07:00Revathi and Balarama - Part 2 of 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
the brothers were going to Dwaraka after escaping the fire, they saw
the beautiful mountain of Raivataka on the way.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
that was not surprising.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What
was, was that there was a ravishing beauty standing beside the
mountain and beside the girl, there was an old man – a very
troubled looking old man.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Though
the old man was troubled, there was no doubt that the man was a king
and the jewels that he wore looked like the jewels of very old times.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
the man carried himself like a king and had perfect regal bearings as
he studied the two brothers, looking a little worried.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Who
are you, sir?" Balarama asked as he was studying the old man.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
girl was breathtakingly beautiful. So beautiful that Balarama could
not even look at her.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"My
name is Kakudmi. Some people even call me Revata." The man spoke
in an ancient language which was almost forgotten by the locals.
Mercifully, the two brothers were able to follow him. "I am the
king of the kingdom of Kusasthali."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Balarama
was shocked.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Kusasthali?"
He demanded looking like he was unable to believe what he was
hearing.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yes."
That was the first time the girl spoke. She had a beautiful voice and
it was definitely haunting Balarama. "I am the princess of that
kingdom." There was a slight anger in her voice as if she just
could not believe that someone would doubt her and her father.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"You
do not understand, my princess," Krishna said with twinkling
eyes. "We have only </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>read</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
about the kingdom of Kusasthali. That kingdom is spoken of in the
history of the Yadavas. And incidentally, our kingdom of Dwaraka is
built on the place where the kingdom of Kusasthali once existed."
Krishna told the stupefied princess.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*******</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Why
don't you tell us about yourself, king?"</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Krishna
asked the king, as they had reached the kingdom of Dwaraka.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
moats of the kingdom were drawn in and the princess and the king were
treated with utmost respect.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
was only after this that Krishna had started talking.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Balarama
for his part was strangely silent.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
Krishna found that odd he made no mention about it. But absolutely
everyone could know that Krishna's eyes were looking unduly
mischievous. Even more mischievous than he usually looked.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kakudmi,
unfortunately did not know much about Balarama or Krishna and the
king saw nothing unusual as he continued.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"As
I have told you I am the king of Kusasthali." Kakudmi paused as
he studied his beautiful daughter.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She
blushed slightly and she looked dazzlingly beautiful as Kakudmi
turned to Krishna.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I
wanted to find a good groom for my daughter."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Balarama
nearly gasped as he caught himself at the last minute, as the king
continued. "I could not find anyone on earth or even among the
Devas. So I approached Lord Brahma, the Creator Lord."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Lord
Brahma?" Krishna murmured. "You went to Satyaloka, the
realm of Lord Brahma?"</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kakudmi
nodded as he realized that Krishna had understood his problem. But
for the benefit of Balarama, Kakudmi continued. "When we arrived
at Satyaloka, Lord Brahma was listening to the musical presentation
of the Gandharvas - the musicians of the Devas."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Balarama
frowned as Kakudmi continued. "I waited for the presentation to
get over. That proved to be a mistake." Kakudmi said heavily.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Mistake?"
Balarama asked almost harshly.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yes."
Kakudmi continued. "You see the time in different realms pass
differently. A few minutes in Satyaloka, is a few </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>years</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
on earth. Me and my daughter were there for the </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>entire</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
musical presentation. So, by the time the presentation was over, all
the people that I knew on earth were dead - even their families were
all gone. Nothing remained."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What
happened after that?" Balarama asked and now he was really
intrigued.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"At
that time that I was talking to Lord Brahma, I did not realize this.
I told him of my problem and asked him to suggest a good groom for my
daughter." Kakudmi looked at the fierce eyes of Balarama and
continued.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Brahma
told me of what had happened on earth during the time that I had
heard the musical presentation. After that, Lord Brahma told me
another story and then the Lord asked me to come back to Raivataka."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What
story?" Krishna asked, struggling not to smile. He just </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>knew</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
where this was going.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"He
told me the story of Chakshush Manu, a powerful king who ruled over
the earth." Kakudmi sounded worried as he looked at the two
brothers.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What
about Chakshush Manu?" Balarama demanded impatiently.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Not
him." Kakudmi corrected slowly. "Manu's daughter -
Jyotishmati."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Who
is Jyotishmati?" Balarama was almost exasperated as he threw up
his hands in despair.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Chakshush
Manu conducted a great sacrifice and Jyotishmati was born from the
sacrificial fires. She was supposed to be a great beauty. When she
grew up, she wanted to marry the mightiest of them all."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Alright."
Balarama said realizing that he had to let the king go at his own
pace.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"So,
Jyotishmati first approached Indra."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Indra,
the Lord of the Devas? The bringer of the rains?" Krishna asked
and he rolled his eyes looking very mischievous.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kakudmi
nodded.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"But
Indra said that Vayu, the Lord of the Wind was stronger than him. And
he sent Jyotishmati to the Lord of the Wind."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Balarama
and Krishna looked at each other as Kakudmi continued.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Vayu
said that he was not strong enough and that the earth was stronger
than him and that the Goddess of the Earth would know who was
stronger than Vayu."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Now,</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Balarama realized why Krishna had been smiling the whole time and he
nearly blushed.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Naturally,
Kakudmi did not realize this, as he continued.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"The
Earth Goddess told Jyotishmati that Sesha, the thousand headed Snake
on which Lord Narayana rested was even more powerful than the earth
because Sesha held up the very earth on his head."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Sesha?"
Balarama nearly croaked as Krishna just could not stop laughing.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"But
the story does not end there." Kakudmi said, not realizing the
mood of the two brothers. "Lord Brahma it seems, told
Jyotishmati, that an incarnation of Lord Sesha would appear on earth.
But that incarnation would appear 27 Yugas </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>after</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
she was born."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Oh."
Was all Balarama could manage as he was struggling not to look at the
laughing Krishna.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Jyotishmati
was furious with this. That was when Brahma hastily told Jyotishmati
that </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>she</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
would cross those 27 yugas and still marry the man." Kakudmi
said as he looked at the two brothers a little hopefully.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I
just do not know what this story has to do with me or my daughter."</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">************</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Naturally,
Revathi, the daughter of Kakudmi who was Jyotishmathi reincarnated,
married Balarama, who was said to be the incarnation of Sesha, the
thousand headed snake on which Lord Narayana rests.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(The
story of Jyotishmati, the daughter of Chakshush Manu, is found in the
Garga Samhita)</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-75005829922709766722017-07-26T01:14:00.000-07:002019-07-25T02:11:11.155-07:00Revathi and Balarama - Part 1 of 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1in; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Jarasandha,
the King of Magadha, had married his twin daughters - Asti and
Prapti, to Kamsa.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kamsa
was a descendant of the King Yadu. Kamsa imprisoned his own father
Ugrasena and he usurped the throne and using the powerful army of his
father-in-law, Kamsa ruled over all the Yadavas like a tyrant.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Krishna
was Kamsa's nephew.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before
Krishna's birth, there was a prophecy that the eighth child of Devaki
- Kamsa's sister - would bring about the death of Kamsa.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Enraged
on learning about the prophecy, Kamsa jailed Devaki and her husband
Vasudeva and Kamsa killed all the children of the couple as soon as
they were born.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Balarama
and Krishna, who were the seventh and eighth child of the couple were
secretly smuggled out of the prison, on birth.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These
two children were extraordinarily gifted individuals.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Balarama
was phenomenally strong and it was said that he was an incarnation of
Aadi Sesha - the thousand headed snake on which Lord Narayana, the
Preserver God, rests - and Aadi Sesha is so powerful that he holds up
the very earth on his head.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Krishna
is said to be the incarnation of Narayana himself. Krishna means
black. Krishna was an extraordinarily handsome man and was
exceedingly dark in complexion. Hence his name.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Krishna
and his brother grew up among the cowherds called as the Gopas.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
growing up Krishna went in search of his natural parents and there he
killed Kamsa in Mathura, thereby fulfilling the prophecy about his
birth.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
Kamsa's death, the crown reverted back to Kamsa's father - Ugrasena.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
Kamsa, the Yadavas were unwilling to answer to a single monarch and
had broken into several factions. The Yadavas were therefore a
republic and each Chieftain was allowed to represent his group.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This
way the city of Mathura was given to Krishna. Though Krishna ruled
only a single city among the whole of the Yadava kingdom he was a
very able administrator and a very charismatic personality. He was
loved by all the Yadavas and they all respected him.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
Krishna had killed Kamsa, naturally Jarasandha was furious.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jarasandha
collected a huge army and he attacked Mathura, not once, but </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>eighteen</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
times.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Krishna
defeated Jarasandha seventeen times and all the times, he spared
Jarasandha's life.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the eighteenth time, Jarasandha joined forces with another king
called Kalayavana and they attacked Mathura on two fronts.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Even
before this, Krishna had realized that Mathura was no longer a safe
place. Using the services of Vishwakarma, the architect of the Devas,
Krishna had the the city of Dwaraka built in the land reclaimed from
the seas.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During
the eighteenth attack, by Jarasandha, Krishna and Balarama had all
their people moved to the kingdom of Dwaraka and with a skeletal
army, they faced this dual attack.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Using
the help of a great king by name Muchukunda, Krishna killed
Kalayavana. But then Krishna's problems were only half over with the
death of Kalayavana. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They
had decimated Kalayavana's army. But still Jarasandha's army were
around them. And this time, Jarasandha had mustered a huge army.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Krishna
and Balarama, instead of fighting Jarasandha, they ran from the
battlefield!</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jarasandha
probably did not know the fate of Kalayavana and thought that his
plan of attacking Mathura on two fronts was finally succeeding.
Gloating with himself, he and his army people gave a chase to the
fleeing Yadava brothers. The brothers ran hard and they reached a
mountain called Pravarsana.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(In
Sanskrit, Pravarsana means the rainy mountains. It is believed that
it is always raining at Pravarsana.)</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
two brothers looked at the approaching army and started climbing up
the mountain.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jarasandha
was gleeful when he saw the two brothers on the mountain.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Realizing
that the two brothers were trapped in the mountain, Jarasandha
ordered his men to set fire to the mountains on all sides.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jarasandha
and his men watched with a vicious satisfaction as the mountain
burned magnificently. They just made sure that no one escaped the
mountain. Jarasandha went back to his kingdom, finally satisfied that
he had avenged his son-in-law's killer.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*********</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Naturally,
Krishna and Balarama escaped the fire. (Some Puranas mention that the
two brothers jumped from the mountain for a distance of about 11
Yojanas to escape the fire. Incidentally, 1 Yojana is about 14.63
kilometers.)</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It
is believed that Krishna and Balarama framed their own deaths because
they wanted to start afresh in the city of Dwaraka</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dwaraka
was an extremely safe city as it was built on land reclaimed from the
sea and it was surrounded by the seas on all sides. Jarasandha could
not attack them there.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: GentiumAlt, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
the reason, Krishna did not kill Jarasandha was that it was important
for Jarasandha to live at that time. Though Krishna ruled his own
place, he was more of a kingmaker. He was a close friend and
confidante of the Pandavas – the heroes of the Mahabharatha.
Krishna realized that if the Pandavas had to be powerful, they had to
kill Jarasandha and annex the powerful kingdom of Magadha – and
that single move could establish the supremacy of the Pandavas in the
entire country.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-50337030847328817372017-07-15T09:13:00.001-07:002017-07-15T09:13:28.412-07:00Little Krishna - Part 11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Devaki lost six of her sons to Kamsa.</div>
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Kamsa became so cruel that he just did not care about anything anymore. He already had the protection of his father-in-law - Jarasandha's army. He also genuinely believed that if he killed the children of Devaki, he could conquer his own fate.</div>
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That was when news reached him that Devaki was carrying the seventh child.</div>
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Kamsa was ready to kill this child too when he had some strange news – Devaki aborted the seventh child.</div>
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Unknown to Kamsa, Rohini - another wife of Vasudeva was carrying a child. Rohini was living with Nanda, Vasudeva's brother in the village of Gokul, presumably to escape persecution from Kamsa. </div>
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(It was said that this abortion was primarily done to confuse Kamsa. </div>
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When Devaki aborted the seventh child, it would be unclear whether the next child to be born would be considered as the seventh or the eighth child.</div>
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More importantly, this is the first time that Goddess Yoga Maya is introduced in the Bhagawat Purana.</div>
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Yoga Maya is the source of all the powers of Lord Vishnu. She is supposed to be Vishnu's power.</div>
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It is believed that the seventh child of Devaki had not been aborted. Instead Yoga Maya transferred the child from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini.</div>
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This child of Rohini was Balarama – Krishna's elder brother.</div>
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Some Puranas consider Balarama as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Some other Puranas consider Balarama as the incarnation of Sesha – the thousand headed snake on whom Lord Vishnu rests.)</div>
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****</div>
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When news came to Kamsa that Devaki was carrying the next child, he did something unforgivable. This time he imprisoned both Devaki and Vasudeva.</div>
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Somehow Kamsa was sure that this was the child – the one who would be his end. The reason Kamsa was so sure that this child was meant to his death was that Devaki had almost started glowing. (The Bhagawat Purana gives a brilliant description of how Devaki looked at this time.)</div>
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Kamsa never knew it, but this was the time Nanda, Vasudeva's brother also had some good news. His wife Yashoda was carrying a child.</div>
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There is a rather interesting description in the Bhagawat Purana at this time.</div>
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It states that Kamsa was very worried as he saw Devaki. Kamsa was so anxious that he actually wanted to kill Devaki. But he stopped himself saying that Devaki was his sister and that if he killed Devaki now, it could lead to disrepute for him.</div>
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(The Purana already mention that Kamsa ruled like a tyrant and that people were afraid of him. It is curious as to why Kamsa would be so worried about his reputation at this time.)</div>
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So in a prison, with strict guards standing vigil outside, with glorious flooding rain lashing through Mathura, Devaki gave birth to her eighth son – a beautiful dark complexioned baby – the baby was said to be so dark that he seemed to give out an almost bluish tint.</div>
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(It was supposed to be an extraordinarily auspicious time for birth. And it was not just the eighth child of Devaki which was born at this time. Yogamaya was born as Yashoda's daughter at the same time. Not many know it, but Arjuna the third Pandava, another hero of Mahabharatha was also born on the same time as the eighth child of Devaki.)</div>
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(There is another very interesting anecdote about this event. </div>
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Devaki and Vasudeva were great sages during their previous births. They prayed to Lord Vishnu with great devotion.</div>
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When Lord Vishnu appeared before them, both wanted a son equivalent to Lord Vishnu himself.</div>
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They were so enthusiastic about it, that they asked the same boon three times. Lord Vishnu is said to have granted their boon.</div>
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And because of this, Lord Vishnu was born three times as the son of the couple.</div>
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During the Satya Yuga (the first yuga), there lived a King called Sutapas and this wife Prushni who were the incarnation of Vasudeva and Devaki. Lord Vishnu was born as Prushnigarbhan (meaning one who is in the womb of Prushni).</div>
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During the Treta Yuga (the second yuga), Vasudeva and Devaki incarnated as Sage Kashyap and Aditi. Lord Vishnu was born as Aditi's son – Upendra.</div>
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In this avatar, Lord Vishnu was a dwarf so he is called as "Vamana". (Literally translated Vamana means dwarf.)</div>
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The Vamana Avatar is an extraordinarily interesting incarnation of Lord Vishnu.</div>
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During this time, Bali the asura ruled the world. He was a brilliant ruler – just and kind.</div>
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But he was an asura.</div>
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Naturally, Indra and the other Devas could not tolerate it. They prayed to Lord Vishnu to get rid of Bali.</div>
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Lord Vishnu is said to have heard their prayers and Lord Vishnu incarnated as Vamana, the dwarf.</div>
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Vamana then went to Bali who was giving away alms.</div>
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Vamana asked for three feet of land to be measured by his own foot.</div>
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Unthinkingly, Bali promised to give Vamana what he had asked for.</div>
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That was when Vamana grew to a huge size (This is called as Trivikrama Avatar of Lord Vishnu)</div>
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Vamana grew so large that he covered the entire earth in one step, the skies in the other.</div>
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Vamana then asked Bali for his third step and that was when Bali offered his own head as the third step.</div>
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Vamana supposedly pushed Bali to the netherworld with the third step.</div>
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But Lord Vishnu was so pleased with Bali that he promised the asura that he was going to be the next "Indra" during one of the coming eras.</div>
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And keeping his promise to Vasudeva and Devaki, Lord Vishnu was born for the third time as Devaki's eighth son.)</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-57953367246988667562017-07-15T09:11:00.002-07:002017-07-15T09:11:15.435-07:00Little Krishna - Part 10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Kamsa was genuinely shocked as he saw Vasudeva come to his palace with a new born baby in his hands.</div>
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Kamsa had known. He had always known that Vasudeva would keep his word, no matter what. But actually watching Vasudeva bringing the new born infant shocked Kamsa so badly that he grew numb.</div>
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"This is Devaki's first born son, Kamsa." Vasudeva said in a dull and listless tone as he looked at the baby in his hands. And as Vasudeva said it he was trying to forget the screaming and waling of Devaki back at his home. But then Vasudeva knew that this was the only way.</div>
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Kamsa looked at the new born baby and then at Vasudeva and at that minute a powerful feeling shot through him. A powerful compassion. Something that he had not felt much. Something which reminded him of his own childhood with his sister – a time where he had really loved her.</div>
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"It is prophecised that the eighth child of Devaki will kill me, Vasudeva." Kamsa looked at the new born infant. "This child has done me no wrong. Please take it back."</div>
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Vasudeva heard the words but it did not make sense to him. Not in the least.</div>
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For one forbidden second he looked at the baby and wondered whether he had even heard right.</div>
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"Wha...." Vasudeva asked as he choked and words completely failed him.</div>
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"You have proved that you are a man of your word." Kamsa said quietly. "And the prophecy says that it is only the eighth child of Devaki which will kill me. I have no desire to kill the other children of Devaki. Take back your son."</div>
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Vasudeva did not know what to believe. He was afraid. He was genuinely afraid of what he was hearing.</div>
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But then the fact remained that Kamsa did not seem interested in his son. For one second Vasudeva felt immensely happy as he realized that Devaki's first child was going to live.</div>
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Vasudeva took the son back to his home.</div>
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(It can be presumed that everyone had known by now that Kamsa had taken over Mathura by overthrowing Ugrasena. It is also possible that no one was strong enough to face Kamsa and so everyone just decided to accept Kamsa as the new ruler of Mathura.</div>
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The Bhagawatam does mention that Kamsa ruled like a tyrant.)</div>
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********</div>
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Kamsa had a surprise visitor that night.</div>
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It was Narada, the wondering sage and the "Manasputra" of Brahma. ("Manas" means mind and "putra" means son. Sage Narada was supposedly born from the mind thoughts of Brahma. Narada is a frequent character who appears in most of the epics and the Puranas. He is a messenger of the Trinity – Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Sage Narada is known for his mischievous ways. It is always said that he creates problems and the end of the problems always comes out right. Another characteristic of this sage is that he always chants the name of "Narayana" which is why it is believed that Lord Narayana comes to his aid.)</div>
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Kamsa was surprised to see the sage and as a mark of respect to the sage, he ordered a grand feast. Kamsa took good care of the sage, which pleased Narada.</div>
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"You have taken good care of me, Kamsa," Narada told the beaming Kamsa. "And for this, I shall tell you a story."</div>
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Kamsa frowned but said nothing.</div>
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"Long back there lived an asura called Kalanemi." Narada started.</div>
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Probably, there was something about the name. The minute Kamsa heard it, something in his heart stirred – he felt something powerful which nearly blew him away.</div>
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"Kalanemi?" Kamsa asked as the name felt natural in his lips.</div>
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"Yes." Narada nodded slowly. "Kalanemi was the son of Hiranyaksha, the asura."</div>
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"Hiranyaksha?" Kamsa asked sharply. "The asura who was killed by the boar."</div>
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Narada smiled mirthlessly nodding his head. "Yes. Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyaksha during the Varaha or the Boar Avatar."</div>
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Kamsa frowned as Narada continued, "Kalanemi was also killed by Lord Vishnu."</div>
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Kamsa was jarred slightly as he heard the news. He looked at Narada with slight anger. "Why are you telling me all this?" He demanded in a harsh tone.</div>
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"Isn't it obvious, Kamsa?" Narada asked in the same quiet tone. "<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">You</i> were Kalanemi in your previous life time."</div>
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It suddenly felt like cold water was poured on him.</div>
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Kamsa was panting as he was struggling to control himself.</div>
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"Why...?" Kamsa could not complete as Narada continued. "You should also know that Lord Vishnu is going to incarnate again in the Dwapara Yuga. And it is to help him that other Devas are incarnating among the Yadavas."</div>
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"Among the Yadavas?" Kamsa asked as he just could not control his anger.</div>
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Narada looked at Kamsa with stern eyes. "Probably, they are already born."</div>
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That was it.</div>
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Narada just said the words and after that he said nothing more.</div>
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But then the damage had already been done.</div>
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Kamsa realized that all of the Yadavas were his enemy. Somehow he believed that they were all going to try and kill him.</div>
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Kamsa decided that he was going to destroy the Yadavas – every single one of them.</div>
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That was the day that Devaki's miseries started.</div>
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Because immediately, Kamsa went to Vasudeva's home and killed Devaki's first son.</div>
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(The Puranas state that Narada acted the way he did for two reasons – one to fulfil the curse of the Sada Garbhas who were born as the sons of Devaki and second to fulfil the curse of Diti. Because Devaki was an incarnation of Aditi, the mother of the Devas.</div>
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It was after Narada's visit that Kamsa became a full fledged villain. Because after this, he just started massacring his own people, nearly destroying all the Yadavas.)</div>
</div>
SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-13626570191589459482017-07-15T09:10:00.002-07:002017-07-15T09:10:07.410-07:00Little Krishna - Part 9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jarasandha eyed Kamsa, the ferocious Yadava who was practicing along with the other Yadavas. Jarasandha was the king of Magadha and Magadha was an extremely powerful kingdom in the entire country.</div>
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Jarasandha was always on the lookout for new talents so that he could safeguard his already powerful kingdom and that was when he saw Kamsa. Jarasandha had no doubt about Kamsa's fighting ability. There had been a time when Jarasandha had tried invading Mathura. At that time, Kamsa alone was single handedly responsible for routing Jarasandha's army.</div>
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It was at that minute that Jarasandha decided that Kamsa was special and that he had to keep an eye out on the man.</div>
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Jarasandha saw Chanur, a trusted advisor of Kamsa talking with him and decided to take matters into his own hands.</div>
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*********</div>
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Banasura was a powerful asura with a thousand arms. He was so strong and fierce that even the Devas themselves feared him. As if that was not enough, Banasura was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.</div>
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It is said that Banasura was such a powerful devotee that Lord Shiva himself had promised to be Banasura's protector.</div>
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This Banasura was the very one who eyed the powerful Kamsa in the kingdom of Mathura.</div>
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Realizing that Kamsa's brute potential would be wasted here, Banasura called the Yadava for private talks.</div>
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"You are extraordinarily powerful, Prince Kamsa." Banasura told Kamsa immediately as soon as Kamsa came to meet him.</div>
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Kamsa said nothing as he was studying the powerful thousand armed asura before him as Banasura continued, "You are not meant to be a mere prince. I can seen greatness in you. You are destined to be a king. The king of all the Yadavas everywhere, not just at Mathura." Banasura said in a quiet voice.</div>
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It was at that minute that Chanur came and wanted to talk with Kamsa.</div>
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Looking at Chanur and then at Banasura, Kamsa ordered Chanur to spill the news there.</div>
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"King Jarasandha of the Magadha kingdom wishes to form alliance with you, my Lord." Chanur told Kamsa with glowing eyes.</div>
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Kamsa was speechless. He really was.</div>
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Magadha was a powerful kingdom and it was a certainty that any person associated with that kingdom would have untold power.</div>
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"King Jarasandha has two daughters – Asti and Prapti. They are both willing to marry you, my Lord." Chanur finished with a quiet smile.</div>
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Kamsa was reeling under the news. He just could not believe that he would receive back to back news of this sort. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">An </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">asura</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> wanted </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kamsa</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> to take over Mathura and at the same time a powerful king wanted to offer his daughters in marriage to him....</i></div>
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The words of both the people worked its magic in Kamsa's heart. It was that minute that Kamsa knew that he was going to become the king of all the Yadavas. No matter what.</div>
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(Banasura has a very long timeline. He was the son of Bali, the asura. So it meant that he was alive from the times of Bali to Kamsa and even after that, which was not surprising. What makes his character so interesting is his boon from Lord Shiva. Because of the boon from Lord Shiva, Banasura caused a war between Krishna and Shiva! Krishna attacked Banasura's kingdom to save his grandson Annirudha. Shiva being on the side of Banasura fought off Krishna's attack.)</div>
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*****</div>
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It is believed that Jarasandha brought over a part of his powerful army to Mathura as escorts to the Princesses Asti and Prapti, who were to get married to Kamsa.</div>
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Kamsa wasted absolutely no time as he used the cover of the army and imprisoned his father. (It was believed that this was done within the palace and even the public were not aware of this takeover.)</div>
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Using the army, Kamsa crowned himself as the king of Mathura and started annexing kingdoms.</div>
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It is said that with Jarasandha's army, Kamsa had become so powerful that Kamsa was even able to defeat the Devas in battle.</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-45293698044685658362017-07-15T09:08:00.002-07:002017-07-15T09:08:42.944-07:00Little Krishna - Part 8<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The marriage of Devaki and Vasudeva was conducted with great pomp and show by King Ugrasena. The Yadavas all over the kingdom rejoiced because it was a gloriously beautiful marriage. The fact that Devaki and Vasudeva also loved each other also added to the joy of the Yadavas. Ugrasena gave a lot of gifts and riches to his beloved daughter as she was going to go to her husband's home.</div>
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But despite that, probably, the most beautiful sight in the entire marriage was <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">after</i> the ceremonies.</div>
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As Devaki and Vasudeva were about to step outside the marriage hall, they saw the strong Kamsa sit on the charioteer's seat in a beautiful chariot looking at the couple with a loving smile. </div>
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"I will drop you at your home." Kamsa told Devaki with a beautiful smile.</div>
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And so the journey started.</div>
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Kamsa was happily willing to drop Devaki at Vasudeva's place, when something happened which changed everything.</div>
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That event changed the very map of the kingdom of Mathura.</div>
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As Kamsa was driving through the streets of Mathura, a strange voice filled the heavens.</div>
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Even the common man walking on the road stopped as they stared at the skies.</div>
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Kamsa brought his horses to a sudden stand still.</div>
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"<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">FOOL!</i>" The voice in the skies shouted sounding almost gleeful. "<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">What are you so happy about? Why are you so happy about the marriage of this man to this woman? You should be sorry for it.</i>"</div>
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Devaki and Vasudeva looked worriedly at each other as they stared at the skies.</div>
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But the voice was not yet done giving its message.</div>
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"<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The eighth child of Devaki is going to bring your death, Kamsa!</i>"</div>
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*******</div>
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There was a shocked silence. A sudden shocked silence.</div>
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Kamsa had been astonished when he had heard the voice from the heavens. But he honestly did not know what was going to happen.</div>
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But when he heard what was being said, the cold fear of death played in his heart - the fear that he could not control.</div>
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He turned to look at his sister who was whimpering in fear before him.</div>
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That was the minute that Kamsa's fear turned into rage. Uncontrolled rage. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">This woman whom he had till now cherished was going to be the cause of his death</i>.</div>
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"I am going to kill you!" Kamsa screamed. </div>
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Kamsa pulled out his sword and caught Devaki by her hair and was about to kill her when Kamsa felt himself being pushed back.</div>
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"Kamsa, stop it!" Vasudeva shouted coming before his wife, looking angrily at the falling Kamsa.</div>
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Kamsa was panting angrily as Vasudeva tried to get him to look at him. "She is your own sister, Kamsa. And today is the day she is getting married – one of the happiest days in her life. And you want to kill her today?"</div>
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"If I don't kill her, she is going to be the cause of my death." Kamsa spat angrily, as he tried to push past Vasudeva.</div>
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"Everyone who is born has to die." Vasudeva said in a placatory tone. "Even if Devaki's child is going to be the cause of your death, it will just put an end your material world. Your soul is still alive. Why...?"</div>
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Vasudeva never completed his sentence as Kamsa angrily pushed Vasudeva aside as he saw Devaki stand before him. </div>
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"She is going to bring me death and you want me to accept it?" Kamsa shouted angrily as he pulled his sword up.</div>
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Vasudeva changed tracks pretty fast. He knew that Kamsa had crossed that line where reason had ceased to exist.</div>
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"You do not have to kill Devaki. I have a better idea." Vasudeva said struggling with himself.</div>
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Kamsa whipped his head angrily as for a minute he looked at Vasudeva contemptuously.</div>
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"Do not kill Devaki, please." Vasudeva said taking a deep breath, trying to control himself. "It has been prophecised that the eighth child of Devaki would kill you. Why should you kill Devaki for that?</div>
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"What else can I do?" Kamsa sneered angrily.</div>
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"I will offer you all the children of Devaki as soon as they are born."</div>
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There was another shocked silence. A second later, an involuntary scream was torn from Devaki's mouth. She looked at Vasudeva completely horrified, unable to believe what she was hearing.</div>
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Kamsa looked at Vasudeva and suddenly that mindless anger was gone. And it was replaced with something even more ugly.</div>
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"You will give me all of your children?" Kamsa asked Vasudeva with a catty smile.</div>
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Vasudeva absolutely refused to look anywhere at the horrified Devaki and he slowly nodded his head. "Yes I will."</div>
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"You are an honourable man, Vasudeva." Kamsa said pulling his sword back in his sheath. "I believe you. And keep good your promises." Kamsa spared another pathetic look at Devaki and then turned to Vasudeva. </div>
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"If you do not keep your promise, you know exactly what I am going to do."</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-47582809791541668152017-07-15T09:07:00.002-07:002017-07-15T09:07:49.202-07:00Little Krishna - Part 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It was believed that during the Dwapara Yuga, the Yadavas were made up of two groups – the Vrishnis and the Andhakas.</div>
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The Yadavas was supposedly a republic and not a monarchy as it was in the other parts of the country. </div>
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In this republic the area of Mathura and thereabouts was ruled by the Andhakas. The ruler of the Andhakas was Ugrasena.</div>
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The Vrishnis were ruled by Surasena. Surasena's son was Vasudeva.</div>
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Ugrasena and Surasena were generally considered as the chieftains or the kings by their respective tribes.</div>
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Thus Vasudeva was one of the main noblemen of the Yadavas.</div>
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One day, he approached his friend Sini for some help. </div>
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Sini of the Yadavas was the best friend of Vasudeva and frowned wondering what the nobleman wanted.</div>
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"Princess Devaki, the daughter of King Ugrasena is having her swayamvara." Vasudeva said quietly. [Swayamvara is where a princess chooses her own husband.]</div>
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Sini understood immediately. </div>
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Sini realized that Devaki and Vasudeva loved each other and that he had to kidnap the princess during the wedding.</div>
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Sini happily agreed to this and successfully kidnapped the princess and brought her to Vasudeva.</div>
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Even the marriage of Devaki and Vasudeva was performed with great pomp and show.</div>
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At that time, no one paid attention to Kamsa, the son of King Ugrasena and Padmavathi. But at that time, no one had any reason to.</div>
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(There are four anecdotes connected with this incident.</div>
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One, is that Vasudeva also married the other daughters of Ugrasena. It remains unknown as to why Ugrasena conducted a swayamvara, if Devaki wanted to marry Vasudeva in the first place. And there is absolutely no doubt that Vasudeva loved Devaki a lot. Vasudeva had done a lot in his life to save Devaki's life.</div>
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One of the other wives of Vasudeva is Rohini. She is Devaki's co-wife and is very important in Krishna's story.</div>
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The second anecdote is about Sini. Sini fought off the king Somadatta during the kidnap of Princess Devaki.</div>
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This battle between Sini and Somadatta caused an almost generational feud between Sini and Somadatta which ended only in the Kurukshetra war where a descendant of Sini – Satyaki killed Somadatta.</div>
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The third anecdote is that Vasudeva was the brother Nanda. According to the book "Harivamsa", Nanda was the head of the Gopa tribe which was another powerful group among the Yadavas.</div>
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The fourth anecdote is that of Kamsa.</div>
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The Puranas mention Kamsa as the son of Ugrasena and Queen Padmavathi. But there have also been some off shoots regarding this story. Padmavathi is the daughter of King Satyaketu of Vidharbha. It is said that after her marriage, she had once gone to her father's home and there she was seen by a gandharva (Gandharvas are celestial singers and dancers in the Court of Indra) named Dramila or Godila.</div>
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Godila lusted after Padmavathi.</div>
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And so Godila took the appearance of Ugrasena and approached Padmavathi. Padmavathi presumed Godila to be her husband.</div>
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Their mating is said to have resulted in the birth of Kamsa.</div>
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Despite his parentage, it can be presumed that until Devaki's marriage, Kamsa loved his sister as any brother would and that Kamsa bore her no ill feelings towards her.)</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-17911495550031427672017-07-15T09:05:00.002-07:002017-07-15T09:05:38.936-07:00Little Krishna - Part 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />In the Satya Yuga, Diti and Sage Kashyap had two powerful sons - Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu.</div>
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Unfortunately, both the brothers were very ambitious and very blood thirsty.</div>
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First, Hiranyaksha performed severe penance towards the Gods and became extraordinarily powerful. After getting these powers, Hiranyaksha then took over the Skies and had the Devas thrown out of there. Hiranyaksha ruled like a dictator and he killed anyone who stood up against his rule.</div>
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Therefore to protect earth and the other realms from Hiranyaksha, Lord Vishnu incarnated as a Varaha (Varaha in Sanskrit means a "Boar") and killed Hiranyaksha.</div>
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The world was free from the tyranny of Hiranyaksha. The Devas came back to the Skies and the people everywhere rejoiced. All except for one man - Hiranyakasipu.</div>
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Once Hiranyakasipu learnt about how Lord Vishnu had killed his brother, Hiranyakasipu was filled with blind hatred. Hiranyakasipu promised himself that he would complete his brother's undone work and this time do it more ruthlessly and swiftly.</div>
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Hiranyakasipu set about performing penance towards Lord Brahma for several years and after that HIranyakasipu obtained an impossible boon from Lord Brahma. The boon that Hiranyakasipu obtained made him near impossible to kill. Because Hiranyakasipu prayed that he could not be killed by any creature created by Brahma and that he should not be within or outside any residence while he was killed or during daytime or night or in the ground or the sky. [Lord Vishnu incarnated as "Narasimha" - which means "Half Man - Half Lion" and also fulfilled the other conditions to kill Hiranyakasipu.]</div>
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Before Lord Vishnu incarnated as the Narasimha, however, Hiranyakasipu followed his brother's footsteps and ruled like a tyrant. People everywhere were scared of Hiranyakasipu as he took over the throne of Indra, and killed people mercilessly. In fact it went so bad that Hiranyakasipu even killed people who worshiped any of the Gods.</div>
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It was during this time that there was another asura in the court of Hiranyakasipu called Kalanemi. Kalanemi had six sons - Hamsa, Suvikrama, Kratha, Damana, Ripumardhana and Krodhahantha who were collectively called as the Sada Garbhas.</div>
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While Kalanemi supported Hiranyakasipu's conquests, the Sada Garbhas opposed Hiranyakasipu. In fact, the Sada Garbhas were extremely devoted to Lord Vishnu.</div>
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Ignoring Hiranyakasipu's teachings of disregarding the Gods, the Sada-Garbhas prayed to Lord Brahma.</div>
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They performed severe penances and austerities and finally pleased Lord Brahma appeared before them.</div>
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When Lord Brahma appeared, he was so pleased with the Sada Garbhas that he was pleased to grant them any boon of their choice, "I know of your pious nature and I am very pleased with all of you. Please ask me any boon," The Creator God told the Sada Garbhas.</div>
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The Sada Garbhas made Brahma even more glad by the boon that they asked him. "Please grant us a boon that we would not be hurt by any humans, animals or divine or the Demi-Gods! And if you are very pleased with us, grant us the boon that even the great sages would not be able to hurt us with their curses!"</div>
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Lord Brahma was completely pleased with the pious Sada-Garbhas and happily granted the boon to the six of them.</div>
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However the Sada-Garbhas were in a world of trouble.</div>
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When Hiranyakasipu heard of the boon that the Sada Garbhas had from Lord Brahma he was very angry with them, "You approached Lord Brahma?" Hiranyakasipu fumed angrily at the six Sada Garbhas, "And you wanted protection!" Hiranyakasipu said in a disgusted voice.</div>
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"I am the only God you should worship. Not Brahma or Vishnu!" Hiranyakasipu thundered and angrily cursed all of them, "You think Brahma's boon will protect you!' He sneered. "I curse you that all of you will be killed by your own father!"</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-10884385940943154532017-07-15T09:04:00.000-07:002017-07-15T09:04:01.859-07:00Little Krishna - Part 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />"I shall not return the Kamadhenu to you," Sage Kashyap told a flabbergasted Lord Varuna.</div>
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"But...But..." The Lord of the Oceans - Varuna, was completely flummoxed. Not only was Varuna not expecting such an outright rejection, Varuna just did not know what to do.</div>
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The problem was that Sage Kashyap was to perform a particularly difficult yagna (fire sacrifice) a few months back.</div>
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And as was custom, the sage had needed a cow for performing the yagna.</div>
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Without any warning of any sort, Sage Kashyap had taken away Kamadhenu - Varuna's cow from Varuna's home.</div>
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And when Varuna had asked for the cow back, the sage blatantly refused to hand over the animal.</div>
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"It is mine, henceforth," the sage told Varuna. "And I have no intention of handing over Kamadhenu to you."</div>
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At first Varuna wanted to use brute force and take back his Kamadhenu. But Varuna stopped himself.</div>
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Despite the fact that Sage Kashyap had stolen Kamadhenu, the sage was powerful and had immense powers of penance. Varuna knew that if he used force, it was very probable that the sage could use his powers and curse Varuna. And Varuna did not want that.</div>
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So Varuna did the next best thing.</div>
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Varuna complained to Lord Brahma, about Sage Kashyap's actions.</div>
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Lord Brahma was shocked as Varuna continued, "The calves of Kamadhenu, my lord," Varuna said in a pleading voice. "The calves keep whimpering for their mother." Varuna took a deep breath looking unhappy. "Please, Lord Brahma do something."</div>
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Lord Brahma was terribly angry as he summoned Sage Kashyap to come before him.</div>
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"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Lord Brahma shouted at Sage Kashyap as soon as Sage Kashyap appeared before him.</div>
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Sage Kashyap saw Varuna and Lord Brahma and suddenly paled.</div>
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"My Lord," Sage Kashyap said bowing before the Creator God. "I need Kamadhenu for my yagna! Without the cow, it is impossible to complete the yagna!"</div>
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"FOOLISH MAN!" Lord Brahma thundered angrily as Sage Kashyap looked shocked unable to talk any further.</div>
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"You do not deserve the place of respect that people give you here!" Brahma said angrily. "Go to earth and tend to the cows there. That would be a fit job for you. That is the only thing which will teach you what a wrong thing you have done right now!" Brahma said angrily.</div>
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Sage Kashyap's eyes widened as he shook his head trying to stop his father.</div>
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"Go now!" was all Lord Brahma said as he refused to listen to anything that Sage Kashyap had to say. </div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-76240134042299661112017-07-15T09:03:00.002-07:002017-07-15T09:03:08.717-07:00Little Krishna - Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Looking at the smug face of Indra, Diti knew that Indra had done something unforgivable.</div>
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"You hurt the child in my womb, didn't you?" Diti asked her eyes smoldering. "You call yourself the king of the Skies and you did something like this?" Diti asked her voice turning dangerous. "And what did you do all this for?" Diti said coming very close to Indra who still had his Vajrayudham in his hands. "Power? So that you could always rule your kingdom?" Diti demanded sneering.</div>
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Indra was lost for words as Diti continued, "Hear the curse of a mother, Aditya! You shall never be able to rule the Skies peacefully!" Diti thundered. "Your rule shall always be hindered by someone or something for one or another reason!"</div>
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Indra was aghast as he realized that Diti's words were powerful enough for it to come true and he suddenly found his voice as he shook his head, muttering the first thing which came to his mind, "But it was my mother who told me...." Indra said his voice trailing off, looking even more aghast.</div>
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"This was Aditi's idea?" Diti demanded as her revulsion at what Aditi had done was matched only by her hatred for Indra. "I curse Aditi that she would be in prison and she would watch as her children get slaughtered and she would not be able to do anything to prevent it," Diti said softly. "Not one thing!"</div>
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Sage Kashyap appeared before his wife and realized that he was too late to save Diti's child as Diti was trembling and Sage Kashyap sensed Diti's curse to Indra and Aditi.</div>
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"Diti!" Sage Kashyap said as both Indra and Diti turned to watch him, "The children in your womb are safe!" Sage Kashyap said.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Children</i>? Diti wondered shocked.</div>
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Sage Kashyap nodded. "Because of Indra's actions you do not have just one child but you have seven children - the Marutas!" Sage Kashyap said, "They would be phenomenally powerful and they would be allies of Indra." Sage Kashyap told his wife.</div>
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Diti let out a ragged breath almost stumbling on the chair behind her. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">She had wanted one powerful child, more powerful than Indra. But then now having seven powerful children as allies of Indra, was better than nothing.</i></div>
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Slowly Diti felt her anger dissolve itself.</div>
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Indra was however flabbergasted. "Diti cursed....she cursed me and mother," Indra whispered, looking horrified.</div>
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"I am afraid you will have to suffer her curse. So will Aditi," Sage Kashyap said with finality.</div>
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After this, Indra was never able to rule the Skies in peace. Indra always had problems of some kind and his rule was always thwarted one way or the other.</div>
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And Aditi's curse took a long time in coming.</div>
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But Diti's words came true with devastating efficiency in the Dwapara Yuga.</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-52208287730141361182017-07-15T09:02:00.002-07:002017-07-15T09:02:28.901-07:00Little Krishna - Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />"Mother! How are you?"</div>
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Diti was shocked when she saw Indra standing before her bowing at her with utmost humility. She clutched her belly tightly almost pulling out her weapon to attack Indra.</div>
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But slowly, Diti was able to control herself. Indra looked unarmed and though it was mighty suspicious, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">that</i> was really not a reason to hurt Indra.</div>
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"Aditya!" Diti said in a frigid voice pointing at the chair in her home. "What are you doing here?"</div>
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"You are carrying a child, mother, and look at you!" Indra said ignoring the chair, as there was a part of him which realized that his mother <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">was right</i>. Diti looked beyond beautiful. There was an aura around Diti which seemed powerful. Actually more than powerful.</div>
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"You are lean and pitifully thin. Please, let me take care of you, for some time." Indra said.</div>
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Diti was instantaneously suspicious. She <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">knew</i> something was wrong. Very wrong. But Diti did not know what and she did not know how to turn Indra away. And that was when she remembered the words of her husband. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The rituals...</i>Diti realized as she studied Indra with an almost chilling smile that Indra could not hurt her. Not as long as she carried out her rituals. She knew that the rituals were powerful enough to keep Indra at bay. And Diti realized that it would indeed be fun to watch Aditi's son try and fail.</div>
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"I am so glad you wish to help me," Diti said with a smile. "You are most welcome in my home!" Diti said much to Indra's shock and surprise.</div>
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And so Indra was in Diti's home.</div>
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That night when Diti finished her rituals, she went to sleep. Indra used his Vajrayudham (Thunderbolt weapon) which was a very powerful weapon and aimed it at the womb of Diti.</div>
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And Indra was in for a shock of his life.</div>
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Nothing happened. His weapon which was a powerful weapon, did not touch Diti or her womb.</div>
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And that was when Indra realized the importance of the rituals which Diti carried out every day religiously. That was what was protecting her.</div>
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Indra was seething and he realized that he had to wait. He had to serve Diti and wait. Wait for Diti to make a mistake. Otherwise, there was nothing that Indra could do to prevent this child from being born. A child whom Indra knew was more powerful than him.</div>
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And so the cat and mouse game between Diti and Indra started.</div>
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Diti kept to her rituals daily.</div>
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But the problem was that one night Diti was really tired. Very tired. And after she had finished her rituals she forgot to clean her feet and fell asleep just like that.</div>
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And that was the only thing which Indra was waiting for. Using the unclean feet, Indra was able to use his powers and he entered Diti's womb and there he cut the womb into seven pieces (Some Puranas mention this number as 49 pieces)</div>
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The pieces in the womb started crying as Indra used his Vajrayudham on it.</div>
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Worried that Diti would wake up and realize something was wrong, Indra soothed the crying fetus, "Ma Ruta!" [In Sanskrit "Ma Ruta" means "Do not cry"]</div>
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And after sometime, Indra got out of the womb, his work done.</div>
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Somewhere in the dense forest, Sage Kashyap with the powers of his mind came to know what Indra had done and that broke his meditation. He immediately used his powers and tried to come to Diti as soon as possible.</div>
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Back to Diti and Indra, Diti woke up with a start and she <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">knew </i>that something was wrong. Something far more than she could correct.</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-27114345427093416242017-07-15T09:01:00.003-07:002017-07-15T09:01:43.488-07:00Little Krishna - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />"Have you seen Diti of late, Indra?" Aditi's question was sharp as she saw her tall son settle himself in her chambers.</div>
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Indra was confused as he studied his mother. "Diti?"</div>
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Aditi nodded and was unhappy because she realized that Indra had not noticed anything of importance.</div>
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"She is carrying a child!" Indra said shrugging. "Why is that so important...?" Indra asked.</div>
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"HAVE YOU PROPERLY SEEN HER?" Aditi shouted as Indra fell silent.</div>
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"I do not understand, mother!" Indra said as he wished his mother would speak fast. The riddles she was speaking was confusing Indra. He just could not understand why his mother would be so worked up about something so trivial.</div>
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"Ninety nine years back, my sister went to see our husband in the forests and now she looks radiant." Aditi said.</div>
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"Radiant?" Indra asked wondering when his mother was going to get to the point.</div>
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Aditi sighed because she just could not believe how foolish Indra could be for not noticing something so obvious. "I am more than sure that the child that Diti is carrying is going to be more powerful than you," Aditi said in a scathing voice.</div>
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"WHAT?" Indra demanded feeling numb, his brain unable to comprehend what he was hearing.</div>
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Aditi nodded, "Son, you are the ruler of the Devas and you rule the skies. And more often than not, you and the Daityas have fought countless battles and most of the times her children have been routed in battle because of your strength and superior technology!"</div>
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Indra was barely listening as Aditi continued, "However, this time I think that Diti has outdone herself. I think that Diti, with the blessings of your father, now carries in her womb a child who can be as powerful as you are."</div>
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Indra looked unable to speak as Aditi nodded and continued, "Have you seen how radiant Diti looks? I am afraid! Every time I see Diti, I get afraid! I am afraid that if you let this child come to the world....it could mean your end!"</div>
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Indra was shocked at his mother's words at first. But then he realized that his mother's words could be true. The Daityas were always fighting with the Devas for the control over the three worlds.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">If Diti's child was indeed very powerful....</i>Indra took a shaky breath.</div>
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He looked around and he had no idea when he had stepped out of his mother's chambers. Indra had been so deep in thought that he did not even know where he was walking.</div>
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But now that Indra had made his decision, Indra knew where he was going.</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910622781305381789.post-7619384497327393392017-07-15T09:01:00.000-07:002017-07-15T09:01:00.638-07:00Little Krishna - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Diti was walking through the dense forest unmindful of the dangerous path. She had left her hermitage some time back and she was very angry as she had started with her journey, which was why she did not mind the perilous journey through the dense forests.</div>
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She was looking for Sage Kashyap, her husband, in the dense forests around her. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Her husband....</i>Sage Kashyap was a "manasputra" [Mind-Born Son] of Lord Brahma, the Creator God. As the son of Lord Brahma, Sage Kashyap was given the task of populating the earth.</div>
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For this, Sage Kashyap married the 12 daughters of Daksha and through them, Sage Kashyap fathered the humans, the animals and even the birds.</div>
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In the present, the reason Diti was here so angry was because of her own elder sister - Aditi. <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Aditi</i>...Diti felt a wave of hatred almost consume her as she was unable to believe how she and Aditi could even be related. And Diti was sure that she could never forgive either Aditi or the Adityas (Adityas literally translated means the children of Aditi).</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Adityas</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> or the Devas who were luminescent and shining beings ruled the skies and they also had powers over the natural elements. Indra, the eldest son of </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Aditi</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"> was the King of the Skies with his kingdom in </i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amaravathi</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">. </i>Diti was thinking all this as she reached the clearing where she found her husband deep in meditation. Diti, knowing the yogic power of the sage was silent as she sat in front of her husband, and was waiting for him to open his eyes. Diti was seething inwardly but she let nothing show on her face right now.</div>
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And as Diti was waiting, she studied the powerful aura which emanated from her meditating husband. Usually, just watching her husband calmed down Diti. But today, she was just mad through and through.</div>
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It took a long time for Sage Kashyap to finish his meditation but Diti was determined. She did not disturb the meditation and finally Sage Kashyap opened his eyes.</div>
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And Sage Kashyap was slightly stunned to see his wife sitting before him and from the looks of it, it looked like she had been waiting for a really long time.</div>
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"What is it, my dear?" Sage Kashyap asked immediately, sensing that something was wrong.</div>
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Once Diti realized that she had her husband's undivided attention, Diti started, "I have come here to ask for a boon, my Lord," Diti said in a steely voice.</div>
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Sage Kashyap was a man of few words and said nothing. He realized that Diti was really angry and let her talk.</div>
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"Aditi's sons are called the Devas - the Gods and they live in Amaravathi. And I have heard that Amaravathi is built entirely with diamonds and other precious stones and their palaces and even their furniture, is made entirely of gold!" Diti said in a fuming voice.</div>
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Sage Kashyap now had a vague idea where all this was leading to. But he did not interrupt his wife.</div>
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"And I have heard that Vishwakarma, the architect of the Devas," Diti said in a sneering voice. "...built the place such that the fragrant smells of the flowers from the garden flow all over the palaces. And that there is music, dancing and all sort of enjoyment all the time there." Diti said struggling to control herself.</div>
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"Your children the Daityas, live in the Patala, my dear!" Sage Kashyapa spoke for the first time. "And though it is the netherworld, it is no secret that the Patala is more beautiful than the Skies. I have heard that though there is no sunlight in the Patala, there is no darkness there. All the darkness in Patala is dispelled by the rich jewels which are worn by the people there."</div>
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Diti was about to angrily interrupt Sage Kashyap when he held up his hands. "The Patala does not even have old age or disease of any kind!" Sage Kashyap said in a proud voice studying Diti.</div>
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"THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT!" Diti yelled unable to control herself.</div>
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Sage Kashyap said nothing as he continued to study his wife.</div>
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Diti panted for a few seconds and with great difficulty controlled herself. "The Adityas and my children have fought!" Diti said with barely controlled rage. "Though they have the same father, they have always fought and because the Adityas are more powerful than my sons, the Daityas have more often than not, been defeated by the Devas!" Diti said in a sneering voice. "I have lost more sons than I can count in these battles with the Adityas!" Diti said closing her hands in a tight fist to prevent them from shaking.</div>
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"It is the law of nature! We cannot change what is..." Sage Kashyap said in a soothing voice.</div>
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"I can and I will!" Diti said in a fuming voice.</div>
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Sage Kashyap was silent as Diti spoke in the same voice. "I wish to have a son who is more powerful than Indra and the other Devas! One who can defeat all the Adityas!" Diti said in the same voice.</div>
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Sage Kashyap wanted to speak but he knew that his wife would not listen to him. She would not budge. Not one inch.</div>
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Sage Kashyap did the only thing he could do. "Bearing such a child is no easy task!" Sage Kashyap said in a sharp voice. "You will have to keep yourself clean and carry out all the rituals while you bear the child for a hundred years!" [The concept of time in the Skies and the Patala was different from the time as computed on earth, though the time was always referred to as the time on earth.]</div>
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"I will do it," Diti said firmly in a voice brooking no argument. "I will do whatever is necessary! But the child that I bear should be the most powerful of them all."</div>
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"It shall be exactly the way you desire my dear," was all Sage Kashyap said.</div>
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SA Krishnanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12714042235509574395noreply@blogger.com0