Kaushika and Balaka

It was the sixteenth day of the war. The war had taken a heavy toll on both sides. Most of the senior warriors  who had fought the war had all perished.....Bhishma, Drona, Bahlika, Bhagadatta, Bhurishrava....All gone.

Though Duryodhana was worried about the heavy toll of the war, on the sixteenth day, he was elated......He had just appointed Karna as the General of the Kaurava army. His Karna....Duryodhana thought exultantly. His Karna was now free to do what he pleased and would win the war for him. Duryodhana did not doubt, not even for a minute that his friend would win the war.

That day Karna entered the war with pride in his heart. He was finally going to repay Duryodhana for what all  he had done for him....Karna smiled. The sixteenth day belonged to Karna and Bheema, the Pandava brother. Both of them killed far too many enemy  soldiers that day.....

By the end of the sixteenth day, Karna had a duel with Nakula, the fourth Pandava. The fight between the two of them was ridiculously short. Even before Nakula could properly defend himself, Karna had broken Nakula's chariot and killed his horses and also killed Nakula's charioteer. Karna looked at Nakula as he aimed his arrow at the unarmed Nakula, who looked back at him with hatred.

Karna smiled. 'One day you will be proud that you fought with the great Karna and that  you escaped with your life!' Karna said as he moved away from there....Just like that! Karna moved away with such disdain....almost as if he did not think Nakul a worthy opponent.......Nakula was seething with rage....He wished Karna had just killed him....Instead that son of the charioteer had left him alive....Nakula fumed.

Duryodhana knew that Karna had Nakula at his mercy and had still left him alive. But Duryodhana did not say anything. If Bhishma or Drona had done the same thing, Duryodhana would have thrashed them with harsh words and accused them of actually fighting for the Pandavas.....But Karna....Duryodhana did not even dream of saying anything hurtful to his friend.....

Karna had been taught the art of reading omens by his teacher Parashurama. When Karna woke up on the seventeenth day of the war, he looked around and realized that today was probably going to be the last day of his life. Karna was however not unhappy. Far from it. Life had been cruel to him and he had no desire  to continue living  His only wish was to repay his friend Duryodhana by defeating  Arjuna and killing him.

For the seventeenth day, Duryodhana had requested Shalya to be the charioteer of Karna.

And so the war started....

Together the two – Shalya and Karna - fell upon the army. Karna entered into a different zone today. If yesterday he fought brilliantly, today he was in a different league...Nothing could stop him....Nothing at all. Nakula, Sahadeva, Bheema and Satyaki all together found it impossible to stop Karna.

Seeing Karna ruthlessly decimating his forces, Yudhishtara himself entered into a duel with Karna. Karna smiled shaking his head. However Yudhishtara fought with all his might  and even hurt Karna. But then Karna raised the level of battle....Yudhishtara could do nothing but fumble....Before he even knew what had happened, Karna killed Yudhishtara's rear guard...Satyaki came to the aid of  the eldest Pandava, but he was pushed back effectively before he could do anything. As Satyaki fell back, Karna hit Yudhishtara straight on the chest, taking the shield off...Karna swiftly broke Yudhishtara's bow...Yudhishtara tried firing his javelins but Karna effortlessly broke four of them even before Yudhishtara could throw it....Karna now had Yudhishtara before him unarmed. Karna smiled [Yudhishtara wondered whether he actually saw tears in Karna's eyes....] 'When you fight someone....make sure you are worthy of fighting them...' Karna said and drove his chariot away....Yudhishtara was burning with anger. Of all his enemies, he had feared Karna most. Why, he was not even afraid of Duryodhana...But Karna....Karna scared him....Yudhishtara had spent thirteen sleepless years during his exile in the forest thinking of Karna...He had realized even then that Karna had the capacity to turn the war single handedly.

Karna moved on and went to fight with Bheema. Bheema and Karna fought like demons that day.... Yudhishtara went to attack Duryodhana with Nakula and Sahadeva.. Karna left Bheema and went to help his friend. Karna's arrows were so swift and sharp that Yudhishtara fell unconscious in his chariot.

Nakula and Sahadeva dragged their unconscious brother to his tent, away from the battle....away from Karna. Meanwhile Arjuna was having a ferocious duel with Ashwattama. Suddenly worried that he could not see Yudhishtara's chariot, Arjuna rushed to Bheema. 'Brother! Where is Yudhishtara?'

Bheema pointed at Karna with growing anger.   'Karna!' Bheema spat the words out. 'He hurt brother!'

Knowing how good a warrior Karna was, Arjuna turned to Krishna looking worried. 'My Lord! I have to see Yudhishtara Please take me there. Bheema can handle things till then!'

Krishna nodded his head as he swiftly turned the chariot driving it inside the Pandava camp.

Yudhishtara was delirious in pain, when he heard the sound of Krishna's chariot. Krishna...Arjuna! They have come....That would mean that Arjuna has defeated and killed Karna....'Brother!' Yudhishtara stood up unsteadily running outside the tent. With bloodshot eyes he saw Krishna and Arjuna come towards him. 'You have done it! You have killed that son of the charioteer! Oh you have made me so proud!' Yudhishtara almost fell on his brother. 'Tell me!' Yudhishtara whispered. 'Tell me how you killed Karna!'

Arjuna led his brother inside the tent. He gently made him sit down and spoke. 'I have not yet killed Karna....But....'

Yudhishtara looked at his younger brother Arjuna with an appalled look in his eyes. He had started this war depending only on Arjuna and Krishna....Arjuna could not fail him now....'And you have not defeated him?' Yudhishtar asked Arjuna incredulously.

Arjuna asked Yudhishtara to lie down. 'It will happen brother! Please have some patience!' Arjuna looked at Krishna and smiled. He had no doubt in his mind that they were going to win this war....Not because he was a better warrior.....But because he had the one thing that Duryodhana lacked  ....Krishna... . Arjuna thought of his cousin with utmost pity....Duryodhana  did not realize that Krishna would win the war for the Pandavas. Arjuna's thoughts were  interrupted  by the vehement ranting of Yudhishtara.

'The great Arjuna! The peerless warrior Arjuna!' Yudhishtar mocked  angrily.   'All these words...All  lies!' Yudhishtara was so caught up in his injuries and his fear of Karna that he did not notice  Arjuna's changed expression. 'The great Arjuna cannot even defeat the one man who stands between us and victory....And to think I trusted you and your Gandiva!' Yudhishtara sneered angrily. Arjuna looked venomously at his elder brother. Any insults to him he could take....His Gandiva was off limits to anyone....Arjuna was looking tight lipped at his brother.

Yudhishtara, not realising  the mood of his brother continued his ranting. 'The Gandiva, the great Gandiva! The one bow, which would make  Arjuna  invincible....Lies! All lies!' Yudhishtara almost spat the words out.

Yudhishtara was shocked when he saw his brother pull out his sword in a flash and point it straight at his throat.

'Never insult my Gandiva!' Arjuna said emphasising every word. 'I have taken a oath that I will kill any man, who insults my Gandiva!' Arjuna said vehemently . 'Unfortunately that man happens to be you! I cannot break my promise.' Arjuna said angrily as he was about to bring the sword forward.

For the first time, Yudhishtara realized that he was in actual physical danger from his younger brother. Without thinking, he had talked about the one thing, which was more  precious  to Arjuna than his life.......Yudhishtara was blinking when Arjuna heard a commanding  voice from beside him. 'Drop the sword Arjuna! Now!'

The voice of the Dark Lord was calm but stern. Arjuna tried to ignore  the voice, but the voice kept coming back to him....Arjuna angrily shook his head...Yudhishtara had insulted his Gandiva....The Gandiva!....Arjuna felt a wave of fury pass through him. Arjuna would have killed his elder brother....had it not have been for the voice. Still holding the sword he looked at Krishna angrily. 'He insulted my bow....I cannot let it go just like that....'

'Drop the sword Arjuna! NOW!' Krishna said again, this time raising his voice. Arjuna looked at his elder brother for one last time, lowered his sword and walked away from his brother's tent with a huff.

Yudhishtara  took a shaky breath as he realized how close to death he had come. Yudhishtara turned to thank the Dark Lord, but  Krishna had also left the tent to follow his friend.

Krishna saw Arjuna sitting in his tent looking at his bow longingly. 'Arjuna! Do you realize what you were about to do now?' Krishna asked vehemently.

'He insulted the Gandiva!' Arjuna repeated the words like a child throwing a tantrum. 'He...'

'SO WHAT?' Krishna interrupted Arjuna. Arjuna blinked for a second as Krishna continued. 'He insulted your Gandiva..So what ? For that  you would kill a man  just like that?' Krishna asked Arjuna. Arjuna looked at Krishna lost for words. 'Yudhishtara is a person, Arjuna! A human being...The Gandiva....with all its powers, is just a bow! You would kill a man for a bow?' Arjuna felt his anger building up inside him.

'The Gandiva...is my penance...my meditation....It is more important to me than my life!' Arjuna yelled.. 'I cannot just sit and  watch while someone insults my bow....' Arjuna looked at Krishna a little dangerously. 'I have made a vow that I will kill anyone who insults it....Anyone....'

Krishna breathed deeply trying to control his temper. 'Is your vow really that important, Arjuna?'

Arjuna blinked some more. 'We....we have been taught to keep our promises....no matter what! That is what our scriptures tell us!'

Krishna took a deep breath  as he looked at his best friend. 'You do not understand....' Krishna suddenly looked at Arjuna as if looking at him for the first time. Krishna suddenly looked sad. 'You just do not understand!' Krishna was filled with remorse as he looked at his best friend. Arjuna looked at Krishna confused. Arjuna had been feeling angry....But looking at Krishna, Arjuna realized that the Dark Lard was not angry but  actually unhappy with him.

He went forward and  looked at Krishna. 'What don't I understand?' He asked a little apprehensively.

Krishna shook his head. Finally taking a deep breath, Krishna said sadly. 'You have to know, when to tell the truth....you have to know when it is important to lie....you have to know when it is important to keep your vow and when it is important to ignore it!'

Arjuna looked at Krishna like he had been hit by a thunderbolt 'When I have to lie....' He whispered as he blinked again and said dazed. 'Why should we know when it is important to lie.....' Arjuna shook his head. 'There is no time when you should lie....Lying is a sin!'

Krishna shook his head sadly. 'If by lying you can save a life....' Krishna looked at Arjuna with blazing eyes. 'You should!' Arjuna was still looking at the Dark Lord without understanding.

'There are times my friend, when you are not judged by the act or the reasons behind the act....You are judged by the consequences of your act....Always keep that in your mind, before you do anything...'Krishna looked at Arjuna. 'I do not understand my Lord!' Arjuna said shaking his head.

'I will tell you two stories, my friend! Listen!' Krishna smiled wryly. 'Probably then you would realize the stupidity of your actions!' Arjuna winced. The Dark Lord never talked to him that way....

'There once lived a hunter – Balaka! ' Krishna continued... 'Not one of the best professions in the world! But he was born into a family of hunters. He hunted animals daily....killed them and brought them home to his family. He looked after his wife, children and parents, by hunting....'

Once Balaka was wandering through the forest. He had roamed long and hard and still he could not find  any game....He went deeper and deeper inside the forest and there...Balaka stood still  for  a few minutes. Standing before him was a weird looking animal....It was blind animal drinking water from the pond in the forest. Though Balaka hesitated for a few seconds, he then drew his arrow and shot the beast. No sooner had the beast fallen....Balaka was amazed to find  a shower  of flowers from the heavens, singing praises of the hunter.....'

Arjuna listened with surprise. A hunter....a man who killed animals was praised for his actions....Krishna continued. 'The animal had actually obtained a boon from the Gods that it would be the cause of the destruction of all creatures.....' Krishna smiled. 'By stopping the creature, Balaka, the hunter, a man who made his living by killing animals, ensured a place for himself in the heaven.....'

Arjuna asked the Dark Lord, intrigued. 'What is the second story, my Lord?'

Krishna nodded his head. 'There once lived a man Kaushika. Kaushika was not very well read in the scriptures and his understanding of Dharma was pathetic....' Krishna said shrugging. 'This man once made a promise to himself that he would always speak the truth!'

'And he kept to his promise, very seriously....People everywhere came to know that Kaushika was an honest man....a man who told no lie!'

Arjuna nodded as Krishna continued. 'Once a man passed Kaushika's house. He was bleeding through a deep wound and was screaming on top of his voice. He ran straight ahead and turned right at the fork just ahead of Kaushika's house.... A group of men followed. They had dangerous weapons and looked everywhere. But when they reached the fork....they did not know whether the man had gone right or left....'

Arjuna looked on as Krishna continued. 'The men following were thieves and they knew of Kaushika's reputation of always speaking the truth....So they went and asked Kaushika about where he could find the man....'

Krishna smiled mirthlessly. 'The great Kaushika, who never spoke a lie....truthfully told the robbers about where the man had gone....The robbers ran right and found the man and killed him!' Krishna said abruptly.

Krishna looked at Arjuna expectantly. 'Was Kaushika right or wrong, my friend?'

Arjuna was now feeling stupid. He now understood exactly what he was about to do....He was going to kill his own elder brother....Arjuna winced as he closed his eyes. Krishna smiled as he realized that Arjuna had understood. 'Kaushika, the speaker of truth, went to hell!' Krishna said. 'He suffered there....for telling the truth....Because he failed to realize that saving a man's life was more important than speaking the truth...' Krishna looked pointedly at Arjuna.

Krishna looked at Arjuna and said gently. 'Your Dharma....your scriptures.....it is important because it protects life! That is why lying to protect a life is not a lie, my friend! The Scriptures cannot guide you to what is Dharma, in all the cases. You can know that only by reasoning!'

Feeling utterly stupid, Arjuna ran inside his brother's tent who was lying there weakly. 'Brother....I am....'

Yudhishtara however interrupted him. 'No Arjuna! I was wrong! I do not know what got into me....' Yudhishtara shuddered. 'I should not have spoken that way!'

Arjuna fell at the feet of his brother. 'I behaved wrongly! I was foolish! Please forgive me, brother!'

Yudhishtara embraced his brother. 'Go now brother! Come back victorious!'

Arjuna and the Dark Lord got back into the chariot to take on Karna....

[The seventeenth day of the war was when Karna was killed by Arjuna.]

Sesha

Daksha, the son of Brahma, had fifty daughters. It is said that thirteen of his daughters were married to Sage Kashyap.

Sage Kashyap is considered to be the father of Devas, Asuras and also all living beings on earth, through his various wives. His wife Aditi gave birth to the Devas, Diti to the Asuras, Kadru to the snakes and Vinata to  Garuda and Aruna and so on..

Garuda, the son of Vinata became the mount of Lord Vishnu.

Do you know what happened to his step brother Sesha, the son of Kadru....?

Read on...

The story of Sesha starts with the rivalry between his mother Kadru and step mother Vinata. 

Kadru, the daughter of King Daksha, the wife of Sage Kashyap and the mother of the Snakes looked at her sons. 'Sons! I want a favour from you!' She wringed her hands as she looked at them, partly in desperation. 'You are the only ones who can help me now!'

Sesha sighed. He could never understand why  his mother had to  be so melodramatic. 'What has happened mother?' He asked.

Her mother looked even more unhappy as she said. 'I....I am scared!'

Sesha looked at his younger brothers who were also trying to hide their exasperation at their mother. He wondered what she had done this time....

Kadru spoke after some time. 'Yesterday me and Vinata crossed the ocean and went to the other side....There we saw Ucchashravas, the flying horse!' Sesha did not miss the fact that his mother spoke about Vinata with such disdain. He could not understand how Kadru could not like her own sister......

Sesha remembered how Kadru and Vinata had always been like this....as far as he could remember. 

From the stories he had heard, Sesha came to know that his father Sage Kashyap had once wanted to perform a sacrifice for more offspring. 

Just before the yagna, Sage Kashyap had first asked Kadru about the offspring she wanted. Delighted at being the first one to choose, Kadru had asked for a thousand powerful Snakes as her sons. The sage granted her wish and turned to Vinata. 

Vinata is her usual soft manner had asked for just two sons.....who were more powerful than the thousand sons of Kadru....

Furious at being bested by her sister, Kadru started looking at Vinata as an enemy.... 

Kadru had her thousand sons and Sesha was the eldest son of Kadru. Unfortunately Vinata's eggs for some reason took longer time to hatch. In her anxiety, Vinata hastily broke one of the egg....Vinata was devastated to find that the child inside the egg was only half formed....

Sesha came to know that the half formed child – Aruna cursed her mother to serve another person for her hasty act and disappeared from there. Though Aruna was only half formed, Sesha immensely respected Aruna. Aruna was now the charioteer of the Sun Lord - Surya....

It is believed in Hindu Mythology, that the sun appears purplish in the morning and the evening because of the presence of Aruna as Surya's charioteer.

In course of  time, Sesha realized that most of his brothers generally caused misery to everyone... Closer home, Sesha was now appalled by the behaviour of his mother towards Vinata. Kadru treated Vinata as her enemy and following suit Sesha's brothers also hated Vinata....And now Vinata was all alone with no one to comfort her. The other egg had not yet hatched and she was probably racked with guilt and fear about what she had done to the first egg....Sesha shook his head....And now his mother was afraid about something she had done with Vinata....

Sesha turned his attention to his mother as she started speaking. 'We saw Ucchashravas....it was a beautiful horse....At that time....' Kadru swallowed as she looked sheepish and continued, '....I placed a bet!' Sesha looked at his mother in surprise as she continued. '....I told Vinata that she had to tell me the colour of the horse....' Kadru frowned as she thought and continued, '....Vinata said immediately that it was fully white in colour...' Kadru shook her head dubiously....'I think....I thought....I thought that the horse had a black tail and I said so....'

Sesha looked resignedly at his mother, 'What was the bet you placed mother?'

Kadru could not meet the eyes of her son. She looked at the floor and mumbled. 'I said that whoever lost the bet.....would have to serve the other....'

Sesha resisted the urge to hit his head in exasperation. He could collectively feel his brothers's temper increasing. His brother Vasuki spoke with barely controlled anger. 'Mother....you still have not told us, what favour you want from us?'

'Now....Now....now that I think about it....I think...I think...' Kadru mumbled barely able to get the words out. 'I think that...I may be wrong....I think that....that....the horse was fully white....' Kadru looked almost mortified as she turned her attention to her sons looking anguished. 'I can't bear the thought of serving Vinata...' Kadru said with tears in her eyes, 'I would rather die first!' Kadru spat out angrily. She eyed her sons angrily. 'And so I want your help to make me win my bet!'

All the snakes looked at their mother stumped. Vasuki recovered first. He whispered softly. 'What do you want us to do, mother?'

'I want you to wrap yourselves around Ucchashravas's tail...' Kadru said with a steely glint in her eyes. 'So that tomorrow when we go there to check the horse....the tail will appear black and I will win the bet!' Kadru said with a wicked smile in her face.

'MOTHER!' Sesha looked at her mother appalled. 'What are you saying? How can you even....?' Sesha fumbled unable to go on. Sesha suddenly looked around and realized that none of his brothers were speaking. They were looking at Sesha and their mother...afraid...afraid of the furious temper of their mother....Suddenly Sesha despised his brothers....and himself. Deep down he probably realised that his brothers did not even know that what their mother was asking them to do was wrong....Sesha angrily looked at his silent brothers and turned to look at his mother and said angrily, 'Mother! Do you even realize what you are saying?' Sesha said trying to control his temper.

Kadru looked at all her sons, her temples throbbing furiously. 'I AM YOUR MOTHER!' She shrieked angrily. 'You will obey whatever I say...'Kadru said her voice dropping dangerously.

Vasuki avoided looking at Sesha. He knew that his elder brother was now more worried about doing the right thing.....Vasuki however had more realistic problems...He knew that his mother was now in a dangerous mood....She had to be calmed...before anything else.....Vasuki realised that he had to be diplomatic with his mother. 'Mother!' He said in a calming tone. Unfortunately for Vasuki and the other snakes, Vasuki had hesitated too long....

As Kadru heard Vasuki's voice she felt that her sons would not listen to her.....Her! Their own mother....they were willing to actually let her lose the bet and let her serve Vinata.... 'HOW DARE YOU?' Kadru shouted. 'You are willing to let me be some....someone's servant....Look at you!' Kadru said with disgust, 'Having sons like you...it is better.....that I did not have any children...I CURSE YOU!' Kadru yelled, 'I am cursing that you would die in a Snake Sacrifice....' Kadru finished breathing angrily.

The entire room felt silent. Even the air grew quiet in the room. The snakes were staring dumbfolded at each other. Their mother.....their own mother had unthinkingly cursed them....

For a long time no one spoke. Kadru sat in the throne unapologetically as she looked at her sons breathing triumphantly.

Vasuki realised with utter incredulity that his mother had hastily consigned all of them to their doom....Vasuki took a deep breath. He had to make his mother take back her curse.... 'Mother! We will do what you want!' He turned to his brothers, studiously avoiding Sesha. 'We will all do what our mother wants, won't we?'

Sesha turned to see that slowly one by one, his brothers nodded their heads...Fools! You think that merely because you will listen to her now, she will take back her words....No! Sesha studied the haughty features of his mother. What she said will come to pass and no power of earth can stop it....Sesha took in a deep breath. He was feeling a sense of detachment as he looked at his brothers and his mother...We were all going to die because of my mother's unthinking words....

Needless to say, the next day, all the snakes other than Sesha wrapped themselves around Ucchashravas's tail. So when the two sisters went to check the horse, Vinata lost the bet and Sesha realized that Vinata's first son – Aruna's curse to his mother had come true....Vinata was now the servant of Kadru.

As days passed on, Sesha grew more and more disillusioned with the behaviour of his mother towards Vinata. To please their mother, Sesha's brothers also behaved very badly towards Vinata. Sesha could not believe it, but the Snakes were bad even towards Garuda – the second son of Vinata....

Finally Sesha could take it no more...He left his family and severed all links with them. He never wanted to go back to them or become like them. 

He had probably committed some great sin because of which he had undergone all these things....He would have to purify himself....He would perform penance. He would meditate....And so Sesha meditated....Sesha meditated so deeply that he forgot all about himself. He was lost in the Brahman [The Force which runs within us all] for days together. Sesha gave up eating and drinking.....His penance continued....Finally Lord Brahma appeared before him. 'Anantha! Sesha! Open your eyes!'

Sesha opened his eyes and saw the four headed Brahma stand before him with a kind smile in his face. 'Anantha! My son! Why are you performing such a difficult penance? What do you want?'

Sesha felt a wave of pure white light wash through him as he stood before the Lord Brahma. 'My Lord! I....I....' Sesha felt embarrassed...How could he tell the Lord, that he was embarrassed of what he was....He looked quietly not able to speak. Lord Brahma probably divined Sesha's thoughts. He smiled and shook his head. 'Sesha! Listen to me, please do not be unhappy of what you are....' Lord Brahma looked at Sesha with a quiet smile. 'There is nothing to be ashamed of what you are...And you my son, are someone who has a special purpose.....'

Sesha mumbled. 'I am a snake! My brothers, they bite people and cause untold misery to everyone....We bear the curse of our own mother....And yet, you come here and tell me that....' Sesha said drily, '....I should not be ashamed of what I am!'

Lord Brahma smiled. 'That curse of your mother, would not affect all of you....' Lord Brahma looked sad. 'She spoke foolishly, without pausing to think of the effect of her words....' Lord Brahma shook his head as he continued. 'However, her curse would affect only those of your brothers who have caused suffering to others....not to all the snakes...' Lord Brahma looked at Sesha and smiled. 'And you my dear Sesha, as I was saying, are meant for great things!'

Sesha looked at Lord Brahma without understanding. Lord Brahma nodded as he continued. 'Yes Anantha!' Lord Brahma nodded around him. 'You will be the one to hold up the earth....' 

Sesha blinked wondering whether he had heard right. Lord Brahma continued. '....The earth is not stable now....It needs someone to support it.....Someone to hold it up....' Lord Brahma said looking pointedly at Sesha. 

'Me?' Sesha looked flabbergasted. Was Lord Brahma really trusting him with such an important thing? Sesha was looking at Lord Brahma without understanding as Lord Brahma continued. 'Yes Anantha! You will provide the stability required for the earth! In fact you are going to be the one who is holding her together!' 

Sesha blinked at the words of Lord Brahma. He was numb....He was finding it difficult to believe that Lord Brahma was trusting him with such an important task. Lord Brahma smiled. He was not done with the snake yet. He continued. 'There is one more thing you will do as part of this job!' Sesha was looking baffled as Lord Brahma continued, 'You will be the resting place of Lord Vishnu at Vaikunta! You will be with Lord Vishnu!'

Sesha looked at Lord Brahma unable to believe what he had heard....Had the Lord just blessed him to be with the Dark Lord? Could he - Sesha, a Snake, really be blessed with such a fortune to be with the Dark Lord....together for all eternity....

As the words of Lord Brahma washed over Sesha, he felt a strange bliss come over him. He knew that nothing could hurt him now....not his brothers or his mother's words....Nothing. He was going to be one with Lord Vishnu....Sesha realized that he wanted nothing more....He had got everything he wanted.....

And so it is believed in Hindu mythology, that Lord Vishnu rests on Sesha, the thousand headed snake as Sesha holds up the earth on his head.

Kadru's curse on the other snakes also unfortunately came true....Many snakes were killed by Garuda, the second son of Vinata, whom they had mistreated when they had been kids. And the remaining snakes except a few, were all destroyed in the Great Snake Sacrifice conducted by King Janamejaya, the great-grandson of the Pandavas....

Pradhyumna - Part 1 of 3

The man and the woman were hand in hand dancing beautifully complementing each other...The man looked handsome and the woman looked beautiful beside him….the man looked complete with the woman beside him. Together they seemed like two halves of a whole.....They danced away blissfully unaware of everything....Suddenly there was a flash of a bright fierce light.....the man disappeared and in his place were a lump of ashes. The woman screamed in anguish....

Mayawati woke up with a start, her face drenched in sweat, her heart racing as if she had run a mile. The screams of the woman in her dream were still ringing in her ears as she looked around, trying to calm herself. The maid's quarters where she lived in was small and neat. Looking around and realizing that she was early for the day's work, she tried to go back to sleep. But the dream kept haunting her..... Who was the man and the woman? The man looked so handsome..... Even in her dream, Mayawait had been able to sense that the man and the woman were made for each other. Mayawati sighed as sleep eluded her. She felt like she had to know the story of the man and the woman, but try as she might she could not remember.....

'Narayana! Narayana!'came a mischievous voice behind her. Mayawati did not need to turn around to know who the man was. She bowed and fell at the feet of the Sage Narada, who traveled throughout the three worlds without any inhibitions. Sage Narada never stayed in the same place for long....

'My Lord!' Mayawati said as she bowed before the sage.

Sage Narada smiled as he blessed Mayawati. Mayawati looked at the sage curiously as she asked. 'Sir! What are you doing here?

Sage Narada looked at Mayawati and smiled. 'Well I felt like I had to be here....so here I have come!' Narada said with a smile. Mayawati looked at the sage and still did not say anything.

Sage Narada grinned as he continued. 'You are Mayawati – a beautiful woman who knows the power of Maya – the illusion...You could have been anywhere....done anything....yet....at my request you work here...' Sage Narada looked around with slightly angry eyes. 'As a cook in the palace of Shambara....the demon Shambara!' Sage Narada looked at Mayawati. 'Aren't you even remotely curious as to why I asked you to work here?'

Mayawati looked at the sage, still not saying anything. She knew that the answers for which she had waited were all going to come. Sage Narada nodded his head as if he could read Mayawati's thoughts. He continued. 'The reason for you to come here, will become clear tomorrow....Shambara would most probably get the news of the birth of Lord Krishna and Queen Rukmini's son – Pradhyumana, latest by tonight....' Sage Narada smiled a little sadly. 'I am afraid...Shambara would take very drastic steps.....when he hears about it!'

Mayawati frowned as she looked at Sage Narada, a strange fear clutching her heart. 'What is Shambara going to do?'

Sage Narada let out a deep breath. 'Long ago....there was a prophecy.....Shambara...when he was younger....wanted to know about his own death....It was predicted that Lord Krishna and Princess Rukmini's son would be the cause of Shambara's death!' Mayawati looked at Sage Narada dazed as Narada continued. 'Since then....Shambara has kept the kingdom of Dwaraka constantly under vigil....He has many spies combing throughout the kingdom....gathering news of everything that has been happening there....When he heard the news of how Krishna married Rukmini, Shambara intensified the spying.....' Sage Narada looked outside the window of the maid's room as he continued. 'The news of the birth of Pradhyuma, Krishna and Rukmini's son would come to him in a few hours.....'

Mayawati looked at Sage Narada and whispered. 'What do you want me to do?'

Sage Narada looked at Mayawathi straight in the eye. 'Shambara would kidnap the child....' Mayawati gasped as Sage Narada nodded his head. 'He would bring the child here...' Sage Narada looked at Mayawathi. 'Once the child is brought here....I want you to make sure that the child is safe.....Keep him here and let him grow up here....'

Mayawati looked at Sage Narada with surprise. 'Don't you want me to take the child back to Lord Krishna?'

Sage Narada smiled. 'Not now! Not immediately! Eventually.....after Pradhyuman has finished the work for which he was born....he would go back to the Lord....'

Mayawathi looked at Sage Narda and blinked. 'But it would be dangerous.....Imagine...the child is whom Shambara wants to kill....and the child would grow up here.....' Mayawati shook her head in fear.

Sage Narada spoke with a smile. 'Believe me! This is the safest place for Pradhyuman! Taking him back to Dwaraka would be disastrous for him....!'

Mayawati looked at the sage waiting for him to elaborate. Sage Narada continued. 'Shambara would want to kill the child....But he would not want to do the act himself....he will probably give the work to his guards.....and at that time.....'

Mayawati nodded her head catching the drift of the sage's thought. Once she made sure the child was safe, the guards fearing Shambara would lie to him that the child was no more....once it was announced that the child was not alive, the child would grow up as one among all the other kids of the maids in the servants' quarters....and nobody would even give the child a second glance ...Taking him back to Dwaraka was out of the question.....

Mayawati looked at Sage Narada. 'Ok....After saving the child, what do you want me to do?' Sage Narada smiled once more. 'Well Shambara can be killed only by someone who knows the power of illusion – Maya....'

Mayawati smiled as she nodded her head. So she had to teach the child the power of the Maya....so that the child would grow up and fulfill the prophecy for which he was born....and kill Shambara.... Even as she thought of it, Mayawati was a little surprised....She had her duties...but it still did not answer many of her questions....why was she so specifically chosen for this job? This work could be done by anyone.....

Sage Narada looked at the slightly angry face of Mayawati and nodded encouragingly. 'Go ahead, my Lady! I think you have earned the right to ask the question....'

Mayawati's face flushed as she looked down, but she still did not speak a word. Sage Narada looked at her and said gently. 'You are the perfect choice for this job .You are the only person who can do this........If you knew who you were....you would realise why you were chosen for this work....'

Mayawati's heart raced as she listened to the words of the sage with rapt attention. Sage Narda looked at Mayawati and almost spoke with pity. 'Don't you remember anything at all about who you are? You have always been the same age....You have never grown old....don't you know why?'

Mayawati looked at the sage with anguish. 'I can't remember anything....I just can't....'

Sage Narada looked at Mayawati strangely. 'Any strange dreams? Dreams that keep haunting you....'

Mayawati jerked her eyes a little angrily and studied the sage suspiciously. Slowly she told him the dream....which had woken her up....the dream which she had had so many times and which never made sense to her....

Sage Narada smiled as he cleared his throat. 'Do you know how Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvathi,my Lady?'

Mayawati felt  a rush of images come inside her head....but still none of the images made sense to her.....

Sage Narada smiled gently at her. 'I will tell you the story....It will fill in the gaps in your memory....After the death of Goddess Sati, Lord Shiva lost interest in everything...He gave up everything and focused on meditation.....That became very bad news for the Gods and very good news for demons in general and one particular demon – Taraka ...Taraka knew that only a child of Lord Shiva could destroy him.....Now that Lord Shiva had become an ascetic, Taraka thought that Lord Shiva would never get married or have any children....that actually meant that Taraka was invincible....Taraka became arrogant and haughty.....He would stop at nothing and tormented the Devas and the humans and the worst part was, no one could stop him.....Nothing could stop him....' Sage Narada spoke with anguish as he remembered those days. 'Having no other choice, the Gods prayed to Mahadevi – the Great Goddess, of whom Goddess Sati was an incarnation....Mahadevi promised to reincarnate to marry Shiva....And so Parvathi was born as the daughter of Himavan and Menaka.....Parvathi was  a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva since her childhood. When she came of marriageable age, told her father that she wanted to marry Shiva....Himavan took Parvathi to Shiva to help him out in his daily prayers, in the hope that she would win Lord Shiva's heart, while helping him!'

'....However the Gods....' Mayawati spoke unsteadily as she kept having flashes of memories. 'They found that Shiva was not even looking at Parvathi, much less fall in love with her!' Sage Narada nodded his head as he encouraged Mayawati to go on. 'So they went to Kamadeva, the God of Love!...They wanted Kamadeva to shoot Lord Shiva with his flowery arrows....so that Lord Shiva would be infatuated with the Goddess!' Mayawati whispered as she saw everything as if it was happening right before her eyes. 'Rati, Kamadeva's wife.....' Mayawati swallowed. 'She was against it....However deciding that this was all necessary for people everywhere, Rati eventually agreed to this insane mission.....' Mayawati closed her eyes as she remembered everything. Wryly she continued with the story, '….Waiting for this right time, Kamadeva shot Lord Shiva with his flowery arrows....For a second....Lord Shiva was disturbed....Lord Shiva found himself attracted to Parvathi.....But then.....then.....' Mayawati blinked away tears unable to go on.....

Sage Narada nodded his head sadly. 'Lord Shiva gained control over himself....He came to know that Kamadeva was responsible for his loss of concentration! And in his anger, Lord Shiva burned Kamadeva, with his third eye!' 

Mayawati blinked away the tears from her eyes as she understood the dreams which had been tormenting her for so long.....Kamadeva was the God of Love, Rati was the essence of the desire.....Neither could ever be complete without the other....Without Kama, there was no life for Rati.....

Sage Narada sadly nodded and looked particularly at Mayawati. 'Mad with grief, Rati went to Parvathi and cried about Lord Shiva's act. Hearing this, Parvathi promised Rati that once she [Parvathi] married Lord Shiva...... Kamadeva would come back to Rati!'

Mayawathi smiled through tears in her eyes. 'And now that the Lord and the Goddess are back together.....'

Sage Narada smiled. '….Rati and Kamadeva have to get back together!'

Mayawati nodded her head happily as she wiped tears from her eyes. 'When exactly would the spies bring the message of the birth of Pradyumna?'

'Anytime now!' Sage Narada smiled as he looked at the faint morning light....

Pradhyumna - Part 2 of 3

The palace at Dwaraka was in the midst of a huge celebration. Queen Rukmini and Lord Krishna had just had their first son ...Pradhyumna! All over the palace, stories spread from one person to another about how exquisitely handsome the child looked....The child looked like a perfect mix of Rukmini and Krishna, with his dark body and her delicate features.....Nobody could stop describing the beauty of the child.....

A large figure approached the palace and maliciously looked at all the people in the palace. It was not surprising that the people had not noticed the stranger, though he looked very much out of place. The stranger was an expert in the art of illusion. He could create any illusion and make people believe in it....Making himself invisible to the people of Dwaraka was no big deal for him....

The figure walked inside the palace. He was careful to avoid Krishna. Carefully he made his way straight to Queen Rukmini's apartment where he knew Pradhyumna would be....The figure walked inside the apartment and saw many ladies surrounding the child. Now that he was inside, he was in no hurry. The figure chose a hiding place in the room and stayed there. He heard the ladies gush over how beautiful the child looked as he felt an anger build up inside himself....

Slowly, after what seemed like an eternity, the ladies left the room. The figure slowly came out of the hiding place as he walked towards the cradle. He could hear the cooing sounds of the baby and knew that the child was still there.....He walked near the child and for the first time looked at the child. He had to admit that it was an extraordinarily beautiful child. He smiled as he picked up the baby. Pradhyumna! So you are the great Pradhyumma, who is going to kill me! Me – Shamabara, the one who can create the greatest illusions in the world....No Pradhyumna....Shambara looked at the baby as he thought fiercely. I am afraid you are not even going to get a chance to fight with me!

The child seemed to suddenly sense that he was in the hands of someone who was definitely not a nice person. He woke up with a start and started wailing.....Shambara looked around as he heard the footsteps of someone who was coming towards the room. Before the door could be opened, Shambara clutched the child tightly in his arms and flew out of the window....

As Shambara flew out of the window he could hear the loud screaming and wailing from the women below in the palace. What had only a few seconds ago been a palace of great celebration had suddenly become a full fledged nightmare. Shambara smiled wickedly at people in the palace and quickly flew towards his own kingdom.

As Shambara was flying he glanced at the baby and grinned. He knew that if he had to put an end to Pradhyumna, he had to do it with his own hands. There was no point in believing his guards. Guards were not trustworthy and he was not willing to put his life in the hands of some other person. Shambara looked at the sea below as he was going towards his own kingdom and laughed maniacally. Without a second thought, Shambara dropped the baby inside the sea. As the child fell inside the water, Shambara looked arrogantly. I am supposed to be killed by Pradhyumna....Now that Pradhyumna is no more....I cannot be killed by anyone...I am invincible!

**************

Mayawati was pacing the floor of the kitchen looking anxious and worried. Through her friends, she had come to know that Shambara had received the news of the birth of Pradhyumna. But try as she might, Mayawati could not find the King anywhere and that worried her. She believed that Shamabara would have the baby abducted and then bring it here....That was when she could save the child....But if she did not even know where the king was, how could she save Pradhyumna....Worried Mayawati continued pacing....

Suddenly Mayawati saw a flurry of activity,all over the palace. The guards stood in attention. 'The king has come....' They whispered to each other. Breathing a sigh of relief, Mayawati looked outside the kitchen. She saw Shambara come inside the palace. She had to now follow him to find the child.

The guards came inside the kitchen. 'The king wants to see you..' He whispered as he looked at Mayawati.

Mayawati looked confused. 'Me! Why?'

The guard shrugged. 'The king looks slightly...crazy!' The guard shuddered as he asked Mayawati to follow her. Mustering her courage, Mayawati followed the guard as she entered the main palace room.

Shambara was heartily laughing, looking almost giddy when Mayawati entered the room. 'Ah! Yes! You are in charge of the kitchens, is it not?' Mayawati nodded as Shambara continued. 'Prepare a feast! Today we are celebrating the most important day of my life!'

Mayawati swallowed rapidly as she asked the king. 'If I knew the reason for the king's happiness, I may be able to prepare for the feast better....'

Shambara nodded fiercely as if he was anxious to tell someone the reason for his happiness. He let out a fierce laugh. 'I have conquered death, today! I have become invincible.....'

Mayawati struggled as she tried to take in a deep breath to calm herself. 'What has Your Majesty done?' She asked in a croaked voice.

Shambara took a deep breath as he spoke happily. 'Long ago, it was prophecised that Krishna and Rukmini's first son would be the reason for my death....And today I have made the prophecy wrong!'

Mayawati found that she was unable to open her mouth. Her heart was beating rapidly as she was unable to understand anything that king said. 'What have you done?' She whispered. Shambara told Mayawati everything that he had done on the way to the kingdom.

Mayawati felt like screaming again.....Sage Narada had been wrong....How....How....could this even happen....Why did this have to happen? Mayawati felt so spent that she did not even know that she was still in the presence of the Shambara and was looking at him murderously....

Shambara was feeling distinctly uncomfortable. The look that his cook was giving him...did not feel right. Suddenly he was feeling afraid. He was about to say something, when a guard came in. 'Sir...the chief fishermen, he is here to see you!'

Almost glad that he did not have to look at the cook, Shambara hastily called the fisherman inside. The fisherman came inside with a huge plate. Shambara was looking surprised as he saw a huge fish on the plate. Shambara had never seen such a big fish in his life....The fisherman bowed to Shambara. 'My Lord! Today while fishing, I found this fish....I have never seen such a huge fish in my entire life! As you are our king, I have decided to present the fish to you as our tribute!'

Shambara smiled at the fisherman. 'Thank you! I was thinking of having a nice feast today!' He looked at his cook and nodded to her. 'Lady! Take this fish and make this as the main course for the feast today.....'

Shambara failed to notice that the cook was still looking like a thunderbolt had hit her. She did not even seem to know where she was going as she stumbled outside the main room with the fisherman following her...

The fisherman kept the fish in the kitchen. Mayawati was looking as the other cooks came and were examining the huge fish. She felt detached from everything. She had nothing left to go on.....The purpose of her life had been taken from her, not once but twice.....And both the times she had been powerless to stop it....

Mayawati felt a tear in her eyes as she felt her whole body tremble....The Gods had lied to her.....She was never going to be whole again....She would always be half.....

'My Lady!' Came a shriek from one of the cooks. Mayawati looked in the general direction of the voice, but she could not concentrate on what was being said. 'My Lady! Please come here and see this for yourself....'

Mayawati still could not bring herself to go when the assistant came forward and almost dragged her. 'You are not going to believe this!' Mayawati felt tired and had no energy even to argue with the assistant. 'Look at this!' The assistant said dramatically as she pointed at the place where the fish was kept.

Disoriented Mayawati stared at the fish but she did not understand....She blinked again and still did not understand.....Mayawati breathed in rapidly wondering whether she was hallucinating! Looking at Mayawati's stunned look the assistant nodded her head. 'Yes my Lady! There is baby....inside the fish! A human baby! A beautiful baby....'

Mayawati suddenly felt faint and she collapsed on the kitchen floor. She stared at the beautiful dark child and knew....knew instinctively what had happened...

Shambara had thrown the child in the ocean. The minute he had thrown it in, the fish had swallowed the baby....And immediately afterwards the fisherman had caught the fish and brought it here. Mayawati looked at the baby as she could not stop crying.

The Gods had brought the child here,safe and sound. Now it was all upto her. Mayawati smiled slowly....The child whom Shambara wanted to destroy was going to grow up right under his nose and he would never know it.....