The Oath of The Vayuputras (26 page)
‘Father,’ said Bhagirath as he walked confidently into Dilipa’s chamber.
Dilipa smiled as best he could. He didn’t really like his son. ‘How are you, Bhagirath?’
‘I’m all right, father.’
‘How was your trip to Panchavati?’
Bhagirath glanced at Bhrigu, wondering who the old Brahmin was, before turning back to his father. ‘It was an uneventful trip, father. Perhaps the Nagas are not as bad as we think. Some of us have returned early. The Lord Neelkanth will join us later.’
Dilipa frowned, as if surprised, and turned towards Bhrigu.
Bhagirath arched his eyebrow before turning towards Bhrigu as well with a Namaste and quick bow of his head. ‘Please accept my apologies for my bad manners, Brahmin. I was overwhelmed with emotions on seeing my father.’
Bhrigu looked deep into Bhagirath’s eyes.
Bhagirath is consumed with curiosity about who I am. I better put this to rest so that his conscious mind can move on to more useful thoughts.
‘Perhaps it is I who should apologise,’ said Bhrigu. ‘I have not introduced myself. I’m a simple sage who lives in the Himalayas and goes by the name of Bhrigu.’
Bhagirath straightened up in surprise. Of course he knew who Bhrigu was, although he hadn’t met him. Bhagirath stepped forward and bent low, touching the sage’s feet. ‘Maharishi Bhrigu, it is my life’s honour to meet you. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to seek your blessings.’
‘
Ayushman bhav
,’ said Bhrigu, blessing Bhagirath with
a long life
.
Bhrigu then placed his hands on Bhagirath’s shoulders and pulled him up, while once again looking directly into his eyes.
Bhagirath has realised that his imbecile father is not the true leader. I am. And he’s scared. Good. Now all I have to do is make him think some more.
‘I trust the Neelkanth is well?’ asked Bhrigu. ‘I have still not had the pleasure of meeting the man who commoners believe is the saviour of our times.’
‘He is well, My Lord,’ said Bhagirath. ‘And is worthy of the title he carries. In fact, there are those of us who believe that he even deserves the title of the Mahadev.’
So, Bhagirath volunteered to uncover the identity of the true leader. Interesting. That Tibetan barbarian understands that this fool Dilipa could not have been the one. He has more intelligence than I thought.
‘Allow posterity to prevail upon the present in deciding the honour and title bestowed upon man, my dear Prince of Ayodhya,’ said Bhrigu. ‘Duty must be performed for its own sake, not for the power and pelf it might bring. I am sure that even your Neelkanth is familiar with Lord Vasudev’s nugget of wisdom which encapsulates this thought:
Karmanye vaadhikaa raste maa phaleshu kadachana
.’
‘Oh, the Neelkanth is the embodiment of that thought, Maharishi
ji
,’ said Bhagirath. ‘He never calls himself the Mahadev. It is we who address him as such.’
Bhrigu smiled. ‘Your Neelkanth must be truly great to inspire such loyalty, brave Prince. By the way, how was Panchavati? I have never had the pleasure of visiting that land.’
‘It is a beautiful city, Maharishi
ji
.’
They were attacked at the outskirts of Panchavati... So our ships did make it through. And their devil boats got us. Well, at least our information about the location of Panchavati is correct.
‘With Lord Ram’s blessings,’ said Bhrigu, ‘I will visit Panchavati someday.’
‘I’m sure that the Queen of the Nagas would be honoured, My Lord,’ said Bhagirath.
Bhrigu smiled.
Kali would kill me if she had half a chance. Her temper is even more volatile than Lord Rudra’s legendary anger.
‘But Prince Bhagirath,’ said Bhrigu, ‘I must complain about an iniquity that you have committed.’
An astonished Bhagirath folded his hands together in an apologetic Namaste. ‘I apologise profusely if I have offended you in any way, My Lord. Please tell me how I can set it right.’
‘It’s very simple,’ said Bhrigu. ‘I was really looking forward to meeting the Emperor’s daughter and her new husband. But you have not brought Princess Anandmayi along with you.’
‘Apologies for my oversight, My Lord,’ said Bhagirath. ‘I overlooked this only because I rushed here to pay obeisance to my respected father, whom I have not met for a long time. And Princess Anandmayi has dutifully accompanied her husband General Parvateshwar to Kashi.’
Bhrigu suddenly held his breath as he read Bhagirath’s thoughts.
Parvateshwar wants to defect? He wants to return to Meluha?
‘I guess I will only have the pleasure of meeting Princess Anandmayi and General Parvateshwar when the Almighty wills it,’ said Bhrigu.
The smile on Bhrigu’s face left Bhagirath with a sense of unease.
‘Hopefully that will be soon enough, My Lord,’ said Bhagirath. ‘If I may now be excused, I’d like to meet up with some people and then head to Kashi for some unfinished tasks.’
Dilipa was about to say something when Bhrigu raised his hand and placed it on Bhagirath’s head. ‘Of course, brave Prince. Go with Lord Ram.’
‘Why did you let him go, My Lord?’ said Dilipa, as soon as Bhagirath had left. ‘We could have arrested him. The interrogation would have surely revealed what happened in Panchavati.’
‘I’m already aware of what happened,’ said Bhrigu. ‘Our ships did reach Panchavati and even managed to kill a large number from amongst their convoy. But they did not kill the main leaders. Shiva is still alive. And our ships were destroyed in the battle.’
‘Even so, we should not allow Bhagirath to leave. Why are we letting one of their main leaders go back unharmed?’
‘I have blessed him with a long life, Your Highness. I’m sure you don’t want me to be proven a liar.’
‘Of course not, My Lord.’
Bhrigu looked at Dilipa and smiled. ‘I know what you are thinking, Your Highness. Trust me, in chess as in war, one sometimes sacrifices a minor piece for the strategic advantage of capturing a more important piece several moves later.’
Dilipa frowned.
‘Let me make myself very clear, Your Highness,’ said Bhrigu. ‘Prince Bhagirath must not be harmed in Ayodhya. I imagine he will leave your city within a day. He should leave safe and sound. I want them to think that we are none the wiser from Bhagirath’s brief visit.’
‘Yes, My Lord.’
‘Provision and ready a fast sailboat. I must leave for Kashi immediately.’
‘Yes, My Lord.’
‘Please have the manifest of my ship state that I am going to Prayag. Bhagirath still has friends in Ayodhya. I don’t want him to know that I’m leaving for Kashi. Is that clear?’
‘Of course, My Lord. I will have Siamantak take care of this immediately.’
Shiva, Sati and Gopal had just been led into the guest chambers of Surapadman’s royal palace by Andhak, the Magadhan minister for ports.
Gopal waited for him to leave and then remarked, ‘It’s interesting that we are being housed in Surapadman’s private residence and not King Mahendra’s palace.’
‘Surapadman wants to serve as the exclusive channel of information between us and his father,’ said Sati. ‘Being the sole intermediary also allows him the discretion of passing on things selectively. It actually makes me more hopeful of success.’
‘I am far less hopeful,’ countered Shiva. ‘No doubt it is actually Surapadman’s writ that runs large in Magadh. Besides being the prince, he is also the keeper of the king’s seal. But even he would be wary of his father’s reaction following the killing of Prince Ugrasen. Perhaps that is why he wants to talk to us in private here.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Gopal. ‘Maybe that’s the reason why we were received in Magadh by Andhak and not King Mahendra’s prime minister.’
‘Yes,’ said Shiva. ‘I believe Andhak is loyal to Surapadman.’
‘Let’s hope for the best,’ said Sati.
As Shiva, Sati and Gopal entered the prince’s court, Surapadman rose from his ceremonial chair. He walked up to the Neelkanth and then went down on his knees. Surapadman placed his head on Shiva’s feet. ‘Bless me, great Neelkanth.’
‘
Sukhinah bhav
,’ said Shiva, placing his hand on Surapadman’s head,
blessing him with happiness
.
Surapadman looked up at Shiva. ‘I hope by the time this conversation ends, My Lord, you will find it in your heart to bless me with victory along with happiness.’
Shiva smiled and placed his hands on Surapadman’s shoulders as he rose. ‘Please allow me to introduce my companions, Prince Surapadman. This is my wife, Sati.’
Surapadman bowed low towards Sati. She politely returned Surapadman’s greeting.
‘And this is my close friend and the chief of the Vasudevs, Gopal,’ said Shiva.
Surapadman’s hands came together in a respectful Namaste as his eyes widened with surprise. ‘Lord Ram, be merciful!’
‘Pray to him,’ said Gopal, ‘and he will be.’
Surapadman smiled. ‘My apologies, Gopal
ji
. My informants have always assured me that the legendary Vasudevs are for real. But I believed they would not interfere with worldly affairs unless an existential crisis was upon us.’
‘Such a time is upon us, Surapadman,’ said Gopal. ‘And all the true followers of Lord Ram must align themselves with the Neelkanth.’
Surapadman remained silent.
‘Let us make ourselves comfortable, brave Prince of Magadh,’ said Shiva.
Surapadman led them to the centre of the court where ceremonial chairs had been placed in a circle. Gopal noticed there was no official from the royal Magadhan court except for Andhak. Rumours suggesting that Andhak would soon be taking over the command of the Magadhan army were perhaps true. It could also be deduced that the rest of the Magadhan court was not really aligned with the Neelkanth. Considering Magadh’s traditional rivalry with Ayodhya, one would have imagined that they would choose to align with the Neelkanth. But Ugrasen’s murder seemed to have effectively queered the pitch.
‘What can I do for you, My Lord?’ asked Surapadman.
‘I will come straight to the point, Prince Surapadman,’ said Shiva. ‘Your elite intelligence officials would have already briefed you that a war is likely.’
Surapadman nodded silently.
‘Perhaps you would also be aware that Ayodhya has not chosen wisely,’ said Gopal.
‘Yes, I’m aware of that,’ said Surapadman, allowing himself a hint of a smile. ‘But given Ayodhya’s penchant for indecision and confusion, few can be sure about which side they will eventually find themselves on!’
Sati smiled. ‘And what do you intend to do, brave Prince?’
‘My Lady,’ said Surapadman, ‘I am a believer in the legend of the Neelkanth. And the Lord has shown that he is a worthy inheritor of the title of the Mahadev.’
Shiva shifted in his seat awkwardly, still not comfortable with being compared to the great Lord Rudra.
‘Furthermore, Ayodhya is a terrible overlord,’ continued Surapadman. ‘It needs to be challenged in the interests of Swadweep. And only Magadh has the ability to do that.’
‘I can see that only mighty Magadh has the strength to confront Ayodhya,’ said Sati.
‘There you have it,’ said Surapadman, ‘I have given you two good reasons why I should choose to stand with the army of the Neelkanth.’
Shiva, Gopal and Sati remained silent, waiting for the inevitable ‘but’.
‘And yet,’ said Surapadman, ‘circumstances have made my situation a little more complex.’
Turning towards Shiva, Surapadman continued, ‘My Lord, you must already be aware of my dilemma. My brother, Ugrasen, was killed in a Naga terrorist attack and my father is hell-bent on seeking vengeance.’
Keeping the sensitivity of the issue in mind, Shiva spoke softly, ‘Surapadman, I think the incident...’
‘My Lord,’ said Surapadman, ‘please forgive me for interrupting you, but I know the truth.’
‘I’m not sure you do, Prince Surapadman. Or else your reaction would have been different.’
Surapadman smiled, looked briefly at Andhak and continued. ‘My Lord, Andhak and I have investigated the case personally. We’ve visited the spot where my brother and his men were killed. We’re aware of the incident.’
Sati couldn’t help inquiring, ‘Then why...’