Chapter 72 Trial of the Devas

Thump, thump, thump… The rhythmic pounding of the heart filled the air, an eerie melody that echoed through the tense silence. It was as though they stood on the precipice of a volcano, where the slightest spark could ignite an eruption at any moment.

Narada Muni's mind raced as he carefully studied the faces of the Devas around him. He knew one wrong move could tip the scales.

"Better to offend the Devas than the Rishis!" he thought, his eyes darting to the surrounding gods.

His gaze locked with theirs, and a brief flash of energy passed between them. Surya looked alarmed, Vayu appeared flustered, Agni was lost in thought, and Varuna seemed indifferent, his expression as blank as ever.

One by one, the expressions flickered like shadows, but none of the Devas made a move. The atmosphere grew even more oppressive.

Finally, Narada Muni clasped his hands together, preparing to speak.

"Both of your husbands are the greatest among the Devas in my heart," he began, his voice smooth and carefully measured. "I must confess, I am not wise enough to provide an answer to such a question. Moreover, I am a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, and my judgment may be clouded. However, Devis, the Adityas who govern the world surely possess the wisdom to resolve this matter. They must have the answer within their hearts."

With that, Narada Muni deftly deflected the question, passing the burden onto the Devas themselves.

Devi Lakshmi and Devi Parvati blinked in surprise, their eyes immediately narrowing onto the assembled Devas. The figures of the Devas froze, each one caught in the intensity of the moment, unsure of what to do next.

"Fortunately, I ran fast," Indra muttered to himself, his thoughts racing as he cast a glance at the unfolding drama.

In a swift move, he used his Maya powers to blend in with the Rishis nearby. Disguising himself with an orange-red robe, he joined their ranks, unnoticed by all except Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Saravati who were too caught up in the tension to pay attention to him.

"If I had known earlier, I would have practiced my Maya more," Indra mused to himself. He had some basic knowledge of illusion magic, but his skills were crude, and easily seen through by the Rishis and Devas. Today, however, he realized just how useful the power of Maya could be. If he studied it more, he'd be able to blend in even better next time—or escape without a trace if needed.

"More things to learn... more paths to take," he thought, silently vowing to improve his illusionary skills when he returned to Svarga.

Meanwhile, the goddesses' attention was now fully focused on the Devas.

"Surya, speak first," Parvati's voice rang out, her beauty intensified by the faint blue light that flickered under her skin. Her gaze was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade aimed at the Sun God, Surya.

Surya, who had been nervously eyeing the situation, now found himself squarely in the goddess's sights. The atmosphere grew even more charged, the tension almost palpable as everyone awaited his response.

"I-I-I..." Surya stammered, his voice faltering as panic set in. "I... I don't know!"

He instinctively shrank back, pulling his hands from his waist where they had been raised in hesitation. His face was filled with distress as he realized the precariousness of his position. He dared not offend either of the two goddesses before him.

Devi Lakshmi controlled wealth, the very lifeblood of the Devas, their "net worth" in her hands. On the other side, Parvati's Kali form was the embodiment of time, death, and destruction itself, controlling the "lives" of the Devas. His wealth and life lay at the mercy of these two powerful beings.

Surya knew better than to challenge either one. He was utterly powerless.

The two devis exchanged a cold glance, then turned their attention to Agni.

Agni, upon feeling the weight of their gaze, went pale. His body trembled, and he clasped his hands together in panic. He shifted uneasily, his feet shuffling, unsure of what to say. His words came out in a nervous stammer: "This...this...both are equally great?!"

The moment he spoke, the goddesses' anger flared. They stared at Agni, their eyes sharp and unforgiving.

"Next!" they seemed to hiss in unison.

Boom!

A wave of oppressive power surged through the air, and Agni was engulfed by it. He shrank back, his form flickering like a small flame, helpless in the face of their wrath. His hands pressed together, but he seemed like a tiny ember caught in a fierce, all-consuming wind.

Weak, pitiful, and utterly helpless.

Next came Vayu. He swallowed hard, his nerves getting the better of him. Looking between the two goddesses, his eyes darted nervously. He clasped his hands together, voice barely a whisper, "Maybe... the Preserver of the Brahman?"

At his words, a deep blue light glowed ominously beneath Parvati's skin, her anger growing more intense as she stared at Vayu. The God of Wind flinched, his heart racing in fear.

A low hum of displeasure emanated from Devi Lakshmi, her lips curling into a soft, almost sinister smile.

"There's also Varuna," she said, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Varuna, ever the follower of the crowd, had always chosen whichever side seemed to hold the most power. He was quick to align himself with the winning force, and it appeared Devi Lakshmi had triumphed in this moment.

"Wait," Parvati suddenly interrupted Devi Lakshmi, her voice sharp. She turned her gaze and fixed it on Soma, who was standing next to Immortal Adili. "There's other devas left—let Soma choose first."

An immediate shift occurred. The space around Soma cleared as the Rishi respectfully stepped aside, making way for him.

Soma, caught off guard, hesitated. His head lowered in submission, and he clasped his hands together in prayer, unsure of how to respond.

In the blink of an eye, Soma transformed into a streak of silver light, shooting up toward the moon wheel above Shiva's head. He hovered momentarily before gently landing within it.

"Seems like Soma has chosen Shiva," Parvati remarked with a smile, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.

Devi Lakshmi's smile faltered, her face darkening as she turned her gaze to Varuna who was now the last one left to make a choice.

Parvati, too, fixed her gaze on Varuna, her smile never wavering.

Varuna's hands trembled as he clasped them together, his eyes darting nervously. His mind raced for a solution.

Before he could speak, his form began to shimmer. Within moments, his divine body became transparent, his shape-shifting until he was nothing more than a body of water. With a soft splash, he collapsed onto the green grass, his liquid form pooling into a puddle.

"Mother, just treat me as a puddle of water!" Varuna's voice echoed from the watery depths, laced with a hint of desperation. "Please, don't ask me questions like this—I really don't know!"

The two goddesses responded with an icy snort, clearly unimpressed by his antics.

They turned their eyes back to the other Devas, their gaze sweeping over the assembly.

"Where's Indra?" Devi Lakshmi asked, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of irritation.

At her words, the Devas and Rishis all turned their heads, scanning the surroundings. As the moments passed, it became clear: the figure of the Emperor of Svarga was nowhere to be found.

"How strange," murmured one of the Rishis. "Where is the King of Svarga?"

"I swear I saw him just a moment ago. Where could he have gone?" another Rishi added, confusion spreading through the crowd.

…

The Rishis exchanged confused glances, their brows furrowed in collective uncertainty. Meanwhile, the eyes of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma shifted subtly, all three turning their gazes toward Indra, who was hiding among the Rishis.

Indra's heart raced as he quickly blinked, signaling with his eyes, silently pleading for them not to expose him.

Shiva said nothing, his expression unreadable. Vishnu gave a slight smile, his lips curving knowingly, but he said nothing to reveal Indra's location. Brahma, ever the stoic figure, looked as calm and ancient as ever, his gaze unbothered.

"You must be mistaken," Brahma finally spoke, his voice carrying the weight of his age and authority. "The King of Svarga has not arrived yet. Surely, he is busy with his meditation, focused on his Tapasya."

Indra let out a quiet sigh of relief, feeling the tension in his chest loosen. He then subtly manipulated his Maya, blending seamlessly into the role of a sage. Slowly, he spoke, feigning deep thought.

"Yes," he murmured, as if realizing something. "I suppose I must have remembered wrong. I didn't see him either."

Around them, the Rishis began to murmur in agreement, their expressions still puzzled but willing to accept the explanation.

"It seems so. I didn't see him either," one of them said, scratching his chin.

"Nor did I," another added, their voice tinged with uncertainty.

The moment passed, and the air lightened, though the strange tension still lingered, unnoticed by the oblivious Rishis.

…

The murmurs of the Rishis grew louder, their voices filled with confusion and curiosity.

"Wait really?" Lakshmi asked. "If Airavata is here, then Indra must be nearby!" Devi Lakshmi piecing the clues together.

Suddenly, Devi Lakshmi raised her delicate hand, her jade finger pointing directly at Airavata, who was lazily chewing on leaves nearby.

Airavata, startled, lifted his head high, his gaze meeting that of Devi Lakshmi.

"Indra!!" Parvati's voice rang out, sharp and furious. The blue light around her face intensified, glowing with a furious energy that seemed to vibrate through the air. Her roar echoed through Vaikuntha, lingering and reverberating like a storm.

The eyes of the Trimurti turned toward Indra, the weight of their collective gaze now bearing down on him. He could no longer hide.

Realizing his moment had come, Indra took a deep breath and stepped forward. With a calm wave of his hand, he released his Maya illusion, revealing himself in full. Slowly, he made his way toward the two goddesses.

"Pranam Devi Lakshmi!" Indra began, his voice measured and respectful as he clasped his hands in reverence.

"Pranam Devi Parvati!" he continued, bowing deeply.

The two goddesses glared at him, their anger palpable. "Tell us, Indra," Parvati demanded, her voice tinged with fury, "Who is greater—Shiva or Vishnu?"

Indra clicked his tongue, clearly in a difficult position. He spread his hands in a gesture of reluctant honesty.

"Well, in this case," he said with a slight sigh, "I can only tell the truth."

He paused, glancing around at the rapt attention of the Rishis and Devas before continuing.

"I had thought the two Tridevis would engage in a high-level discussion about Ultimate Truth, Dharma, or Karma, but it seems you want to know something... so simple," he said with a smirk that barely hid his nervousness. "You want to know who is greater—Shiva or Vishnu? Well, I will tell you."

He straightened, his tone growing more serious. "But listen carefully, for what I say now may not be what you expect."

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