Chapter 79 Pride and Penance

"Father!" Rishi Durvasa exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. "I have dedicated my entire life to upholding and maintaining Dharma!" His eyes burned with intensity, reflecting the deep conviction that had guided him for years.

"I admire the wisdom of the Vedas, and indeed, his words carry great insight. But the nature of Indra is difficult to change. He may have transformed outwardly, but the arrogance of the throne of Svarga runs deep. It is not so easily cast aside!" Durvasa's gaze hardened, his voice rising in defiance. "I have seen it with my own eyes."

Rishi Atri's eyes narrowed in response. The air between them crackled with tension, each word drawing them closer to an explosive confrontation. The father and son stood side by side, the wind billowing as the dust held its ground, their chests rising and falling with restrained fury. Their stares were fierce, their energy almost palpable—like gongs and drums resounding in the distance, signaling an impending clash.

The silence stretched, thick and oppressive, as if the very atmosphere was preparing for the storm that could break at any moment.

"Durvasa!" A gentle voice suddenly pierced the tension, soft but steady, breaking the impending storm.

Ansuya appeared, a smile dancing on her lips as she carried a plate of laddus. The sweet aroma filled the air as she stepped forward, her presence a calming force. Her eyes twinkled with warmth as she picked up a sugar ball from the top of the plate with her right hand and offered it to Rishi Atri, her gesture both loving and tender.

Rishi Atri let out a soft hum of approval, taking the Laddus and eating it slowly. The sweetness seemed to ease some of the tension in his features, and he closed his eyes momentarily to savor the treat.

Ansuya turned her attention to Rishi Durvasa, her smile never fading. With a playful glint in her eye, she took a handful of sugar balls and placed them gently into his right hand.

"Mother!" Durvasa protested, his face flushed with annoyance. "I'm not a child anymore!" He glared at his father with mild irritation, his earlier frustration fading under the weight of Ansuya's care and the sweetness of the candy.

Ansuya's smile only widened, her calm and loving demeanor offering a silent reminder that sometimes, sweetness—both literal and metaphorical—was the cure for even the deepest of tensions.

"You will always be a child in my eyes," Ansuya said with a soft smile. "And now you're just throwing a tantrum."

"Mother!" Rishi Durvasa huffed, his frustration evident. "I'm going back to penance!"

With that, he clasped his hands together, bowing slightly to his mother. Then, with a formal nod, he turned toward his father before preparing to leave. The house, with its warm atmosphere and comforting embrace, no longer held his interest. His mind was set on his training, away from the distractions of family.

Ansuya sighed gently, shaking her head. With a wistful look in her eyes, she watched her son head toward the door, a quiet sense of concern settling in her heart.

"As long as a person is pious and persistent enough," she said softly, "they will be transformed, and even people who had met them before will change their past judgments sooner or later."

The words lingered in the air, and Rishi Durvas caught halfway to the door, paused. His mother's wisdom echoed in his mind, and he found himself momentarily stilled.

The Rishi in Disguise, always stern and strong, felt a subtle shift inside. He respected his mother deeply—her loyalty, piety, and wisdom had long been recognized by the Trimurti, making her a rare and precious figure in his life. The quiet reverence he held for her only grew with each word she spoke.

What she said made sense.

Could it be that Indra had indeed changed? Perhaps he had learned to hide his arrogance, disguising his true nature.

"Mother!" he called out, turning back to face her, his voice softer now. "I see! I understand."

He took a deep breath, then clasped his hands together once more and bowed deeply. The weight of his mother's wisdom settled in his heart, and a seed of understanding began to take root.

Ansuya's worried eyes softened as she watched her son's expression shift. She knew him well, and the change was subtle, but she could see it—his pride was beginning to give way to reflection.

"Do you truly understand?" she asked, a quiet concern threading her voice.

"Of course, I understand!" Durvasa smiled, nodding with renewed determination. "What you said makes sense, Mother. I will find a chance to test the King of Svarga's true nature in the future."

Ansuya's heart swelled with a mixture of pride and worry. She knew her son, and though his stubbornness could be trying, she trusted that, in time, he would come to understand the deeper truths of life.

…

The radiant peaks of Kailash stood tall against the sky, their snow-capped summits bathed in the light of the eternal sun. Below, the flower fields bloomed in full glory. Thousands of vibrant mandala flowers stretched as far as the eye could see, each petal a masterpiece of nature's design. The air was sweet with their fragrance, and the colors dazzled like a living painting.

Among the sea of flowers, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati walked side by side. The tranquility of the moment was palpable, their steps light and harmonious with the surroundings. They exchanged smiles, their bond unspoken yet deeply felt as if the very universe had woven them together in a dance of eternal love.

Behind them, the sacred cow Nandi followed faithfully, his large form casting a gentle shadow on the ground. His hands were clasped in devotion, his eyes filled with quiet joy as he accompanied the divine couple.

Shiva bent down, his gaze soft and affectionate. He picked a single mandala flower from the vibrant sea and held it out to Parvati with a tender smile.

"Parvati," he called softly, his voice carrying the warmth of the cosmos itself.

Parvati's face lit up with a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with affection. As she reached out to take the flower, her mind was momentarily clouded with the thoughts of the believers—those who had achieved perfection through deep penance. The weight of their devotion was a constant presence in her heart, and for a brief moment, she hesitated, her hand lingering in midair.

Shiva, sensing her inner turmoil, spoke gently, his voice laced with patience. "Their devotion is true."

At his words, Parvati's hesitation melted away. Her eyes cleared, her focus returning to the present moment. With a swift nod, she accepted the flower from Shiva's hand.

In an instant, Parvati's form shimmered and turned into a brilliant golden light, fading into the horizon.

Shiva stood still for a moment, his eyes drifting toward the distant boundary of Vaikuntha. A subtle shift in the atmosphere stirred, and his thoughts seemed to reach beyond the realms of Kailash.

The land beyond was harsh, a stark contrast to the serenity of the flower-filled fields. Lava churned in vast pools, black smoke billowing into the sky. The magma, a mix of deep red and black, spilled over the scorched earth, sending waves of heat into the air. Blazing flames erupted, threatening to consume everything in their path. Three imposing axes stood embedded in the molten landscape, their dark forms symbols of strength and resolve.

"Ōm āim hrīm śrīm klīm!" cried a horse-headed Danava, his voice filled with devotion. He raised his arms high, closing his eyes tightly as he offered his worship.

"Ōm āim hrīm śrīm klīm!" echoed two other figures, their bodies covered in layers of snow-white dirt. They too raised their arms, their voices a chorus of unwavering reverence, as they continued their chant in praise of the goddess.

The sound of their devotion reached the heavens, a testament to the enduring power of Shakti and the divine presence that guided their souls.

The air crackled with the intense power of penance as it surged within the three Danvas. Their forms were entwined with divine energy, a force so potent that it seemed to reverberate through the very fabric of reality.

At that moment, the atmosphere above their heads shifted dramatically. Dark, swirling smoke and thick, oppressive fog gathered together, coalescing into a strikingly beautiful yet terrifying face in the air. Its eyes glowed like burning embers, and its tongue flickered like a flame.

"Hayagriva!" Parvati called, her voice cutting through the heavy air. Her gaze shifted first to the horse-headed Danava, then to the other two figures, their bodies covered in layers of snow-white dirt.

"Madhu! Kaitambha!" she said, each name sharp and commanding. The sound of her voice seemed to jolt the danavas from their trance, snapping them out of their deep penance.

In an instant, the three danavas' eyes flew open, their powerful gazes focusing on the world around them. Hayagriva, the horse-headed Danava, sprang lightly from the great axe with a fluid, graceful motion. His form flipped mid-air, landing with a soft thud as he stood ready, his posture as agile as ever.

Madhu and Kaitambha followed suit, their bodies descending gracefully from the axe blades as the three rays of golden light enveloped them. The light healed their fatigued forms, mending the wear and tear of their intense penance.

"Your penance is complete," Parvati announced, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. "Now, tell me, what blessings do you seek?"

Hayagriva, clasped his hands together in reverence, a gleam of determination in his eyes. He took a step forward, his movements deliberate and commanding.

"I wish to live forever!" he proclaimed, his voice resounding with strength.

The air grew still, but a cold echo rippled out in all directions, the reverberations of Parvati's stern refusal.

"No!" she replied sharply, her voice tinged with divine authority. "Life and death are the natural laws of the universe. No being, no force, can grant immortality."

Hayagriva bowed his head slightly, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes. "Is that so?" he murmured, reflecting on her words.

"In that case," he continued, his voice heavy with resolve, "I wish that only beings exactly like me could defeat me!"

Parvati's gaze turned upward, her presence immense in the sky above. The great shadow of her form swirled as it shifted to face the brothers—Madhu and Kaitambha. The aura that surrounded them was unmistakable, the familiar energy of Vishnu emanating from them. The realization struck her like a thunderbolt.

Is it them? she thought, her heart racing with sudden recognition.

The connection to Devi Lakshmi's words during their last quarrel flashed through her mind—it must be them!

"What kind of blessing do you seek?" Parvati asked again, her voice both soft and commanding.

Madhu and Kaitambha whispered to one another, their voices low but purposeful. After a moment of quiet discussion, they spoke in unison, their words clear and unwavering: "We wish to die only by our choice."

Above them, Parvati's eyes flickered with a knowing intensity. She looked to the sky, then back down at the Danavas, her voice resonating with divine power.

"As you wish."

Her words rippled through the air, echoing like a sacred chant that reverberated across the earth, each repetition lingering longer than the last. The divine energy of her blessing seemed to stretch into the very fabric of existence, causing a shift in the atmosphere so profound that even those in Svarga noticed the disturbance. A strange feeling rippled across the realms as if the earth itself was attuned to Parvati's decree.

In an instant, three beams of golden light fell from the skies, their brilliance blinding yet gentle, weaving through the air before merging into the bodies of the three Danavas. The light enveloped them, sealing Parvati's blessing into their very being.

"Success," Hayagriva, said with a satisfied grin. He tossed his head back, the long mane flowing with the motion. "With this boon, I can finally begin the next phase of our plan."

He stood taller now, his presence amplified by the divine blessing that coursed through him, a sense of unstoppable purpose igniting within his heart. The plan was set into motion.

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