Chapter 86 Rift in Brahma Loka

"Move!" Hayagriva barked, his eyes narrowing in fury. He had already made his decision to leave, but if these two refused to comply, they would feel the full force of his wrath. If Vishnu intervened and ruined his plans, it would be disastrous—he would lose not only his life but also his plans. That was an outcome he could not afford.

Madhu and Kaitambha exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. For a moment, they were silent as if weighing their options. Then, without a word, both extended their right hands simultaneously. In an instant, they clapped them together, and their bodies radiated a surge of invisible power. The wind howled, building into a violent storm that tore through Brahma Loka, ripping the very fabric of space itself.

A tear, in reality, and space-time appeared before them.

Hayagriva's eyes widened as he surveyed the scene. He spotted a distant patch of land covered in flowing magma, its heat rising in waves. The pungent scent of sulfur assaulted his senses, unmistakable and sharp.

Yes… This is the scenery of the patala loka, he thought with satisfaction. The smell of sulfur... authentic, raw.

A grin spread across his face as he gently stroked his mane, the familiar smell filling him with an eager joy. He wasted no time, jumping into the rift with renewed vigor, excitement lighting his every step.

Madhu and Kaitambha turned, their eyes locking onto the Devas with defiance.

"Just wait," Madhu sneered. "This place is ours sooner or later."

"You can't keep it for long," Kaitambha added, his tone cold and full of contempt.

Their words echoed through the air like a promise of trouble. Without hesitation, they both rushed forward, pushing past the remnants of the space they had torn asunder.

Indra clicked his tongue in frustration, unable to hide the irritation on his face. Just like that, some asura could have raided Brahma Loka... he thought bitterly. What are they really up to?

"We won!" Vayu exclaimed, his voice full of disbelief and relief. After so many setbacks, the Devas had finally managed to repel the Asuras. They had regained the glory of the Svarga, and it felt like a hard-earned victory.

It hadn't been easy, but the Devas had come out on top at last.

"It's worth remembering!" Surya added with a smile, his voice brimming with optimism.

Despite the recent failure of their Vimanas' test flight, which had been undeniably frustrating, the mood among the Devas remained high. It paled in comparison to the exhilaration of having repelled the three blessed Asuras. In the grand scheme of things, what did a failed spaceship matter?

"Who cares about the Vimana?" Surya continued, his tone dismissive. "The worst-case scenario is simply going back to the Dev of Craftsman and having it rebuilt. With his abilities, how could the Dev of Craftsman not repair it? What matters most is that we, the Devas, returned victorious!"

Victory! The word rang out in the air like a sweet melody.

"This is the victory our Devas deserve!" Surya proclaimed.

Agni, his face lighting up with enthusiasm, chimed in. "How about we capitalize on this victory, march into the patalaloka, and destroy every last Asura?"

His words were filled with the fire of vindication. The Devas had suffered humiliation at the hands of Hiranyaksha and been captured by Jintan the last time, but now they had finally defeated the Asuras. Their spirits soared.

For the first time in ages, the Devas were brimming with confidence, their pride renewed.

Indra, however, couldn't suppress a sigh. He took a deep breath, then clapped one hand over his face, trying to stifle his mounting frustration. It seemed the Devas were more eager to celebrate than reflect. They had won a small battle, but there was no need to rush into another fight just yet.

"Svarga can't withstand your plans," Indra muttered under his breath.

But before he could elaborate further, Varuna, ever the opportunist, chuckled and spoke up. "I think we should start a banquet to celebrate this hard-earned victory!"

The suggestion lit up the room like a spark.

"Alright! All right!" the Devas and Gandharvas cheered in unison. "That's more like it! Let's celebrate this hard-won victory!"

Indra, standing at the center of the jubilant commotion, shook his head with a knowing smile. Well, he thought, I take back what I said. His brothers didn't just love to make trouble for themselves—they reveled in their moments of relaxation as well. At least they kept their chaos contained and, on top of that, it was more cost-effective than the usual uproar.

Indra cleared his throat, collecting his thoughts. Fine. Let them enjoy this. A little indulgence won't hurt—at least for now.

The sound of conches that had been echoing through the void abruptly ceased, casting an eerie silence over the scene.

Indra, with a reverent expression, clasped his hands together and bowed his head towards the vast expanse.

"Om Nārāyaṇāya Vidmahe!" he declared solemnly.

At once, the other Devas followed suit, their hands joining in prayer as they echoed his words.

"Om Nārāyaṇāya Vidmahe!"

...

The chorus of praises filled the air, their voices carrying with deep devotion. Thanks to Vishnu's divine intervention, they triumphed over the three Asuras in this battle.

Far in the sea of milk, Vishnu lay peacefully on his serpent bed, a soft smile on his lips. He picked up his conch again, the familiar curve of the shell resting in his hand as he gently blew into it. Despite his calm demeanor, there lingered a subtle trace of worry in his eyes.

Meanwhile, in the Brahma Loka, the Devas gathered around Brahma, eager to seek understanding.

"Pranam Lord Brahma!" Indra began, his hands clasped in prayer. "What is the origin of these three Asuras?"

Many other Devas also looked to Brahma with curiosity, silently praying as they awaited his answer. They wanted to understand the origins of these three powerful Asuras who had nearly bested them.

Brahma nodded, his gaze distant as he began to speak, his voice measured and calm.

"The first of these Asuras is Hayagriva," Brahma began, his tone grave. "With the neck of a horse and the body of a man, he hails from the Daitya clan. He has long been engaged in rigorous penance and received a blessing: He could be killed only by another being just like him."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the gathered Devas as Brahma paused briefly, then continued.

"As for the other two, their origins lie in the Preservor of the Brahman," Brahma said, his eyes glinting with a hidden excitement.

The Devas leaned forward, their curiosity piqued as Brahma's words took on a more cryptic tone.

With a shift in his posture, Brahma straightened himself and spoke with renewed fervor, his voice gaining weight.

"Their names are Madhu and Kaitambha. These two were born from Vishnu himself, and their power rivals even that of the King of Asuras—or perhaps even surpasses it. They were gifted with a special boon from Mahadevi herself: they cannot die unless they willingly choose to die."

Brahma's eyes twinkled with a mixture of pride and concern. For years, it had been his blessings that had gone awry, but now, it was Vishnu's turn to face the consequences.

A smirk played on Brahma's lips as he straightened his posture, the excitement in his voice barely contained.

"These Asuras, powerful beyond measure, are now the greatest threat to Svarga. But it is up to Vishnu to handle them."

Indra, hearing this, felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. The situation was far more complicated than he had imagined. Asura powers, bound by divine blessings, were not to be underestimated.

Fortunately, the Devas had deployed Vimanas—aerial war-chariots forged by Vishvakarma himself. With those divine crafts, they were able to intercept and overpower the three Asuras swiftly and efficiently. Had it been a direct battle, however, Indra knew the outcome would have been disastrous. He could easily have taken down one of them, but the remaining two would have been more than capable of overwhelming the Devas in a relentless assault.

"Hayagriva, the horse-headed Danava?" Indra mused, his thoughts racing. "Was he here to steal the Vedas?"

Indra had been exposed to many of the stories from Indian mythology, albeit through TV series and the occasional tale passed down through the ages. While he hadn't seen them all, certain details stuck with him. The name "Hayagriva" echoed in his mind, and he suddenly recalled the ancient myth: the most famous legend of Hayagriva revolves around his theft of the Vedas.

Consumed by greed for knowledge and power, Hayagriva stole the sacred texts from the devas, causing great chaos in the cosmos. Vishnu, in his divine incarnation as a horse-headed being (Hayagriva), defeated him after a long battle, restoring the Vedas and maintaining the balance of knowledge in the universe.

After Hayagriva's death, Vishnu's incarnation, Hayagriva, took it upon himself to safeguard the Vedas, ensuring that they would never again fall into the wrong hands.

"So that's it..." Indra thought, realization dawning on him. "This Hayagriva's goal was to steal the Vedas!"

His eyes widened in shock as the puzzle pieces clicked into place.

"Then, I hit them in the face this time," he muttered under his breath, his resolve hardening. The next step was clear—he would not allow them to succeed.

Indra took a deep breath, feeling a surge of energy and clarity. He had thought the Brahma Loka was invincible, an unshakable fortress of power. But now he understood: the stability he had taken for granted was fragile, and the Asuras were not as easily defeated as he'd assumed.

With this new awareness, his mind shifted to other possibilities.

"Vaikuntha? Or Kailash?" Indra wondered aloud, considering his next course of action. If he were to leave the Brahma Loka behind, one of these places might provide a more secure foundation for their plans.

But whatever came next, one thing was certain—this battle was far from over.

Kailash is a sacred refuge for ascetics, and Lord Shiva, protector of those seeking spiritual enlightenment, made it a truly divine place.

However, as the leader of the Devas, Indra's responsibilities were far from simple. He couldn't simply retreat to the tranquil heights of Kailash; his duties remained. He would have to wait until Airavata's penance was complete, and only then could he enjoy a well-earned respite.

For the first time, Indra found himself missing his elephant.

The Nth day without Airavata…

"How long has it been?" Indra thought, a slight pang of guilt tugging at his heart.

He couldn't help but reflect. "Am I a bad friend? If I let the rain fall every day for five hundred years, I'd take his place for five years, wouldn't I?"

Indra sighed deeply. His thoughts weren't without kindness, but the weight of leadership often dulled such feelings. As much as he longed for peace, his role demanded constant vigilance.

Shaking off his moment of melancholy, Indra refocused. He clasped his hands together and addressed Brahma with renewed determination.

"Lord Brahma," he began, "These three Asuras did not attack Svarga. They came to Brahma Loka for a reason. There must be a deeper conspiracy at work here."

He paused, letting the tension build.

"They may have come specifically to target you," Indra concluded, his voice steady.

Brahma blinked in surprise. "Target me?" His brow furrowed, his mind racing. What could they possibly want with him?

As he pondered the question, Brahma's eyes shifted, and he caught sight of Indra's gaze falling on something. He followed the line of sight and froze, realization dawning on him.

"Vedas?!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with shock.

The sacred texts—the very foundation of cosmic order. Did asuras dare to scheme about such a thing now?

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