~*~Jatasura's End~*~

Sahadev's POV Continues:

That unusual premonition had terrified me to the core. On top of that, the missing report of a snataka brahman, only increased my anxiety. Masking my restlessness, I bid farewell to the fellow snataka brahmans, assuring them assistance.

Once they were gone, I rushed inside the hermitage. Because of all day hard work and fatigue, my brothers and Panchali were into deep sleep. Since the exile started, very rarely, I have seen them sleeping such deeply. If it was unnecessary, I would never have woken them from such a deep sleep. I went near chhote bhaiya tiptoed and shook his leg to wake him up. Even the lightest shake had the ability to wake him up from the deepest slumber. After all, my chhote bhaiya had conquered over sleep, hence called Gudakesha.

As soon as he saw me, seated near his feet, he became alert and sat up on his mat. Placing his right hand on my shoulder, he whispered, "Sahadev? Is everything fine?" I whispered back, "Bhratashree, please come outside. Its urgent."

At once he got up from his mat and followed me outside the cottage and asked, "What's the matter Sahadev? These lines of worry on your face are making me anxious." I replied in a staggered voice, "Bhratashree, I had a premonition, and in that premonition, I saw, a huge monster had abducted......"

"Abducted whom??" Chhote bhaiya asked nervously, placing his both hands on both my shoulders.

In a broken voice, I replied, "Jyeshth......"

The force of chhote bhaiya's grip on my shoulders increased and eyes seemed to pop out of their sockets anytime. He was horrified. I also informed him about the missing snataka brahman. Chhote bhaiya was about to take his Gandiv and quiver from the shed, but I stopped him. I requested him to keep watch at the hermitage, while I go for rescuing jyeshth and that brahman. Then I, taking my Tikshanashu[1], my celestial axe, rushed away from the hermitage without waiting for his approval.

Nights in those woods were generally very dark. The forests were so dense that, even the moon light on a full moon night could not penetrate to the floors. I made a fire torch out of a broken branch of a tree and kept on going until I reached the site I had seen in my premonition. I started calling loudly, "JYESHTH....JYESHTH......CAN YOU HEAR ME? JYESHTH........" 

With each of my call returning un-responded, my fear began to increase. Suddenly, I felt a slight tremble on the ground. I knew this was coming due to movement of that monster. Taking a cue of the direction of this tremble, I rushed to rescue my jyeshth. I was pretty sure that the monster who had abducted my jyeshth, must also had abducted that brahman.

At some distance, I saw a monster, wearing tiger skin around his waist, was moving rapidly. On his left shoulder, he had dangled my jyeshth. Thankfully, jyeshth was conscious and was chastising that beast for his action. I quickly covered the distance and challenged that beast for a duel.

(End of Sahadev's POV)

[2] When that blackness faded away from vision, I found myself hanging upside down. My brain was so clouded that it took me a moment to realize that someone, carrying me on its shoulder, was moving very rapidly. Though because of my disadvantageous position, I was not able to see my abductor's face, but I knew he had some bad intentions. I asked him, "May I know, who are you? Why have you abducted me?"

He replied in his roaring voice, "I am Jatasura. In order to gain your trust, I had been living with all of you in the disguise of a snataka brahman. I had been waiting for this moment to abduct you. So far, my friend Duryodhana had suffered only because of you. You are his greatest obstacle on his way to the throne. By killing you, I will be able to avenge my friend. Also, by keeping you as hostage, I can rob weapons of all your brothers and force your beautiful wife Panchali to submit herself before me."

I could not bear to listen any insults from the mouth of that monster. Further, I knew it must have been very late and my brothers must already be looking for me. In order to stop him from taking me further, I had to hit his morale, so I started chastising him, "You fool! You have only increased your burden of sin. Every living being, whether human or monster, should follow the path of virtue. Your friend Duryodhana is already following the path of adharma, by supporting him, you have also taken up the path of adharma. Further, so far, we have fed you from our share of food, and by deceiving us like this, you have lost all your virtues."

Next moment, I saw a figure, resembling my Sahadev, standing at some distance. I needed to slow down the monster immediately. So, using my yogic abilities, I started increasing my weight. Soon, the monster's speed got checked. Suddenly he came to a halt and I heard my little brother Sahadev challenging that beast for a duel . "You weakling, showing your prowess on an unarmed man. Leave my jyeshth at once. If you are true warrior, then I, Sahadev, youngest son of Late Samrat Pandu challenge you for a duel? Do you accept my challenge?"

That beast roared like an angry lion and accepted Sahadev's challenge, "You tiny human, you think you can defeat me. Fine, first, I shall fight with you and kill you and then I shall take your brother with me."

He dropped me from his shoulder on the ground roughly. I fall upon my right elbow and right knee and rolled over my back to left. I felt a sharp pain on the right side of my body due to hard impact with the ground. Ignoring my pain, I got up immediately for I had to distract that monster from attacking my Sahadev. I could never let my little brother to handle such a dangerous situation alone.

The monster was about to make his first move, when Bheem interrupted him with a thunderous growl. He roared, "You deceitful monster, I had recognized your deception long ago[3]. Since, you did not cause us any harm, I did not punish you then. But by abducting our jyeshth and intending to kill my both my brothers, you have enraged me, and now you shall pay for your crimes by your death."

Bheem's open challenge had also enraged Jatasura. He too growled back, "It's good that you have come yourself to the path of your death abode. Today I shall avenge the death of all those demons whom you have killed and complete their last rites with your blood. Get ready to die now."

Bheem looked at Sahadev signaled him something by facial expressions. Next moment, Sahadev was beside me and dragging me to a safer spot.

Again, I witnessed a massive war between Bheem and Jatasura. That part of the forest was abundant of large boulders. Both started picking up these boulders and hurling at each other, as if they were miniscule balls. Then, their battle took the form of wrestling. On one hand, Jatasura had the benefit of his heavy body frame, while Bheem had the benefit of his immense strength and swiftness. At one point, Jatasura dropped Bheem on the ground and was about to crush his head with his massive paws. But Bheem swiftly rolled away from him and was again back on his feet. Then Bheem interlocked all the fingers of his palm and started punching Jatasura's sides and chest with his double punch. Bheem took Jatasura in a bone crushing embrace and tried to break his spine. At that exact moment, Jatasura placed 2 thundering slaps on Bheem's ears and escaped his grip. Bheem's ears must have been ringing due to impact of those slaps, for he shook his head violently. Once again Jatasura charged at him, but Bheem caught him by neck and dashed his head on large pile of boulder. Jatasura's head was bleeding and he was lying on the ground.

Then Bheem caught him by his legs and lifted him off the ground upside down. Then with a thundering growl, Bheem smashed Jatasura's head onto the ground, and Jatasura died at once. 

While the war was going on, Sahadev, supporting me from my right side had made me seated on a stone and started examining my body for injuries. His trembling hands and his glassy eyes, showcased his fear. Kneeling down infront of me, he took me in strong embrace while placing his head on my chest. I could feel his overflowing tears and hear his soft murmur, "I felt as if I will lose you forever." I placed a soft kiss on his head and keeping him in my embrace, I comforted him while stroking his hair.

After slaying Jatasura, Bheem kneeled infront off me and took me in a silent beary hug. That beary embrace, not only comforted his fear, but also acted as a salve to the torment I felt since the debate session. Breaking out of the embrace, he said in a heavy voice, "Jyeshth, let's get back home. It's not safe to stay here now." As if reading my thoughts, he said, "I will complete his last rites, the first thing in the morning."

The moment, I tried to get up from my stone seat, I felt a sharp pain on my limbs. Unintentionally a moan escaped my lips. Bheem got alert and asked in a concerned voice, "Jyeshth!! Are you well?" Sahadev immediately replied, "Jyeshth right elbow and right knee got injured when Jatasura dropped him on the ground. Perhaps the pain from that injury is catching up now."

Without a loss of moment, Bheem quickly crouched down to his knees, made me seated on one of his shoulders and started moving towards our hermitage along with Sahadev. I tried to protest but he paid no heed to it. No matter whatever he had said, I knew he loved me a lot, but somehow that love got buried under the heaving pile of discontent and anger. Perhaps he got disappointed with me for lacking the fire of revenge against Duryodhana and his gang. But how could I explain, him that the revenge, he wanted to take was not that easy. If the war took place, we will get doomed by it.

Bheem's POV

My journey from the hermitage started with lot of anxiety and fear, but while returning my heart was at peace. The reason being I had managed to save my brothers. The way I had misbehaved with my jyeshth was unforgiveable. If matashree ever heard about it, she would be very sad. But I could never bear to see tears in the eyes of Panchali. She was even dearer than my life. Seeing her beyond hurt because of jyeshth's action, was blinding me with rage. Also, jyeshth's obsession with his policy of forgiveness was something which was beyond my understanding. And unintentionally I vented up all my anger on him.

But unlike other days, food did not tempt me during the dinner time. Though jyeshth had already informed us about being late, but my concern for his safety was eating me from inside. I did not even know when I went into such a deep sleep, but when my sleep broke, I noticed under the faint light of the mud lamp, that Arjun's bed was vacant and jyeshth had not yet returned. I quickly got up from my bed and went outside. I saw Sahadev walking away from hermitage carrying his celestial axe and Arjun watching him in vain. 

On being asked, Arjun informed me about jyeshth's abduction. I felt like sky crashed upon me. The thought of someone daring to abduct our jyeshth right under our noses had enraged me. He also informed me about the missing brahman. Connecting these two dots[3], I understood the complete scenario. From the very first day I had a doubt that one of those snataka brahmans was an imposter, but I never bothered to give it a thought as he never harmed us. But this time he has endangered life of my jyeshth and my little brother Sahadev. I assured Arjun about their safe return and started following Sahadev into the woods, only to reach there to witness my doubts got confirmed. After a winning that rigorous battle with Jatasura and finding my brothers safe, my fears subsided. Had I failed to save them, I wouldn't have been able to face anyone. 

With all these thoughts revolting in my mind, we reached our hermitage. Nakul and Panchali were still asleep. Arjun was pacing outside the hermitage. Seeing us coming, he rushed towards us. Casting worried glances at us, he asked jyeshth, "What happened to you jyeshth? You don't look well." I answered, "Anuj, we will tell you everything, but first make some seating arrangement for jyeshth." Jyeshth immediately added, "Please make it a bit far from the cottage, else Panchali and Nakul may wake up."

Arjun hastily went near the raised platform under the banyan tree and placed hay mats on it. Placing jyeshth comfortably on those mats, we narrated the entire forest episode.

Arjun's face grew paled thinking about numerous unfortunate possibilities that might have happened. He said in a fearful voice, "Jyeshth, why didn't you call us for help? How would have we faced matashree if something happened to you?" 

Jyeshth, giving his serene smile, said in calming tone, "Anuj, the worst part is over, don't think about it much. Now, all of you go and get some rest." Sahadev interrupted, "What about your rest?" Jyeshth smilingly replied, "Jatasura had made enough arrangement for my rest. Don't worry about me." 

We tried to protest, but jyeshth sort of ordered us. Reluctantly, Arjun and me were forced to leave, but Sahadev was adamant. So, he stayed with jyeshth. We had just turned back to head into the hermitage when jyeshth warned, "Don't tell Nakul and Panchali about tonight incidents. They might worry needlessly." We had to agree with him. 

(End of Bheem's POV)

After Bheem and Arjun, were gone, Sahadev too went away somewhere. I leaned my back to the trunk of the tree and closed my eyes out of the pain I had been feeling on my arms and limbs. After few moments, I felt a soft touch on my limbs. I immediately opened my eyes to see Sahadev giving warm compressions to my injured knees with heated stones bound in a piece of cloth. I tried to stop him from doing so, but he strictly said, "Jyeshth, there is no use of hiding your pain from me. I have seen you getting hurt when you fall." Sahadev's strict tone resembled that of father, hence I could not say anything to him whenever he used that tone. Then he applied warm compressions on elbows and arm also. Surprisingly, the sharp pain was completely gone, and what remained was dull pain, which was not that hard to bear.

Kneeling infront of me, he said in a composed tone, "Jyeshth, please forgive me for behaving as such with you since the Dyut Sabha. My sorrow had made me so blind that I failed to realize that whatever happened with us is just a foul play of destiny."

I pulled him up and told him, "No Anuj, we cannot put blame of everything on our destiny. If everything that is going to happen is pre-planned, then there will be no significance of our deeds. Life gives us options to choose and depending on those choices, future repercussions take place. That day also, I was given the choice to accept or reject the invitation for the game and I chose to accept it. Even while playing the game, after every stake I lost, I was given the choice to quit the game, but I chose to continue it. Those choices by me had brought us to this position."

Sahadev seemed to understand my point. I continued, "And as for forgiving you, you were never wrong. Then why are you seeking forgiveness. Rather I should.." Sahadev cut me in the middle, "No jyeshth, please don't ashamed me by asking for forgiveness from me." I smiled and took him in a tight embrace. The albatross that hung around my neck seemed a bit lighter.

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While that old widowed woman of Hastinapur was now sleeping peacefully as her Lord listened to her prayer and the 2nd mud lamp stopped flickering long time ago and was burning brightly.

Author's Notes

In order to make my narration a bit interesting, I altered the sequence and narrative from the original text. So, the narrative of this chapter is a work of fiction.

In the original text, Jatasura's death takes place at much later part of the story. When Pandavas were staying at Badrikashram to meet Arjun, one day, while Bheem and Ghatotkach were away, Jatasura, who was staying with the Pandava's in the disguise of Brahmana, abducted Draupadi, Yudhishthira, Nakul and Sahadev along with their weapons. Sahadev breaks out of his grip and challenges the demon for the fight. Meanwhile Bheem gets to know about the abduction and rushes to help the Pandavas. Yudhishthira, tries to hit the morale of demon and with his yogic abilities, makes himself so heavy, that the demon's could not move at all and Bheem catches up with them. After that Bheem had a fierce fight with the demon and eventually, he kills him.

[1] – The name of the Sahadev's axe is my brain child. In Sanskrit, tikshana means sharp and parshu means axe. Hence 'Tikshanashu'

[2] – The normal narrative of the story in Yudhishthira's POV begins.

[3] – Bheem, after marrying Hidimba after Lakshyagriha, became the King of Demons, Hence, he was able to recognize Jatasura under the disguise of Brahman