Jaya CC#1 Members Only (Notes on Pg#12,19)Please Vote Pg 135 - Page 5

Originally posted by: ashne

@ Anu, I think u will have to use Dharma, Vikrodar, Parth etc. For Panchal, her given name is Krishnaa, but if u use that, it can get confusing for people who read. Specially when she shares space with Govind , which is a major chunk in itself

Originally posted by: AnuMP

You wouldn't want to do any of the earlier characters?

i just want to start where the real story began.

Originally posted by: AnuMP

And we have to add one MAJOR character to the list - VYASA himself!😆

Maybe AMrita can do Vaishy and Vyaasa?

Something I found in a book that I would like to use in Gita Gyan

Most probably Arjun's given name is Arjun only. Or maybe Phalgun like Semanti said. So what do I use? Phalgun or Arjuna ? 😊

Brishti,

At the bank of river Ganga, he was standing with a heavy heart. He came here for hunting. But his eyes were not on the running deers. Rather they were fixed on river Ganga. Entire Aaryavarta worshipped this river as a Goddess, but for King Shantanu it was a curse! Yes, a big curse in his life!

This is the river in whose current his seven newborns had lost their lives! No, it was not some accident. His babies were deliberately placed on river current just after they were born! And none but their mother did that task!

But why? Why was she so cruel to her own children? Shantanu did not know. He always failed to understand that mysterious lady. At his first youth she won his everything by her irresistible beauty. The Kuru King Shantanu was turned into a plaything of her hand! She never even told him her name and identity! And Shantanu too did not dare to ask in fear of losing her company! She was the first lady love in his life! But he had received nothing from her except this immense pain of losing newborn babies! Now at this middle age the King was feeling he had a large void in his heart that would never be fulfilled. His soul was silently weeping to get his seven sons back...but alas, it was no more possible!

The King sighed. "What will you gain from staring at this river, you fool?" he said to himself, "You were equally responsible, were you not? Why did you not stop her?"

"I was bound by my promise," another part of his mind tried to defend him.

"Oh please don't give this excuse! Was your promise greater than your innocent children's lives?" Shantanu's own conscience scolded him harshly. He did not find a fitting reply to this. He clutched his bow tightly. As long as he would stand beside that cursed river his own mind would keep kicking him. Rather hunting would be more preferable. At least that would be able to make him forget his pain for a little time! Shantanu raised his feet to leave that place, meanwhile...

A soft sound broke the silence around him. He turned around, and found a bunch of arrows just had entered into the river. Before he could realize the situation another bunch arrived and they hit the ends of previous ones. Shantanu's eyebrows were curved. Who was doing this?

Bunch after bunch of arrows kept coming and hitting ends of previous bunch. Finally when the last bunch checked flow of river, no more arrows came. Shantanu stood amazed. Who was this talented archer? He moved his eyes around everywhere.

And he found a handsome lad standing with bow and arrows. His face was glowing with the pleasure of success. Shantanu could not understand why his heart wanted to embrace that lad. Had his sons been alive, they would have been of this age only! The King could not resist a sigh.

He approached to the lad and asked gently, "You are a gifted archer! Who are you, boy? And where did you learn this excellent archery from?"

The boy smiled, "I'm Devavrata, disciple of Lord Parshuram." His smile touched Shantanu's heart, as if someone had poured a drop of nectar in his large void! He asked again, "Whose son are you?"

"My mother's name is Ganga. I'm Ganga's son!" he proudly replied.

"And," Shantanu was hesitating. Should he ask about his father or not? But finally he could not help, "And, your father?"

Devavrata's face became grave. In a firm voice he said, "I have never seen him. My mother is everything for me! So I love to present myself as her son only!"

Hearing this, Shantanu was lost into his thoughts. The boy's devotion for his mother pleased him. So, was he somehow abandoned by his father? Then his heart too must be aching for his unseen father, just like Shantanu's heart used to do for his unseen son!

Yes, his unseen son! Shantanu wanted to believe that his one son was still alive! The youngest one. At least Shantanu did not see her drowning the eighth baby into the river. She promised him to return that son. But sixteen years had been passed, Shantanu's eyes were getting old to see his son's path, but she had not fulfilled her promise yet! Would Shantanu be able to see his son's face before leaving this world? Would the Kuru kingdom get its heir?

A thoughtful Shantanu could not notice when Devavrata left the place. When he was back to his senses he did not see the young archer. His eyes were stuck again at the bow of his hand to remind him that he came here to search deers for hunting. But before he could think of anything else...

"Maharaj!" a melodious female voice was heard at his back.

The voice was not unfamiliar to him. Shantanu turned around. "Priye!!!" he exclaimed.

She spoke with a hint of annoyance in her voice, "Yes Maharaj! I didn't except that you would make so late to come at this riverbank! You know well that I won't enter your palace, so why did you not come here earlier to take your son back?" she paused, moved her eyelids to another direction and called, "Devavrata! Come here!" she cast a glance on Shantanu and continued, "Maharaj, he is your eighth son. Now accept him and make me free from this burden!"

Shantanu even forgot to be surprised when that young archer came forward and touched his feet. But her words pained him. He could not help saying, "Burden!! Why are you mentioning our son as a burden, Priye? Are you not his mother? Do you not have responsibilities to him?"

She laughed a strange laugh, "Sorry Maharaj! I'm a free bird! I don't want to stress myself with someone's responsibility! One day I was famous for my beauty but only for this boy's presence now no one looks at me with desire in his eyes. I don't want men to lose interest in my beauty so soon! Moreover, this son is not mine. I didn't want him! You wanted him! He is your son! His responsibilities go to you only! Now I have nothing to do here. Allow me to take leave from your life."

With impatient steps Ganga left the riverbank, without even waiting for Shantanu's reply. She had completely lost interest in Shantanu. Now she needs another man to enjoy her life. She did not love men but loved to hit cupid's arrows on men. Making men slaves of her beauty had always been her favourite play. She never wanted to be a wife neither a mother...all she wanted to be a controller of men. When she was just a girl she even tried to grab Shantanu's old father too! After being refused by that old man she fixed her next target on handsome young Prince Shantanu. Just after Shantanu achieved the Kuru throne she applied all her weapons on him. She knew this game so very well that the Kuru King had to forget even his kingdom and duties after getting her company! Ganga did not have any sense of morality or knowledge of human culture. Her life was solely for enjoyment and rearing children would certainly have hindered that. Ganga simply could not allow her children to spoil that enjoyment of her life. So she had to get rid of them. She knew that the King would never oppose because he promised not to prevent her from doing anything. Ganga felt proud of her beauty which overpowered the King's all senses.

How eagerly she wanted to get rid of Devavrata! Feeling the innocent boy an obstacle in her free life she used to curse him frequently. Finally today she got rid from Devavrata too. Now none can prevent her to return to the free life she cherished the most! Now she had to search for her next prey.

Shantanu was hurt with her behaviour. The mysterious lady once again disappeared with her mystery, thought Shantanu with a sigh!

Then he concentrated on his son. Devavrata was still kneeling down at his feet. The King smiled affectionately, and lifted the boy from the ground. His sore eyes were getting moist while staring at Devavrata's face. Shantanu embraced his son, and smelt the scent of his hair. "Be blessed, my child!"

Devavrata stared at the path to forest with pain in his eyes. Though his mother sometimes used to misbehave with him, he loved and admired her like a Goddess. Then why did she leave Devavrata like this? Had he done anything to offend his mother? The young boy could not understand.

Following his eyes, Shantanu understood the boy's heart. He tried to console Devavrata. Placing his both arms on his shoulders Shantanu spoke with a smile, "Don't be so sad, son! From now on I will be both your father and mother! I promise you!"

Devavrata looked at his father but did not speak. He sighed and thought, "I'm the most unfortunate son of this world who could never get both his father's and mother's love together!"

I'm very courageous so dared to post this length at my debut itself 😆 Feel free to criticize 😊

Nice imagery. And I like the idea of leaving the mother's identity a mystery. But why did she kill the 7?

Shantanu does not know. And Ganga knew her sons would not get Kuru throne. Bharat's queens too killed their 9 sons when Bharat declared that he would not make any of them his heirs. Ganga had that personality.