Mahabharat Katha:T#4; Part 52 On Pg 140

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proteeti

@sambhavami

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Posted: 10 years ago

#301

Originally posted by: Karunima
Very nice interesting update.

Thank you so much!!

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proteeti

@sambhavami

Stunner

+ 12

Posted: 10 years ago

#302

Originally posted by: Avyakta
Radika , this time I am a bit late , but really happy for this awesome update . Thank you .

Thank you so very much for reading and reviewing!!

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proteeti

@sambhavami

Stunner

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Posted: 10 years ago

#303

Part 42

Kunti led the five brothers out of the forest into the town of Ekchakra.On their way they met Sage Ved Vyaas who blessed them, "Sons, you are now facing these hardships, but you will definitely succeed in your life. Mark my words Kunti, then your sons will be the pillars of dharma and the best of the successors of King Bharat!"

In Ekchakra the Pandavs took shelter in the house of an old Brahmin's house, where they lived in the disguise of five Brahmins and their widowed mother. Every day the five brothers went out to beg for food, while Kunti stayed back. At night, the food that was gathered by the five was divided by Kunti into two equal halves. While Bheem ate a half, the other four brothers and Kunti shared the other part. But, even a half of the total food gathered was not enough for Bheem, and he seemed to be weakened day by day!

One day Yudhishthir, Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev had gone out to ask for alms, leaving their mother with Bheem. Kunti was going in after having seeing the brothers off to the main roads of the city, when she heard the sound of suppressed weeping. She quietly entered the room, and listened to the lament of the family of the Brahmin.

The Brahmin said, "No dear, I cannot let anyone of you go! Being the eldest in the family, it's my duty to protect you three at any cost, and I will fulfill that by going to him myself!" Hearing this the wife said, "No my Lord! You cannot do this! If you sacrifice yourself, then who will feed us! How will I search for a suitable boy for our daughter in your absence? And who will give our son the correct values, and teach him to be a good priest? What I suggest is, let me go! I'm of absolutely no use to this family now, that both my children are old enough to take care of their basic needs! Yes, that's the best option!" The daughter said, "Please don't utter such an ominous thing Mother! This family of ours will be incomplete if either of you die! So, the best option is, let me go! Anyways, I being an unmarried girl, am a burden on you, am the best possible choice for that monster!" The little son of the Brahmin, then embracing his sister, spoke in a typical childish tome, "No! Sister does not go anywhere and neither do Mother and Father! I go to that demon." The three were bound to smile amidst their tears to see the child's love and determination. Kunti laughed too and attracted the attention of the Brahmin and the others in the room. She asked the Brahmin about the cause of their grief. The Brahmin in response told her a story.

A demon named Vaka was the lord of the city of Ekchakra. Previously, he used to barge into the city massacring anyone and everyone who was unfortunate enough to come before him. At last, fed up, the citizens made a pact with the demon that the latter will be provided with a cart-full of rice, two buffaloes, and a man, while the demon will stop killing the innocent and protect the city from any external danger. The citizens decided amongst themselves that each day one family will provide the food. THe Brahmin continued, "Though the turn of a family comes after a long time, but it completely shatters the family on who this misfortune befalls." Kunti was distressed at the predicament of the citizens. She asked, "But doesn't the King do anything about this?"
"King?" there was mockery in the Brahmin's tone, "Yes, there is a King, at Vetrakiya, but we have got no proof of his existence till date."

Kunti thought for a while and said, "Sir, I was thinking that, as we are highly indebted to you, for all you have done for us these months, we should also repay the debt. I have five sons, let one of them go, instead of a member of your family!" The Brahmin was shocked, "No Madam! I can't do that! In the holy texts it is clearly stated that a guest is equal to a God, who must be served, and not at all pushed into the mouth of Death!" Kunti smiled, "Don't you worry, Sir. One of my sons has a special power from the Gods, that no ordinary demon can defeat him, and therefore let him go! I'm sure that not only will he save himself from the demon, but also will kill him." The Brahmin looked convinced, "Then it makes sense! Lets then go to him and ask him!"

Kunti led the Brahmin to Bheem, who was then looking into every vessel in the room to check for some food. The Brahmin addressed him, "Sir, I heard from your mother, that you have a divine mantra, by virtue of which you can defeat any demon! So, I thought of asking for your help!" Bheem looked surprised, but he controlled himself on receiving a slight nod from Kunti, and he said, "Oh yes! Why not! Especially when there is some food involved! I will definitely deliver this city of that Vaka."

At night, when the others had arrived, Kunti told them of the promise made to the Brahmin. Yudhishthir looked alarmed, "Mother! I do not fear for Bheem's safety, he can manage the rakshas, but what if people come to know of us! Duryodhan would then obviously be a threat to our lives, again!" Arjun supported Bheem, "But Brother, now we know that he's after us! Then?"
"Arjun, we had known that since he had tried to poison Bheem! So? Did we escape him? Yes, we might have escaped a sure death, but we, especially Mother, are suffering so much! Aren't we?" Bheem said, his mouth filled with food, "But Brother, I can always come back quietly after I finish my work with the demon!" At last, Yudhishthir had to give way to his brothers and mothers, but agreed to let Bheem go only on the condition, that he would return without revealing himself to the citizens of Ekchakra.

Krishna, in Dwarka, bowed down slightly and said to Devaki, "Yes, it's a boy!" Devaki and Vasudev smiled brightly as Krishna bowed down to take their blessing. Devaki said proudly, "My first grandson!" Vasudev beamed around at the guards, and distributed the jewels that were kept ready,"Lets go then, Devaki, and have a glimpse of the young man who'll call us grandparents soon!" Balraam rose and embraced Krishna with a playful warning, "Don't you dare make him into a prankster like yourself! One in three generations is more than enough!" In the maternity home, Subhadra sat rocking the child, while Jamvanti and Satyabhaama fanned the exhausted Rukmani. All of them laughed and cracked jokes. Devaki went and took the baby in her arms. She said, "I haven't seen my Krishna when he was small. So, Rukmani, it's going to be me who will give you the toughest competition in loving this little Krishna!"

Next day, in the morning, Bheem set out for Vakaasur's cave, away from the city. When he reached the top of the hill, he set the two bulls free, who raced down the hill, while he himself sat down to savour a delicious meal. Hearing him, however Vakaasur had come out of his cave.

His temper rose at once, owing to both his hunger and the sight of a 'mere' human eating his share of food, and he ran towards Bheem with a huge, uprooted tree. Since Bheem was eating, he stopped and hurled back the tree with his left hand. Vaka continued to beat him on his back, but Bheem did not feel anything. He was lost in his enemy's food. After he finished with his food, Bheem rose and roared at the demon, challenging him. Soon they were engaged in a fierce fight, where finally Bheem defeated and killed Vakaasur. Bheem left the body of the demon at the gates of the city and went back home. The next morning, the citizens found their terror dead at their feet, and laughed and danced in joy! They asked the Brahmin, who, only smiled and thanked the Lord, as he had promised to Kunti to not disclose about Bheem.

Meanwhile, the whole of Dwarka talked of nothing but Krishna and his little boy! There was celebration and rejoicing everywhere! The boy had been named Pradyumn. Every time, a child was born to a King or an important person, the father would distribute wealth among the citizens, but here, the citizens themselves came up to Krishna and said, "You will not buy anything for our little Prince. If he's your son, then he is the son of all of us too, and so we will gift him with all that he can need!" Krishna accepted all of the genuine gifts that were given to the little Pradyumn, and the citizens were very happy to see the sweet prince.

But alas! This peace and happiness did not last for long. On the tenth day, a demon king secretly entered the room of Rukmani and stole the child. He threw the baby into the ocean and went back to his kingdom saying, "Shambarasur is immortal!" In the morning, the city of Dwarka was immersed in the ocean of grief, with the Yadav chiefs looking high and low, unsuccessfully though, for the lost child. Rukmani cried all day and night, while Krishna ran from one corner to the other of the city, interrogating people about any demon or so.

Edited by Radhikerani - 10 years ago