Great bharata volume i, p.9
Great Bharata, Volume I, page 9
He longed to know more about lovely Girikā. But diplomacy and decency demanded that he not press heavy issues on a convalescing queen, who was hosting him in her palace. So, he ventured a light-hearted observation that it was unusual for a queen to sit alone on a mountain.
She laughed. “You are a Kuru prince, and you spent years alone in the deep forest.” Her voice turned grave. “I went to Mount Kolā-hala because I am mourning my dear father, the king. He recently left this world. I wanted to be alone to deal with my grief.”
Vasu’s attempt at clever banter had ended in disaster. He tried to undo the damage. “I’m truly sorry you lost your father. Be so kind as to accept my sincere condolences. Had I known, I would never have spoken as I did. Please forgive me.”
His words pleased her. She thanked him and insisted that he need not apologize. Then, perhaps to help him avoid another clumsy query, she revealed that her mother, the queen, had also gone to the World Beyond.
“So,” the young monarch concluded, “as the only child of my late parents, I rule alone. At least for now. But, if you permit me to ask, what brings you here to our country, so far from the Kuru lands?”
He then briefly explained how, having no kingdom, he renounced this world and aspired to Indra’s world.
“I understand your decision, given the circumstances,” Girikā said. “But, even in Indra’s world, despite an extremely long lifespan, you will still be mortal. You will die, lose your celestial body, and fall again to Earth. Why aspire to that? Why not aspire to Viṣṇu’s eternal world? Why pray to someone, and then seek a good life elsewhere? Forgive me, but I’m just curious.”
Vasu stared, astonished. The young queen was actually preaching to him to accept Viṣṇu. An Asura would never do that. Asuras could be cunning and duplicitous. But they held it beneath their dignity and pride to feign devotion to their foe Viṣṇu, even for strategic gain. No, Queen Girikā was actually a Vaiṣṇavī, a devotee of Viṣṇu.
“Excuse me,” she said, “but you’re staring at me. Kindly reply to my questions.”
Of course, he thought. Girikā is testing me, just as I was testing her! And with the same purpose.
He smiled broadly and apologized for staring. He knew he could tell Girikā the full truth, and he proceeded to do so. He revealed that Indra had personally come to see him, urging the prince to abandon his project of ascending to Indra’s world. The prince should stay on Earth, to protect it.
“Lord Indra came to you!” she exclaimed. “That is extraordinary! I believe you, but why would Indra urge you to stay here to protect our planet? Protect it from what? From whom? Apart from a few recent, tragic incidents of beasts unnaturally killing forest sages, we have no problem on Earth. There is peace everywhere.”
“Indeed, Queen Girikā, you react precisely as I did when Indra first told me to stay and protect this world. You ask the same questions.”
“Indeed! So, how did Lord Indra change your mind? Was it by his personal grandeur and power? Or did he give you information that I and other monarchs do not presently possess?”
He glanced at Girikā, who remained grave. “Indra told me that the awful attacks on sages are but harbingers of far more terrible things to come. He further told me that I can reveal the whole truth only to my wife and children, and to those devoted to Viṣṇu.”
“If I may ask,” Girikā said, in what seemed like a disappointed tone, “who are your wife and children?”
“I’m sorry; I meant my future wife and children. I am not married.”
“I see.” She smiled. “You may safely consider me to be devoted to Viṣṇu.”
Clearly, she was testing his trust in her. He did trust her, and told her the truth. “I do not wish to alarm you, but Asuras, taking birth as wild beasts, are attacking those sages devoted to Viṣṇu. The Asuras believe that by thus sabotaging Vaiṣṇava yajñas, they will weaken Viṣṇu, and ultimately destroy him. It pains me to say that, but I must tell you what Indra told me. Apart from that, Asuras are invading the Earth, taking birth in royal families. They will thus legally inherit powerful kingdoms, attack weaker realms, and gradually control this planet. They will then use Earth as a base from which to attack and subjugate the three worlds.”
Girikā turned pale. It was her turn to silently stare. Vasu continued. “We must stop the Asuras here on Earth. Indra insisted that I would play a leading role in Earth’s defense. He promised to make me a king — to be honest, the leading king.” Here he stopped, studying Girikā’s reaction.
She nodded silently, as if thinking deeply. Then she spoke. “Prince, I congratulate you on your great fortune. And you are absolutely sure that Indra told you that the Asuras — the Asuras who inhabit higher realms — are invading this Earth?”
“I am absolutely sure. There is no mistake.”
“I see. This is most serious.” Girikā lowered her head and closed her eyes in deep concentration. “Most serious indeed.” She looked up, with wide-open eyes. “And to counter this threat, you will rule a kingdom, and eventually become king of kings.”
“Yes,” Vasu said. “I am to use my kingdom as a base from which to protect the world.”
Girikā’s irrepressible smile returned. “So you, a presently homeless royal, are to be king of kings on this planet.”
“I swear on my honor, it was not my idea.”
Girikā stood up, and began to pace the garden in which they had been sitting. She stopped, turned to face him, and said, “Tell me, did Indra mention which kingdom will be yours?”
Prince Vasu stood up to face her. Girikā’s eyes bore down on him. Deception, even diplomacy, would fail with brilliant Queen Girikā.
“Forgive me, noble lady. I speak only what Great Indra told me. I am to rule this righteous kingdom of Cedi.”
Girikā nodded. “Well, well, I confess I suspected as much. So, if we are to be practical here, you can only rule this land of Cedi in one of two ways.”
Vasu looked carefully at her. “What are those two ways?”
Girikā smiled, but spoke boldly, as a proud monarch. “Prince Vasu, you must either defeat me in battle…” She paused.
“Or else…?”
“Or else you must win my heart.”
Vasu gave out a sigh of relief, and a broad smile lit up his face. “I assure you,” he said with a bow, “that I will never attack you, or your realm. I cannot speak for your heart, but if I may speak plainly, I fear you are rapidly winning mine.”
Her face glowed at these words. With a mischievous smile, she said, “You fear I am winning your heart? Come, prince, surely you do not fear me.”
Her smile was contagious. His heart stirred. Their eyes locked. He said, “I do not fear you. I know in my heart that you are too just and kind to pose any danger to an honest prince who seeks only the good of the world, and your happiness.”
“Well spoken,” she said, in high spirits. Having each indirectly expressed a growing love for the other, and agreeing that they must know each other better, since their acquaintance was so new, they sat closer together and eagerly spoke on many topics — political, moral, spiritual, personal — and agreed on every one. His attachment to her steadily grew, and she made no effort to conceal her pleasure in his company. That gave him courage to reveal his delight in hers. Vasu deeply relished this private meeting with Girikā, beyond the bustle and ceremony of royal attendants, and curious citizens.
They were royalty of a similar age and culture, with very similar natures. This made everything easy and natural between them. But the queen had a few lingering doubts. She believed in his courage and power. She knew that Cedi was safe in his hands. But how could he defend the sages in faraway lands from mighty Asuras roaming the Earth as savage beasts?
Her question reminded him of Indra’s promise of a swift crystal fighting aircraft that would give Vasu an immense advantage over his foes. When would that aircraft come? He thought of Indra, and silently begged him to reveal the aircraft.
At once, a bright light appeared in the sky, outshining the daylight. Vasu and Girikā gazed in wonder as the light approached them. As it grew larger, they saw it was a heavily armed, aerodynamic fortress, speeding silently toward them and then slowly descending into a nearby meadow.
Girikā and Vasu raced there together, spontaneously grasping each other’s hand. In its final approach, the wafting aircraft gently floated onto the emeraldgreen grass. A crystal plank silently emerged from the hull, came down, and softly touched the green grass. Fearsome missile launchers protruded from the hull in all directions. The aircraft seemed to beckon them aboard.
Girikā stepped back, distrustful. Vasu said, “I’m sure Lord Indra sent this aircraft to protect the Earth. He kept his promise. It must be safe. You can wait here and I will board it to see.”
“I am a queen,” Girikā said. “I will go with you.”
Side by side, they walked up the crystal plank into the airship, and found it richly furnished and bristling with weapons, with unimpeded views all around.
“How do you drive it?” Girikā asked.
“I have a hunch,” Vasu said. He focused his mind on the craft and willed it to ascend. The plank retracted with a hush and the ship rose steadily into the air, till they saw beneath them all of Pearl River and the surrounding countryside.
Vasu and Girikā looked at each other and gasped in wonder.
Vasu looked down. “The city is designed in the shape of a lotus!”
“Yes, it is.” The queen smiled.
“And the fields, the orchards, and forests beyond the city walls are so manicured and precise. Cedi must rival Hastinā-pura itself.”
The queen laughed. “That may be going too far. But Cedi is indeed a magnificent realm. By the way,” Girikā said anxiously, “I assume you are controlling the craft.”
“I think so. It responds to my mind. Watch! I now will it to fly to the North.”
Instantly the aircraft moved to the North, without a sound.
“I am impressed,” Girikā said. “This is definitely a Deva aircraft. Make it fly us to that river park.” She pointed to a large, lush park that bordered Pearl River. “I mean, please do that, kind prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Vasu smiled. The aircraft silently sped there and landed.
“Wonderful!” Girikā said. They happily alighted from the aircraft, laughing and praising Indra’s marvelous gift. They sat together by the river like old friends.
“I have a thought,” Vasu said.
“So do I,” she said.
“You first.” He smiled.
“All right. The world will ever be grateful to you and Indra for your protection. That is my thought. What is yours?”
He hesitated, glancing at her with inquiring eyes. She tilted her head charmingly, as if to say, go ahead and tell me.
“Forgive me for what may seem like inappropriate haste. But I know my heart, and I pray to Viṣṇu that I have rightly understood yours. I ask you to accept me, as my very soul accepts you.”
Queen Girikā smiled. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yes. I will. My soul accepts you as your soul has accepted me.”
It was settled. They soon headed back to the palace to explain what must surprise and please many.
Vasu and Girikā soon married with royal pomp and ceremony. For their honeymoon, they traveled around the world in the crystal airship, gazing down on Earth, gazing up at limitless stars. Mindful to ever use the crystal airship to serve humanity, they scoured Earth’s forests for deadly Asura beasts, and with unfailing missiles, sent many of them back to their Asura world. Even on their honeymoon, they rescued many of Viṣṇu’s brāhmaṇas.
CHAPTER 9
“King Vasu and Queen Girikā are my heroes!” cried Satya-vatī. “I admire them so much!”
Parā-śara laughed with pleasure. “I’m glad you feel that way,” he said. “Very glad indeed.”
“But who could not love and admire them? Really!”
“I agree,” the sage said. “There is more to tell about them, but perhaps you’d like to rest first, or have lunch.”
“Oh, Parā-śara! I feel I’ve been resting all my life. Please rest if you like, and I will patiently wait. But my only wish now is to hear more about my King and Queen.”
Parā-śara laughed affectionately. “I am not tired, I assure you. What would you like to hear about the rulers of Cedi?”
“We know,” Satya-vatī said, “that Vasu and Girikā have five excellent sons.”
“Yes, they do. And with Indra’s favor, Vasu became so powerful that he was able to give each son his own kingdom.”
“What a blessed life the royal couple have lived, O sage, a life free of suffering. I am so grateful to you for kindly showing me all this. But I keep wondering why. Why do you tell me these things? I am an insignificant fisherman’s daughter.”
“That is a reasonable question,” the sage said. “I knew you would ask, and the time has come to give you the answer.”
Satya-vatī sat up straight, hardly breathing, fixed on his every word and tone.
“Kind maiden,” the sage began, “you just said that the king and queen have enjoyed a blessed life, indeed, a life free of suffering.”
“Yes,” Satya-vatī said anxiously.
“In fact, though the world knows nothing of it, the life of King Vasu and Queen Girikā has not been entirely free of suffering. One great loss has given them much pain — the loss of their only daughter.”
“Their daughter? But the emperor had no daughter.”
“That is precisely what the world thinks,” Parā-śara said. “You may know that King Vasu’s middle son is Matsya.”
“Yes, he is said to be most charming,” Satya said. “Of the five Cedi princes, I’ve always thought that I would like Matsya best.”
“Yes, he is charming, Satya. And so is his twin sister, though the world does not know she exists.”
“Prince Matsya has a twin sister? Please, Parā-śara! Do not keep me in suspense.”
“Forgive me, I will tell you everything.”
Satya-vatī meditated deeply as Parā-śara revealed the following. Years ago, a few months before Queen Girikā was to give birth to a boy to be named Matsya, a mysterious brāhmaṇa couple appeared in the royal palace. No one knew how they entered. The couple wore robes with hoods that concealed their features. In tones so commanding that none dared disobey, they insisted on speaking in private with the royal couple. They were granted an audience.
Once alone with the king and queen, the sage couple lowered their hoods and revealed themselves to be the lords of the Deva realm, Indra and his wife Śacī. Vasu took the hand of Girikā, who froze in astonishment, and they bowed together to the Deva couple.
Vasu and Girikā, who overcame her shock, graciously welcomed their celestial visitors, thanked them for their visit, and begged to know how they might serve their guests. Lovely Śacī smiled and said, “Before all that, Girikā, please tell me how your pregnancy goes. How are you, dear queen?”
Awed by Śacī’s kindness and beauty, Girikā said, “I am very well, thank you. I can hardly express how honored I am by your visit.”
Śacī nodded, turned to her husband, and said, “Indra, it is best that you explain the purpose of our visit.”
At Vasu’s bidding, Indra and Śacī sat on elevated seats. Vasu and Girikā sat nearby. Indra began. “First, we thank you both for your excellent, faithful service. In fact, Vasu, seeing your strength and determination, the Asuras have chosen to simply wait until you are gone.”
“Please explain,” Vasu said.
Indra wasted no time. “As we know, Earth is martya-loka, the mortal world, a place where life is short, at least from the Deva or Asura point of view. So, the Asuras will just wait until your reign ends, and that of your sons. Then, in the third generation, they will attack with greater force than this world can imagine.”
Girikā gasped. Vasu said, “Lord Indra, surely my grandsons will be worthy descendants of our line.”
Śacī shook her head sadly. “There is a mighty Asura named Vipra-citti, eldest son of Danu. Counting you as the first generation of resistance against the Asuras, Vipra-citti will come in the third generation, bringing countless Asura legions with him. And in the fourth generation, his most deadly protégé, Kāla-nemi, will appear. One will inherit, and one will usurp, great kingdoms.”
“Will the Devas come to protect this world?” Vasu asked.
“If we Devas come to Earth,” Indra said, “we might not defeat the Asuras, and the battle alone would destroy this world. Also, if we come here directly, we will leave our own planets unprotected. Yet if the Asuras take the Earth, they will again attack the Devas, with renewed strength. So, you see our problem.”
Vasu and Girikā nodded gravely. Girikā said, “So, what can be done? What can we do?”
Indra glanced at Śacī, who was no less somber. Indra spoke. “Vasu, you will continue to protect Earth, as you have done so well. Your sons will follow you. But Asura power will increase beyond what their sons can handle. Thus, an Avatāra is coming to help us. He is not Viṣṇu himself, but he will help greatly.”
“An Avatāra is coming! Can it be true?” Girikā said.
“Yes,” Śacī said. “He will take birth from a human mother, yet wield superhuman power.”
“We rejoice at this news,” Vasu said. “And we thank you from our hearts for the honor of this visit. Apart from our regular duties, is there anything more that Girikā and I can do?”
“There is one thing,” Śacī said quietly. “You must be prepared to sacrifice something most dear to you.”
