The Dance of Destiny

Himalayas…the snow-clad mountains stood majestically against the azure blue sky. The timeless peaks that had witnessed countless incidents forever etched in Bharat's history were now about to listen to one of the greatest stories ever told.

Ved Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas, makes his way through the icy terrain. He doesn't pause momentarily to catch his breath or take in the spectacular view. Like a man possessed, he keeps trudging on the fresh snow, crossing innumerable valleys and hills until he arrives at a cavern between two icy mountains.

Upon entering, Vyasa notices the cold interior. The frozen water had formed a stunning display of ice sculptures. Unfazed, he walks on, drawn by a distant light. Guided by this light, like a lighthouse guiding a sailor, Vyasa continues until it completely envelops him.

As the source of light revealed itself, Vyasa came to a standstill. The great sage allowed himself to get captivated by the beautiful scenery— the cosmic sky! adorned with magnificent constellations no mortal had ever witnessed. Gardens of otherworldly trees, exotic flowers, and animals from species long believed to be extinct.

Crystal-clear streams of water rush through the gardens, emitting a soothing sound that puts everyone at ease. This was vastly different from the icy landscape Vyasa had been walking through just moments before. "No wonder he lives here", thought Vyasa, as he came face to face with a magnificent palace. The palace, carved exquisitely from an emerald green rock with veins of gold unseen anywhere else in Bharat, featured elaborate gateways with Ganas (Shiva's attendants), stationed on either side. 

While Vyasa neared the entrance, a waterfall that flowed from the west side of the palace cascaded into the river below, creating a bewitching display of iridescent light. "This would give Indra's Amravati a run for its money," smiled Vyasa as he stood in front of the Ganas, who were ash-smeared and dressed in tiger skin. 

Kesha carried a trident and had horns protruding from his one-eyed head. His calm demeanor contrasted with his intimidating appearance. Vira, on the other hand, was pot-bellied, one-horned, wore a bone necklace, and had a disarming smile. 

The Ganas bowed in respect to the great Sage, who blessed them both. Then, turning to Kesha, Vyasa requested him to summon his master, Ganesha, right away. Whilst Kesha went to fetch Ganesha, Vira escorted Vyasa into the meeting chambers.

Shortly after, the elephant god walked in. Upon seeing Vyasa, a familiar spark entered his wise eyes as he greeted him with a bow, saying-

Ganesha: Pranaam Gurudev. What a pleasant surprise! To what do I owe this humble visit?

Ved Vyasa: Blessings to you, Ganesha! Son of Shiva, dearest child of Shakti. I urgently need your exceptional writing skills.

Ganesha: And why is that, Gurudev?

Ved Vyasa: I’ve been tasked with compiling the events of the Mahabharata, the great war fought between the descendants of the Kuru clan. Lord Brahma recommended you.

Ganesha: I understand your situation, Gurudev, and I am willing to help you on one condition: you must narrate the entire sequence of events in one sitting, without any pauses. If you stop for even a moment, I will drop my pen, and that will be the end of it!

Ved Vyasa pauses and reflects on Ganesha’s words, then, after a brief moment:

Ved Vyasa: I understand and accept your condition, Ganesha. However, I also have a condition for you: you must understand each word as I narrate it before writing it down.

Ganesha agrees to Vyasa's condition and takes him to his library made from a blend of labradorite and hues of amethyst, strengthened by pillars of agarwood. The library overlooks the breathtaking landscape that Vyasa had just traversed. 

Upon seating themselves, Vyasa begins narrating while Ganesha writes diligently as the tale of the greatest war Bharat has ever seen slowly finds its way into the pages of history. Vyasa’s poetic narration stirs Ganesha, who, with his third eye, visualizes the battleground of Kurukshetra and all the warriors present.

The dust of the battlefield, the blood and sweat of the warriors, and the scent of bloodlust fill the air as Ganesha finds himself transported to the scene where it all unfolded.

On one side are the mighty Kauravas, armed with deadly weapons, led by their commander, Karna, the son of Surya (the sun god). Karna has a regal bearing, and his dusky, imposing physique is complemented by his piercing gaze. A tragic hero but an extraordinarily gifted archer, he has slain many foes with his divine bow, "the Vijaya." He hopes to claim Arjuna, his arch-nemesis, as his next victim.

The Pandavas, who are battling the Kauravas, are led by Arjuna, the son of Indra, the king of the Devas. Arjuna was a born prodigy; he had previously single-handedly defeated the Kaurava army, which included distinguished warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Kripa. He lives for the glory of the battlefield; his bow, "the Gandiva," is known to strike fear into the hearts of his adversaries. Tall and fair, with copper-brown eyes, looking to find his mark, Arjuna is a warrior incarnate. 

Just as the two formidable archers prepared themselves for the battle, Arjuna's charioteer, Krishna, the eighth Avatar of Vishnu, smiled and closed his eyes for a brief moment. He began to recall images from a lifetime ago, when he walked the Earth as the warrior prince Rama, in Treta Yuga.

Rama looks on as he’s just delivered a fatal blow, his arrow piercing Vali's heart. Vali, the son of Indra, grimaces in pain as he lies on his brother Sugriva’s lap, drawing his last breath until he finally passes away. The two brothers were involved in a political misunderstanding because of which Vali overthrew Sugriva from the kingdom of Kishkindha. Distraught and hopeless, Sugriva sought help from Rama in exchange for assisting him in finding his wife, Sita.

Watching from his palace in Swarga, Indra is devastated upon witnessing the cruel end of his son, Vali. He reflects on recent events and realizes that Rama, heir of the Raghu clan, is an Avatar of Vishnu. By killing Vali, Rama disrupted the power dynamics that were at play between the descendants of Indra and Surya. 

Feeling wronged, he immediately leaves for Vaikuntha, Vishnu's abode, to gain clarity and seek retribution. Jaya and Vijaya, the dutiful gatekeepers of Vishnu, are bewildered to see Indra, who wastes no time in seeking an audience with the Preserver of the Universe. 

When he sees the radiant Hari seated on his throne, wearing the calmest of smiles that can undress a lifetime of inner turmoil, Indra composes himself and speaks—

Indra: Pranaam Hari! I bow down to you, O beloved of Shri!

Vishnu: Indra! It’s been ages. What brings you here?

Indra: My lord! I understand you are aware of the developments on Bhu-loka (Earth), and I am disappointed that you have chosen to side with Surya. This is unfair, and I ask you to rectify this, O slayer of Madhu-Kaitabha!

Vishnu (smiling gently): Be carefree, Son of Aditi! Nothing in this existence happens without a cause. The Karmic scales seem to approve of Surya for now; rest assured, the tides of time shall eventually sway in your favor.

With the words of the Blue God ringing in his ears, Indra felt at ease. After bowing down to the Supreme Lord, he returned to Amravati, his abode.

Krishna opened his eyes after witnessing an entire sequence of events in the blink of an eye. He turned to look over his shoulder and saw Arjuna, the son of Indra, drawing his bow, the Gandiva. In front of him, Karna was also preparing to draw his bow, Vijaya. As the archers chanted mantras to summon their arrows, Krishna marveled at the tides of time. The Karmic scales that were once in Surya's goodwill now find their reins in his own hands, for by being Arjuna's charioteer, he had fulfilled the promise made to Indra long ago.

Karna and Arjuna were unaware of the greater game that fate was playing the moment they released their arrows. “The dance of destiny,” thought Krishna, as the arrows of the two archers collided, creating a blinding light that engulfed all of Kurukshetra. Thus began a long-awaited death battle between two of the fiercest warriors Bharat had ever given birth to. Both believed they held the advantage with each twang of their bows and clashing of the arrows. The rest of the battlefield watched with bated breath; such was the spectacle they created. 

“Unbeknownst to everyone, the outcome of the battle had already been decided. What was unfolding before them was merely a simulation, created by the ever-smiling Krishna, who held the reins of Dharma firmly in his grasp,” commented Vyasa as Ganesha wrote on.

—END—

Glossary

PRANAAM: A common form of salutation.

BHARAT/BHARATVARSHA: The ancient name for INDIA, which is still used in many official and cultural contexts.

DEVAS: A race of divine, benevolent beings in Hindu Mythology who are associated with light, power, and the heavens.

SHIVA: The god of destruction, he is the father of Ganesha and husband to the goddess Parvati.

SHAKTI: It refers to the divine feminine energy or power in Hinduism. Shakti is often used as a name for Parvati.

KURU: The central family in the Mahabharata. The great war was fought between two branches of this clan: the Kauravas and the Pandavas.

KAURAVA: The hundred sons of King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari, led by their eldest son Duryodhana, contested the Mahabharata war against their cousins, the Pandavas.

PANDAVA: The five sons of King Pandu, known as the Pandavas, fought a bloody war against the Kauravas to rightfully claim their kingdom.

BRAHMA: The god of creation, he is responsible for the creation of the Universe and all living beings.

DHARMA: Dharma can be understood as a human being's righteous duty, purpose, or path in life.

AVATAR: meaning incarnation or manifestation of the Divine. Vishnu. The god of preservation descends on earth to restore balance and righteousness in his various forms.

VAIKUNTHA: The eternal abode of Lord Vishnu, it is described as a realm of eternal bliss and liberation.

YUGA: An era or age in Hindu Cosmology, Hindu scriptures divide time into Four Yugas: Sat Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga, each with a different duration and set of characteristics.

TRETA YUGA: The Silver Age is characterized by a decline in Dharma. Rama, the seventh Avatar of Vishnu, is believed to have lived in this Yuga.

DVAPARA YUGA: The Bronze Age, which follows Treta Yuga, is noted for a further decline in Dharma. The Mahabharata war is said to have taken place in this age.

BHU-LOKA: The earthly realm, or the physical manifested world. In Hindu Cosmology, it is the first of seven realms (Lokas).

MADHU-KAITABHA: Two demonic forces that were ultimately slain by Lord Vishnu.