Chapter 9

In Vaikuntha

Vishnu sensed the Asura Guru's approach and looked up to see the menacing Shukracharya accompanied by a formidable Asura Hiranyaksha.

"The Asura who has come here doesn't seem to have good intentions!" he thought, a sense of worry creeping over him. Glancing at the space beside him, he sighed.

In a way, he was the Shukracharya's biggest enemy who had caused the death of Kavyamata, Shukracharya's mother. Long ago, during the Devas and Asuras war, the Devas sought Vishnu's help. To protect them, Vishnu had unleashed the Sudarshana Chakra. Once activated, the Sudarshana Chakra would not cease until its task was fulfilled.

The Asuras had fled to the home of Shukracharya's father, Bhrigu, one of the Saptarishi. Kavyamata, Bhrigu's wife, had sheltered the Asuras, swearing, "No matter what happens, I will protect my son's students. If you wish to harm them, you must kill me first!" Tragically, she was killed on the spot.

Enraged, Bhrigu cursed Vishnu, proclaiming that he would suffer the pain of losing his wife in the future. "The secret of today's scenery lies hidden in the past!! This is the result of karma!" Vishnu mused.

With Shukracharya now teaching the new asura king, he feared that the universe's balance was once again in imminent danger.

…

At that moment, Shukracharya appeared with white hair and a long beard, his cold expression betraying no emotion. Clad in a white robe, adorned with bracelets on his wrists, and holding a snake staff, he gazed at the Kshira Sagara with an air of authority.

"Hiranyaksha!"

"You have completed your penance and gained the boundless strength to lift the entire earth. Go now—churn the Kshira Sagara! Seize the Amrit that flows within the ocean's heart. This divine nectar will not only restore the Asuras' cursed power but grant you immortality beyond measure. Plus draw Devi Lakshmi out from its depths, take her from Vishnu, bring her to the Patalloka, and enshrine her. When this is done, the power of the cursed Asuras will be restored. With both Devi Lakshmi and the Amrit under your command, you will become unstoppable, reclaiming the wealth, glory, and honor of the Trilokas for the entire Asura kingdom!"

Shukracharya spread his arms wide, his voice resonating with authority.

Hiranyaksha's eyes sparkled, the light within them fierce and determined. Clad in golden armor, he possessed a towering physique. His bronze skin, like that of a mighty Deva, held the strength of countless Nagas coiling beneath, rippling with power. He ran a hand over his dark stubble, fists clenched as an infinite force surged within his grasp.

"I understand!" he declared. "Amrit shall be mine. Devi Lakshmi shall no longer bless Svarga but Patalloka, hahahaha!"

Hiranyaksha grinned, his beard quivering as he plunged into the sea. As he descended, his figure swelled, growing more immense, transforming into a giant whose size obscured the sky and sun as he sank into the depths.

Boom!

The Kshira Sagara trembled as Hiranyaksha entered, churning violently under his presence.

"Vishnu, if your devas refuse to rescue Devi Lakshmi, then we, the Asuras, shall take matters into our own hands," Shukracharya declared, his voice laced with cold resolve. A malicious glint flickered in his eyes as he continued, "We will rescue her ourselves and sever her bond with you forever. You will come to know the true anguish of losing a beloved member of your family, just as my mother Kavyamata was so cruelly torn from me. The Devas will tremble before our might, and you will feel the crushing weight of your failure as we claim Triloka as rightfully ours!"

…

Vishnu tilted his head, a sadness shadowing his gaze.

This too is a consequence of cleaning up after the Devas back then, he thought.

Though Devi Lakshmi might not hold the same priority in his heart as Triloka, she still held a deeply significant place.

Where are the Devas?

His gaze shifted towards Svarga. If it could be avoided, he preferred not to intervene directly and disrupt the world.

...

In Svargaloka.

"We should go to meet Lord Vishnu without delay," Rishi Brihaspati urged.

Indra nodded in agreement. Since Vishnu had summoned them, ignoring the call would be disrespectful.

"But our power is so low," Indra noted thoughtfully. "Let's first reignite the Yjana agni, have the Gandharvas sing hymns, gather faith from Bhuloka, and replenish some of our divine energy before meeting the Lord. Also, Devi Lakshmi's absence may be a test for him. The world is stable, and the Lord has yet to intervene, which suggests there's no immediate crisis."

The Devas exchanged uneasy glances, each sensing the embarrassment of appearing before Vishnu in their weakened state.

"Yes, we must restore our divine strength first," Sun Deva Surya agreed.

"It would be disrespectful to meet the Lord Vishnu like this," added Agni, the Deva of fire.

"Indeed! This is the right approach!" echoed Varuna, Deva of water.

Seeing all the Devas speak up, Wind Deva Vayu quickly added, "Yes, yes! I feel the same way!"

Rishi Brihaspati furrowed his brow, thinking it over. This plan did make sense.

With Devi Lakshmi missing and the churning of the Kshira Sagara unable to be completed quickly, waiting seemed the only option.

"Very well," Rishi Brihaspati agreed with a nod.

Soon, numerous Gandharvas gathered in a large circle, singing hymns from the Vedas. They held freshly collected flower petals, tossing them into the air around a central bonfire that blazed brightly. Each line of their song sent lotus petals scattering from their hands like a goddess herself casting blessings of flowers.

"As soon as the mighty Deva was born,

He became the protector of the Devas, endowed with boundless strength."

"With the thunder of his voice, he commands the storm,

His chariot, drawn by swift steeds, conquers the skies.

Indra, the slayer of foes, upholds the dharma,

And grants fortune and valor to those who seek his favor."

…

Indra watched the Yajna ceremony, listening to the Gandharva hymns. Feeling a touch of boredom, Indra watched the Yajna ceremony, listening to the Gandharvas' hymns. Feeling a touch of boredom, he picked up a nearby wood block and, with a flicker of his divine power, transformed it into a Mridangam. He began to tap it rhythmically with his hands, echoing the fall of lotus petals with each gentle thump.

The other Devas turned to watch, their curiosity piqued, and soon many Gandharvas were also drawn to Indra's impromptu beat. They followed his lively rhythm, weaving it seamlessly into their song.

Startled, Indra froze mid-strike, his hand suspended, and the corners of his mouth twitched in surprise. Was this hymn directed at him? The Gandharvas were singing with such skill that it left him feeling a bit embarrassed. As the hymn ended, the other Devas turned to him with interest.

"What's this?" Agni, the Deva of fire, asked, peering over.

"A kind of... music instrument," Indra replied casually.

His rhythm mimicked the soft fall of petals. In past lives, blind musicians or beggars would often strike simple instruments while they sang—a humble but graceful art form. Today's mood had somehow inspired him to join in.

"Next is my verse! Will you play for me too?" Agni asked, his hands clasped eagerly.

"Of course!" Indra smiled.

"Let me try too!"

"Me next!"

Indra's small act had transformed into a new rhythm for all.

…

Soon, the Gandharvas resumed their singing, offering praises to Agni from the Vedas:

"Through Agni's flame,

Fortune and blessings greet each day.

Bearing the glory of heroes in every way."

...

In the Brahmaloka, he frowned, shaking his head before finally speaking.

He had observed the events unfolding in the Kshira Sagara and watched the Devas in Svarga.

"At a time like this, the Devas should not simply wait! The world is slipping back into chaos!"

Expecting a response, he paused, but silence greeted him. Turning, he saw Devi Sarasvati with her eyes half-closed, smiling with serene happiness before disappearing from Brahma's world in a stream of golden light.

"Is this the fate of the worlds—to remain unacknowledged?" he murmured, watching the light fade. "Even the Devas turn their backs when duty calls. Must I bear the weight of their choices alone? What folly drives them to ignore the impending chaos?"

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