THE CURSE OF BRAHMA Read online

  ‘I am not leaving, My Lord,’ Kansa replied softly. ‘I just want time to prepare a surprise for Devki and Vasudev.’

  Ugrasena stared hard at Kansa. ‘Since when did you need to call me “My Lord”, son?’

  Kansa averted his gaze and looked away. He didn’t trust his voice enough to speak right now. It had taken all his self-control just to come to Madhuvan. If Jarasandha hadn’t persuaded him about how important it was for him to return, he would have not come back at all. But to stand in front of the man who had called him his father all these years and then disowned him, was galling for Kansa.

  ‘I said, since when did you need to…’ Ugrasena’s sentence was cut short by a knock on the door. The guard outside announced the arrival of Prince Vasudev.

  Ugrasena shook his head in frustration. He had thought everything was going to be fine when he saw Kansa enter the court in the morning. But there was something different about Kansa. He seemed changed; stiff and reserved as if he were suppressing some strong emotion inside him. Vasudev’s arrival put an end to the discussion with Kansa.

  ‘Kansa!’ Vasudev exclaimed in delight. ‘How have you been?’ he said, enveloping him in a bear hug.

  Kansa’s body was rigid and Vasudev felt unfamiliar cold vibes emanating from his friend. He abruptly let go of Kansa and stepped back. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked quietly.

  Kansa forced himself to smile at Vasudev. A tiny voice in his head, growing in intensity, wanted him to crush the head of the man standing in front of him. But he restrained himself. This is not the right time, he murmured to himself.

  ‘He wants to leave already, Vasudev. Why don’t you try and reason with him?’ Ugrasena goaded his future son-in-law.

  ‘Leave? What, already! Aren’t you going to attend the wedding?’ Vasudev exclaimed.

  ‘I am going to attend the wedding, Vasudev. That is the reason I returned, after all,’ Kansa paused thoughtfully. ‘I had planned a surprise for Devki. I need some time to prepare it for her…and for you!’

  ‘What surprise, Kansa?’ Vasudev asked, pleasantly surprised. ‘Devki will be so happy. Your coming here will be the biggest surprise for her though.’

  Kansa smiled. This time it was easier to do it. Maybe I will get used to smiling at these people finally, he decided.

  He looked at Vasudev, his mind preoccupied with painful memories. ‘Devki always told me how much she would miss going away from Madhuvan after her marriage. She felt that once she left for Bateshwar, she would lose a sense of belonging here, at Madhuvan.’

  Vasudev nodded, not sure what this had to do with the surprise.

  ‘I wanted to make a separate palace for Devki,’ Kansa said softly. ‘A place which would be all her own. A home right here in Madhuvan where she could come back any time she wanted to, and it would always be the way she would have left it. Two years back, I started getting the palace made for her. It’s located a little outside the main city and is next to a beautiful lake.’ Kansa looked Vasudev in the eye. ‘I had planned this as a wedding gift for Devki.’

  Ugrasena took a sharp intake of breath. ‘All this while, I thought you were making that palace for yourself; or for Asti and Prapti in case they wanted to have more privacy away from the main palace.’

  Kansa shook his head. ‘No, that palace was always intended for Devki. It was to be my gift to her.’

  Vasudev held Kansa by his shoulders. ‘Devki is lucky to have you, my friend,’ he hesitated, wondering whether to say more. ‘Kansa, Devki told me about her last meeting with you at Magadha. She didn’t give me any details but mentioned something to you towards the end that she shouldn’t have. All these days, it has been her wish that you could somehow forget and forgive her that.’

  Kansa strained to keep his voice steady as he replied. ‘I have already forgotten…everything,’ he said softly. But I may not forgive, he thought as the agony of Devki’s betrayal threatened to overpower him yet again.

  He knew he had to leave before his malevolent persona took over. The time was not right, yet. He looked at Ugrasena now. ‘I haven’t been to that palace since I left for Magadha. It’s been a couple of months, and I want to make sure the place is clean and ready for Devki and Vasudev.’

  Vasudev looked surprised. ‘Why do you want to have it cleaned now? The wedding is tonight and we leave for Bateshwar tomorrow morning, at first light. Devki isn’t going to be back for some time, at least!’

  Kansa smiled. When he spoke his voice was eerily soft. ‘That’s the other surprise. Devki and you will consummate your first night in her new palace.’

  The rituals for the dead and the Godana rites had already been preformed earlier in the day by Vasudev and his father. Surasena had made a bequest of one hundred thousand gold-horned cows to the various brahmans gathered for the Godana ceremony.

  Now, the hour set for the wedding had approached and Vasudev arrived at the temple. He was wearing a sparkling white dhoti, his torso bare, and a red cord of wool tied on his wrist.

  Surasena signalled to his son that Devki was already waiting at the altar, and the vivah sanskar could commence without any delay. Vasudev walked towards Devki. His jaw dropped as he looked at her. The mischievous princess of Madhuvan had never appeared so desirable and alluring as she did at this moment. Her bright red sari heightened her ivory complexion. She looks amazing, thought Vasudev, his pulse racing. Devki noticed Vasudev staring open mouthed at her and smiled inwardly.

  Ugrasena, standing next to his daughter performed the first ritual of the ceremony—the kanyadaan—this was a simple procedure where Ugrasena took Devki’s hand and placed it gently in Vasudev’s. Vasudev solemnly accepted Devki’s hand and as dictated by custom, recited the Kamasukta verse in Ugrasena’s presence. Ugrasena then asked Vasudev to not fail his daughter in his pursuit of dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth) and kama (love). Vasudev repeated his commitment to all three pursuits, three times. He looked so serious as he followed the procedure that Devki had to wink at him to get him to lighten up. Vasudev grinned back at her. The declaration of his commitment three times to Ugrasena marked the end of the kanyadaan.

  The next ritual was the vivaha-homa rite where Vasudev lit a symbolic fire marking the commencement of a new household with Devki. The panigrahana ceremony came next with both Devki and Vasudev holding each other’s hands as a symbol of their impending marital union. Vasudev announced his acceptance of responsibility to four deities—Bhaga (signifying wealth), Aryama (signifying heaven), Savita (signifying a new beginning), and Purandhi (signifying wisdom). As per custom, Vasudev faced west, while the smiling Devki sat in front of him with her face to the east. They held hands while the presiding pandit recited a mantra from the Rig Veda.

  The pandit looked on satisfied as the ceremony was done to perfection. The final stage of the vivah sanskar was the saptapadi, which would make the marriage legal and binding, as per the prevalent laws. He motioned to the bride and the groom to rise for the concluding phase. Vasudev got up gingerly. He wanted to make sure he didn’t mess anything up. Devki was less careful, and she jumped up in her excitement, colliding with Vasudev and almost knocking him down. She giggled even as the old pandit rolled his eyes at her in disapproval.

  ‘Do you want the pandit to get us married or not?’ Vasudev grinned at her.

  Devki pouted at him, ‘Yes, take that old pandit’s side against me now.’

  Vasudev tried hard to control his amusement. I wonder how I am going to manage you, he thought, his love for Devki evident in his expression.

  Vasudev and Devki walked towards the sacred agni (holy fire). The saptapadi ritual involved the two of them conducting seven circuits around the agni, which was meant to be a witness to the vows they would make to each other. Ugrasena came forward to tie the edge of Devki’s sari to a loose end of Vasudev’s dhoti. Vasudev then took Devki’s right hand in his own and she led the two of them around the sacred fire for the first six circuits. Vasudev led in the seventh circuit as Devki now walked be
hind him. At the end of each circuit, Devki and Vasudev, both took their respective vows of marriage.

  Devki mentally chanted the following vows:

  Vasudev grimly took the vows of the groom:

  At the end of the saptapadi, Devki and Vasudev performed the surya darshan, turning to look in the direction of the sun in order to be blessed with creative life. Next, they completed the dhruva darshan, looking in the direction of the polar star and resolved to remain unshaken and steadfast like the polar star.

  A roar of approval went up from the assembled guests as Vasudev and Devki completed the vivah sanskar, which bound them for eternity as man and wife.

  Ugrasena approached his daughter and his son-in-law. His face expressed his total contentment. He held Devki’s hand and in a loud voice made the final proclamation that would enable Devki to pass from his house to the family of Vasudev. ‘My daughter, whom I have loved more than my own life, I set you free from the fetters of Varuna, who is the guardian of the mortal world order, by which the gentle Savitar has bound you till now to your father’s family. In the lap of Rita, which embodies the natural and moral law, I give you now in love to your husband, Vasudev.’

  Kansa stood in a corner, watching the man he had loved as his father giving away the woman he had considered his sister to the man he had thought of as a brother. All three had betrayed him in their own way. But the final betrayal would be of his doing. And he had already set the stage for that. He smiled in satisfaction as he watched his former family laugh in joy. This would be the last day of their happiness.

  Devki squealed in delight as they entered the palace Kansa had built for her. ‘Oh Kansa, this is so beautiful!’ she exclaimed, hugging her brother impulsively. Kansa flinched at her touch, remembering what she had called him the last time they had met at Magadha. But he forced himself to stay calm. He needed to make sure that Jarasandha was already in the palace with his assassins before he made his intent known to his former family.

  ‘It’s late, Devki. Why don’t you and Vasudev settle in for the night,’ he said forcing himself to take out all sense of revulsion he felt for Vasudev from his mind.

  Devki looked like she wanted to explore the entire palace before she retired to the room that had been readied for her and Vasudev for their nuptial night. But Vasudev intervened, ‘Kansa is right Devki. We need to leave for Bateshwar early morning tomorrow. We need to get some rest before that. Father has already gone ahead today to prepare the reception for the future queen of Bateshwar.’

  ‘What? Queen of Bateshwar…what does that mean?’ Devki asked in genuine surprise.

  Vasudev grinned. ‘Don’t you know? Father has been meaning to retire for a long time now. He was waiting for our marriage and for me to be ready to take over his responsibilities. My coronation as the king of Bateshwar is scheduled a day after we reach Bateshwar.’

  Devki was thoughtful. ‘And what about Rohini? This won’t be fair to her, Vasudev.’

  Vasudev sighed. ‘Rohini has always known that when you come to Bateshwar you will be queen. She will have all the rights and respect due to her as my wife but she has always been aware that I love only you!’

  This was one time in her life when Devki found herself at a loss for words.

  ‘Come now. We need to rest. And I am sure Kansa and tatatulya also need time together,’ Vasudev said, smiling at Kansa and Ugrasena. Ugrasena looked on happily as Vasudev and Devki left for their chambers.

  ‘Kansa…’ Ugrasena turned to look at his son. He was shocked to see the expression on Kansa’s face as he looked at the retreating figure of Vasudev and Devki.

  ‘What…what’s wrong my son?’ Ugrasena stammered, suddenly afraid of the flash of green he had seen in Kansa’s eyes.

  ‘Nothing is wrong,’ Kansa replied slowly, his voice sounding as though it were coming from inside a deep tunnel. Then suddenly his persona changed and he smiled at Ugrasena. ‘I think you should sleep too now. It’s late and there’s a lot to do tomorrow.’

  Ugrasena nodded his head mutely. He was not sure he recognized this man who had come back from Magadha. He seemed…so different. And so terrifying!

  ‘Goodnight then,’ Ugrasena muttered, and he walked in the direction of his room.

  Kansa stared after him, his face set in stone.

  ‘How many assassins have you brought with you? Kansa asked tersely.

  ‘There are a hundred of them. They are the Zataka Upanshughataks. All of them are hidden inside the palace compound,’ Jarasandha replied. He looked closely at Kansa. The Prince was changing by the day. His behaviour was getting more and more unpredictable.

  ‘Have they been given their orders?’ Kansa asked, his hands pressing the sides of his head.

  Jarasandha nodded. ‘They know what they have to do. They are just waiting for the wine to take effect on the king’s bodyguards.’

  ‘Hmm!’ Kansa mumbled to himself, the throbbing pain inside his head refusing to relent. Jarasandha waited tolerantly for Kansa to say something, but he remained silent. Finally he lost his patience. ‘Have you decided what to do with the bodyguards? They are a risk…an unnecessary threat we can’t afford.’

  Kansa turned suddenly and his eyes were shining with the light of his malevolent persona. ‘Don’t raise your voice,’ he growled at Jarasandha, and his voice came out like the snarl of an animal. ‘It gives me a headache,’ he said after a pause, more softly this time.

  Jarasandha had never been afraid of any man or beast. But Kansa in his malevolent form terrified him. He cursed himself for having got him involved in the plan. His sisters were now married to a raging paranoid schizophrenic. And the unpredictability of Kansa’s moods made him feel uncomfortable.

  ‘Kill them!’ Kansa said softly, interrupting Jarasandha’s thoughts. ‘Kill all the bodyguards.’

  ‘What do we do with their bodies?’ Jarasandha asked hesitatingly.

  ‘Throw them in the lake behind the palace. The water is infested with alligators. By the time the sun has risen, there will be no sign that the bodyguards ever existed.’

  Jarasandha stared at the man he had known for the past several years; the man who would not harm a fly without a cause. That person had changed forever. Maybe it is for good. Perhaps he will help me become overlord of Mrityulok when the time comes, he thought; the idea of unlimited power temporarily banished the future of his sisters with this wreck of a man.

  ‘And Jarasandha…’ Kansa said quietly. ‘There is a man called Airawat with the bodyguards. He is the cavalry commander of Madhuvan, as well as the chief of the bodyguards.’

  ‘What about him?’ Jarasandha questioned.

  ‘I don’t want him killed. He…he has helped me in the past.’ A part of Kansa’s mind that was still capable of thinking coherently went back to the day when Airawat had risked his life to save Kansa and Devki.

  ‘But he is too loyal to the king. He can’t be trusted to roam free. Make sure he is securely locked up till I decide what to do with him,’ Kansa said as an afterthought.

  Jarasandha nodded. He would have wanted to kill Airawat along with the rest of the bodyguards, but he didn’t want to antagonize Kansa, especially not in his current frame of mind.

  ‘What about Ugrasena?’ he asked.

  ‘Ugrasena has disowned me as his son, even though he pretends to show love for me now,’ Kansa said slowly. ‘But I cannot order his death. He saved me when my mother wanted me killed. For that, I will spare his life.’ He paused. ‘But he will not leave this palace.’

  Jarasandha had one more question before he left, and he had to know the answer. But he hesitated, not knowing how Kansa would react.

  ‘Vasudev and Devki…what do we do with them?’

  Jarasandha stared horrified as Kansa’s face underwent a series of transformations, the two personalities within him competing to dominate.

  ‘I will kill the man who dares to lay his hands on Devki,’ Kansa said in a hoarse voice. The pain in his head was staggering and he
knew a massive seizure was on its way. Jarasandha knew it too and he wanted to get out of the room before that happened and Kansa transformed into a raging animal. But Kansa had not given him a complete answer and Jarasandha did not want to leave before that.

  ‘Vasudev…at least we can kill Vasudev. That man tried to have you assassinated!’ Jarasandha shouted, trying to provoke Kansa.

  Kansa roared in agony, moments away from the impending seizure. ‘Vasudev is necessary for Devki to live. I have condemned her to live out her life within this golden cage. The least I can do is let her have Vasudev with her.’

  Jarasandha exploded in impotent rage. ‘You will allow her to live with that vile man so that they can freely copulate and give birth to the child who will destroy you one day? Has your love for your sister made you completely insane?’

  Kansa leaped out of his chair and lunged at Jarasandha’s throat. His vice-like grip threatened to snap his neck any moment. His eyes were shining with the bright green light of Aghasamarthan, the potent asura energy, controlled only by the most powerful demon kings in Pataal Lok. When he spoke his voice was that of Kalanemi, and Jarasandha shook with a mixture of relief and fear as he heard the words whispered in his ear. ‘Devki’s children will not live to grow old!’

  Kansa let go of Jarasandha, and as the king of Magadha staggered back, the voice of Kalanemi coming through Kansa, commanded him, ‘Now go and slaughter the bodyguards!’

  Devki put her head on Vasudev’s heaving chest. Their love-making had been passionate and desperate. It was as if this moment would never come back. They lay exhausted, their bodies, drenched in perspiration, wound around each other.

  ‘I love you,’ Vasudev whispered in her ears.

  ‘I know,’ she smiled, her head on his chest. ‘I have always known, Vasudev.’

  ‘I wonder what our children will look like,’ he grinned in the dark, as his hand groped for what he was looking for.

  She slapped his hand away, giggling. ‘Isn’t it rather early to think about children, my love?’ she said contentedly.