Return of the Demon Lord Durbheeksh

by Utkarsh Srivastava

  Dushyant was waiting for Sarvdaman in the jungle. Bhagdutt came nearer to him, 'You are wasting your time, Dushyant. You have a responsibility of your kingdom too. How could you ignore all this?'

  Dushyant turned towards Bhagdutt, 'I think you are right. It seems that the mother of that boy didn't allowed that child to come here. Ok fine, let's go.'

  As soon as Dushyant turned back, he heard some sounds of footsteps.

  He turned back, Sarvdaman was running towards him.

  King Dushyant was delighted seeing him. Sarvdaman came nearer to him, 'S..Sorry, Sorry for the delay.'

  Dushyant smiled, 'It seems you are too much exhausted.'

  'No,…, not at all, I am fine.' Sarvdaman replied.

  'Sure, let's go.'

  Dushyant, Bhagdutt and Sarvdaman proceeds towards the camp in the jungle.

  Dushyant brought Sarvdaman in his camp. Sarvdaman got a chance to see the weapons that he had never seen before. Firstly, Dushyant picked up a bow and came nearer to Sarvdaman.

  'Hold this.'

  Sarvdaman takes the bow in his hand, he was delighted seeing that bow.

  'Take this arrow, and follow me.' Dushyant picks up an arrow and shoots towards the leaf of a tree.

  That arrow picks up that leaf and returns back to Dushyant.

  'Wow, that's amazing. You are really a great archer.' Sarvdaman was amazed.

  King Dushyant turned towards Sarvdaman, 'Now you take this arrow, and try this.'

  'Sure.' Sarvdaman takes the arrow and sets a target towards a leaf of that tree.

  He shoots the arrow, that arrows hits the leaf with tremendous speed. It takes away that leaf, but he failed to bring that leaf back. That arrow takes the leaf far away.

  Sarvdaman was quite sad, but King Dushyant was very impressed with his move.

  'Great job, Sarvdaman. I am just surprised to see your skills. How could you have this much speed and strength at this young age?'

  Sarvdaman was astonished listening this, he stared at King Dushyant for a while.

  Dushyant came nearer to him, 'You have excellent skills, Sarvdaman. You deserve to be a fierce warrior. The kingdom of Hastinapur needs a warrior like you, and I must say, you deserve this honour. Come with me to the palace of Hastinapur, you need a proper training.'

  Sarvdaman was delighted listening this, but at the very next moment he was in hesitation, 'But my mother. I can't leave my mother alone.'

  Dushyant thought something for a while, 'Ok fine, I want to meet your mother. I will ask her to come with you to the palace of Hastinapur. Come on, let's go and meet your mother.'

  Sarvdaman was delighted listening this, 'Yes, surely that will be a great option.'

  Both Dushyant and Sarvdaman proceeds towards his cottage in the jungle. As soon as they reached the cottage, Sarvdaman rushed inside to meet his mother.

  'Mother, King of Hastinapur wants to meet you.'

  Shakuntla was astonished listening this, she thought in her mind, 'Years before when I went to Hastinapur, King Dushyant refused to recognize me. Now for what he has come?'

  'What happened, mother? Why you are so silent?' Sarvdaman tried to break her silence.

  'Ah.., nothing much, son. Tell him that I am coming.' Shakuntla ordered Sarvdaman.

  Sarvdaman went out of the cottage. Shakuntla covered her face, so that King Dushyant could not see her face.

  Thereafter, she came outside the cottage. Dushyant joined his hands in front of her, 'You deserve an honour, because you have given birth to such a brave child. This child has capability to change the scenario of Hastinapur.' Dushyant stepped forward to touch her feet.

  'No, No. Please don't do this. You are King of Hastinapur.' Shakuntla stepped back.

  'So what? You deserve this respect.'

  'No, No. No means no.' Shakuntla stepped back again.

  'What's happening?' A sound came from back, he was none other than Sage Vishwamitra.

  King Dushyant turned towards the sage. He was completely astonished to see him.

  'Sage Vishwamitra.' Dusyant stepped towards the sage.

  He joined his hands in front of the sage, 'Where were you, Sage? I am searching for you since three months, and you are in my own kingdom?'

  Sage Vishwamitra stared at Dushyant furiously, 'You were searching for me? Can I know the reason?'

  King Dushyant lied down on his knees, 'I am sorry for my sin, sage. Years before, I refused to recognize my wife Shakuntla. But when I got this ring, all the memories of Shakuntla rushed in front of my eyes.'

  Sage Vishwamitra stared at that ring.

  King Dushyant was in tears, 'I have committed a great mistake, sage. Now I am here in front of you for the atonement of my sins.'

  Sage Vishwamitra brought King Dushyant up, then he turned towards Shakuntla, 'Shakuntla, come here.'

  Dushyant was astonished to listen those words of Sage Vishwamitra. He turned towards Shakuntla, while Shakuntla uncovered her face.

  Dushyant was delighted to see his wife in front of him, 'Shakuntla…..' He rushed towards her.

  Both Dushyant and Shakuntla came nearer to her, both of them were unable to speak. While Sarvdaman was unable to understand anything.

  Sage Vishwamitra came nearer to both of them.

  'It's the fault of destiny. The curse of 'Sage Durvasa' was actually responsible for this, which separated both of you. He cursed Shakuntla that the person she loves, will forget her. But after lot of request, he blessed Shakuntla that Dushyant will remember his wife when he will see the ring, which he has given to Shakuntla as the symbol of love. And now you both are in front of each other.'

  Dushyant joined his hands in front of Shakuntla, 'Can you forgive me?'

  Shakuntla was in tears, she was down to touch the feet of Dushyant. But Dushyant brought him up, and hugged her tightly.

  The nine year old Sarvdaman was still looking at them. Dushyant turned and stepped towards him.

  'It means, Sarvdaman is my son.' Dushyant was down on his knees in front of Sarvdaman and stared at him.

  Sarvdaman was still in great confusion. Sage Vishwamitra came nearer to him, and kept his hand on the shoulders of nine year old boy.

  'Yes, he is your son, Dushyant. And you will be very proud of him, he will raise the glory of Hastinapur. When he was born, there was an oracle in the sky, that this boy will change the whole scenario of Aaryavart. This boy of Chandravanshis is prophesized to unite whole Aaryavart in one bond. He will destroy all the evil powers and will show the power of Dharma.' Sage Vishwamitra said proudly.

  Dushyant came nearer to him, 'Now it's enough, my son. You both were suffering lot of things since years. Now the time has come, that the prince of Hastinapur should get back his honour.'

  Sarvdaman was delighted, he touched the feet of his father.

  Dushyant brought him up, 'Let's go to Hastinapur.'

  Soon King Dushyant brought Shakuntla and Sarvdaman in the chariot. Bhagdutt was the charioteer.

  Thereafter, they all proceeded towards the kingdom of Hastinapur.

  Age of the new legends

  Years passed, Sarvdaman turned twenty five years old and was honoured as crown prince of Hastinapur. Thereafter, crown prince of Hastinapur begins the journey of the whole Aaryavart.

  He alone passed through many kingdoms of Aaryavart. Soon he reached the kingdom of Vidarbh and was passing through the jungle.

  Suddenly he heard the rustle sound of leaves in the jungle. He stepped down from his horse listening that voice. At the very next moment, one spear arrives from back side to harm Sarvdaman. But he was alert enough, he turned back and grabbed the spear and the neck of that person too in whose hand that spear was.

  Sarvdaman pushed him back on the ground. But soon he was surrounded by several spears from all the four side. They all were staring at Sarvdaman furiously, all the faces were covered with black clothes and there were blck turban bounded through each head. Sarvdaman didn't find right to attack on them, he thought something and raised
his hands to surrender.

  'Who are you?' One of them asked Sarvdaman.

  But before Sarvdaman could reply, one of them taunted at him, 'What is the use of asking? May be that wretch KingTejas has sent him, to spy on us.'

  'Leave him…..' A loud voice came from backside.

  All the spears were pulled back on just one command of that person. The face of that person was also covered with black cloth.

  Now that person and Sarvdaman was in front of each other.

  'Who are you?' Sarvdaman asked in heavy voice.

  That masked man came closer to Sarvdaman, 'It seems that you are a prince of any kingdom. From where you are?'

  'Why should I introduce myself to you? I've asked first?' Sarvdaman stared at that masked man.

  That masked man pulled out the sword from his sheath, and stared at Sarvdaman, 'It was my fault that I asked you for this. The royal people like you are really very arrogant, your ego and vanity has compelled us to raise our weapons against you.'

  'It seems that you are just a bandit, who harms common people and harass them. And you are blaming the royal people for that?' Sarvdaman also pulled out the sword from his sheath.

  He stared at the masked man, 'People like you deserve only and only punishment.'

  The bandits behind Sarvdaman raised their spears. But the bandit in front of Sarvdaman signaled them to down their weapons.

  Thereafter, the leader of those bandits stared at Sarvdaman, 'Do you really think that you are capable enough to defeat me?'

  Sarvdaman stared at that bandit and replied, 'You want to compete with me? '

  Sarvdaman swings the sword, that bandit successfully resisted it and punched on his chest. Sarvdaman was pushed few steps back.

  'This much strength in an ordinary bandit?' Sarvdaman stared at that bandit.

  'Don't be surprised. I am the disciple of a warrior who can never be defeated. And soon your King Jaivardhan will get the taste of my sword.' That bandit confronted Sarvdaman.

  Sarvdaman was astonished to listen that, 'Wait, Wait. Jaivardhan, I heard about him. He is the King of Vidarbh, and I am Sarvdaman, the crown prince of Hastinapur.'

  That bandit was quite astonished, but before he could say anything. One of the bandit rushed towards him and informed his leader, 'The troops of Vidarbh have attacked on the villages, my lord.'

  The leader of those bandits was furious listening this, he stared at Sarvdaman, 'Right now, I have to save those innocents. But I will return soon to see you, Sarvdaman.'

  The leader of the bandits turned towards his people, 'Come on, we have to save the villagers.'

  Sarvdaman was standing still. He didn't find right to interfere.

  While the bandits reached the villages. The soldiers were harassing common villagers.

  'Stop it…..' The leader of bandits shouted at them.

  The soldiers and their leader turned towards him. While Sarvdaman chased the bandits and reached that place, he hides behind the tree and was keeping his eyes on all of them.

  The leader of Vidarbh's army came in front of the leader of bandits, 'Who are you? And how dare you interfere in our matter?'

  Leader of bandits raised his sword and jumped in air. At the very next moment, his sword was on the neck of the leader of his opponent.

  He warned the leader of Vidarbh, 'My weapons are enough for my introduction, you wretch. Command your troops to throw their weapons.'

  'I am warning you, you will be penalized for this. I am 'Vrihdutt', the army chief of Vidarbh.' The leader of Vidarbh's army confronted the leader of bandits.

  'I am saying, order your troops to leave the villagers and drop their weapons. Otherwise, you will not remain alive to inform these things to you King.' Leader of bandits was furious.

  'Ok, Ok. Soldiers, drop your weapons.' Vrihdutt commanded his soldiers.

  The soldiers of Vidarbh dropped their weapons and stepped back.

  'Capture them.' The leader of bandits ordered his troops.

  The bandits captured Vidarbh's troops.

  'What's their count?' The leader of bandits asked.

  'They are just fifty, my lord.' One of the bandit replied.

  The leader of bandits pushed Vrihdutt on the ground. Before Vrihdutt could stand up, he kept his leg on his chest and stuck him with the ground.

  'Don't be in hurry, army chief. And don't worry, I will not kill you. Because now you will only give my message to your King Jaivardhan. Tell him that from today onwards, we are the guard of the villages of Vidarbh. Now, no one can harm these villagers. We are five thousand warriors, and we are capable enough to defeat the two akshauhini army of Vidarbh. Tell him, that don't dare to attack or harass any villager. And if he does so, there will be huge war.' The leader of bandits warned Vrihdutt.

  Vrihdutt smiled at him, 'You want to compete with King Jaivardhan? You have gone mad. I have heard earlier about you. You are the leader of the groups of bandits, who often attacks on our army and rob them. And today your courage have raised up to such an extent, that you dared to attack on us. Right now, we are just fifty, that's why you defeated us so easily. You won because of you are hundred times strong than our army. It's just the matter of count.'

  'I am leaving you just because of this, Vrihdutt. Go and inform your king that don't dare to attack on innocent villagers again.' The leader of bandits removed his leg from his chest.

  Vrihdutt stood up from the ground and stared at the leader of bandits, 'You will see the result soon.'

  'Let's go.' He commanded his troops.

  Soon they all left that village.

  While Sarvdaman was still keeping his eyes on the bandits. The leader of bandits came at the center, where all the villagers were gathered. Thereafter, that masked man uncovered his face.

  Sarvdaman was standing behind the tree, he was astonished when he looked over the face of that leader of bandits, 'It seems that he belongs to any royal family.'

  The villagers were also astonished to see him. They joined their hands seeing his enlightening face. One of them came in front and asked, 'Thanks for the help. Till now we thought that you all were just bandits, but we were wrong. You are our protector.'

  Another villager came forward and said, 'You are our messiah, young man. Who are you? It seems that you belong to a royal family. Did King Tejasvi has sent you to help us?'

  'No one knows where King Tejasvi is, we have only heard about him and Mahabali Akhand. But I must say they are only our inspiration. Regarding me, I am not from any royal family. These royal people only exploit common people, they are only filled with their evil desires. But I am not like them, I am just an ordinary bandit.' The leader of bandits said.

  'No, you are not an ordinary person. You defeated that wretch Vrihdutt within moments, your skills proves that you are different.' One villager said.