Demise of the Demon King

by Utkarsh Srivastava

  One of the warrior came forward from the crowd.

  'I am 'Shalv', the crown prince of Magadha. Among these one lakh warriors, there are twenty thousand warriors are from my kingdom, and are under me. It's my words to me from them, we will surely join you in this war.'

  Listening this, one more warrior came out from the crowd, 'It's our right, as well as our duty to participate in this war. We all are your debtor, young man. You have raised a power of hope in our hand, although we are disarmed, but then also our unity will surely dominate over demons.'

  All the one lakh warriors raised their voice to support them, this raised the confidence level of all the four warriors.

  Akhand turned towards Tejasvi, 'So what do you say, Tejasvi? When should we attack?'

  Tejasvi thought something for a while, 'According to the plan developing in my mind we should attack on the day with rise of sun when there will be full moon night.'

  'But last full moon night was just seven days ago, and still twenty one days remaining in the next full moon night. Just remember one thing, we have less than two months to save uncle Veersen.' Akhand questioned on Tejasvi's plan.

  'If we get the divine Vijaydhanusha,it will only take more than five days to reach Vidarbh. The Demon King could not be defeated through any mortal weapon, that's why we don't have any other option than this, till then these warriors could increase their strength.' Tejasvi concluded.

  Listening this, Akhand declared, 'So now it's decided, warriors. We'll attack on the Demon King on the day of the full moon night i.e. twenty one days from now. That Markesh wanted to sacrifice you all on that night, now we'll cut off the head of that wretch demon and will offer his head to his own Kuldevi. You all were captured, and for your security, around one lakh demons were appointed. They all have escaped leaving their weapons. Now you all will take their weapons, and will proceed for the war. Har Har Mahadev…' Akhand encouraged the warriors.

  All the warriors followed Akhand, and the slogans of Har Har Mahadev was spreaded all over. Hidimb was seeing all this hidden at a place. He rushed towards the palace of the Demon King Markesh. Reaching there, he laid down in front of the Demon King.

  'Forgive me, elder. I have committed a great sin.'

  'Get up Hidimb, now what you have done?'

  'The warriors whom you captured for the sacrifice. They are rescued by the combined effort of Akhand, Tejasvi, Yugandhar and Suryam. And they turning those prisoners as their army, by motivating them. Soon they will attack our palace.'

  'What…?' Demon King stood from his throne, he was furious to listen that.

  'What you have done, you fool Hidimb. But how this is possible? As only a demon can touch the bars of that prison.

  'It happened, elder. A giant demon is in their support, his name is Vakrbaahu.'

  'Vakrbaahu…. It means that he gained his consciousness. And perhaps he is surely rescued by one of these four warriors.' There was fear in the eyes of the Demon King, he was astonished too.

  'It seems that you know Vakrbaahu, elder.'

  'Yes, Hidimb. Vakrbaahu is a demon, who have the strength of thousands of elephants. His mammoth form is his actual strength. Although he cannot defeat me, but he could spread a huge demolition in our army. He is not an ordinary warrior, he was a devotee as well as disciple of the great warrior, 'Sage Omeshwar'. Sage Omeshwar who produced the divine weapon Panchashastra, but it's not the time to discuss these things. The upcoming battle will be a dreadful war. All four of them will surely attack, as the sun rises tomorrow. I have to discuss this issue with the Demon's mentor Bhairavnath.'

  'You don't need to, Markesh. I am right here.' Bhairavnath reached there.

  'Now you only tell me, Gurudev. What should we do in this condition?' Markesh asked.

  'We have to wait for them to attack. Because they have Vakrbaahu with them, no one can stop him except you. And if you will go for a war, you will have to face those four warriors alone. And I am not sure, that you can defeat their unity. The plan on which I am working, can only be successful, if our enemy will come in our region, where our troops can easily create any type of vyuhas as soon as possible.'

  'I don't have any plan, so I will go with you.' The Demon King turned silent.

  On the other side, after the sunset, Tejasvi went to the camp where Akhand was taking rest.

  'Is there something wrong, Tejasvi? Your face says that you are worried.'

  'We have prepared these warriors for war, elder. But they all are very weak, they need a nutritious meal. We four can fight without any meal for many days. But they all were captured since years, to encourage and strengthen them, we have to provide them at least one time of nutritious food. And we have to arrange it for them anyhow.'

  'But how this is possible, Tejasvi?'

  'We have come here to destroy the evil demons, undoubtedly this is a divine work. At last, after completing our mission, we have to submit that divine Vijay Dhanushto the divine gods. So we must try to please the divine gods, so that we could get some help from them.'

  'I think we should go for it, because meal for these people can be arranged only through a miracle. We four brothers, will request the divine gods for help.'

  After this Akhand and his brothers, ascended on the higher mounds, closed their eyes and concentrated.

  'O lord, around one lakh warriors are going for the war against the Asuras. We are going to fight the worst enemy of the divine gods, for the welfare of this world as well as to save the life of our King Veersen. I request you for a miracle Devraj,please help us to arrange the meal for these warriors.'

  Soon the result of this meditation came. There was an intense light in the sky and one divine god appeared in front of them. Tejavsi, Yugandhar, Akhand and Suryam stood up and joined their hands towards that divine god.

  'I am Kuber Dev, warriors. Devraj Indra, has send me to help you all, and I praise your bravery. Don't worry, I have come here with the solution of your problem. Soon a plate will appear in front of your every warrior, the food in that plate will not get over until the person in front get satisfied. You all are going for the great cause in the battlefield. We divine gods cannot help you more than that, because we cannot remain here in Patallok for much time, as per the treaty among Devas and Asuras.'

  'This much help is sufficient enough, Kuber Dev.We'll always be your debtor, as you have helped us in this tough time.'

  'Be victorious, warriors.' Kuber Dev disappeared from that place after blessing them all.

  After sometime a plate appeared in front of every warrior. They were amazed to see that.

  'Don't be so amazed, brave people. You all were captured since years, so you need a nutritious meal before war. The meal in this plate will not be empty, until you all will get satisfied. This is the boon of the divine gods to us, these plates will not disappear, untill you all will order it to disappear.'

  On this declaration, whole environment of that place turned pleasant. All the warriors had their meal. Akhand, Tejasvi, Yugandhar, Suryam, Suvarya and Vakrbaahu also had a tasty meal after months. When Suryam noticed Akhand eating his food, he tried to pinch him.

  'It seems that your plate will not disappear till morning, elder brother.'

  Listening this Akhand grabbed Suryam in his underarm. 'You very well know, Suryam. That I cannot tolerate any joke, while I am eating. I love my meal so much, if you want, I can vanish your plate.'

  'O..k..k , forgive me general, it was my fault. So leave me.'

  All the present people laughed at him.

  The last praharof the night was about pass. Tejasvi came to Akhand and asked, 'It's quite astonishing, elder. We have freed all the prisoners of the Demon King, but there is no sign of attack from his side.'

  'I agree with you, Tejasvi. Even I am surprised, and I am very sure that they all might be planning something. We have to wait, and also we have to appoint Vakrbaahu as a security for these soldiers, until and unless they all regain their strength.' Akhand kept his point of view.
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  'Well said, elder. I will tell Suryam to command Vakrbaahu for this job.' Tejasvi left.

  Soon that day arrived for which all the four titans were waiting. The last prahar of night was about to pass. The army of one lakh soldiers, were armed and ready in the battlefield. Sun was about to rise. Akhand, Suryam, Tejasvi, Yugandhar, Suvarya and Vakrbaahu proceeded towards the palace of the Demon King with their army. One falcon on the tree noticed them. That bird flied in the sky, and reached that place where that Demon King Markesh was waiting for them along with his brother Hidimb, and mentor Bhairavnath with the army of about twoakshauhini for war. That falcon came and ascended on one of the hands of the Demon King, he listened to him carefully.

  'They are coming. Demons, be ready for the battle. The army approaching towards us are as like an ant in front of our strength, we have to crush them all. They are coming for the divine Vijay Dhanush,the heritage of my ancestor Lord Mahabali. We have to destroy them all. So that, no human could dare to stand against us once again.'

  The roaring sound of the Demon King raised the confidence level of the demon troops. They were becoming eager for the war.

  On one side, the army of one lakh fierce warriors were approaching towards the palace of the Demon King, with the flame of vengeance in their mind. And on the other side the demon's army which was as vast as sea, were eager to extinguish that flame.

  Akhand's army came nearer to the palace of the Demon King. But before that, one intense light bursts, and the spirit of Vikramajit appeared in front of them. Akhand, Tejasvi and Suryam laid down in front of him. But Yugandhar has never seen Vikramajit before, so he was not able to recognize him.

  'Don't be so surprised, Yugandhar. He is our father, one of the greatest warrior of Aaryavart, i.e. Vikramajit. But it's tough to accept that our father is not alive. But he always guided us as much as he can, as a spirit.'

  Yugandhar laid down on his knees.

  'I am blessed to see you, father. It's my pride, being the son of the great warrior like you. I never thought that I'll ever see you in my life.' The eyes of Yugandhar were wet.

  'The brave warrior like you, is my son, that's the proud moment for me. But we don't have the time to get emotional. This time is for war. I am proud of my sons, who are going to fight against the Demon King in this war. I would like to praise you especially Akhand, that you have chosen the path of justice and Dharma over blood relations. I must tell you all that your main motive is to get the divine Vijay Dhanush, rather than the demise of the Demon King Markesh. The warrior who will lift that bow could never be defeated, because only the touch of that divine bow heals all the wounds of that warrior, who holds it. Remember one thing, the spirits of the siblings of Markesh Tribhuj, Adheem and Danshak has merged in his body, so he is much powerful than earlier. Now the venom of Yugandhar will also not affect him. Adheem, Tribhuj and Danshak were killed by Suryam, Tejasvi and Yugandhar respectively. So to defeat Markesh, all the three warriors have to attack him together. So proceed now, my blessings are with you.'

  All the four warriors joined their hands in front of Vikramajit. After that they proceeded with their army, Demon King was eagerly waiting for his foes with his army. Soon both the armies were in front of each other. Demon King was furious to see Akhand as the leader of his opposition force. He insinuated Akhand.

  'I haven't seen the grandson like you, Akhand. You are very well aware of the fact that, I am your grandfather. Then also you are leading the army of my opponent in this war. You should be ashamed of yourself.'

  'The feelings and emotions of a person is attached with their family, Demon King. And do you know, what is the definition of that family? The people alongwith whom a person spend his childhood as wellas his life. You have turned my father Bhanusen into a weapon of conspiracies, and sent him to the palace of Vidarbh. Perhaps he will always stand with you. But this Mahabali Akhand, will always stand with his brothers, it means I'll be on the side of Dharma. And I will feel pride to fight against a sinful person like you.'

  'Don't teach me the lesson of right, wrong or justice, because you don't know the actual truth. You are just a sinful son, the kingdom which produces the scions like you, must be ashamed. I cannot raise my weapons on you. But I will only calm down, when you will see the people dying in front of your eyes, because of whom you are against me.'

  'If that is so, then it's my words to you, that I will also not raise my weapon on you. My thesethree brothers will fight you for your demise. And I, Vakrbaahu and the army behind me, will fight with your army. This respect is for you, just because your blood is flowing through my veins. Then also I am standing against you in this war, and this fact will prove that demons are not only born for torturing the weak and innocent people, even they can also raise their weapons against injustice. It's not only the responsibility of humans and divine gods to stand against unrighteous people, it's our responsibility too. Har Har Mahadev…..'

  'Attack…..' Demon King declared the war against his grandson.

  Vakrbaahu also turned into a mammoth and Suvarya pulled out her sword too. Both the armies clashed, those sounds of weapons shakes the nearby environment. The warriors who were captured since years, there flames of vengeance proved to be disaster for the demon's army. On the other side Vakrbaahu was crushing the demon troops in a huge amount. Demon King Markesh was standing in middle of his army alongwith Hidimb and Bhairavnath.

  'Gurudev, they are destroying our army rapidly. You said that you have a trick to stop that Yugandhar. Look over that ichhadhari Naag, who is destroying our demons with his venom puffs. If this continues, then confidence level of demon's army will be surely destroyed.' Markesh was worried.

  'You don't worry Markesh, I have a plan, which will turn all the four warriors including Vakbaahu, helpless. After that, as the demons are getting killed this time, just like that opponent army will be destroyed. Firstly, our prime target is to separate Yugandhar and Suvarya from Tejasvi and Suryam.' There was a evil smile on the face of Bhairavnath, his eyes were filled with the confidence, that his plan will surely get success.

  Akhand inspected the whole battlefield thoroughly, and came to Tejasvi.

  'Tejasvi, you team up with Yugandhar, Suryam and one thousand warriors and create the Sharvyuh (army in the shape of an arrow). Demon King Markesh is in the middle of his army, remember one thing, you three have to attack him together to defeat him. I will guard one side of this vyuh(formation of an army to a definite shape), and Vakrbaahu will protect the another side of thevyuh. You all have to concentrate on defeating Markesh.'

  On the command of general Akhand, one thousand troops began to form the Sharvyuh. Until the formation of the vyuh, all the five warriors kept the demons away from it. Soon the Sharvyuhwas formed, and Tejasvi alongwith his brothers Yugandhar and Suryam rushed towards the Demon King destroying the barriers of the demons army. Bhairavnath smiled, he turned towards Markesh.

  'Demon King Markesh, it's time to work with our plan. Order your troops to surround your brother Hidimb, forming the defensive shield. This Rakshakavach vyuh(army in shape of a shield ), consists of three stages, we will let our opponent to destroy the first stage easily. And I very am sure that according to my plan, Akhand will come up first to destroy this shield. But he should not cross the next stage to reach Hidimb.'

  'I am not getting your plan, Gurudev.'

  'Just do what I am saying. We need at least one lakh demons to form thisvyuh.'