Demise of the Demon King

by Utkarsh Srivastava

  'Yugandhar, who's that lady with you?' Tejasvi reached there, and asked him from the backside.

  'She is my mother, Naagdevi Kanishka.'

  'F… Forgive me, mother. I have never seen you.' Tejavsi lied down before Kanishka.

  'Ok, Ok, now stand up my son. You are my eldest son. I thought that while residing in Naaglok, I'll never be able to meet my eldest son.' Kanishka hugged Tejasvi.

  'How you both are here?' Tejasvi asked them.

  'You know brother, that from now onwards, I am a normal human being. So I cannot enter the Naaglok anymore. Just because of me, my mother also left Naaglok.'

  'Ok, Ok.., no problem. You took an awesome decision to stay here with me. I am in exile right now, my cottage is here to serve you.'

  'The place, where I have to stay with my two sons, it's better than a heaven for me.'

  Then only Mahabali Akhand reached there.

  'Elder Akhand. Come and meet my mother.'

  On the request of Tejasvi, Akhand lied down before Kanishka and touched her feet.

  'Long live, my son.' Kanishka blessed Akhand.

  'Don't give this blessing to me, mother. Perhaps, I am going to be the disaster for your sons in the future.'

  Tejasvi was astonished to listen that, 'What you are saying, elder? How you could be disaster for us?'

  Akhand narrated him, the whole story of the incidents occurred in the royal court of Vidarbh, and sorted out his doubts.

  'What you have done, elder? You have bounded our hands.'

  'No Tejasvi, you have to fight for the throne of Vidarbh. Either you find me, or Kulguru Sage Kapish 'The disciple of Lord Parshuram' against you.'

  'So Sage Kapish has also realized his duties towards the throne of Vidarbh. Ok fine then, I am ready to accept this challenge.'

  But then only, Kanishka interrupted among them 'Wait Tejasvi. It's not right to break out such a disastrous war, just for the sake of vengeance.'

  Both of them were not answerable to her, Yugandhar was also quiet. Thereafter, Kanishka said

  'I know that, the flame of vengeance in your soul, was actually the love for your father. But if there will be a war, then millions of innocent people will surely die.'

  'So what shall we do mother? We cannot just sit and look over the rise of those unrighteous people.' Yugandhar was against his mother's suggestion.

  'Till the time, that wretch Bhanusen is quiet, we also have to be in control. Perhaps, you are not aware about the curse of Sage Shankaracharya.'

  'Curse, what type of curse, mother?' Yugandhar was astonished listening that.

  'The curse of the destruction, destruction of the Vidarbh's clan. Sage Shankracharya cursed your father, for a huge civil war. Perhaps, it is knocking our door. I just want to avert it for some time, that's it.'

  'I agree with mother, Yugandhar. At present, it is better to avert that huge destruction, until that Bhanusen is quiet.' Tejasvi tried to convince Yugandhar.

  Akhand was filled with guilty 'Forgive me, brothers. But I have to leave now. Now if we meet again, then we'll meet in the battlefield.'

  'As you wish, elder. I can understand your situation. Perhaps, it's our destiny that we have to meet in the battlefield.'

  Akhand left, after that Kanishka suggested Tejasvi.

  'You have to increase your strength, my sons. War has been only averted for some time, but it is sure that war will be there. The King of Balisthgadh, will surely help you. So proceed for the Digvijay (war with the small tribes or kingdoms to increase the strength of army), and increase your strength.

  'As you wish, mother.' Tejasvi and Yugandhar took the blessings of their mother, and proceeded.

  Soon they both appeared in the court of Balishthgadh.

  'The King of Balisthgadh is here to welcome his son in law. Maids, welcome them with the flowers.' King Bhargav was eager to welcome them.

  'Sorry to say, my lord. I am a forester, I cannot accept your hospitality. I have come here, for in sake of your help.'

  'Sure, Prince. Just tell me, what do you want?'

  'I and my brother Yugandhar, are leaving for the journey of Digvijay. A war is approaching towards our door. We don't actually know about the time, they would attack us.'

  'I agree with you, Prince. I am providing you one akshauhini army of Balisthgadh. Your capability can't be compared to anyone, we have full faith on you.'

  'Thank you, my lord. Now we have to start our journey, permit us.'

  'Be victorious, warriors.'

  Tejasvi and Yugandhar, along with the army of Balishthgadh, started their journey of being victorious.

  After the fierce struggle of three years, Tejasvi and Yugandhar waved the flag of victory over Trigadh, Dwarka, Mathura, Sindhu and twenty other Kingdoms. The Prince of Magadha, 'Shalv' was there with them, during this journey. Soon they proceeded their next step for the Kingdom of Panchaal.

  Then only, one snoop came to Tejasvi, and informed him, 'Prince Tejasvi, The Demon King Markesh has returned after the intense meditation. You are approaching towards Panchaal, but Markesh has already destroyed that Kingdom, and killed their King and his family ruthlessly. Just because they refused to accept his domination over them.'

  'We have to return back, Yugandhar. Any danger might be approaching towards Balishthgadh.' Tejasvi suggested Yugandhar.

  'I agree with you, brother. But there is two path to reach Balishthgadh, one through Magadha and another one through Vidarbh. Should we spread fear in the soul of our foes, while travelling through the path of Vidarbh, representing our four akshauhini army?'

  'No, Yugandhar. You go through the path of Magadha, and reach Balishthgadh with our army as soon as possible. Till then I'll reach Vidarbh, because I want to know the condition of the people of Vidarbh, in presence of that wretch Demon King.'

  Thereafter, Yugandhar and Shalv proceeded towards Balishthgadh along with their army.

  Tejasvi was alone, he proceeded towards Vidarbh, along with his horse Vayujit. After the long journey of five days, he was passing through the villages of Vidarbh. He was stunned to see the position of the people. When an old man looked over Tejasvi, he rushed towards him and cried for help.

  'Where were you, Prince? The day since that Demon King as arrived in Vidarbh, he is sucking the blood of the common people. Look at that demon, who is wandering in our village. She killed my only son, as well as raped my daughter in law. Not only this, he has tortured many women of this village. Not only he, many demons are exploiting other villages and torturing the people. Please help us, Prince.'

  Tejasvi turned furious. He stepped down from his horse, and brought that old man up from the ground.

  'I cannot return back your son, and the respect of your daughter in law, old man. But it's my words to you, I'll try to heal the wounds of your soul by killing this wretch demon.'

  'Stop you wretch demon….. ' At that moment only Tejasvi roared on that demon, who was torturing the people. That demon was scared to see Tejasvi, and rushed to save his life. Tejasvi was furious, he evocated Anjali Astra, and targeted it towards that demon. As a result, he was beheaded and falls on the ground, a large part of the land turned red due to his blood.

  'Thank you, Prince, Thank you so much.' That old man lied down on Tejasvi's feet.

  Soon hundreds of villagers gathered there. They were crying for help in front of Tejasvi.

  'Please, you all calm down. You have been tortured much, but now it's enough. It's my words to you all, that soon we will come with a huge army, and will attack the clan of Vidarbh, to destroy that wretch demon Markesh and his son Bhanusen.'

  'Are you going to fight with your own family members, Prince?' One old man questioned Tejasvi.

  'The first duty and responsibility of a King, is the welfare of the people. It's a shameful period for the kingdom of Vidarbh. The kingdom, of which every other clan was jealous off, now it has become the hell for our people. But now it's the time for war.'

  Tejasvi pulled the rein of his horse and
rushed towards the palace of Vidarbh. Soon he reached nearer to the palace. Coincidently, he met Sage Kapish who was wandering at the main gate. Now Tejasvi was not compelled to violate his oath of not entering the palace of Vidarbh.

  Sage Kapish was astonished seeing Tejasvi at the main gate. Tejasvi stepped down from his horse and came nearer to the sage.

  'What happened Tejasvi? Why you seem to be furious?' Kapish asked.

  'Why I am furious? It astonishing, sage, that you are asking me this question. Ok, you only tell me a single reason through which I could calm myself down.'

  'I can understand your pain, Tejasvi.'

  'Then also you are supporting those unrighteous people. Just because you are the clan mentor of Vidarbh?' Tejasvi taunted him.

  'There are some truths of which you are still not aware of, Tejasvi. I had vowed in front of King Bhabhuti and Sage Omeshwar that I will be the shield of this kingdom, also you don't know the actual truth. Bhanusen is on wrong path, but he thinks he is right. He is still thinking that the cause of his mother's death was King Bhabhuti, which is an incomplete truth. If I would have known the actual truth, then there might be no dispute between the royal family of Vidarbh. But no one knows what the actual truth is?'

  Tejasvi was silent for a while. 'Take this, Gurudev.' He gives a letter in hand of Sage Kapish.

  'What's this?'

  'No one is alive to prove what is the actual truth, and what is not. But it doesn't means that the common people should suffer it's consequences. They are also humans, as like us they too have heart. If there close ones dies or there ladies are molested, they look over their King for justice. But the people of Vidarbh is being tortured by his own king, so from whom they will expect the justice? Now the question is not about personal issues, so the war is on. Go and take this message to your King Bhanusen, I am challenging for a battle.'

  'You should think gain, Tejasvi. In the war, you would have to face me too.' Sage tried to warn him.

  'I am not afraid of anyone, I will not hesitate, even if I would have to kill you.' Tejasvi ascended on his horse. Sage Kapish continued looking at him while going.

  Thereafter, he took that message and reached the royal palace of Vidarbh. He gave that message to a person near the throne of Bhanusen and returned back to his position.

  'What's there in the letter?' Bhanusen asked.

  'This is a challenge, my lord.' That person replied.

  That person started reading the message.

  'You have crossed all the limits by torturing the people, Bhanusen. Now it's the time for your demise. You and your father the Demon King Markesh, has reached the last stage of your life. So be prepare Bhanusen, we'll attack soon.'

  Bhanusen laughed wildly 'Fool Tejasvi, Perhaps, he don't know that my father, The Demon King Markesh is victorious. I think, he is thinking that, how he defeated my father at Patallok, he could do it here also. Sage Kapish… ' Bhanusen turned towards Sage Kapish.

  'Waiting for your command, my lord.' Sage Kapish stood up from his place.

  'A huge destructive war is knocking our door, Gurudev. You have promised the former King of Vidarbh, 'King Bhabhuti', that you will always protect this throne of Vidarbh. So be prepare to hold the responsibility of being a chief commander of Vidarbh's army.'

  'Be alert, my lord. Perhaps you are not aware of the fact that, Tejasvi and Yugandhar have conquered many clans, within these three years. They have increased their strength, and increased their army about four akshauhini, which is much more than our strength.'

  'You don't worry about that, Gurudev. You are saying this, just because you have not seen the army strength of my father.' Thereafter he turned towards his messenger.

  'You go to my father, and inform him, that the war is knocking our door. His son is calling him, for his help.' Bhanusen sent that messenger to the Demon King.

  Sage Kapish was compelled to support Bhanusen. He has to hide the pain of his heart, as he don't have any choice.

  On the other side, after inspecting the condition of Vidarbh, Tejasvi came in the court of Balishthgadh.

  'My lord, the Demon King and Bhanusen has crossed their limits. Now we have to proceed for the war.' Tejasvi was furious while coming in the royal court of Vidarbh.

  'Wait Tejasvi.' Then only Sage Shankracharya entered in the court.

  King Bhargav joined his hands in front of him. Tejasvi and Vrishbhaan (son of Bhargav) also welcomed him.

  'Tejasvi, I understand your eagerness. But do you know the way to kill the Demon King?'

  'Yes, Sage. Those divine swords of Sage Omeshwar will only take that wretch Demon King to death.'

  'You are again making a mistake, Tejasvi. The Demon King has returned after the three years of intense meditation. He has received so much boons. When you are not aware of the way to kill Markesh, then what is the need of waging such a huge war.'

  'But Sage, we were about to kill that Demon King, but that Bhairavnath took him away.'

  'And this could happen this time also. This not the right for the war, Tejasvi. Because may be this is possible that this time also, your hard work and struggle will provide no result to you.'

  'Sorry to say, Sage. But I have declared the war. I can face the exile for my whole life, but I can't see the people of Vidarbh screaming for help any more. I want that their pain should to come to an end. So I am ready for the war, it has to be broke out. I need only your blessings, Sage.' Tejasvi lied down on the feet of Sage Shankracharya. Shankracharya brought him up, his eyes were filled with tears.

  'Perhaps, I would not have cursed your father years before, then the situation of this war might not come. So now, I am also equipped with my weapons to participate in this war.'

  Then only Veersen, Yugandhar, Suryam, Chakrsen and Sanjay came in the court. King Bhargav welcomed them.

  'I have brought them all, Tejasvi. I knew that, there will be a war, and I was sure about that. So we have to start the preparation for war.' Chakrsen was becoming eager for the battle.

  Thereafter, Sage Shankracharya turned towards King Bhargav.

  'Now I have one request from you King Bhargav.'

  'Request, no Sage. You should command us.' King Bhargav pays him respect.

  'You should forgive your son Raajveer, my lord. He is your son, and he was perverted from his path. But it's better to release him now.'

  'As you wish, Sage. I will go to meet Raajveer personally in the prison.'

  Soon Bhargav reached the prison, to meet his son. Rajveer lowered his eyes seeing him.

  'Do you want to support the Demon King Markesh now also, my son? You harmed your own father, for the sake power. If your mother Vasundhra might be alive today, could you such a sin?'

  'After the death of my mother, you never noticed my presence in your life. You wanted to submit the divine gem to Vidarbh, why I shouldn't have opposed this decision? The divine gem, for which we have struggled a lot from years, you want to submit it to Vidarbh. And I don't think that, my ambitions were not wrong.'

  'Enough, if you desire for the power, then you should make yourself capable. But no, you made a business of your sister's life, to gain the support of that Demon King. The demon who was responsible for your mother's death. I have come here to free you, son. A fierce battle is very near. It's tough to say that, who will survive, and who will not, after this battle. If I turn martyr, then you can fulfill your wish by ascending on the throne of Balishthgadh. And if you want to atone for your sins, then I and Vrishbhaan will wait for you in the battlefield.'