"What a huge fist." That was the only thought that flashed through Indra's mind.
As the blow hurtled toward him, he raised his arm instinctively, catching the strike between his elbows. At that moment, his Sahsrakavacha glowed with light, and a surge of blue energy burst forth, shaping itself into a monstrous, four-tusked guardian beast that roared into existence like a living shield.
Boom!
Smoke and dust exploded in all directions.
The sound of impact roared like thunder, shaking the battlefield.
Vajranga recoiled. A sharp, searing pain tore through the back of his hand. It felt as if a thousand molten needles had pierced his bones. His tendons spasmed. Worse than pain, this was agony that crawled beneath the skin and burned through the nerves.
He lifted his hands, trembling, and his breath caught.
His skin had turned blue.
The glow pulsed under his flesh, spreading from the knuckles to the palm, crawling up his arm like cursed fire.
"Hala… Hala—aaagh!"
Vajranga's eyes bulged. He bellowed in pain, a scream so loud it echoed across the earthly plains.
Thud!
He staggered, then collapsed face-first. Writhing in agony, he thrashed against the earth like a fish gasping on dry sand.
"This guy's no joke," Indra muttered, his breath ragged.
His arms trembled as he rubbed them. Divine light shimmered across his golden frame, a faint haze spreading from his shoulders like a protective aura. He stared at the fallen warrior, stunned.
"Seriously… this guy is insane."
Looking down at Vajranga now, still rolling in pai, he squinted.
Average face. Terrible posture. But that red cape?
"Okay, that's kinda cool," Indra admitted under his breath.
"Vajranga?" he whispered. "When did he get this strong…?"
Recognition flickered in his eyes as he rubbed his forearm, trying to process the weight of what had just happened.
Nearby, Rishi Brihaspati raised his voice, joy lighting up his face.
"The great Indra has thwarted another Asura King!" he proclaimed, his voice ringing like a sacred bell.
The Devas erupted with joy, their laughter breaking through the tension.
"Big brother, save us!"
"Free us!"
"Over here!"
The trapped devas cried out, their faces bright with hope.
Indra's brows furrowed. His eyes narrowed sharply, scanning the bound Devas—Surya among them.
Boom!
Lightning crackled from the sky.
In a flash, his Vajra appeared in his hand. He pointed it forward, and bolts of divine thunder streaked from the weapon, striking the glowing binds restraining the devas.
Bang—bang—bang!
The ropes shattered into motes of light and vanished.
The devas were free.
Rishi Kashyapa was the first to approach Indra, his expression tangled between relief and sorrow. The sight of his children locked in war never failed to sadden him.
"Vajranga came here to challenge you," Indra's father said solemnly. "Now that he's fallen, he no longer seeks the throne of Svarga. But the Halahala you struck him with poisoned him quickly. You must draw it out at once."
Kashyapa's voice trembled, urgency filling the air as he spread his hands in appeal.
Indra blinked. "Challenge…? For the throne of Svarga?"
He wasn't the king. Not anymore. So why…? Still puzzled, Indra turned to Vajranga, and his eyes widened.
The Asura's entire body turned blue, the poison surging through his veins like wildfire.
Indra frowned. He pressed his hands together.
A faint hum filled the air. Divine armor shimmered over his form—a second skin of luminous blue began to wrap around his body.
The divine armor was ready. Within the radiant glow, a terrifying vision emerged—a four-tusked beast, its fangs jagged, claws sharpened like crescent moons. Its eyes burned like twin furnaces, wild and unblinking.
Ssshhk!
A divine current swept outward. The sacred light enveloped Vajranga, and the monstrous spirit drew a deep breath, as if inhaling more than air. The blue corruption that had been spreading across Vajranga's body halted abruptly.
Then, like mist lifting from cold stone, it lifted from his skin in flickering motes of light. The poisonous particles drifted upward and were absorbed into Indra's divine armor.
At last, the venom of Hālahala was drawn out.
Vajranga's eyes glazed over, his chest heaving. He stared blankly at the sky above, the vast emptiness of it swallowing his thoughts. With a long, exhausted sigh, he spread his arms wide and collapsed on the plains of Jambudvipa like a fallen titan.
Bitter memories flashed through his mind.
He had lost. Utterly and without excuse.
"Perhaps… father was right after all…"
The thought passed through him, gentle as a whisper, final as judgment.
From across the field, the devas cautiously gathered around Indra, their gazes fixed on Vajranga's prone form, uncertain.
"…Did he attack and conquer the Svarga?" Indra asked, almost too quietly, yet with a trace of genuine curiosity in his voice.
"…"
Soma said nothing. Surya glanced away, awkwardly adjusting his sleeves. Vāyu and Varuna exchanged tense looks but remained silent. Even Agni, ever proud, averted his eyes, shrinking behind the others like a scolded child.
Indra sighed inwardly. He didn't need an answer. He already knew.
His gaze shifted to Rishi Bṛhaspati. The wise Rishi met his eyes and gave a slow nod. "Yes. That's right."
A faint gleam lit Indra's expression.
Then, slowly, Vajranga stirred. His massive form groaned as he rolled over, staggering upright like a mountain breaking free of its roots. His breath was ragged, but his face was clear and calm.
He pressed his palms together in reverence, eyes steady.
"Father," Vajranga said, turning to Rishi Kashyapa. "I understand now. What you said... I ignored it because of my arrogance, but now I truly hear it. I wish to follow you, retreat to your Ahsrama, and begin penance at your side."
The humility in his voice silenced even the wind.
Then, he turned to face Indra.
"Indra," he said firmly, "I lost, completely. But I accept that loss. In the past, I was full of pride… of greed for the throne of Svarga. But in that one blow, I saw it clearly."
"You don't crave the throne of Svarga, despite your strength. You faced your curse head-on and entrusted its burden to your brother without hesitation."
"You are… a warrior worthy of respect."
He bowed deeply, raising his clasped hands above his head.
"I will return to Pātāla. And I will lead the Asuras there with me."
At that moment, the world seemed to pause.
Lotus petals carpeted the ground like blessings from the heavens. The air shimmered with golden light, fragrant and sweet, as though the very sky itself exhaled serenity. Somewhere unseen, soft celestial music echoed, threading through the silence with delicate grace.
All was joy.
Rishi Kashyapa stood among the blossoms, his expression gentle, eyes misted with quiet emotion. His children, Devas and Asuras alike, show mutual respect, speaking as kin rather than enemies.
What more could a father ask for?
Rishi Brihaspati chuckled warmly, a sound of deep relief. Around him, the gods nodded, their shoulders loosening, smiles faint but genuine. Indra had returned, victorious and changed. With him present, there was no longer anything to fear.
Far above, in the heart of the Milky Sea, upon the coiled serpent bed of Ananta Sheṣa, stirred. Lying with one arm cradling his cheek, Vishnu smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curling.
How good it is… to see balance restored.
But on the battlefield below, Indra was frozen.
He stared at Vajranga in astonishment.
This guy… He's reached the throne of Svarga, and yet he's still this composed? He admits defeat, calmly, with honor?
This Asura King wasn't like Hiranyakṣa, nor Hiranyakashipu… and certainly not like Hayagrīva.
No… this one's different.
He had the might to challenge Svarga but the humility to walk away. The strength of a king… and the reason of a saint.
A rare combination. He can fight. He's straightforward. If he remains the King of Patala for the yuga, there will be one less immortal troublesome Asura, like Rāhu…
Indra's eyes narrowed slightly, wheels turning. And just as Vajranga began to turn to leave, Indra stepped forward and caught his wrist.
"There's no need for hatred between Devas and Asuras," he said, his voice steady but charged with emotion. "We share the same father. You and I… we are brothers."
"To admit defeat with dignity, that is the mark of a true warrior. That's a virtue worthy of reverence."
"Vajranga," Indra continued, tightening his grip just slightly, "you have shown nobility in character and strength in battle. You were born of our shared lineage, and you deserve support, not exile."
"My asceticism remains unfinished. I cannot yet return to Svarga."
"But you…" Indra paused, then spoke with clear conviction, "If you can lead the Ādityas with fairness, treat them as your brothers and subjects, not tools, then I believe you can be a great ruler. A just King who preserves order in the Tri Loka."
"Why not… become the King of Svarga?"
As the words left Indra's lips, the skies themselves seemed to tense.
In the Vaikuntha above, Lord Vishnu's eyes open, his expression instantly sharp.
Bzzzt!
The Sudarśana Chakra on his fingertip quivered, spinning with a shrill, high-pitched hum. Light flared dangerously from its edges, trembling with divine intent as if it could no longer remain still, barely restrained from tearing through the veil between realms.
...
Author's note: The only man who ascended to Svarga with his mortal body.
After ruling for many years, Yudhiṣṭhira grew weary of kingship. With the destruction of their kinsmen and the fading of Krishna and the Yādavas, he felt that dharma now called them to renunciation. He crowned Parīkṣit, the grandson of Arjuna and Abhimanyu, as king of Hastināpura, and Vajra, grandson of Krishna, as ruler of the Yādavas. Then Yudhiṣṭhira, together with his brothers and Draupadī, set out on their final journey, leaving behind the throne and the palace.
They walked northward, dressed in bark and deer-skins, carrying nothing. This march of renunciation is called the Mahāprasthāna, the Great Departure.
The Fate of the Others.
Draupadī, Sahadeva, Nakula, Arjuna, and Bhīma all fell on the way, but their souls ascended to heaven after death. In Svarga, they regained their celestial forms, freed of human flaws.
Karna, though slain earlier, was already in heaven, honored as a son of Sūrya.
Duryodhana too was in heaven, for in death, as a warrior who fought valiantly, he gained celestial reward despite his earthly faults, something that shocks Yudhiṣṭhira when he first enters Svarga.
At last, he reached the gates of Svarga. Indra appeared in his celestial chariot and invited Yudhiṣṭhira to ascend. But Yudhiṣṭhira refused to enter heaven without the faithful dog that had followed him. Indra told him that the dog could not enter, but Yudhiṣṭhira declared that abandoning one who was loyal would be unrighteous. He chose to remain with the dog rather than enjoy heaven alone.
At that moment, the dog revealed itself to be Yamaraj, Yudhiṣṭhira's divine father, who had come in disguise to test him. By refusing to abandon the faithful creature, Yudhiṣṭhira had proven his steadfast dharma even at the threshold of heaven.
Thus, Yudhiṣṭhira, alone among men, ascended to Svarga in his mortal body, honored as Dharmarāja.
...
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