Vishnu's smile froze abruptly.
Asura... as King of Svarga?
He narrowed his gaze, his expression hardening as he peered across the boundless ocean of milk, his eyes fixed toward the southern reaches of Jambudvipa. He was watching closely, wary of the calamities yet to come.
At that very moment, Indra had just finished his speech.
Rishi Kashyapa, observing the scene, couldn't help but reveal a rare mix of surprise and delight. Clasping his hands within his sleeves, he murmured softly, "Brothers respecting each other... how rare and wonderful."
But then his gaze drifted toward Lord Vishnu.
Would Lord Vishnu be willing to accept this outcome?
The devas, too, looked shaken. Agni, the god of fire, and others exchanged uneasy glances.
Indra had clearly won. Why, then, should he be so forgiving?
Only moments ago, they had been thoroughly humiliated by Vajranga. To think that same Asura still lingered in Svarga... it was intolerable. Even if Vajranga bore the title of Rishi, his place was the depths of Patala, not the halls of Svarga!
Panic began to spread among the devas. Their desperate eyes turned toward Brihaspati, the divine guru, silently begging for a solution.
But Rishi Brihaspati's face had gone pale.
Am I, the revered teacher of the devas, supposed to assist an Asura in becoming the King of Svarga?
Absolutely not! Impossible!
"Indra!" Brihaspati declared suddenly, his voice echoing through the halls of heaven. "Best among the Adityas, the one who knows both Svarga and Patala and bestows grace upon all beings!"
"Only those who stand victorious and righteous may rightfully claim this vast Svarga and bask in its endless blessings. Such is the law of Dharma that governs both Devas and Asuras!"
"To defy Dharma is to invite ruin!"
His words, crisp and firm, immediately ignited a spark among the devas. Their eyes brightened. This... this was the wisdom they sought from their teacher!
Rishi Brihaspati truly lived up to his name.
Vishnu, from the depths of the Kshira Sagara, shook his head with a wry smile. As expected, Rishi Brihaspati remains dependable.
Indra, hearing the words, narrowed his eyes. Coughing twice for effect, he regarded Brihaspati with a sly grin.
When it came to Dharma, he suddenly felt wide awake.
He might not be an expert in upholding Dharma, but he was well-versed in twisting it to his advantage!
"Teacher," Indra said, his voice calm yet carrying a subtle weight, "did you not once tell me: 'What is yet to be obtained is not yours; what is lost should no longer be regarded as yours.'?"
"To recognize the play of cause and effect is the first lesson of a righteous being."
"The curse of Rishi Durvasa has been cast. I have accepted it without protest. I strive to be kind, to follow the path of asceticism, to uphold Dharma."
"And yet, in forcing me to adhere to one aspect of Dharma, you now ask me to violate another."
"Isn't that... a little unfair?"
Indra spread his hands, feigning helplessness, his tone deceptively gentle.
"True victory," he continued softly, "is not the defeat of others... but the conquest of one's own self. Vajranga has achieved that. I believe he is worthy."
Brihaspati's face flushed crimson. His lips parted, but no words came.
He had nothing to say. In that instant, only three thoughts filled his mind.
First: Go to Brahma's abode and study the Vedas anew.
Second: Find Durvasa... and scold him.
Third: Invite Rishi Atri and Tapasvini Ansuya and scold Durvasa again!
Meanwhile, in the ocean of milk, Lord Vishnu sat upon the endless coils of Ananta Shesha, his form radiant yet still, as if he were the still point in a swirling, endless sea.
Beside him, the Sudarshan Chakra hovered, its edge gleaming ominously as it spun in slow, deliberate circles. Within its perfect geometry, a whisper echoed—a voice known only to the preserver of worlds.
"Why not unleash me upon Vajranga, my Lord?" The Sudarshan's tone carried no eagerness, only cold certainty."One stroke, and this spectacle ends. He stands proud, but pride blinds the Asura more than any curse."
Vishnu's gaze remained on Vajranga, his expression serene, detached, untouched by the suggestion.
"No," Vishnu replied softly, his voice deeper than the fathomless sea. "Asuras... they are ever the most susceptible to corruption. More so than mortals, more than even the Devas."
He paused, his golden eyes reflecting countless cycles of birth, decay, and rebirth.
"If I act now, I rob the world of its own trials. If Vajranga succumbs to his nature, it will be by his own hand... not mine."
Vishnu's lips curved into the faintest of smiles—one that held neither warmth nor malice, only the endless patience of one who preserves the balance of all things.
"We shall see, Sudarshan. The wheel turns for all in time."
The Chakra spun in eerie silence, as if accepting his Lord's will, yet its edges whispered promises of justice... when the time was right.
Vajranga exhaled deeply, his heart trembling at Indra's words.
A faint glow stirred in his eyes as he looked upon the scene before him—a gathering where even Rishi Brihaspati would argue relentlessly for Indra's sake.
He... had no such comrades.
"I lack Indra's strength... his wisdom... and even friends who stand by me like this," Vajranga thought bitterly. "Perhaps... It's time I truly embraced the path of a Rishi."
Lifting his head, he clasped his hands in respect toward Indra.
"The army of Asuras still occupies Svarga, guarding the Gandharvas and many Rishis. I believe our first duty should be to restore order and release them."
His voice was steady, decisive.
Indra paused, eyebrows lifting slightly.
Rishis? Have they been staying in Svarga all these years?
"We were entertaining them, originally," Agni added awkwardly, scratching his head. "But... once the Asuras seized Svarga, they took the Rishis captive as well."
A wave of guilt washed over Agni's face.
Indra's expression darkened slightly. Those Rishis were in trouble. Who knew what curses they'd throw at the devas if displeased?
"Fine," Indra said at last. "Let's go have a look."
...
Author's note:
Nachiketa, son of sage Vājashravasa, was given in anger by his father to Yama, the god of death. Obeying his father's word, the boy went to Yama's abode and waited three days without food or water. To atone, Yama granted him three boons.
Nachiketa asked that his father's anger be calmed. Yama granted it.
He asked to learn the fire-sacrifice that leads to heaven. Yama taught him, and the fire was named Nachiketa Agni.
He asked the greatest question: "What happens after death?"
Yama tried to tempt him with wealth, pleasure, and long life, but Nachiketa refused. At last, Yama revealed the secret: the Ātman, the Self, is eternal, unborn, and undying. It is one with Brahman, beyond sorrow and death.
Thus Nachiketa attained knowledge of immortality and returned home enlightened. (You can see this entire set of dialogues on YouTube, Upanishad Ganga.)
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