Aug 18, 2007

Chapter 31: A triange love story

Years later, son Virochana is called for, for ‘Yuvraj’ (Crown Prince) title. Initial courteous denial and then acceptance. Informs Shukracharya. Pleased. He wants him to take the place of P. Shukracharya wants to take one final revenge against Vishnu.

As part of Crown Prince, Shukracharya asks Virochana to go hunting. Prahallad is against it since it involves killing of innocent animals. But Shukracharya says that it is an important skill for being a warrior king. Virochana ignores father and does as his teacher. In the process of hunting, he gets lost in woods. He gets stuck in the middle of a storm. He then sees a sanyasi (Sudhanva, son of Rishi Angeera) doing tapas under a toppling tree. He saves the sanyasi’s life injuring himself. Both, injured, enter an ashram. A damsel called Deepavali there (daughter of Vats). Love triangle.

Meanwhile P and kin tensed about non-return of Virochana. As a father, and not as a king, P goes alone in search of his son, without available resources. He is praised.

Feelings of Virochana, Deepavali and Sanyasi. Deepa likes both but is undecided to opt whom. They all depart. Virochana asks Shukracharya what he should do. He asks to use his Prince's powers. Virochana asks if it is the right thing to do, S confirms it is. So the three meet again (Virochana, Deepavali and Sudhanva) and discuss who should marry who. She decides to wait for her pop. ‘But pop is sanyasi, favours sanyasi, too’, wails Virochana. So, dignified kidnapping of Deepa by V. Sudhanva asks D if he wants him to protect her. She says no - she doesn't want anyone to be injured because of her. V takes D to Shukracharya's hermitage - to give her a sense of homeliness. Shukracharya resolves to take care of her.

Meanwhile, Angeera (Sudhanva) goes and complains to the sages' court on the Prince's kidnapping act. Sages call Prahallad to scene, who is unaware of everything. He decides to take immediate action. He goes to Shukracharya's hermitage and releases Deepa. Shukracharya refuses, he says he is bound to vow given to Virochana for Deepa's protection. Prahallad and Shukracharya take out their swords to resolve the dispute - Prahallad says that it is sad that he has to fight against his own teacher. At that time Virochan comes and says he doesnt want his father and teacher to fight for his object of emotion.

Sense put into V. He releases her. Blinded by love, immature acts by both suitors. She is still undecided, as both have good qualities. Even Rishi Vats (D's dad) is undecided. So he asks Prahallad to be the judge, who says he will accept only if Sudhanva agrees, esp because P is Virochan's dad. Sudhanva agrees.

Shukracharya is wary because he thinks Prahallad will oppose Virochan and so he advises V to ask for P’s mom’s help to influence the decision. Viru happy!

P undecided. High lobbying by P’s mom and wife w.r.t. P’s son. P unfazed. Considering the fact that V kidnapped damsel, he votes for sanyasi and give her hand to sanyasi. P’s son is shocked, but accepts. Main reason is that he used his powers of palace to seek her while sanyasi did not use his powers of penance. At the same time, even though Virochan kidnapped Deepa, Sudhanva did not doubt purity of Deepa. So Sudhanva wins. Shukracharya is against P too, but P convinces him too.

Virochan accepts his defeat fully and agrees he did not do the right thing. At the same time, he foregoes his princehood. All are shocked.

Vishnu and Lakshmi visit P, showering him with accolades for his decision, even though he had to go against his son’s wishes. Ask anything, Vishnu asks. P says, he wants to leave everything now and just pray Him and gain knowledge. Vishnu grants him so, asking him one last duty - to make Virochan King before he leaves to sanyasatwa. 

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