Each day and each night he trained, he started to realise, that no amount of work could ever make him sweat now, he would never run out of breath, maybe, all the things he'd seen and experienced, were all for him.
But, the question to arise in his mind was quite interesting.
"If I'm a God, and I have all the powers I can think of, why do I have to search for Kartik? Why do I have to wage a war? I could just teleport Kartik in here and no one would be the wiser "
He was sitting on the ground, on a patch of green grass. His eyes were closed but he could feel the wind flowing everywhere around him, it was soft and supple.
"Why indeed?"
The wind flowing was soft no more it was swift and harsh, and the ground felt cold all of a sudden. And who had said that?
"Sirji, dhyān me se bahar āo to gyān du?"
(Could you please end your meditative activity so I could teach you something?)
Rudra opened his eyes, the voice seemed to speak from his right, so he turned to look there.
It was Lord Shiva!
"Uhm...Hi! This is rather awkward and uncomfortable, why do you act like this?"
"Well, you were wondering about the powers of teleportation and I showed you...."
"What about last time?"
"What last time? There was no last time...oh, you mean that, I don't....will you let me get to the point?"
"You are Lord Shiva, how can I stop you?"
"You know, no one dares to talk to me that way."
"Not even you, yourself?"
"What do you even mean?"
"You told me yourself, I am you!"
"Yes, you are...but..."
"But what?"
"Right now the strings are in our hands, you might technically be the future, but right now you are just like a child to us and I hold the strings to all the powers."
"You alone? What about Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma?"
"We are all the same, it's foolish of you to assume we are different."
"So tell me this...were you ever a child?"
"That's such a stupid question. No, why would I be a child?"
"And I am you, yes?"
Lord Shiva raised his finger and opened his mouth, but he didn't know how to answer.
"Then, how am I a child?"
"Okay. So you need to understand something, you are like Lord Rāma. You are me, but you are sort of a hybrid, like a demigod, but not a demigod because demigods aren't this powerful and they shall never have access to such powers."
"Okay. Got it, I am a hybrid, that's ok, but that doesn't answer my question. Does that mean you are a purist or racist of some sorts?"
"See! This is what I meant! You don't have the knowledge and experience I have, you still need to have my knowledge and for that you will need to access all our powers."
"See that's what I don't understand."
"What?"
"If I can have all the powers ever, all the knowledge ever, you and me are the same, so, why l? I mean, just unlock my powers I'll go get my brother, finish evil and we'll be done with it."
"Okay, you really want to know?"
"Yes!"
"Well, first of all it would be no fun. Ugh! And second, you see for a long time evil has been brewing among the humans, in their hearts, and Shukrā is the biggest evil I can think of right now, you need to let him do some stuff, get a little powerful, do a little evil stuff, get him to turn all the evil ones on his side, by then you'll be all powerful, maybe, if it's time, you see we planted a limiter in you of sorts, it cannot be seen, it cannot be accessed, but it sorts of limits your powers, when you'll be ready to use them and able to use them properly, you'll be unlocking everything pretty soon. Think of it as a video game, okay? You gain experience points, you gain powers. Okay?"
"But in my case I have infinite powers to be unlocked?"
"Yes and no, even though they are infinite, when you're ready, they will be finite, to you. Because you will know each and every one of them."
"That's a bummer, so can I be like Superman?"
"You're irritating me right now! In chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gitā, Krishna shows his true form to Arjun, he was much cooler than you, by the way, why do you think he did that?"
"To be cool? I don't know!"
"How can you be me! You're so stupid!"
"Without intelligence, anyone is stupid. And my intelligence depends on the powers which I have to unlock."
"Well, he showed him to instill a level of respect and to show that God exists, similarly, your job is not only to defeat Evil, but to once again sow the seeds of hope among humans, so that they can start believing in God again, believe in the victory of Good over Evil, and yes , I could do that too, but it would be fake, they would loose all intellect and all will. They would be like a laptop being operated by me. Despite what anyone says, I do have a heart. And I do live my children."
"Then when I will kill some of your, I mean...'our' children won't that be wrong?"
"śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
kālo ’smi loka-kṣhaya-kṛit pravṛiddho
lokān samāhartum iha pravṛittaḥ
ṛite ’pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣhyanti sarve
ye ’vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣhu yodhāḥ
tasmāt tvam uttiṣhṭha yaśho labhasva
jitvā śhatrūn bhuṅkṣhva rājyaṁ samṛiddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sāchin
droṇaṁ cha bhīṣhmaṁ cha jayadrathaṁ cha
karṇaṁ tathānyān api yodha-vīrān
mayā hatāṁs tvaṁ jahi mā vyathiṣhṭhā
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān." (Bhagavad Gita 11.32,33,34)
"Meaning,
The Supreme Lord said: I am the mighty Time, the source of destruction that comes forth to annihilate the worlds. Even without your participation, the warriors arrayed in the opposing army shall cease to exist.
Therefore, arise and attain honor! Conquer your foes and enjoy prosperous rulership. These warriors stand already slain by me, and you will only be an instrument of my work, O expert archer.
Dronacharya, Bheeshma, Jayadratha, Karn, and other brave warriors have already been killed by me. So slay them without being disturbed. Just fight and you will be victorious over your enemies in battle."
"So there's hope for you after all!"
"Yes, I get it. Thank you Lord Shiva. You are indeed wise."
"And also, be quick with your training, I have a feeling you will meet your first enemy soon!"
"Thank you Lord!"
Intelligence increased to Level 499.
"Oh and yes! Now you can check your progress, just like a videogame!"
"But how?"
"Ciao!"
"Waiiiiiii......"
And he was back on the grass again.
....iiiiiit."
He was a bit disappointed, he still had another question.
'How does he bear the cold?'
'I don't know, practice I guess?'
'I can still hear you?'
'Yes.'
'But, I'm not speaking.'
'Yes, we can do this without actually speaking.'
'Then, why the teleportation?'
'My World, My rules! Bye now. Paro is calling!'
'Bye milord!'
YOU ARE READING
THE DIVINE ASTRAS
Historical FictionRudra Vishant Tyagi is a normal guy, he works hard in his office during the day, works out, eats and takes care of his younger brother Kartik. At night, he fights for money, he is an ardent Kalaripayattu enthusiast and uses this ancient form of mart...
