Princess Of Vidharbha(Winner Mythomagical Awards Contest 2)

Chapter 1

Bhishmaka was waiting anxiously in the royal hall. His wife was giving birth. He hoped the child brings good fortune for Vidharbha. The kingdom was going through a rough patch because of back-to-back wars. Vidarbha was the vassal kingdom of Magadha which was ruled Jarasandh. Jarasandh had married his daughters to the king of Mathura Kamsa. Just like Kamsa attacked innocents to serve his selfish needs, Jarasandh also utilized the resources of his vassal kingdoms for expanding the might of Magadha. Nobody could refuse him as any refusal would invite his wrath and no king was in a position to fight him.

Bhishmaka didn't like unwanted wars. He was among those kings who secretly wished for the prophecy regarding Kamsa's death to come true. He was aware that Devaki's eighth born had mysteriously disappeared and Kamsa was trying to locate him. He hoped once Kamsa dies the power of Jarasandh will reduce and kingdoms like Vidharbha can come out of the misery that was imposed upon them.

King's chain of thoughts was broken by the arrival of the maid who announced that queen had delivered a baby girl and mother and baby are doing fine. Bhishmaka immediately gave a gold chain to the maid for delivering the good news and then he asked one sepoy to call the royal astrologer to meet him in Lakshminarayan temple.

As he walked towards the temple his mind was overflowing with joy. After five sons he was blessed with a daughter. He felt finally Lakshminarayan has accepted his prayers and have sent his consort to his land to bring prosperity there. When he reached the temple, the royal astrologer was already waiting for him there.

The astrologer bowed to the king and the king mentioned the birth details of the child to him. The astrologer sat and did the calculations as the king waited anxiously. Then he looked up smiling and king felt relieved.

"His royal highness your daughter is born in a very auspicious time. With her birth Vidharbha will see prosperity. She will bring name and fame to this land. Infact the kingdom of Vidharbha and your name will be known not because of your five sons but because of your only daughter who is going to leave her mark in this world.

His royal highness the chart of your daughter shows she won't be a woman who will go with the flow but she will make the flow of the river change its course with her love and determination. Oh, King announce the birth of this auspicious girl to the kingdom of Vidharbha and let the celebrations begin in this land.

The prayers of people of Vidharbha have been heard by Shri Hari and he has sent you this daughter to save this kingdom from the clutches of evil people so that good governance can happen."

Bhishmaka thanked the astrologer and gave him also a gold chain and walked back to the palace. Once he reached the palace, he asked his Chief Minister to make announcement to public that they assemble in the great hall of Vidharbha. King had something very important to tell them. Chief Minister bowed to the king and as he moved away king asked another sepoy to call the five princes so that they can meet their new born sister.

In Gokul six-year-old Krishna stopped playing the flute and smiled at his brother. Balram knew his brother's smile had deep meaning even at that young age.

"What has happened Kanha. Your smile shows something important has happened. Am I privy to it? Or is it another puzzle that will be hidden in your smile and you will say. Wait brother. Time will reveal everything."

Krishna got up and went near his brother who was eating food. "Brother you very well know the purpose of my incarnation this time is not just to establish dharma but to teach people what love is. To show this world every aspect of love. To make people understand the difference between lust and love. To make people realize selfless love is Bhakti in pure form. Next yuga is Kaliyuga where people will be ignorant of the truth and will believe worshipping me will satisfy all their needs. But if they read my journey, they will understand people can worship me, but then I will worship the one who loves me truly and selflessly. Infact another name of mine will be Prempujari. They will also understand selfless love paves the way for establishment of dharma. So today a step has been taken forward in this direction in the kingdom of Vidharbha."

"Kingdom of Vidharbha. What are you talking Kanha? Isn't Radha enough to show this world what love means. Now who else is required for that," exclaimed Balram.

"Brother Radha is Jeevatma. There is no Krishna without her. But then to show the world love is the way of establishment of dharma I need people in the path of my Karma. Radha is not connected to me by Karma brother and her love is unique which no other Jeevatma can replicate. But the path that is going to be opened by the Princess of Vidharbha will inspire many women in future to stand up for their choice. A woman's choice," mentioned Krishna as he started to play the flute again and Balram looked puzzled at his brother. He didn't understand one word of what Krishna told and murmured to himself that his brother loved riddles and went back to finish his food.

Meanwhile in Vidharbha the crowd erupted in happiness as the king announced the kingdom has been blessed with Mahalakshmi and he has become the father of a daughter whom he has named Rukmini. The drums started beating and sweets were getting distributed to the crowd and as Bhishmaka observed the joyous crowd he prayed to Lakshminarayan that let what the astrologer had told about the princess become true and let she become the medium for Vidharbha becoming an independent kingdom.