✓ Narottam Arjun: Soul of the Sage

o n e - b i r t h

Kunti walked through the grass, a small smile adorning her lips, slight pink hue brushed on her cheeks. She had served Rishi Durvasa, and being content with her services, he had given her a boon. A boon which would give her a son, not any ordinary child but with the qualities of any Devta, a demigod.

She skipped her steps, humming a tune, happily twirling around. Her laughs echoed, her hair fell on her shoulders every now and then. 

At the moemnt, a huge sound of lightening was heard, which frightened Kunti, she gasped keeping her hands on her chest. Her breaths went uneven for minute.

The Princess of KuntiBhoj looked up are the dark sky, "Surprising, it was a clear sky and now it looks like it would rain any moment," she whispered to herself, "It seems like Indra Dev is mood." she joked to herself and continued walking.

Her steps stopped in the tracks, an idea popped in her mind- 
What would it be like to see the King of Devtas in person?
Would he appear with Airavata?

She just had to chant a mantra and all her questions would be answered. How fun it would be-?

Kunti, unaware of the consequences she would have to face, used the mantra given by Rishi Durvasa to summon the Devraj Indra.

The strong winds blew faster. And a white elephant rested in Kunti's vision.
Royally seated on the elephant, Devraj Indra smiled, "As per the blessings of Rishi Durvasa, I grant you a son. In valour, he will be the equal of Vishnu and Jamadagni's son Rama. He will be the greatest among those endowed with valour and he will be invincible. He will acquire all kinds of divine weapons. He will be a bull among men."
Indra Dev raised his hand and Kunti now held a son.

"He will gratify in battles like the Shankara, the gods of god's, Mahadev.
He will acquire all kinds of celestial weapons.
He will be known to the world as Arjun,"
A celestial voice spoke, AakshVani. Kunti had heard of them, one of the AakashVani was the reason why her brother was rotting in prison.

The AakshVani said her son would be best, but how? When she herself was in doubt, how would she raise a child to be best?

The maharishis, Devarshis, and other gods simultaneously raised a clamour all-over, with drumrolls and flowers being showered from everywhere.
Then all the classes of gods, Nagas, Garuda, Gandharvas, Apsaras, saptarishis, and other great Maharishis, manasputras of brahma, prajapati, came to pay respect to Arjun.

Then all the Gandharvas and Apsaras started dancing and singing praising of Arjun. The Adityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, the Ashvin kumaras, the Maruts, the Vishvedevas, the Saddhyas, the great serpents, the mighty Birds (offsprings of Vinata) were all there in the glories of Arjun.

"But," Kunti fumbled her words. Barely able to hold the child, she cried, "How can I be a mother? An unwed mother?"

Indradev looked confused, "O Princess of Kuntibhoj, you have called me for a child."

Kunti weeper loudly realising what she done, her one curious deed had lead this. "Devraj,I cannot take him, please take him back." Kunti cried, begging him to take Arjun away.

"I cannot. But I will however give him a boon, whenever, wherever and against whomever,  Arjun will require my assistance, I will be there for him."

Indradev vanished in thin air, leaving Kunti and her son, Arjun.

══✽✦✽══╡✽✦✽╞══✽✦✽══

Arjun's birth is taken from various texts.