Siyanshi: My beloved

8

The laugh of Dwarkadheesh Shree Krishna rings in the pavilion of the shining Indraprastha after listening to the short love story of Arjuna and the goat who fled the kingdom with his family. "No wonder why I spotted a family of goats running away on my way here." Krishna says.

"But anyways where were you lost parth?" Krishna asks. "We have been asking the same question for the past few days, but he is refusing to answer Vasudev." Bheem says. "Parth! Won't you say your madhav?" Krishna says. "It's nothing like that madhav." Arjun says.

"Okay! If you don't want to say then don't say! But won't you tell us about your time during the exile? You must have learned and attained a lot of knowledge." Krishna says.

"Yes! Bhrata, do share your knowledge with us as well." Shahadev says. "So, during my first year....." Arjun goes on to tell about his 12 year journey.

"There is that smile again." Nakul points out as Arjun smiles at the mention of the last year of his exile. "The last and 12th year of my exile was something different. I didn't travel in aryavart but outside aryavart." Arjun says. "Outside aryavart? Where did you go anuj?" Yudhistir asks. "I visited the Videha kingdom, the kingdom of Devi Sita." Arjun says. "There I stayed in the ashram of Shriman Samudra and Shrimati Tirangini. There I was wholeheartedly served by them." Arjun says.

"I heard that they have a daughter as well. Who is noted to be extremely auspicious, whose birth solved the drought." Yudhistir says. "She is noted to be a beauty but none have seen her. Have you met her? Can you describe her looks?" Nakul asks.

"The kumari is nitya yuvani. She never ages, her beauty cannot be described in words. She is Kanaka varnaangi (having golden complexion), Neelakesi (black hair), Bimbosthi (lips with bright scarlet color like Tindora or bryonia), Sumadhya (beautiful waist), Padmapalaasakshi (having eyes like lotus petals), Neelakshi (having bright blue eyes). Manmadhasya rathim yathhaa (very beautiful like rati, the wife of Manmadha). She is varavarnini (whose body is cool in summer and warm in winter; having great soft skin and color), Mrudusarvagaathri (very soft of all limbs), Tarunaaditya sankaasa (as bright as just rising sun), Nava Hemaanbha (glowing with the light of newly fused gold). She can also be described as Sunaasa, Sukesi, Thapthakanchanchanavarnaabha, Rakthathunganakha (nails having red mounts), Suroopa (beautiful outfit),Samvaibhakthaangi (having all body in equal sizes, like eyes, eyebrows, hands etc.), Suchismitha (very pure smile)." Arjun sings the praises of Samudranandini's beauty.

"How was she in personality bhrata? She is said to be extremely learned as well." Shahadev says. "She is not only pleasing and beautiful to look at but by personality as well. She is a Chandrarupa (one with a face as beautiful as the moon) Chanchala. She is a Madhurbhaashini (sweet talker), manmohini (Enticer of mind and heart), Vilasini (charming woman), Sukumari (soft;meritorious). Her knowledge, understanding and perspective of seeing the world is really astonishing and impressive. Many of us intend to view the situation from only one angle, only our perspective but she analyzes the situation from various different angles. This quality of hers always makes her just and come to a fruitful decision. Her curiosity leads her to try and learn new things, making her extremely knowledgeable. Despite belonging from the line of Suryavanshi she has no pride or ego, she is humble and down to Earth. She respects everybody around her whether poor or rich, royal or commoner. She can differentiate between right and wrong, just and unjust. For her, her self respect is her ornament, she forgives but never forgets." Arjun praises her.

"But she is extremely stubborn at times. I have never met any person as stubborn as her." Arjun shakes his head. "You were just singing her high praises and now suddenly you complain about her? What did she do for you to suddenly switch sides?" Bheem asks.

"Sometimes, I feel like she is from a completely different world from ours. Though she is still a young teenager, her words and thoughts are of somebody extremely learned and experienced. She is a bold and daring woman who isn't afraid to question the norms of the society. She has the power to stand tall with head high even among 1000s of kshatriya men. Her each and every words are always filled with curiosity and questions. She is the person to find questions even in answers. She respects her elders but that doesn't mean that she is afraid to question or correct them. She doesn't blindly follow the rumors and norms, she is a brave soul. To prove things wrong she doesn't only speak against it but also demonstrates it personally to prove her point." Arjun says.

"For example, when I was looking for a place for meditation she led me to a cave in the back of her ashram which was said to be cursed and whoever goes there will suffer a tragic fate. As we were in the middle of the dark tunnel she revealed this to me and I asked her why are we going in if it's cursed and she questioned my bravery as I wasn't taking any steps forward. I cleared it to her that I was cowering away but if the elders say it then we shouldn't.

Then she told me that she has visited the cave on multiple occasions ever since she was 3. When I asked her why she didn't follow what her elders told she told me that it was to check whether the rumors were true or not. Then I asked what would you have done if the rumors were true and she replied she doesn't believe in such rumors as just because everybody told that it's cursed, but if they themselves cursed it or witnessed it she would have believed them. Then she gave me a whole lesson on why we shouldn't follow such rumors blindly. There she even used me as an example!" Arjun says making the pandavas even more interesting.

"There she said 'Now if an elderly woman says that Gandhivdhari missed his target does that mean that he does? Maybe when he was a child-' then I cut her off by saying that the gandhivdhari never did and then she started questioning why the gandhivdhari never missed his target and how do I know? She even refused to accept the gandhivdhari as the best archer but little did she know that I was the same Gandhivdhari whose skills she was questioning." Arjun says earning chuckles from his brother and madhav.

"She then challenged me that if Gandhivdhari brings the sundrop flower then only she will acknowledge him as the best archer, in this way she can check whether Gandhivdhari's skills and the sundrop flower both are true or just a folklore. She is more on the logical side than the emotional side, all her talks are logical but never emotional. We had a small debate on this as well where she again once more overpowered me. She is an intelligent woman who is both sympathetic and empathetic. She questioned me for marrying 4 women..." Arjun recites the whole conversation.

"After listening to her I suddenly felt guilty towards Uloopi and Chitrangadha. Though her words were against the norms and traditions the society follows, it really did make sense." Arjun says.