🔶🔹Ŧħōʂɛ Ðāÿʂ ļŋ Ęxîɭɛ🔹🔶

~*~Attainment of Celestial Weapons (Part 1)~*~

Arjun's POV:

The night at the woods of Kamyaka passed very fast. Krishnaa[1] was not ready to let me leave her even for a moment. Next morning, I rose earlier than ever. For the first time since the exile started, I had got a purpose in my life. The excitement of visiting my Father's city, Amravati, had rejuvenated my soul.

On reaching the river banks, I found jyeshth, having bathed and recited his prayers, was deeply engrossed in meditation. His golden hued body clad in monks' attire, matted curls, garlands of rudraksh around his neck, arms, and wrist and, the serenity of his face, resembled the Mahayogi Lord Shankar. I quickly took my ablutions and offered prayers to all the Gods and Goddesses. Then I went to my jyeshth to take his blessings, who was not only my elder brother but also my Guru.

Feeling my presence, he opened his eyes and came out of his trance, He took me in his embrace. I could feel his raising heartbeat. At that moment, the man embracing me was neither Chakravarthi Samrat of Indraprastha nor Dharmaraj Yudhishthira. He was just a possessive elder brother who was scared, thinking about the safety and well-being of his younger brother. No matter how old we grow, for him, we four would always be his little brothers. We stayed in the silent hug for a while. Then, he broke out of the embrace, he said confidently, "Anuj, before leaving go bade farewell to everyone, especially Panchali. Take blessings from all the brahmans and sages accompanying us. Their blessings will increase your prowess." I nodded and bowed down to touch his feet. He blessed me, "Vijayi Bhavah!!"

On returning to our hermitage, I bowed to each of our brahman guests and sages and took their blessings one by one. Then I went to my brothers. Their tearful gazes were piercing my heart like 1000 shafts. I bowed down to take blessings from majhle bhaiya, he gave me beary hug lifting me from the ground. Nakul and Sahadev also embraced me. Lastly, I went inside the hermitage to bade farewell to my Krishne. The weeping queen was replaced by a warrior queen. Like a Kshatrani lady, she did the aarti, and put the holy tilak on my forehead. While tying Raksha sutra (divine thread of protection) around my wrist, she said in strong tone, "I have prayed to the Almighty to shower all his blessings on you. May you achieve everything that mother Kunti desired during your birth and you desire in your heart." Giving one last look to her pretty face, I came out of the hermitage and took my Gandiva and tied the quiver on my back.

By then jyeshth had also returned. Bidding good byes to all my brothers, I left for my quest. Jyeshth insisted to come some way with me. We were around 6 yojanas away from our hermitage, when I realized. Turning to my jyeshth, I said, "Jyeshth, I think now you should return. It would take you around 2 prahars to reach hermitage." [2] 

Jyeshth silently nodded. Then, I proceeded on my path while jyeshth, standing there, kept on gazing my back. I turned back again and again and saw his diminishing figure slowly vanishing from my eyes.

In order to reach Amravati, I was supposed to journey to Indrakil Mountains, which were located to the extreme northern part of Himalayas. The first 1 prahar of my lone journey was the most tormenting part. Again, and again those weeping eyes of Krishnaa and my brothers were flashing through my vision. The thought of leaving them behind for such a long period was deviating my mind from its goal. At one point, I felt like going back to them emptyhanded. But next moment I realized after all jyeshth had sent me on this quest, and if it was unnecessary, he would never have sent me.

With a strong determination, I chanted the divine Pratismriti Mantra. To my utter surprise, my walking speed suddenly increased by multiple times than my original pace. Now I was walking as if I was riding the chariot of God of Wind. Despite walking at such speed, I neither felt fatigued nor any pain. Even the ferocious animals and monsters residing these forests did not dare to come across my path. This was the prowess of Pratismriti Mantra. In next 2 prahars I had reached the foothills of the fragranced mountain ranges called Gandhamadana.