HARIHARESHWARI 13 : DVOU PADOU VRISHABHAH

CHAPTER 29

After circumambulating three times across the universe, Kartikeya descended down in Kailash, where the sun was casting it's mellow luminescence. As his vahan landed on the ground, the earth beneath shook with reverence.

He mounted off the divine mayur, and with joined hands walked towards the direction where the rest were standing. He offered his respects, a smile adorned his face, as gentle winds caressed his hair.

"Dhanya ho Kartikeya dhanya ho !" Narad Muni said taking a step forward, "Aapke jaisa putra dhanya hai, jo Mata Pita ke aadesh pe sansaar ki 3 parikrama kar aaye." He said.

"Dhanyawad Munivar." Kartikeya said.

"Parantu Murugan," The devarshi raised his brow, "Aapka anuj Ganesh yeh pratiyogita mei vijay huye. Unhone apne Mata Pita ki 3 parikrama kar, iss sampurn sansaar ki parikrama kshan bhar mei kar li. Narayan-Narayan !" He said.

Kartikeya stared at Narad Muni, before looking at Ganesh. Amarsri and Srinav exchanged worried glances, not sure about his reaction. Mata Parvati gazed at Mahadev, concerned for the bonds of her son, but the Bholenath maintained a tranquil expression on his face.

The air was filled with anticipation, until Kartikeya's lips curled into a smile.

"Yahi toh mai chaahta tha. Ganesh tumne apne buddhimata ka pramaan sansaar ko punah diya hai. Grihasth aashram mei jaane ke liye tumhare andar sabhi gun hai." He said.

His calm reaction earned relieved sighs from the rest.

"Kartikeya, Ganesh ka vivah nishchit ho chuka hai." Amarsri said.

"Kya ? Satya ?" Kartikeya looked at her, with an excited smile.

"Ha. Prajapati Vishwaroop ke do sukanyao ke saath. Riddhi tatha Siddhi." Srinav informed.

"Yeh toh atyant prasannata ki baat hai." Kartikeya said.

"Yeh aapki mahanta hai Bhrata." Ganesh said joining his hands, "Aap parajit hokar bhi vijayi huye. Mai vijayi hokar bhi aapke samaksh natmastak hu." He said.

Seeing the undeterred love between the brothers, Mahadev stood up with a smile and went towards them. He kept his hand over their shoulders and looked at them affectionately.

"Putro, pratiyogita ki hod ka vinod jo humne tum dono ke saath kiya, usme vijay parajaye ka koi arth nahi hai." Shiv Shambhu said.

"Satyavachan." Mata Parvati smiled, "Humare drishti mei tum dono vijayi ho."

"Kintu, mai agraj se pehle vivah kaise kar sakta hu ?" Ganesh asked.

Kartikeya smiled at his younger brother assuringly, "Mere vivah ka samaye abhi nahi aya hai, anuj. Usme kuch samaye aur hai. Ab tum meri nahi apne vivah ki chinta karo." He said knowingly.

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Devraj Indra was walking around the Manasa mountains, lost in deep contemplation regarding matters of terror caused by an Asur Surapadma and his army.

Suddenly he heard terrible lamentations, a frown appeared on his face for it belonged to woman.

"Koi meri sahayata karo !"

Indra hurried towards the direction from where the cries for help came. There he saw a young maiden, whose face was etched with fear. She was trembling out of fright, seeing her like so, the king of gods was overcome by pity.

"Shaant ho jaao, balikey." Indra said cautiously walking towards her, trying not to scare her further. "Ab koi tumhe haani nahi pahuchayega." He said.

And just then, a loud uproar fell on their ears. Indra raised his eyes only to see an asur striding towards them. The foul being wore a crown on his head and carried a club in his hand. He looked like a mountain rich with minerals.

"Kaun ho tum ?" Indra asked.

"Keshi !" The asur said.

The king of gods realised that he was the reason for the girl's distress. Hence grasping the young maiden by her hand, Indra summoned his vajra and pointed it at Keshi.

"Iss kanya ke prati anaryo ke bhaati vyavhaar kyu kar rahe ho !? Mai Vajradhaari Indra hu. Tum iss kanya ke prati koi hinsa nahi karoge." He said firmly.

"O Shakra ! Woh kanya mujhe chahiye, use jaane do. Yadi praan priya hai toh apni nagri laut jaao." Keshi warned.

"Nahi jaayunga toh ?" Indra asked raising a brow.

Keshi huffed at that, and then flung his club at Purandhar's direction. But just as it was about to fall over him, the king of god sliced the club into two pieces by his vajra. The young maiden flinched.

The asur got even more enraged, he then flung a peak of mountain at Indra, but the king of gods splintered it with his Vajra. As the mountain peak fell down into pieces, some of it fell over Keshi. Having thus been hurt like so, the asur ran away in the other direction for the sake of his life.

Indra shook his head, and then gazed upon the young maiden, who looked somewhat relieved.

"Kanya, tum kaun ho ? Kiski ho ? Aur yaha kya kar rahi ho ?" He asked in a calm and soothing voice.

"Mai Prajapati Arishtanemi ki putri Devsena hu." She said.

"Arishtanemi." Indra recognised his old friend.

"Pita ke aagya se, mai aur meri behen Daityasena, sakhiyo ke saath yaha Mansa parvat par krida karne aate the. Lekin uss Keshi namak asur ki drishti hum par pad gayi. Usne meri behen ka apharan kiya, aur Daityasena ne swaiccha se use apna pati swikar liya. Kintu Keshi ko usse santushti nahi mili, woh mujhe bhi pana chaahta hai kintu mujhe woh swikarya nahi. Devraj, mujhe aapke samaan veer aur parakrami pati chahiye, koi asur nahi." Devsena said.

"Tum mere Mata Dakshayani Aditi ki behen ki putri ho. Arishtanemi mere mitra hai. Tumhe ab kisi asur se bhayebhit hone ki awashyakta nahi hai. Tum mere saath Amaravati chalo, waha meri putri ke roop mei vicharan karna. Uchit samaye par mai tumhare liye ek yogya var dhundh dunga." Indra said with a smile while caressing her head.

Devsena joined her hands in reverence and bowed her head gratefully to the benevolent king of gods.

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A/N

Waise yeh Kartikeya bhagwaan ki itni alag alag stories hai.... So to carve a story that shall fit the plot.... Maine thoda Mahabharat se liya, thoda skand Puran se liya, kuch Murugan swami panth ke Santo se liya.... Basically har jagah se liya hai, kisi ek source se nahi.