Vardaan 1...The Ultimate Boon

Chapter 3: The Real Mahapundit (Part 2)

Krishna Chandra never used to see anyone but he got emotional as momentarily as he heard the salutation from Keshava Kumara's mouth. He did not want to lose his diligent shishya. But he was compelled by the hands of destiny.

There was no conversation between the aacharya and the shishya other than the salutation, but a few tears in the eyes of both of them said a lot.

To not increase the difficulties of his helpless aacharya, Keshava went away. Agitated by the sudden escape of the prince, the guards ran after him.

For a few moments, the shocked King Ballabha Kumara was left alone without military protection.

After going a short distance, when the prince started crying bitterly, only then the king came to know what had happened.

Many people used to sit in the pandal. Many others were used to standing in the street outside the pandal. An Achhoot (untouchable people because of their low caste) girl named Kumari Rukmini was also part of this mob standing outside the house.

Kumari Rukmini was coming daily. Like everyone else, her goal was also to see Krishna Chandra. But there was a difference in her thinking and vision.

For everybody, Krishna Chandra was a great man, but he was just a man for Kumari Rukmini.

The same man whom she loved secretly. Her love always remained buried in her mind because that Achhoot girl knew her limitations very well. Due to her Neech caste (low caste), her infinite love flourished for young Brahmin Kumar (Brahmin boy) always remained within the surface.

When the news of Krishna Chandra's prophecy reached the Achhoots, Kumari Rukmini realized that she would never see her beloved again. She was aware that there would be some special reason behind Krishna Chandra not appearing on the streets for many days, but the reality was beyond her imagination.

Kumari Rukmini cried a lot, grieved, and sobbed a lot, being helpless. Then she left the house with the desire to have the last glimpse of the beloved.

Kumari Rukmini used to come every day but could not see Krishna Chandra because he always remained in the worship room. After a few days, the pandal was set up in the backyard and many people also started coming, then Krishna Chandra came to the pandal. After seeing him in the Pandal her desire was fulfilled, yet something was lacking.

Krishna Chandra was sitting in the pandal every day and Kumari Rukmini saw him every day, yet she was not satisfied.

Something was missing.

She wanted to look into the eyes of Krishna Chandra for one last time. Krishna Chandra used to come to Pandal but his eyes were always on the ground. Kumari Rukmini's small wish was not fulfilled for so long.

The day when the prince came to Krishna Chandra's house turned into the luckiest day of Kumari Rukmini's life.

Krishna Chandra could not free himself from Keshava's attachment. He raised his head to see a shishya like his cousin. The moment he looked up Kumari Rukmini saw his eyes.

Thus the penance of the Achhoot girl, who was struck by love, was completed.

There were tears in the eyes of Krishna Chandra. There were tears in the eyes of Kumari Rukmini too. Both of their tears came due to love. His tears were pure. Her tears were beyond purity.

Yes, the feeling of that Achhoot girl was beyond love.

Kumari Rukmini picked up the soil from below, put it on her head, and went away sobbing. The crowd found her behavior full of devotion.

It was a devotional feeling, not for a great man but for a lover.

The days passed and as the sins of the people were reduced by the sight of the great man, the crowd became less and less. Loved ones and acquaintances also trained their minds and started considering Krishna Chandra as a memory. When the crowd had reduced to a minimum, Pundit Balakrishna began to bring his ten-year-old grandson, Savamanika, with him for his education.

Grandfather would tell the story and grandson would try to remember it. During the lunch break; when Pundit Balakrishna fell asleep, Savamanika sat down to memorize the mantras. Whenever the clever Savamanika sensed that Grandfather was in a deep sleep, he would secretly go out to play with the neighborhood children and return before Grandfather could wake up.

One such day, while gossiping at the end of the game, Savamanika was introduced to Krishna Chandra through other children. Savamanika could not believe it at all after hearing such good things about a young man who looked like a lifeless idol.

While returning home in the evening, the curious boy wanted to know the truth from Grandfather.

Grandfather praised Krishna Chandra many times more than the children.

From the very next day, instead of stories and mantras, the attention of Savamanika shifted to Krishna Chandra. From the third day onwards he started doing strange things. He deliberately started reading the mantras wrong. For two days, Krishna Chandra did not even know. On the third day, he came to know and habitually interrupted Savamanika.

After that, Krishna Chandra chanted the mantra correctly. Savamanika was very happy to hear the voice of the former young aacharya for the first time.

"Aacharya, will you also explain this mantra to me?" Savamanika asked innocently.

After many days, Krishna Chandra was very happy to hear aacharya address himself instead of the great man, but till now the emotionless aacharya did not even realize this happiness.

"Let me tell you the truth...I can't remember without understanding." Seeing Krishna Chandra silent, Savamanika spoke again.

"Anuj (younger brother), now I am no longer an aacharya, I am just an unlucky person waiting for death in youth." Krishna Chandra replied sadly.

Savamanika sensed that aacharya hidden inside Krishna Chandra wanted to explain the mantra, so he was pleased.

"Then it is even easier for you to do it because you have nothing to do except wait. Aacharya! I request you, just to pass the time, please explain it to me. In return for my help, you will also get additional virtue." Savamanika requested with appropriate words.

By using specific words, Savamanika turned the former aacharya's grief into a dilemma and suggested a way out. The little but smart boy knew that his plan would not be successful if Krishna Chandra's attention remained on his sorrows.

Krishna Chandra got the point of Savamanika. Since he had nothing else to do, there was no harm in helping the child in such a situation. After all, he was indulging in a kind of religious activity, so he will definitely get additional virtue, which may help him to know his path.

Krishna Chandra thought for a while and was ready to help the little boy.

Krishna Chandra began to explain. By nature, he started enjoying doing it. After two lines he made the explanation more and more beautiful as well as interesting.

The mouth of the Savamanika was left wide open.

Savamanika already knew the interpretation of this mantra. More than knowing, he used to explain this mantra very well. The interpretation of that mantra can also be such that he had no idea far and wide.

Savamanika thought that if Krishna Chandra had been his aacharya, his knowledge would have quadrupled so far. He realized that the people did not know anything about aacharya Krishna Chandra. Those who know are only a strand; he had just seen a glimpse of the ocean.