An Oath That Changed History

A Son's Love

The crown prince came to meet his father. He found the King lost in his thoughts. His eyes and body language could not hide the fact from Devavrata that his father had spent a sleepless night.
With complete devotion, Devavrata offered salutation to his father. His tender touch brought a daydreaming Shantanu back to the reality. Shantanu blessed his son, but Devavrata noticed that his father had to use a lot of effort to give him a half-smile, and there was a hint of anguish in his eyes.
"Pita," he was hesitating. Should he ask directly or not? What if father did not want to share his thoughts with him? If that was the case, then should he not respect his father's decision?
On the other hand, Shantanu was feeling sorry for his son. After bearing with immense pain for sixteen years he received this gem...so intelligent, so obedient, and well-versed in all fields of knowledge! Shantanu knew very well that the Kuru throne deserved such a gem to enhance its glory! But what was he doing? Why was he still pampering those feelings which would deprive that throne from this gem? Looking at the son's face, gradually his guilt turned into affection. He was realizing how deeply Devavrata was hurt by his strange silence. Whatever his problem was, Shantanu did not want to misbehave with his dear Prince. Pouring anger and irritation on an innocent would not make him feel better, the King knew this.
He tried to become normal, "Devavrata, sit down, son! Did you not go to practice today?"
The Prince sat down near his father's feet. "It's too early to go there, Pita! I generally start my practice from the next prahar," he gently replied. He could sense that absent-mindfulness had made his father even forgot to count prahars.
"Oh, yes!" Shantanu was searching for words to keep the conversation alive, but his effort went in vain.
And Devavrata was trying his best to swallow his hesitation. He simply could no more see his father in such condition! Whatever the reason it might be, he had to know it only for his father's good! If disease itself was unknown then how would it be cured? Apart from that, his father had started ignoring his royal responsibilities. How would the kingdom survive if King did not take care of it? No, Devavrata could never allow any harm to his father as well as his kingdom! He had to do something!
"Pita, may I know what has snatched sleep from your eyes?" Devavrata respectfully asked, "Since that day of your hunting at riverbank of Yamuna you have almost ceased talking to everybody. What has happened, Pita? Are you facing any serious trouble?"
Shantanu could not resist a subtle sigh. Alas, how would he tell his son exactly what had happened to him? Was it possible for a father to express such feelings to own kid? A helpless Shantanu remained silent.
Devavrata had to continue, "If it is anything related to the kingdom, then as your Yuvaraj I deserve to hear it. Please tell me, Pita, is any enemy kingdom going to attack on Hastinapur? Or, are the citizens suffering any sudden difficulty, physically or financially? I will try my best to solve the problem if you order me just once!"
"You need not take so much stress, son, It is nothing related to kingdom or citizens," Shantanu could not speak more.
"Then is it any personal problem? Then too I deserve to hear it as your son! Lord Manu has said that an adult son is the best friend of father! What kind of friend am I if you can't open your heart near me?" Devavrata kept his forehead on father's feet, "Pita, I can't see you so gloomy day after day! I would rather prefer my death than seeing you in pain! Please tell me Pita, why are you so worried?"
Shantanu was moved by his son's intense devotion and concern. He placed his right palm on his son's head and tenderly shuffled his hair. His lips were shivered for once as he wanted to speak his heart out. But at the next moment he controlled himself. "You can't cure my pain, son!" said the father with a sad smile that hurt Devavrata like a dart.
"But I can share it to give you some relief, can I not?" he lifted his eager eyes to his father's face. There was so deep love and worry in those eyes that Shantanu found himself in a dilemma. Suppressing was definitely hurting the young Prince but revealing would not soothe him either. What should Shantanu do now?
Thinking for a while, the King spoke, "Devavrata, my worry is centered at you, son!"
"Me?" Devavrata did not get his father.
"Son, you are my only child! There is no doubt that your knowledge, talent, character and intelligence have made you alone even greater than one hundred sons! But what will happen if tomorrow something happens to you in some battle? You are the only candle of my life, son! What will I do if I have to lose you too? What will happen in Hastinapur's fate if it has to lose its only heir?"
Shantanu gave a pause, and tried to read Devavrata's mind from his face. He found that the Prince was listening to him very patiently. Shantanu continued, "Now I can understand why they say having a single child is equivalent to being childless! Whenever you go to a battle field I become overwhelmed with anxiety! Had there been at least another son I would have never felt like this! At least there would have been an assurance that Hastinapur would not lose its heir!"
Devavrata could not understand what to say. He thought that it would be better to remain silent.
Looking at the son's thoughtful eyes Shantanu said, "No, no, son, I did not mean that I want to marry again! After getting a son like you, which father of this world will want to get a second wife? Still," he sighed, "I can't even dare to think what will happen to my kingdom in your absence!" the King took shelter in his paternal image to cover his actual intention.
Devavrata was lost in his thoughts. How easily he was expecting to remove all pains from his father's heart but after listening to father's words he was unable to understand exactly what he should do for his father. He could not speak anything.
Shantanu tenderly said, "Son, I think you should go for practice now. Senapati must be waiting for you." the King preferred to get solitude.
Devavrata bowed down to the King and left his room. But he did not go to meet the Senapati. His father did not give him a clear answer to his question. Dying in a battle was greatest glory for any kshatriya, and all members of kshatriya families used to keep themselves mentally prepared for that. Then why was the Kuru King, the great warrior, worried so much regarding his son's life? Was it not unusual?
"There must be something more than this which he doesn't want to tell me," he thought.
He met the King's charioteer and asked him. Seeing the charioteer hesitating, he said, "I can't respect this loyalty of yours which is causing harm to King as well as the kingdom! If you really want your King's good, if you are a real patriotic, then you must tell me!"
There was something special in the Crown Prince's grave voice that could not be ignored. Though he did not force the charioteer but his unique logic did not let that man shut his lips anymore.