Once Upon A Time - Short Story Collection

The Queen's Tale

A/N

The Glossary is highlighted here because it is required to understand the conversations and social customs of pre-vedic era.

Disclaimer

This story is a work of fiction. Any references to mythological events that many people believe to be historical, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The view's expressed here are of the characters' but not of the author.

Glossary

Amatyas — ministers in Royal Court, primarily Negotiators

Bharatakhanda – Indian subcontinent during Vedic era

Brahmacharya – an ascetic and based on context, a bachelor

Brata – brother

Chaturanga – presumed ancestor of chess.

Divya Astras – celestial weapons of mass destruction, summoned using special incantations.

Maharani – queen, empresses

Manusmriti – ancient doctrine describing about duties, rights, laws, conduct and virtues. Laws of Manu.

Mantrīṇi – plural noun. All Ministers in Royal Court, sometimes referred to the Royal Councillors

Napunsakha – a person recognised as the third gender. They enjoyed many important positions and were treated as equals in Vedic period.

Niyoga – a Manusmriti guideline for widows or married women with husbands incapable of producing heir. The family, on the behalf of the women, sought the help of the younger brother-in-law, preferably a bachelor, to produce children. In the absence of brothers-in-law, a man from the extended family was engaged, if not, then any man from the husband's Gotra(lineage). This practice was not for sexual gratification but to continue the bloodline and to pass the rest of the life under the son's care. Because it had social sanction, marriage was not required.

Pitamaha – paternal grandfather, Malyavan is Ravana's maternal grandfather, but only living patriarch, and he is addressed as such.

Punarvivaha - remarriage

Rajasabha – King's council or council hall

Sumantras – ministers in Royal Court, primarily accountants

Sahamarana – immolating oneself on the spouse's pyre.

Vanara- an ancient clan, vana-forest, nara-men, roughly meaning forest dwellers.

______________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                             1

She walked to the council hall in determined strides, even before the customary mourning period had ended. She felt that they had lost precious time grieving for the dead, forgetting the living. She'd been at court and had surveyed the kingdom time and again, to be aware of her people's plight. She neither was a delicate miss nor was wallowing in self-pity to have overlooked her duty.

"Summon the Mantrīṇi!" she commanded a footman on her way.

Footman? More of a 14-year-old footboy —untrained, young and the future of, whatever was left, of the kingdom. She didn't want to expose such impressionable children, but they couldn't find anyone else.