The Proclamation of Prince Veerbhadra
When the King introduced Veerbhadra as the Prince, he made a grand announcement before departing. "From this day forward," he declared, "all villagers shall receive a 30% discount on their taxes. Furthermore, every citizen is invited to partake in the royal feast, and new clothes shall be distributed to all."
Upon hearing this, the villagers erupted in cheers, hailing King Harshvardhan with joy. Whispers spread through the crowd. "How noble is our King," they murmured. "How deeply he cares for us." One woman remarked, "I must have performed great deeds in my previous life to live under the rule of such a benevolent monarch." A man added, "You haven't heard the half of it! The King has also opened a Gurukul and a hospital (Chikitsalaya) for us, entirely free of charge."
Nearby, the visiting kings from neighboring lands grew red with envy. They had come expecting to mock the Queen for being childless and the kingdom for lacking an heir, but witnessing this celebration made their blood boil with jealousy.
Minister Aryan leaned in and whispered, "Maharaj, do you see the 'happiness' on the faces of the neighboring kings?"
Harshvardhan replied calmly, "They smile outwardly, but inside, they are bleeding. My messengers warned me they came to make me a laughingstock, but today, the joke is on them."
The Royal Inquiry
King Bhanu Pratap of Hastinapur stepped forward. "Wait, Maharaj! Tell us—if the Queen could not conceive, where did this radiant child come from? He is so magnetic that I cannot take my eyes off him. Surely, you aren't going to claim he is a 'Prasad' (blessing) from Lord Vishnu?"
Harshvardhan smiled subtly. "How did you guess, King Bhanu Pratap?"
Then, King Maruti of Meerut interjected, "Does this child even possess royal blood? Will he truly be fit to lead the people and be a King in the future?"
King Harshvardhan's expression turned firm. "King Maruti, to be a King, one does not need 'royal blood.' To be a King, one must have kindness, compassion, and truth in their heart. One must walk the path of courage. If, in the future, he lacks these virtues, I will not hesitate to replace him with a common citizen who does." King Maruti fell silent.
Finally, King Chandranuman of Chandraghad spoke: "In that case, we wish to propose a marriage between our daughter, Princess Chandika, and Prince Veerbhadra."
"No one has seen the future," Harshvardhan replied. "What has happened and what is yet to come rests in the hands of the Almighty. For now, let us remain allies so that we may naturally become relatives when the time is right."
The Secret of the Divine Child
The King and Queen retired to their private chambers. Placing the child in a palanquin, the King asked, "Who are you truly, and why have you come to me?"
Veerbhadra spoke with wisdom beyond his years. "Father, I am indeed your son. In your previous life, you served Kaldant, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, with selfless devotion. I am the fruit of that service. You are a brave man, Father."
The Queen, Vasundhara, asked, "You mentioned being hungry for 200 years. What did you mean?"
Veerbhadra laughed softly. "Mother, I am a divine being. Two hundred years ago, I was found within the belly of a fish. During that time, I neither ate nor drank anything; instead, I awakened my seven chakras and mastered the power of the five elements. Humans are made of these elements and eventually dissolve back into them, but I am different. I was born from the pure blood of Lord Krishna that spilled when his right foot was struck by an arrow. I am here by the order of Lord Vishnu to protect faith and truth until the Kalki Avatar arrives. I must protect Dharma."
He continued, "Father, you must build a temple for Lord Vishnu in the center of the city and name it Vishwaveswar. And remember, Lord Shiva must also be enshrined there, for Vishnu and Shiva are one and the same."
Tears streamed down Vasundhara's face. "I wish I could have birthed you from my own womb."
Veerbhadra comforted her. "Your wish shall be granted. In the Kaliyuga, when I leave this body and am born again, I shall be born from your womb alone."
The Beggar's Cruel Request
The palace was filled with celebration. Queen Vasundhara, overwhelmed with joy, declared that everyone could eat and take as many clothes as they desired. Miraculously, no matter how much people took, the supplies never dwindled. She realized this was her son's divine grace.
Suddenly, an aghori (saint) appeared. "Alakh Niranjan! Give something to this poor old man. I have traveled from afar."
The King greeted him warmly. "What can I do for you, Holy Man?"
The Aghori smiled crookedly. "I have heard that no one leaves your gates empty-handed. But I require something you may not be willing to give."
"Ask, and it shall be yours," Harshvardhan promised. "Just bless my son."
The Aghori's eyes gleamed with a dark intent. "Very well. Give me your alms. I want the eyes of that child."
What happens next?
The tension is incredible! Would you like me to write the next scene where the King reacts to this horrifying demand, or would you like to provide the next plot point for me to polish?
Keep reading to know about : Vedhaa:The Protector of Dharma! -
To Be Continues....