THE SEEDS OF UPHEAVAL
-2. The Fatal Fall

One day, Sage Anantu sent Paramjeet and some of his companions to the jungle for collecting wood.  As the children moved along, suddenly one among them spoke aloud, “Look up there!”  The others looked at where the boy was pointing to.  There was a tall tree ahead which had mangoes in abundance!    “Wow!” exclaimed a child.  “My mouth is already watering!” 

During hot seasons, Sage Anantu made his students eat this fruit not only because it was delicious but also because it was very nutritious.        

Paramjeet had an idea, “I am ready to climb that tree and pluck some mangoes for all of us.  While I climb the tree, all of you can move ahead, collect the wood and then come back here to have a hearty meal!  We can relish this fruit much more here than at the ashram where we get only a few slices!” 

The other children agreed and went ahead as Paramjeet quickly began to climb the tree.   It was then that tragedy struck!  In his eagerness to reach the mangoes which were at the top quickly, he displayed slackness for a moment that resulted in one of his legs slipping off from the main stem of the tree which he was climbing.  This made him loose his balance and he fell off from a reasonable height to the ground!  As he fell, he cried aloud, “Help!”

The other children, who had not gone very far, heard his cry.  Realising that Paramjeet was in trouble, they hurried back and, to their horror, found the Prince lying on the ground on his back with his eyes closed.  The children found that Paramjeet was still breathing and took a huge sign of relief!  They tried to wake him up but to no avail.  They discovered that the Prince was not bleeding and had only some bruises on his back.  Realising that something was grossly amiss, they quickly lifted him and came back to the ashram. 

Sage Anantu and all the others in the ashram were shocked to see the unconscious Prince.  The boys told him all that had happened, which upset the sage.  He had asked his pupils to fetch wood and they had diverted their mind into eating mangoes!  Realising that this was not the appropriate time to think in this aspect, the sage immediately called for his physician, who after examining the Prince spoke with a grim face, “From the outside, he appears quite normal, O Sage!  It is his good fate that he did not break his hands and legs after falling from that tree.  However, there appears to be some internal injury at the back of his head due to the fall which is why he is not gaining consciousness.  Unfortunately, I do not have any specific treatment for this at my disposal and therefore would not like to experiment.  It is best if we take him back to the palace and let the palace physician, Sukumaran, treat him.  He is an adept physician who may succeed in rehabilitating the Prince.”    

Not wasting another minute, Sage Anantu himself carried the Prince and rushed out of the ashram alongwith some of his disciples.  After they had crossed the jungle, a chariot was arranged which then swiftly moved to the palace. Paramjeet was made to lie down in the chariot and the Sage made the child’s head rest on his lap.  All the while, he prayed to the Lord that the young Prince should regain his consciousness.  As the chariot passed by the streets of Kameshti, people were amazed at what they saw!  Why was that boy lying down like that, they wondered?  While some recognised the sage, none could figure out the Prince for they could not get to see his face properly and also because five years had gone by since they last saw him.  Also, Paramjeet was not in his princely robes but was now dressed like an ascetic.

After reaching the palace gates, Sage Anantu asked the guards to immediately inform the King about his arrival alongwith the Prince.  One of the two guards hurried inside the palace and soon King Dhuranjaya came to receive the sage accompanied by Dhurjaya.  Both of them were shocked to see the sage holding the Prince in his hands!  “What happened?” the King asked aloud. 

“He is unconscious, O King!  I shall tell you everything.  But first the Prince has to be made to lie down on the bed!”  the sage replied calmly. 

An alarmed Dhuranjaya, followed by his brother, led the sage and his disciples to the inner chambers of his abode, took his son from the sage and made him rest on the bed.  Even as the sage narrated all that had happened, Queen Dayanti came running down to the chamber.  She had heard from her maids that her son had arrived in an unconscious state and was now in the King’s chambers. 

After Anantu had finished apprising them of the events which led to this tragedy, the King closed his eyes tightly unable to bear the misfortune that had befallen him.  The Queen started wailing.  Dhurjaya, who himself was beset with grief, kept his hand on his brother’s shoulder, who hugged him.  Hot tears followed from the King’s eyes.  The King, then, saw the condition of his Queen and, at once, suppressed his emotions in his heart.  He called for Sukumaran and then went up to Dayanti.  He embraced her and asked her to have trust in God.  Sage Anantu and his disciples were watching all this with glum eyes. 

Soon, Sukumaran arrived and Anantu yet again told him what had happened.  The physician took a long time in carefully examining the Prince.  He, then, looked at Anantu, “Your physician is right in pointing out that the Prince has an internal injury on the back of his head that is the reason for his condition now.”  He then looked at the King that gave an indication that he wanted to speak in privacy.   Realising this, Dayanti demanded that the physician should speak in front of her so that she does not stay in the dark about the condition of her child.  Sukumaran agreed and explained.