CHAPTER 41: Advent of Super Hero

“I would have left it to your discretion, O Sage!  As I said, more than the boon I just wanted to be in your presence! 

O Maharishi, I have made a beginning in trying to lead a life of rectitude.  This has been my mother’s wish and I want to fulfill it.  I shall be forever indebted to you if you can share your profound knowledge with me!” 

Pleased at his modesty, the sage spent the next hour giving him moral discourses on life to which the Prince listened captivated. 

In one of his sermons, the sage told him, “Do not ever be under the illusion that you own anything!  The Almighty is the rightful owner of everything in this world. 

We should be grateful to him for allowing us to hold his possessions for some time while we are alive. 

Even the body does not belong to us for when we die we leave that behind!” 

Mrutyunjay felt enlightened to hear the preaching of the great tapasvi.  He touched the feet of the sage who blessed him. 

“My child!  You are actually a deva in the form of an asura!   So what if I do not have that boon to offer you? 

God has been kind enough to share some of his possessions with me that I would like to enrich you with!  Pleased with my penance, Lord Brahma gave me a divine bow, which can appear in my hands at the chant of a mantra.  With this bow, I can fire a never-ending stream of arrows, which includes any divine astra. 

These arrows are so strong that once they hit the target, nobody can move their position until you desire so!  Moreover, you can also invoke an arrow albeit only once, which can cause harm to its target in the way you want!   The Lord also offered me an invincible armor. 

All these divine possessions can appear only when you want them to. 

I have never used them in my life, O Mrutyunjay!  I do not want these offerings of the Lord to go a waste and thus I want a worthy person to use them.  Who better than you can I choose, O Prince?  I know that you will always use them for the benefit of others.”

As Mrutyunjay stood speechless, the sage continued, “Take all this as a reward for your humility.   Now, I would like to provide you something more for coming here with the only pure thought of seeing me without holding any covetous desire to acquire anything. 

This is even more commendable considering the fact that my promulgation of offering a boon would have normally kindled a sense of personal gain in the hearts of aspiring visitors.  That you did not allow this to happen only shows the complete control you have managed to exercise over your thoughts and desires by your resolve. 

Right from childhood, Bheema’s son Ghatotkacha has fascinated you.  His magical prowess, his immeasurable strength and above all his nobility has always caught your imagination. 

While you already hold his noble character, through the fruits of my long penance I grant you his strength and illusionary powers!  It would have been against dharma to grant these powers to any other Dhanava under the fear of it being grossly misused. 

But you are like a shining star amidst dark and ominous clouds in the sky.  I am sure that making you so powerful would only result in you utilizing them for noble causes.  I feel proud and satisfied to have handed over all my powers and knowledge, which God has granted me, to a gem of a person like you! 

May you lead a long and eventful life!”  The sage blessed him.

Mrutyunjay prostrated before the sage overwhelmed with gratitude.