CHAPTER 37: Battle Within

Rajaveera filled in the sage with his dream of winning Devaloka with the help of his son whom he expected to be an impregnable warrior. 

Acknowledging his dream, the sage sounded a note of caution, “Please understand, O King, that I cannot force upon my knowledge on the Prince.  In simple terms, I can provide only that much knowledge to him which he can imbibe. 

Thus, if you expect your son to be a great warrior by getting education under me, then apart from my efforts much depends on his ability and talent.”

The King consented.    

Soon, the Prince began his education under the tutelage of Prathameshwar in insolation near a forest.  Rajaveera was certain that this new experience would bring Mrutyunjay out of his depression. 

As his days of learning progressed, much to his chagrin, Mrutyunjay found that the sage extolled the asuras and incited in him the need to annihilate the Devas.  This was in complete contrast to what his mother had wanted from him and it thoroughly muddled his young impressionable mind. 

An inner battle raged within the Prince about the course he should adopt in life.  All this had an adverse impact in his performance that the Sage noticed.  One day, he made the Prince sit beside him and queried,

“Mrutyunjay, I am observing that there is some distraction in your learning.  Please tell me what is bothering you!  I have a big responsibility in my shoulders which I cannot do justice to without your co-operation and efforts.  Please open up your mind before me!”

The Prince took this opportunity to ask his guru some discerning questions that were troubling his mind.    “Guruji, instead of this growing enmity, why can’t we be friends with the Devas? 

Do we take birth only to hate others and fight among each other for meeting our selfish goals?  Is this what life is all about?”

This barrage of questions took the sage by surprise.  He least expected someone from an asura clan to raise these questions!  He borrowed some time to respond and finally called over the Prince to him. 

“Mrutyunjay, foremost tell me about the actual source of these thoughts.”

Mrutyunjay apprised him about his mother’s views and the strong feeling inside him to adhere to them. 

The sage thought for a while and then addressed him, “Yours mothers’ thoughts are very unalloyed and genuine.    However, with this ideology you cannot move along with your father who embraces thoughts akin to a Dhanava. 

Tomorrow, if he discovers that I have not groomed you in the way he has expected, I do not know what punishment he may accord to me!  He is certain to strip me of the position that I have gained after much efforts in my life that I do not want to forego.  

Still, since you expect something from me as a student, I do not have the heart to deny it.  I am ready to teach you the true essence of life but at a price!” 

The sage paused and then continued, “You will keep all that you learn from today only to yourself and not implement it here in Asurloka till the time your father is alive!  You will have to do this for my sake!”

This left the Prince thinking.  If he had to do the sage’s bidding, it could mean not only forcibly agreeing to his father’s views but even be party to all his misadventures against the Devas. 

How he could manage this after deciding to lead a life of probity, “Mrutyunjay wondered!  Would this ultimately lead him in living separately from his father under some pretext to escape from this awkward clash of thoughts, he further deliberated.