CHAPTER 40: Aryaman meets Ananya

“I am sorry, guruji, but if you permit, I would like to go only with the sole intention of having his darshan.  Let me not ask him anything about the boon which I shall leave entirely to his wisdom.”  The Prince maintained.

The sage agreed and offered, “If you want, through my yogic powers I can make you appear right in front of the hill where the sage resides.  Thereafter, you can fly and reach his abode.”

“Please allow me to go there on my merit!  I tend to lose nothing if I do not get the boon for my purpose of going is to only meet him!”

Prathameshwar consented and blessed him.  An associate who had brought this news to Rajaveera was waiting outside the ashram for the Prince to guide him to Ananya’s dwelling place.  Both of them flew in the air and took nearly a week to reach Prithviloka and the steep hill on which the sage resided. 

Mrutyunjay asked the associate to wait for him while he preferred to climb the hill instead of flying over it.   He took very careful and calculated steps in climbing the precipitous hill.  The heart of his companion who was witnessing this was pounding hard for should anything happen to the Prince, he would have to face the ire of Rajaveera! 

By God’s grace after much effort, Mrutyunjay succeeded in reaching the top of the hill.   He then proceeded to the ashram of Sage Ananya.  

There was greenery all around.  Straight ahead stood a flower gate whose sweet fragrance rendered the air with freshness and gaiety.    Mrutyunjay stood at the entrance and found a sage under the shade of a huge tree lost in meditation.  The young Prince knew that he was Ananya and waited patiently at the gate until the sage finally opened his eyes. 

Years of penance and mediation had given Ananya a divine glow in his serene face.  His long white hairs and flowing beard reflected his advanced age.  He was clad in a white dhoti and a scarf covered his shoulders.  The sage hurried to welcome the visitor and even apologized for keeping him waiting. 

Instantly touching his feet the Prince introduced himself as Mrutyunjay, the son of King Rajaveera, the lord of asuras.  The sage was neither unnerved by the Prince’s uncouth looks nor by his introduction.  He gave a placid smile and welcomed Mrutyunjay into his small cottage. 

Despite the Prince expressing his reservations, the sage lay a mat and made him sit comfortably.  He thereby unfurled another mat where he took his seat. 

The Prince told him about the reason his guru had sent him there. 

“Oh!  I am so sorry, O Prince!    Quite a few rulers have already come here aspiring for the boon and I have given it to the first among them. ” He revealed apologetically.

“O revered one!  The boon was only a pretext to come here!  I wanted to have the darshan of a person who forsake everything to gain purity of heart and mind!  I feel privileged to be in your presence!”  Mrutyunjay spoke with great respect.

More than the praises that were being showered on him, the sage was impressed by the downright manner in which the asura Prince conducted himself. 

“Still if I had the power of granting you the boon, what would you have asked for?”  The sage wanted to know.