CHAPTER 47: Mysterious Arrow

The asura King shook his head in the negative.  “Since you had left on your own accord, my ego did not permit me to do so!” He confessed.

Looking at his son, the King remarked in disgust, “How could Prathameshwar even dare to take such a commitment from you?” 

“O Father!  We must never forget that guruji has played a pivotal role in making me what I am today!  Let us not possess any ill feelings towards him!”  Aryaman underscored.

Although Rajaveera still appeared quite infuriated, he agreed with his son.   

“Father, our foremost goal is to protect King Ravichandran from Sage Ananya’s arrow.  I want to meet King Chandrashekar to see if he could be of any help in this matter.” 

Meanwhile, inside the well Ravichandran continued to be penitent about his comport.  He began to feel that had he listened to Aryaman’s advice, such a scenario would have never arisen. 

Ravichandran began to wonder about the uncanniness of the mind’s functioning.  All this while when he had time by his side, he hardly bothered to conduct himself in a righteous manner from the core of his heart. 

Now, when he got the nagging feeling that his time was nearly up, he was sensing the urge to lead a reformed life!   Still, he closed his eyes and prayed to the Almighty to give him a solitary chance for a metamorphosis.  He promised himself to follow Aryaman’s principles of maintaining friendly ties with his neighbor and according paramount importance to his duty as a ruler. 

Just as Aryaman looked at Ravichandran and was about to spell out his next course of action, yet another strange thing happened!  Ananya’s arrow suddenly vanished!

Thrilled, Aryaman spoke aloud, “Maharaj!  The arrow is gone!”

Ravichandran who was in a prayer at that moment opened his eyes and looked up.  His initial delight soon turned into anxiety as he observed, “That arrow may be in hiding!  Should you remove your chain of arrows, it may reappear and come straight towards me!”

Aryaman did not find the King’s fears entirely unfounded.  As he thought over his next move, his father urged him to meet King Chandrashekar.  Agreeing, Aryaman instantly took to the skies and flew in top speed to the battlefield. 

On the way, he changed to his actual form of Mrutyunjay and took the red scroll from his waist into his hand.  He then yet again transformed to Aryaman and reached his destination where some warriors were trying in vain to untie the rope that bound their King. 

After landing, Aryaman chanted a mantra and lo!  The rope automatically released the King from its grasp and fell to the ground!  Aryaman performed a similar act to release all those who were bound by the rope of his divine arrows.  He, then came near the King and folded his palms. 

“I am sorry for this war, Maharaj!  I had absolutely no intentions to humiliate you!”  He handed over the scroll to the puzzled King, “Please read it later! 

However, for now I seek some information from you.  I am aware that the last arrow you released is the boon you received from Sage Ananya.  Pray tell me what transpired between you and the sage at the time of receiving this boon!”

The King appeared surprised to hear this and took a while to respond, “I asked the sage to give me a weapon that would destroy my enemy! 

The sage offered me that arrow and told me that it would destroy my enemy in such a way that he would not be in a position to fight another war with me!  He informed me about a couple of conditions that I needed to bear in mind.