SYNOPSIS- Satyan 4 - Realization Finally Dawns

Vasudev smiled at his son, Rishabd.  “You may take your time, my child!  However, you must also remember that I cannot perennially wait for your promise.”

After Vasudev had left, in a short while Bharadwaj returned to the chamber.  The King could not resist the feeling that he had been harsh to his Vasudev.  Even Chitralekha was of such a view.  He wanted to meet Vasudev and once again try to reason out with him to accept his wish. 

Rishabd informed him that his father had been to the Durbar.  Bharadwaj gestured the Prince to come to the main hall and then asked him, “When are you going to give your father the promise, he seeks from you?”

The Prince took a while to reply.  “Sometimes seeing the tension and pain of my family, I feel that I should waste no moment in giving my father his promise.  However, the next moment a fear grips my heart about a possible incapability on my part to fulfill the promise.  Rishi Ajanma’s prediction compels me to imagine a future where my father may not be there by my side.   I…I cannot bear to see that, O Grandpa!”  Yet again the eyes of the Prince went moist as he spoke these words.

The anger that was building in Bharadwaj that Rishabd was just being a mute spectator to the events unfolding in his family gradually melted away.  The King now felt sorry for this child who had become so attached to his great father that even the mere thought of separation from his father was unacceptable to him. 

“My child, despite being God himself, Lord Krishna meets his end in the Mahabharatha.   Thus, no matter how great your father is, isn’t he after all a mortal?  Can any mortal escape death?  You must accept this fact and move on in life!”

“I am trying.  Please give me some time!”  The Prince replied with his voice still shaking with emotions.  Bharadwaj agreed and took his leave. 

Meanwhile, before going to the Durbar, Vasudev met Abharan and thanked him for accepting his original proposal.  The King was of the view that it was Bharadwaj who had made the minister change his mind.  Abharan did not reveal the truth for that would be against Manorama’s wishes.  Thereafter in the Durbar, he told everyone about the recent developments.  “….I will give my son sufficient time to make up his mind.  However, should he fail to give me my promise then I will have to explore other options which I will convey to you at the appropriate time.” 

During his earlier meeting in the Durbar, Vasudev had mentioned about Aharan rejecting his suggestion.  However, this time he did not make any reference to him for he wanted to speak with his wife in this matter before making any formal promulgation.  People hailed his decision.  They were highly impressed at the fact that even in matters relating to the throne, Vasudev was able to follow his principles with the same rigorousness as on other occasions. 

After the meeting, the King decided to meet Bharadwaj.  He had to inform the King of his final decision.  How he detested to go against the wishes of his beloved ruler!  However, he had no choice! As he made his way to the chamber of Bharadwaj with slow and hesitant steps, he intercepted his aides who had gone to gather information about Ajanma!  He quickly guided them to a nearby room and enquired about the outcome of their mission.  One of them spoke up, “Maharaj, we are sorry for returning late.  It is just that we did not want to leave any attempt unexplored to get to know something about the sage.  We searched all of Avantipur and enquired with several people about him.  However, no one knows either about him or his guru.” 

This puzzled Vasudev.  Just then, another aide said, “Maharaj, we do not know if this piece of information would serve any purpose, but I will say it for it happened.  While we were enquiring about the sage, a man who looked insane with ragged clothes and disheveled hairs appeared to overhear us.  “You are looking for Ajanma!” he exclaimed.  We looked at him in anticipation for a positive reply, but he disappointed us with a very strange response.   “People fail to recognize those who are closest to them. They then go in search for them!”   He laughed hilariously and went away.”

Vasudev thanked his men for their efforts and after they had departed thought over what the ‘insane’ man had said.   As he continued to deliberate, his gaze fell upon a small opening in the wall ahead wherein an idol of Lord Krishna was kept.  At that moment, realization finally dawned on him!  How he cursed himself for not grasping this earlier!  How right Ajanma was when he said that they had met earlier!  He now found it so strange that not once did he feel the necessity all this while to ponder as to where he had met the sage before.  Lord Krishna had taken education in Avantipur and so had Ajanma!  However, while the guru of his Lord was Sage Sandipani, Ajanma had referred him as Muneshwar.   It did not take a long time for Vasudev to get the answer to this puzzle as well!  Sandipani was considered the lord of the rishis which translated to Muneshwar! 

Vasudev sat on the floor and invoked his Lord in his mind.  Suddenly he felt brightness all around him and then there was a touch on his shoulder that completely relieved him of all his sorrow and stress.  His heart was filled with transcendental bliss and happiness.  He opened his eyes and lo!  There was Lord Krishna standing before him!  The Lord looked majestic in his blue complexion, glittering crown that shown even more brilliantly in the halo, lovely high-arching eyebrows, placid eyes and the trademark mischievous smile that played on his rosy lips.  He adorned yellow silk robes and held a golden flute in his hand.  Vasudev touched his lotus feet and washed it with his tears.  “I am sorry, my lord, for not recognizing you so long!  Please pardon this ignorant devotee of yours!”

The Lord gently helped him to his feet and wiped away his tears.  “No, my child!  More than your ignorance it was my will that made you recognize me only now.”

“Pray tell me the actual purpose of your visit as Ajanma and the essence of the sequences which followed.”  Vasudev implored.