SYNOPSIS- Satyan 4 - Vile Rajguru

“Yes, Vasudev.  How are things going on here?  How are you and everyone else?”  Shiva enquired.

“By the grace of Lord Krishna, everything is fine, Shiva.  Please tell me about you and our other friends.  I hope both you and Sridhar are making attempts in pursuing your interests as the King has pardoned your wrongdoing.  How are King Bharadwaj and our people?”  Vasudev enquired eagerly. 

“Everyone is doing fine, Vasudev.  I have some news for you.”  As Vasudev listened intently, Shiva continued, “I learnt from my ashram inmates that our neighbouring ruler, King Chandravarkar, was to conduct a singing competition in his kingdom.  As he enjoys excellent rapport with King Bharadwaj he had extended invitation to contenders from our kingdom as well to participate in this event.  My wife, Supriya, persuaded me to try my luck to which I finally relented after much thought.  Guruji also agreed and I took part in this event which was much like the competition held in our kingdom years ago.  Before I took part, I met the organizers and told them of the grave mistake I had committed the last time I had participated in such a competition.  The King was consulted who pleased at my honesty allowed me to participate!    By God’s grace, I sang well and managed to be the runner-up in this competition! I got a good sum of money for my efforts, Vasudev!” 

The King felt very happy for his friend and offered his hearty compliments.  Shiva, then, gave further information to his friend, “One of the ministers of King Chandravarkar, Vishantha, who not only looks after administrative affairs but also matters related to defense, met me and gave me a very tempting offer.  He wanted me to teach his son singing who is barely eight years old.  He was even ready to make arrangements for my accommodation!  He felt that I sang even better than the winner!  I borrowed some time and returned to the ashram where I spoke with Supriya about this matter.  She readily asked me to grab this opportunity which I did.  Of course, this meant that I had to leave Somnapur and our dear friends but then you have to make some sacrifice to pursue your dream.” 

Vasudev hugged his friend in fervid joy.    “Let us be grateful to God for this opportunity he has given you!”   Thereby, he took Shiva to meet Manorama.  She, too, was thrilled at the good fortune that had come the way of Vasudev’s bosom friend.  Later Vasudev enquired about Sridhar. 

“He is now helping the ashram physician in making medicines.  He appears very excited, Vasudev!”  Shiva informed which pleased the King.

Later when the friends were alone, Vasudev expressed his thoughts, “It is indeed true that all of us have positive and negative shades in our characters.  At one time I and Chandravarkar were good friends.  Once we embarked on a project to build a proper road that would connect our kingdoms.  We had decided to share the cost of this project.  On the completion of this work Chandravarkar suddenly came up with a reason of suffering from an unprecedented financial crunch and requested me to make even his share of payment.  It appeared that some borrower from whom he was expecting repayment had defaulted.   Chandravarkar promised to repay me the sum in due course of time.    However, he, too began to default in payment.  Finally, fed up with his dilly -dallying tactics I began to send him frequent and strong reminders which eventually resulted in procuring the payment but spoiled our relations in the process.  In a recent function where we met, he plainly ignored me thereby giving ample indications of the animosity that he had come to possess against me.  And now it is that same person who appreciated your honesty and allowed you to sing in that event!”  

Shiva concurred with his friend’s views.

For the next three days the friends had a great time together.  Vasudev took him to some of the important landmarks of his kingdom like well-known temples, fortified forts, beautiful old mansions of past rulers and some very well-maintained recreational spots, all of which Shiva enjoyed.      

Finally, it was time to leave.  Vasudev had this to offer as parting words to his friend, “Continue to lead a life of such honesty and integrity, my friend.  You will certainly find the Lord by your side.” 

Shiva agreed and then the friends parted.

More than a month passed by.  One day Vasudev had a surprise visitor in the form of Shiva’s wife Supriya.  This surprise soon turned to apprehension when Vasudev saw her dejected face.  He made her sit on a couch and offered her water.  Thereby, he enquired the matter with her.

“Maharaj!  I have come here to tell you something and seek your help.  My husband told you that he had found a new employment as a teacher to a young student in King Chandravarkar’s kingdom of Kantipura.   Everything was moving smoothly until that wretch Chakrabandhava who is the brother of Sage Badrinath came to see my husband.  This man is the Rajguru in Chandravarkar’s court.     The King reposes unimpeachable faith in him and never goes against him.  Much after my husband was employed in his kingdom, Chakrabandhava learnt that he is a close friend of yours.  The Rajguru wanted him to use this friendship and somehow make you realize about the grave sin you had committed in insulting his brother.  He wanted you to meet his brother, express regret for what you did, seek his pardon and allow him to open an ashram in your kingdom.  He also wanted his brother to not realize that the sudden change of heart in you was actually because of him.  My husband did not agree to this.  He was of the firm belief that you would never intentionally hurt or insult anyone.  If you had denied permission to Sage Badrinath, then there must have been a genuine reason for this.  He did not want to embarrass you only for his sake and therefore denied doing Chakrabandhava’s bidding.  Irked at this, the minister threatened my husband of dire consequences.  This did not work.  These threats became more specific when the fiend told my husband of framing him as a spy who had come to this kingdom in the guise of a singer to gain strategic information and leak it to you!  He had plans to connect my husband’s employment with a defense minister to give credence to his allegation!  We wanted to complain to the King, but we did not have any proof to support our claims.  Besides, such a move against an influential person like him may only land us in more trouble…”