SATYAN2
-12. A Remedy

On seeing his friends, he smiled meekly and muttered with difficulty, “How are you?”  “O Vasudev!  What has happened to you?  I know that we are the cause of this!”  Sridhar groused. 

“Yes, Vasudev!” Shiva agreed with his friend.  “Right from that day when you learnt of our misdeeds you have been suffering from mental agony which has finally affected your health.  Oh God!  Would he ever pardon us for this?  You offered us an opportunity to lead dignified lives but we just blew it away!  I know that our promises no longer hold any steam but still believe me when I say that after our jail term is over, we will lead an honest life.” 

Sridhar agreed with Shiva.  Vasudev did not say anything but just smiled.  Both Hari and the King who were sitting on the other side of the bed watched the proceedings glumly. 

The friends spent some time with Vasudev.  Thereby, as the guards led them away, Vasudev felt a lump in his throat for he knew where they were headed to!  Understanding his feelings, the King touched his forehead.  “Cheer up, Satya!  Everything will be alright!  Do not grieve over what has happened.  I could see honesty writ large in the eyes of your friends when they gave you that promise.  I assure you that the future bodes well for them.” 

Vasudev pursed his lips and nodded in agreement.

A couple of days later, Manohar visited Vasudev followed by the guards who were keeping a close watch on all of his outside movements.  Before Manohar could speak anything, Vasudev gathered strength to ask him, “How is Udhog?  I have been praying for his well-being to my Lord.”  These words touched everyone present in the chamber.  Even when he himself lay in bed indisposed, Vasudev was praying to the Lord for the welfare of others!  Manohar touched Vasudev’s hand and spoke his heart, “There is no improvement in his health.  O Mahatma!  Looking at you, I feel so ashamed of myself.  I have sinned.  Therefore, why doesn’t’ God punish me with this illness?  Why should a noble soul like you or my son suffer like this?  O Satyan!  My son asks me daily as to where is his uncle who regularly visited him and took such good care of him!  I have not yet told him the truth.  I have maintained that you have gone out for some work and would soon be back!” 

Although Bharadwaj was incensed with Manohar, these words pained his heart.  A little while later, the owner of the Laxmi-Narayan temple took his leave. 

As days passed by, Vasudev’s health only worsened.  He was so sapped by the illness that he could hardly walk a few steps on his own.  Finally, Prahasta met the King in privacy and admitted, “O Maharaj!  For the first time in my profession, I am feeling helpless.  I was so proud of my capabilities as a physician.  I felt that I could easily cure any illness by my medicines.  Perhaps God has punished me for my arrogance.”  “What now, O Sage?  We do not have a better physician than you in our kingdom.”  The King said with concern. 

“That I am the best physician around is something which I have been insisting on, Maharaj.  But who knows?  There may be others in this very kingdom who may be better than me.  However, we have no time to find that out now.  O King, Do you remember Pradayumna?” 

“How can I forget him?  He cursed me for calling him a monkey!  What about him?”  The King asked. 

“He is an adept in this field, Maharaj!  I request you to somehow make him come here and see both my patients.”  Prahasta suggested. 

As the King mulled over this proposition, a guard came in and bowed low before him.  “Maharaj, the renowned sage Pradayumna seeks an audience with you!” 

This came as a pleasant surprise for both of them.  The King accompanied by Prahasta hurried to receive the sage who was standing near the palace gates and fell at his feet.  Pradayumna helped them to their feet and looking at Bharadwaj asked him passionately, “How are you, Rajan?”  

“I am fine, O Sage!  I feel honoured to have you here.  Please come inside!” 

The King escorted him to his chambers, followed by Prahasta.  Bharadwaj also called for his Queen who came and took the blessings of the sage.  After they were seated, the sage explained the purpose of his visit.  “Actually, I came to meet Vasudev!  With that selfless sacrifice he made to relieve you from my curse, he showed that it does not require you to do severe penance or be a sage to become a great soul!  All that you require for this is a pure and altruistic heart.  I was passing by your kingdom after attending a yagna when I thought of Vasudev and felt like meeting him.  On enquiry, I learnt that he stays in a cottage in the palace compound where he is taking education under Sage Adirath.  I also heard that he is suffering from ill-health.  What happened to him, Maharaj?” 

Prahasta told the sage about Vasudev’s illness and was then led to the latter’s cottage.  On seeing him, Hari who was sitting beside his friend instantly stood and joined his hands.  Pradayumna blessed him and then came near Vasudev who was lying on a mat with eyes closed.  From his face, it was evident that the sage was very saddened to see his poor health.  Pradayumna touched his forehead which made Vasudev open his eyes.  Even as he tried to get up and greet the sage, Pradayumna asked him to lie down.  “How are you feeling, Vasudev?” 

“Okay” he mumbled.   Then a thorough examination followed after which the sage asked Prahasta about the medicines that Vasudev was having.  Then he reasoned, “We are always encompassed by germs and other such organisms which are not visible to the naked eye.  The moment our stamina and resisting power becomes weak, our body becomes vulnerable to their attacks.  In Vasudev’s case, his illness is of a serious nature but curable.  There is a small plant called Sugandha which has round-shaped, thick green leaves with very sharp cusps.

(To Continue)