THE SEEDS OF UPHEAVAL
-10. The Words of Wisdom

“…My guruji has always maintained that God is always pleased with those who give more importance to other’s happiness than their own.  You demonstrated that with your sacrifice!  Therefore, how can God ever be angry with you?  Let me point out that what happened to brother is not a result of the sacrifice you made but owing to his own folly.   Instead of carrying out his guruji’s command, he diverted his mind in some other activity and paid a penalty for it!  I am not saying that this should have happened to brother but just trying to clear your mistaken belief.  You know how much my parents love me!  Won’t their lives be shattered if you take me along with you?  Tomorrow you will be responsible if something happens to them out of grief owing to my separation.   Do you feel that the Lord would be pleased with you for that?  Can you live in peace with the burden of that sin?  As for me, I would not be able to do any justice to my stay with you for I would always long to be with my parents.  Tell me!  In what way you would appease God by causing so much sorrow to all of us?  This is not the time to let any wrongful thought enter our mind.  Let us unitedly pray to the Lord for the quick recovery of my brother!  He will listen to us!”  Aditi folded her hands in front of her father and implored, “Please think over what I have just said!  Please do not separate me from my parents!”  So saying, Aditi departed.  Dhuranjaya was completely dumbfounded to hear the words of wisdom of his daughter.   All this while, he had a feeling of guilt in his heart that he was the cause for the pall of gloom which had descended in his friend’s family.  However, his distressed mind was so unduly influenced by the views of his brother that he had felt it necessary to ignore that feeling of guilt for the sake of his son.  Now, Aditi’s views gradually began to clear Dhuranjaya’s mind of all his wrong assumptions and made him realise the genuineness involved in all that his daughter had said.   With his mind now free from any misconception, the King began to feel miserable at the tension and sorrow which he had caused to Bhupendra’s family.  After much thought he arrived upon a decision and made up his mind to show adherence to it.  He went to Aditi’s chambers but was told by the guards that she was not around.  Assuming that she could be with Bhupendra, he went to his friend’s chambers and found his daughter seated with his friend and the Queen.  Aditi had just finished telling Bhupendra and Chandraki about the conversation she had with her father that moved them.  Seeing Dhuranjaya, all of them got up from their seat.  Their heart was anxiously waiting for his response.  Dhuranjaya came near his friend.  “I am sorry, Bhupendra!  Please pardon me!”  he apologised.  These words at once sent an ineffable sense of relief in the couple that brought a smile to their faces.  The friends embraced each other and then Dhuranjaya remarked looking at his daughter, “I am proud of you, Aditi!  You seem so matured, intelligent and understanding at this tender age!  Due credit for this has to go to your parents!” 

Aditi hugged her father. 

“My child, don’t you want to see your brother?  Tomorrow I am leaving for my kingdom and therefore why not accompany me?  What do you say, Bhupendra?”  Dhuranjaya asked his friend.  

“Ever since she realised the truth, Aditi is anxious to see her brother, O Dhuranjaya!  Since she is now aware of everything, I feel that all of us can go with you!  After all, even Chandraki is yet to see Paramjeet!”  Bhupendra reasoned. 

The next day, all of them set out to Vasantnagar.  The long journey was passed by them with a constant prayer on their lips where they beseeched the Lord to come to the rescue of Paramjeet.  On reaching their destination, Dhuranjaya escorted his guests to his chambers.  Both Dhurjaya and Queen Dayanti were confounded to see Bhupendra and his wife accompany Aditi!  Dhuranjaya enquired with his wife about the state of his son’s health.  The Queen responded by informing them that the Prince was now facing less difficulty in imbibing his medicines and liquid food.  This was pleasant news for everyone. 

While Dhurjaya stood, all the others sat beside the Prince.  Chandraki exchanged greetings with Dayanti and even spoke words of solace, although she was deeply pained to see the condition of Paramjeet.  Dayanti was surprised to see Chandraki behaving with her so normally.  If her King had asked for the return of Aditi’s custody, Chandraki would not only have come here but also not spoken to her like this, she wondered.   Dhurjaya was also puzzled over this.

As for Aditi, she was distressed to see her brother.   However, she did not let emotions overcome her for she was specifically instructed by her elders not to cry before Paramjeet.  As she sat there looking at her brother dejectedly, Bhupendra came near her.  He asked her to speak with Paramjeet.  Aditi maintained her composure and then spoke with the Prince where she reminded him of the happy days they had spent together and urged him to open his eyes.  Soon, the physician Sukumaran entered in with the medicine.  When Aditi found the others struggling to give him the medicine – although things were far better in this regard than before – she found her emotions gushing out in the form of tears and ran out of the chambers.  Chandraki and Bhupendra consoled her. 

After some time, Dhuranjaya led his guests to the resting chambers and returned to be with his son.  When Dhurjaya asked him as to what had happened back in Kameshti, he scowled, “I do not feel like talking with you!  I now feel ashamed that I even agreed with your views!  It is my mistake that I did so!” 

On persistence, Dhuranjaya told them all that happened to which his brother responded, “Good that this happened this way!  Actually, even I was praying to the Lord that you should not succeed in bringing back Aditi here!” 

Dhuranjaya was shocked to hear these words of his brother.