The stage is set for another leela of Bhagwaan Vishnu, where all the gods and goddesses play a significant role. Now starts the saga where heartbreaking curses, graceful boons and divine mercy combine to write a history to be remembered through the...
Chitrangad stood tall at the end of the archery range, his bowstring pulled back as he took the aim at the bullseye. His every movement was exuding confidence and expertise. As the young king released the arrow, it glides through the air, hitting the target dead center with a satisfying thud.
Sitting at the pavilion, Satyavati was watching her son with a satisfied smile.
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"Mujhe bhi Bhrata jaisa yoddha Banna hai !" A little boy, who was holding his wooden bow and arrow said.
"Ek din awashya banoge, Vichitraveerya." Satyavati smiled and caressed the head of her second son.
Glancing at Bhishm she said, "Tumhare Jyesht tumhe bhi ek praveen yoddha banayenge."
"Jyesht ?" Vichitraveerya went towards his eldest brother, who was leaning by the pillar at the edge of the pavillion.
But Bhishm was lost in his own thoughts while looking at Chitrangad's aggressive moves.
"Jyesht !" Vichitraveerya tugged unto his Angvastra, bring him out of his stance.
"Devavrat ?" Satyavati said, causing the son of Ganga to look back at her, "Kis chinta mei khoye ho ?" She asked.
"Chitrangad ki chinta ho rahi hai mujhe." He said.
"Kyu ?" She asked with frown.
"Jis Raja ko apne aavego par niyantran nahi, jis Raja ko sahi aur galat mei bhed karne ki samajh nahi, jo bina soche dwand ka awahan deta hai, aur bina soche yudh ke awahan ko swikar kar leta hai, aise Raja ki chinta toh sadev satati hai sabko." Bhishm said.
Satyavati glanced sideways, lowering her gaze she said, "Chitrangad abhi yuvaan hai, yuvako ko kaha swayam par niyantran hota hai. Krodh mei kuch bhi kar lete hai. Samaye ke saath sahi maarg par aajayega."
"Raja ko samabhalne ka samaye koi nahi deta, Rajmata. Khaas kar aisa Raja jo gyaaniyo ka sammaan na kare." Bhishm said and then looked back at Chitrangad.
A frown appeared on his face as he saw a messenger looking person standing in front of him and the young king, reading a letter. Chitrangad's face contorted in anger.
"USS GANDHARV KA YEH DUSAHAS !" He blazed.
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"Yadi yuddh ka awahan mila hai, toh Hastinapur uska uttar dega ! Mai uska uttar dunga !" Bhishm said to Chitrangad who was getting ready for battle.
"Ha putra, Bhishm ko jaane do yudh par. Yeh use parast kar tumhare charano mei le aayega." Satyavati said, worry lacing her voice.
"Nahi !" Chitrangad said putting various types of arrows in his quiver, "Dwand ka awahan Gandharv-raj Chitrangad ne mujhe diya hai ! Toh uttar bhi mai dunga ! Use batayunga ki sarvashresht Chitrangad mai hu !"
"Shaant ho jaao." A voice said.
They all looked at the door and saw a man in his mature youth, dressed in saffron robes, with rudraksh as his ornaments. His form resembled a Brahmin, but the fierceness of his eyes of definitely that of a kshatriya.
"Kripa, ab tum hi samjho ise." Satyavati said to the adopted son of Shantanu.
"Akhand Maharani ke chaar Raj-updesho mei se pehla hi updesh aap bhul gaye, Maharaj Chitrangad." He said entering the room, "Raja ko kabhi bhi koi nirnaye krodh ya vaasna mei nahi lena chahiye."
"Ek Brahman-putra, Kshatriya ko Rajniti ka gyaan na hi de, toh uchit hai." Chitrangad said.
"Chitrangad !" Bhishm exclaimed, "Bhulo mat tum Kul-guru Kripacharya se baat kar rahe ho ! Kul-guru ki upaadi Raja se upar hoti hai ! Yeh chaahe toh tumhe dandit kar sakte hai, lekin Brahman sada kshama karte hai."
"Brahman toh gyaani hote hai. Kaha gaya tha inka gyaan jab apni behen ka vivah ek daridra-brahman se karwa diya ?" Chitrangad mocked.
"Woh daridra-brahman, Bharadwaj Rishi ka putra aur Bhagwaan Parshuram ka shishya hai. Dron. Behen Kripi ke liye unse yogya pati kahi nahi." Bhishm said.
"Rehne dijiye, Bhishm." Kripacharya said, "Jo vyakti ahankaar ke mad mei chur ho jata hai, uska patan toh waise bhi nishchit hota hai." Kripacharya said.
"Nahi !" Satyavati's heart sank, "Aisa na kaho Kripa. Raja ko Kul-guru ke piche aise chalna chahiye jaise putra pita ke piche chalta hai. Maarg dikhao, Kripa, maarg dikhao."
"Rajmata, maarg use dikhaya jata hai jiske paas drishti ho. Jo apne samarthya ke abhimaan mei andha ho chuka hai, usko kya maarg dikhayu ? Use toh keval salaha di jaa sakti hai." Kripacharya said.
He then looked at Chitrangad and advised, "Jab manushya ka naash nikat hota hai toh sarvapratham uska vivek kho jata hai. Rajan, apna vivek kho, swayam ke naash ke path par aage mat badho."
Chitrangad clenched his fists, gritting his teeth he said, "Mai Samrat Shantanu ka putra hu ! Maharaj Pratipa ka pautra hu ! Samrat Bharat ka vanshaj hu ! Hastinapur ka Maharaj hu mai ! Mujhe dwand ka awahan mila hai, aur mai iska uttar awashya dunga ! Aur koi mujhe rokega nahi aur na hi mere piche aayega !"
"Parantu Chitrangad-" "Rajmata !" The young king interrupted his mother.
"Yeh aapke putra ki hatt nahi, Hastinapur ke Maharaj ka aadesh hai." He said.
And so putting his bow over shoulder, Chitrangad stormed outside the room.
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ A/N
A battle between Kururaj Chitrangad and Gandharvraj Chitrangad, to see who's the better Chitrangad-💀✨
Ashwathama ain't the only one with the same name problem 🌝
And this is for anyone wondering, what's the origin story of Kripacharya and Kripi -
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I wasn't sure where to fit Shantanu adopting them, because it's not clearly mentioned whether it was before Bhishm came or after.... Or was it before he married Satyavati or after.
