HARIHARESHWARI 14 : CHANDRA CHAYAYAM SINGHASANAM

CHAPTER 44

Pandu sat slumped in the corner of the dimly lit thatched hut, his regal posture marred by the weight of his curse. The fire from the lamps crackled and popped in the hearth, casting eerie shadows across the room and illuminating the lines of worry etched deeply into his brow.

Kunti and Madri were sitting beside him, their tear-stained faces a reflection of the king's own sorrow. They gazed at their husband with a mix of sorrow and helplessness.

His once proud bearing was now hunched with defeat, knowing that any intimacy with his wives would bring about his untimely demise. His brow furrowed with worry, for he had been childless for many years, and now the future of his kingdom seemed even more uncertain without an heir.

Without an heir, the line of succession would become uncertain and his people were filled with anxiety about who would rule after him. The weight of this responsibility lay heavy on his shoulders, and he felt the weight of his own mortality pressing down on him.

He said, "Khed ki baat hai ki shresht kulo mei janme purush bhi apne man par vash na karne par, kaam ke jaal mei fas kar vivek kho baithte hai aur apni durgati ko nimantran de dete hai. Mai aakhet ke piche daudta rehta hu, kadachit iss liye devtao ne mera tyaag kardiya hai."

"Aisa mat kahiye, Arya." Madri said.

A few moments of silence followed, as Pandu began to reflect upon himself. He had been a man of self-control and wisdom, but now he felt as though he had been deluded by his own hubris. He cursed the folly that had led him to this predicament.

Pandu shook his head, "Mere Pita Vichitraveerya ka janm bhi dharmatma Shantanu ke ghar huya tha, parantu unki akaal mrityu ho gayi kyuki woh upbhog ka jeevan jeete the. Maharishi Dwaipayan ke dwara mai bhi uss hi Kaam-vaasna se aasakt Raja ke kshetra mei janma hu. Aur aaj meri buddhi bhi aakhet ke karan bhramit ho gayi."

As he looked into the eyes of his wives, he felt a deep sorrow for the pain he had caused them, the pain to remain childless.

"Mai toh Dharmrajya chaahta tha, par lagta niyati ko mai swikarya nahi tha." He said and then gazed at Kunti, "Mujhe lagta hai ki ab mere liye keval moksh ka maarg shesh hai."

Saying so he stood up and removed his mukut, keeping it on a small desk, his gaze fixated on the magnificent gem adorning the crown that was made just for him, a symbol of his authority as the king of Hastinapur. With determination etched across his face, he reached out to detach the precious insignia from its rightful place.

"Yeh kya kar rahe hai aap ?" Madri asked frowning with worry.

Pandu replied, "Aaj se mai apne Pita Vyas ke dwara stith udaharan ka anusaran karunga. Ek punyatma ka jeevanvyatit karunga. Apne tan aur man ko bhishan tapasya mei lagayunga. Jeevan ke sabhi stithi, sukh ya dukh, mei ek samaan rahunga. Na prasanatta vyakt karunga, na shok. Mujhse Jo bhi paap huye hai, chaahe Rajdharm hetu bhi kyu nahi, mai unn sab se mukt hone ka prayas karunga."

Removing the gem from crown, and gazing at it while reminiscing the time where he had taken a vow to ensure welfare of citizens and vowed to make sure dharma reigns supreme, a sad smile appeared on the face of Pandu.

He said, "Parantu shraap mujhe Lok-kalyaan hetu nahi rok sakta. Muskurate huye, mai sabhi praaniyo ke hit hetu swayam ko samarpit kardunga. Jis prakaar Pita apni sabhi santaano ke liye samaanta aur sadbhaav rakhta hai, mai bhi sabhi praaniyo ko samaan drishti se dekhunga."

He then looked at his wives and sorrowfully sighed, "Deviyo, tum dono Hastinapur chali jaao. Aur waha sabhi se kehdena ki Pandu, Vanaprasth ashram swikar chuka hai."

His declaration to live a life of austerities but in solitude didn't sit well with his wives. Kunti stood up and walked up to him, her eyes red and swollen from tears shed. She reaches out to touch her husband's hand, but stops herself, terrified of the nature of the curse.

Composing herself she said, "Aryaputra, hum aapki dharmpatniya hai. Jeevan ke aashram aap humare saath bhi vyatit kar sakte hai. Nisandeh aapko tab bhi swarg praapt hoga. Aapke saath hum bhi apne indriyo ko apne vash mei karenge, sabhi sukh aur kaamna ka tyaag kar, hum bhi aapke saath tapasya karenge, aapki sahayata karenge."

"Ha Arya," Madri said nodding, "Hume apne saath le chaliye. Yadi aap humara tyaag karenge, toh hum dono awashya aaj hi praan tyaag denge."

Looking at them both, he said, "Uchit hai. Yadi tum dono ki iccha dharm-sangat hai, toh mai apne Pita Dwaipayan ke dwara dikhaye maarg par tum dono ko saath le chalunga. Hum devtao aur purvajo ki aardhna karenge. Aur jab tak mere tan ka annt ka no jaaye, mai ghor tapasya karta rahunga."

He then took hold of the idol of Akhand Maharani from the shrine, and stepped out into the open, his devoted wives trailing closely behind. As he emerged, a poignant sight awaited him - his loyal servants, their eyes brimming with tears, stood alongside a group of revered Brahmanas and their spouses.

With a heavy heart, Pandu made a grand gesture, relinquishing the precious jewel adorning his crown, along with necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and opulent garments and ornaments that had once adorned his beloved wives.

He told his servants, "Nagasaharya jaa ke keh dena ki Pandu apni patniyo ke saath, samast sukh aur rajya tyaag, vanprasth ashram hetu prasthaan kar gaye."

"Aur kuch Maharaj ?" The servant asked with a heavy voice.

"Aur yeh..." Pandu was about to give the clay idol to the man, but stopped for the image of Akhand Maharani being of immense sentimental value to him for it reminded him of his duties. For him it was an image of not just a goddess but an image of duties and faith.

The internal struggle was palpable, rendering him unable to part with it.

"Nahi. Aur kuch nahi." He said in a whisper like voice. He couldn't bear to part with it, clutching it tightly against his chest. The idol held a special place in his heart, and he simply couldn't let it go.

"Tum sab laut jaao." Pandu told.

The servants and attendants, overcome with sorrow, began to lament. Their voices filled the air with mournful cries, echoing their deep anguish. Tears streamed down their faces as they bid farewell to their beloved lord of the earth. With heavy hearts, they departed for Hastinapur, carrying his message with them.

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A/N

Even while being cursed Pandu still says to devote himself for the welfare of all the beings (not just humans), no wonder that he was chosen to be the father of Pandavas ✨

Now comes the part which we all dread.... Dhritrashtra becoming the infamous andha kanoon 💀🙏