HARIHARESHWARI 14 : CHANDRA CHAYAYAM SINGHASANAM

CHAPTER 48

"Toh Yuvraj Kamsa yudh ke liye aatur hai." Seated upon his opulent throne within the confines of his camp, King Jarasandh of Magadh uttered these words with great authority.

The messenger nodded, "Ji Samrat."

Jarasandh chuckled, "Woh kal ka balak humse yudh karega ? Lagta hai use mere parakram ka bhaan nahi."

Rising to his feet, he strode purposefully out of the grand tent, his ministers followed behind embarking on a path that led him to the sacred grounds where an infamous elephant of Magadh was kept.

This formidable creature was segregated from its brethren due to its volatile temperament. Its immense strength was matched only by its eyes, which burned with a wild and intoxicating fervor. Unpredictable and capricious, this beast harbored an eternal rage towards mankind, and would unleash its fury whenever it encountered a rival elephant.

A group of mahouts, adorned in tattered yet vibrant attire, valiantly struggled to rein in this enraged behemoth. Their faces etched with a potent blend of fear and unwavering determination, they bellowed commands and strained against the weight of the chains that bound its colossal limbs.

Yet, the elephant, unyielding and untamed, bellowed back in defiance, refusing to submit to their authority. Its eyes, untamed and relentless, mirrored the storm brewing within its very soul.

Jarasandh smirked gazing at the ministers, "Hum Maharaj Ugrasen ko ek aur avsar dete hai. Yudh se pehle, Mathura Magadh ke unmat Gaj ka saamna kare. Jab apne nagar ko raunda huya paayenge toh awashya apne nirnaye pe unhe pachtawa hoga."

"Mahout !" The king of Magadh called, causing the caretakers of elephants to look at him, "Chhod do Kuvalyapida ko Mathura nagri mei !"

The mahouts nodded and then with a loud shout and a swift motion, they released the mighty elephant from its restraints. Kuvalyapida charged forward, running towards the direction of Mathura.

The residents of the city were just going about their day, when the loud trumpet of the formidable beast shook them to the core. Their eyes widened seeing such a massive elephant coming towards them and crashing through buildings and crushing everything in its path.

The people started running here and there to save themselves. Many were injured and several were killed as the Magadhi elephant stomped over them. Like an unstoppable tsunami, Kuvalyapida surged forward, obliterating everything in its path, until it finally reached the majestic palace of Mathura.

Within the palace walls, even the fearless soldiers trembled in fear as they beheld the sheer magnitude and fury of the beast before them. Summoning their courage, they valiantly stepped forward, armed to the teeth, determined to subdue the raging creature.

Yet, their efforts proved futile as the elephant bellowed with a deafening roar, mercilessly crushing the soldiers beneath its colossal weight, leaving the palace front yard in ruins.

In the midst of the chaos, Ugrasen swiftly made his way towards the uproar, accompanied by his sons and other esteemed nobles. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they beheld the havoc wreaked by the enraged elephant.

Kamsa, upon noticing the emblem of Magadh adorning the creature's head, was consumed by a fiery rage. With an unwavering determination etched upon his face, he charged towards the rampaging beast.

"HA !" He shouted to catch the attention of the beast.

As Kuvalyapida locked eyes with Kamsa, it lunged towards him, ready to strike. However, before it could unleash its fury, the crown-prince seized hold of its mighty trunk. With an astonishing display of strength, he forcefully hurled the colossal creature away from the sacred grounds of the palace.

Such was the strength of Kamsa that Kuvalyapida crashed mercilessly into the Magadh camp, succumbing to unconsciousness.

The resounding thud echoed through the air, drawing Jarasandh and his advisors out of their chambers. Their jaws dropped in astonishment as they witnessed the once-mighty Kuvalyapida lying defeated before them.

"Kuvalyapida ka yeh hashra kisne kiya hoga ?" Jarasandh asked.

A minister said, "Yeh awashya Yuvraj Kamsa ne kiya hai."

Jarasandh fell silent at that, it was a feat too inhuman and wonderful.

"Lagta hai hume ab yudh karna hi padega." Another minister said.

"Nahi." Jarasandh shook his head, "Aise balshaali ko apna shatru banana murkhta hogi. Aise yoddha ko toh apna mitra ya apna sambandhi bana chahiye."

An advisor said, "Satyavachan Samrat. Issi mei humara laabh hoga."

Another advisor said, "Aapko Yuvraj Kamsa ko apna jamaai bana lena chahiye."

"Uttam sujhaav." The king of Magadh smiled, "Hum swayam Ugrasen ke paas jaa, apni putriya Asti aur Praapti ka vivah prastaav Kamsa hetu rakhenge. Aur yeh Kuvalyapida vivah ke uphaar mei prastut karenge."

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With the marriage of Kamsa to the daughters of Jarasandh, Asti and Praapti, Ugrasen had hoped for a transformation in his son. He had clung to the hope that this matrimony would ignite a profound transformation within Kamsa, causing him to abandon his malevolence and embrace benevolence.

However, as the days passed relentlessly, Ugrasen's hopes were brutally shattered. Kamsa, now intoxicated by the power of his formidable alliance, became even more ruthless. He was now the son-in-law of Magadh-Samrat Jarasandh himself. Who could dare stand in his way?

But Kamsa's thirst for power knew no bounds. He forged alliances with Danavas and Daityas like Banasur and Narakasur, befriending wicked and influential men such as Chanur and Mushtik. He even gathered several other asuras under his wing. This was a matter of grave concern for all.

Kamsa's insatiable hunger for power and his growing network of dark forces cast a shadow of fear and uncertainty over the kingdom.

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A/N

Second update on request 🌝

If you're wondering who Kamsa mama actually is.... He was a Daitya named Kaalnemi.

No he's not the same Kaalnemi from Ramayan. He was killed by Hanuman ji, in Treta Yug.

This Kaalnemi, who's now Kamsa, was killed by Vishnu Bhagwaan in Satyug during the Taarkaamya war, which literally translates to 'war over the love of Tara', that was instigated by the elopement of Tara, the consort of Brihaspati, by Chandradev.

In that war Brihaspati was assisted by gods, while Chandradev is assisted by Shukracharya and daityas. And in that war, Narayan slayed Kaalnemi.