Bhargavarama

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Highway-17 Gokulam:

A rhythmic hum of hooves echoed through the deserted highway near Gokulam. A horse approached with a young rider.

 

Yuyudhana heaved a sigh of relief upon crossing the Yamuna through the underground tunnel. 

 

He slowed down to read a signboard by the corner of the road: 'Bear sighting zone begins! Beware of frequent bear and mountain lion encounters in close quarters!'

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A shiver ran through Yuyudhana's spine as he grabbed the bow to prepare for an encounter. The horse reciprocated and moved at a brisk pace.

 

He stopped by as he observed a group of villagers passing.

 

'Aiyya! How far is the Yadava cottage from here?' Yuyudhana asked the elder.

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'Thambi! It will take you five hours to reach the cottage. Where are you coming from?'

 

'I'm from Mathura,' Yuyudhana beamed with pride.

 

'Aiyya! How unfortunate, haven't you heard the news?'

 

'What news?'

 

'There's news that the Yuvaraja's boats have sunk while crossing the Yamuna.'

 

'What! How could this be possible?' exclaimed Yuyudhana, trying to comprehend the consequences of such an event.

 

'Aiyya! I heard that the Yuvaraja's boat had a defect. Search parties are sweeping the Yamuna; until now, they have only found an orange robe at the Yamuna ghat.'

 

'Anantha,' Yuyudhana wondered. 'Did he have anything to do with this?'

 

'Stay safe, Thambi! It's a bad time for the Yadavas,' said the villagers.

 

A speechless Yuyudhana nodded and continued riding into the forest. He wondered if Anantha had assassinated the younger Yadava. How unfortunate that he had moved to Mathura at such a tumultuous time. 

Yuyudhana's trail of thoughts spiraled into a worry about his future; he ignored the night drawing upon Gokulam. 

 

'Rama! Why don't they have boards to mark the end of a bear sighting zone? Why do they only mark the beginning? There should be some status update along the way,' Yuyudhana pondered. As if to answer his question, the silence of the woods crackled with a bear's growl.

 

'I can't discern if this is a hallucination or a real roar from a bear.' he looked around.

 

He was at the base of an elevated hill with hairpin bends. As he rode, he could hear an echo of hooves following him. He soon wondered if it was an echo or another pair of hooves. 

 

'Was it a bear? He tried to peak from the corner of his eyes at the next bend. Ah! Didn't that cotton trading cart man mention a white ghost terrorizing the people of Gokulam? Could it be the ghost?' He wondered.

 

He failed to find anything behind him every time he tried to peak. He had finally reached the top of the hill and continued on a straight path.

 

It grew darker through the night. Yuyudhana had increased his pace to reach the Yadava cottage sooner. He had planned to spend the night at the cottage and leave in the morning. Alas, his leisurely pace at the start of the journey had foiled his timeline.

 

Another growl, much louder, and he noticed a creature running parallel to his horse. He tried to pick up pace, but the horse refused to budge after a tiring journey without food.

 

The bear timed itself and lept at the boy. Yuyudhana's horse sensed the attack and stumbled, leaving Yuyudhana on his feet.

 

He swiftly got up, tried to locate the bear, and struck an arrow through its heart. He could see the bear lying at the corner of the highway. He approached the bear with caution and noticed the streak of blood oozing from the animal. Behold an axe plunged into the bear's neck.

 

As the adrenaline wore out, he heard another pair of hooves approach him. He raised his arrow. The arrow bearing the Syamantaka at the tip reflected the moonlight onto the rider of the approaching horse.

 

A man with a long, rugged beard and chalk-white skin laughed at Yuyudhana. Yuyudhana stumbled down next to his horse.

 

'Oh boy! You should have seen yourself. Why would you try to outrun a bear?'

 

'Who are you? A step closer, and I'll shoot this arrow in your face.'

 

The man swiftly deflected Yuyudhana's bow with his right hand as he dismounted his horse. With his left, he grabbed the arrow and snapped it into two pieces with the press of his thumb.

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'Boy! Is this how a Yadava thanks a man who saved his life?' The man continues laughing. He was calm throughout the ordeal, and his demeanor helped Yuyudhana calm down, too.

 

'I'll not ask once more, Who are you?'

 

'Can't you see my body? Who else covers themselves in ash and roams around with a beard and Rudraksha maalas around every limb of their body.'

 

'Are you also a sadhu?'

 

'Congrats! You have won half the jackpot. I'm a Naga sadhu.' The man lends a hand to Yuyudhana and helps steady his horse back to its feet.

 

'Swami! Please don't eat me. I hear your lot are cannibals.'

 

'Bwahahaha! Not all of us, No. Some of us do not even eat meat. Dietary issues after prolonged red meat consumption you know,' says the man, laughing.

 

'Swami! How did the bear die?'

 

'Stop calling me 'Swami' Thambi. I'm Bhargava Rama. The Nagas call me Bhargava, and you are?'

 

'I'm Yuyudhana.'

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'Ha, your parents messed up big time with that long name. I'll need to rename you soon.'

 

'Bhargava, but how did the bear die?' asked Yuyudhana, still trying to acclimatize to Bhargava's frequency.

 

'Yuyudha, don't you see an axe in that animal's neck? Do you think Lord Ram would have thrown that? I was chuckling at your escapades, trying to outrun a wild bear, and flung the axe when I noticed the bear's feet moving towards you. It's a signal the bear gives before changing direction.'

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'Ah, you have timed the throw perfectly,' exclaimed Yuyudhana with a newfound respect for the man.

 

'Before I became a Naga Sadhu, I was a woodcutter and had a way with the axe. Now, let's get you on top of this horse first.'

 

The duo rode silently through the highway. After witnessing Bhargava's antics, the bears lurking in the bushes decided to leave them alone. Yuyudhana was perturbed that someone had to save him from the bear. He was also keen to know how a wild Naga Sadhu could have such a good aim in this dark lighting. 'There is something to learn from this man; let me try to network with him,' he reasoned.

 

'Swami…Sorry, Bhargava! So where are you from?'

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'Me, I'm from the Himalayas, my boy. I came here to witness a satsung near Ahicchatra, and I'm now off to Sravasti. Have you been to the Kumbh Mela there?'

 

'I have heard of it. I recall my father mentioning it to me.'

 

'Yes, it's a conference spot for us, Naga Sadhus. We discuss the geopolitics of the Mahajanpads and smoke hash, ' Bhargava said, laughing sheepishly.

 

'Where are you from, my child? What are you doing alone in this forest?'

 

'I'm from Mathura. I'm on my way to Ayodhya, and I'm going there to research the Anjaneya caves for my guru,' said Yuyudhana.

 

'Mathura? Hmm, it's a nice place but has got some weird rulers'

 

'You mean the Yadava brothers?'

 

'Them, but more so, I mean their uncle. What was his name again?'

 

'Oh Kamsa?'

 

'Yes, that guy. Phew, good riddance,' exclaimed Bhargava.

 

'I have heard he had a good side to him as well,' said Yuyudhana.

 

'And have you heard the bad side?'

 

'No'

 

'Well, long story, kid. Kamsa was a tyrant. His means of economic growth was to levy heavy taxes on the people and force them into mines. He imprisoned his father because he opposed him.'

 

'That's more of a personal agenda, right?' defended Yuyudhana.

 

'True, I can forgive him for these actions. What I cannot forgive him for is his reckless greed for power.'

 

'What did he do that you accuse him of such?'

 

'That stone at the tip of your arrow. That stone is the cause of all these problems. Ugrasena initially used Syamantaka for the welfare of the people. Our man here, instead, decided to make WMDs from this stone. Imagine a WMD made from a gemstone as powerful as the Syamantaka.'

 

'WMD? What does that do?'

 

'Child, don't you read? Weapons of Mass Destruction.'

 

'Anyways, our man decided to force some chief scientists in Mathura…'

 

'Oh, you mean Satrajit? I'm studying under him.'

 

'Yes, that guy. Kamsa coerced Satrajit and his team into developing these WMDs, and then, guess what? He sold them to the highest bidder from the other Mahajanpads. He essentially ran a black market arms race while being the ruler of Mathura.'

 

'And the highest bidder was Jarasandha?'

 

'Bingo Appane! Bingo! You're smarter than the bear I killed.'

 

Yuyudhana shrugged off the sarcasm, but he was enjoying Bhargava's conversation. Bhargava seemed more like a friend compared to the dictatorial Anantha. He noticed himself trusting Bhargava with information while innately being suspicious of Anantha.

 

'So is that why the Yadava brothers killed him?'

 

'Yes, this was the last straw, and they accepted his challenge for a duel and killed him at his palace.'

 

'I guess it's for the good; at least the current rulers seem sane,' said Yuyudhana.

 

'Debatable Appane! The Yadava brothers had ill intentions as well, and that's the reason for their misfortune today. You must have heard of the younger one's death?'

 

'That's a rumor, right?'

 

'Not sure, but I would blame it on his ambition.'

 

'What did he do to deserve such a grave fate? Didn't he save Mathura from Kamsa?'

 

'That's what I thought too, but hoarding off the Syamantaka and stopping its supply to the other Mahajanpads leads to the largest bidder attacking Mathura.'

 

'Ah, but what other choice do the brothers have?'

 

'Clever boy. Enough about this topic. Let's talk about your plans for the night. I'm on my way to that cottage there,' said Bhargava, pointing to a majestic building in the middle of the forest.

 

'I'm traveling to the same cottage too.'

 

The duo converse as they steadily ride towards the cottage. The Yadava guards welcome them. Yuyudhana reveals his royal seal, and Bhargava seems to show one too. The caretaker leads them to the dining area for a late dinner, and the waiter walks them through the dishes available.

 

'I'll have two curries and this maida delicacy with pineapple and lots of butter. Also, add the two sugar-fried balls for dessert,' ordered a famished Yuyudhana.

 

'I'll have dal and some quinoa with that,' Bhargava opted.

 

'Bhargava, you're in Gokulam. Everyone here relishes the butter delicacies. Why are you eating so meagrely?' asked Yuyudhana.

 

‘Yuyudha, I’m lactose intolerant. I loved these delicacies when I was younger, but my stomach no longer tolerates them. You should eat lightly, too, and who eats that with pineapple?' 

 

Yuyudhana shrugged him off and continued diving into his meal while Bhargava observed the boy from the corner of his eye.

 

The caretaker escorted them to their rooms, and the duo bid each other a good night.

 

Yuyudhana tried to catch some sleep as he recalled the day's happenings. Although it had started on a sad note from the rumor of the Yadava prince's death, he did meet Bhargava, who saved his life. He wondered if he would have reached the cottage if it weren't for Bhargava's help. Somehow, he felt Bhargava's face seemed familiar.

 

A sudden scream arose from the cottage. Yuyudhana woke up to consecutive knocks on his door.

 

'Son! Why are you screaming at this hour?' It was the caretaker and Bhargava with a night lamp.

 

'Yuyudha, you were screaming at the top of your voice and muttering about immigration checks. I told you not to eat those weird dishes,' said Bhargava.

 

'Forgive me, I had experienced a nightmare. I'll try to go back to sleep.'

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'Here, take this Rudraksha and keep it near your bed. It'll keep the asuras away,' said Bhargava as he handed over one of the Rudrakshas from his maalas. 

 

Yuyudhana tried to catch some sleep. Nidra Devi caught up with him after some tossing and turning.

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After a while, the door opened gently, and Bhargava entered Yuyudhana's room. He walked towards Yuyudhana's shoulder sack and grabbed the scroll. He exited the room and entered another room far away on the floor.

 

A lamp was lit at the corner of the room by the window. Bhargava sat by the lamp and read the scroll that Yuyudhana had carried. As he read through the scroll intently, his foreheads knotted, and at times, Bhargava would stare at the ceiling deep in thought. He continued reading; sometimes, he clenched his fist and laughed sparingly. 

 

Bhargava grabbed a similar scroll with an empty manuscript nearby. He wrote a message fervently in the same language as Yuyudhana's scroll. The lamp showed his keen eyes and suppressed laughter as he continued writing, occasionally pondering at the moon.

 

After completing the appropriated scroll, he swiftly walked to Yuyudhana's room, gently placed the appropriated scroll in the boy's shoulder sack, and left the room.

 

Bhargava again reached his secret room, prepared two other manuscripts that looked like instructions, and put them in the tube socket present in the room. These manuscripts would be sent with the outgoing mail the very next day. 

 

He sat there by the window as the sun rose and birds chirped.

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Yuyudhana woke up by the knock on the door.

 

'Aiyya! Is it morning already?' Yuyudhana asked

 

'Thambi, it is almost noon. You were deep in sleep, and I didn't know if I should wake you up,' said the caretaker.

 

'Oh, I must have slept late. Has Bhargava left?'

 

'You mean the Naga sadhu? Yes, he left early in the morning. He asked me to wish you well and told you to reach out to him in case you were interested in becoming a Naga sadhu.'

 

Yuyudhana smiled at Bhargava's wit and got ready to leave. 

 

'Aiyya! I noticed that his seal was a different one to the one I had.'

 

'Yes, child! He had the sign of a chakra. Only emissaries on important missions carry those.'

 

'Who could he have been?' Yuyudhana wondered. He thanked the caretaker and rode in the direction of Ayodhya.

 

'Ah, what a boring journey. I wish Bhargava had accompanied me. Although I didn't want to become a Naga sadhu, Bhargava did seem like a good mentor. I should meet him somehow in Sravasti after my research at Ayodhya,' he pondered as his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hooves approaching him.

 

He was ecstatic at the thought of it being Bhargava but instead saw three horses approaching. As they got closer, he noticed the purple flag with a red wheel at the center, flying at the top of their spears.

 

'Aiyya! Are you the Yadava Vrishni soldiers?' asked Yuyudhana

 

'This is the Magadhan Ghatak forces, child,' laughed the soldiers hysterically as they surrounded Yuyudhana upon seeing the Mathuran royal seal in his hand.