King of Devas

"Hayagriva?!" Shukracharya whispered, his voice heavy with disbelief, the words almost caught in his throat.

"He lives…" he murmured again, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto the figure in the distance.

But Hayagriva was not alone.

Flanking him were two other Asuras, their forms equally imposing, their focus unwavering. Short and stocky, they bore the marks of relentless devotion: wild, unkempt hair framed their weathered faces, and their bodies were streaked with a pale layer of white dust that clung to their skin like armor. Their black battle-worn armor seemed to fuse with the grime, the scars of countless battles etched into every surface.

Madhu and Kaitabha—names whispered with caution and fear—stood beside Hayagriva. The two had been legends of their own, known for their cunning and brute force, now united in a shared purpose.

The trio stood in perfect alignment, their feet firmly planted on the blade of a massive battle-ax driven into the earth. The heat of the molten sky bore down on them, yet they remained resolute, their postures unyielding.

"Ōm āim hrīm śrīm klīm!" Their voices rang out in unison, deep and resonant, carrying the weight of their devotion.

Again, they chanted: "Ōm āim hrīm śrīm klīm!"

Their words reverberated through the barren land, a powerful invocation to the goddess they sought to appease. Sweat dripped down their faces, mixing with the dirt and grime, yet their focus remained unbroken.

Shukracharya's fists clenched at his sides, his mind racing. Hayagriva's return alone was alarming, but to see him joined by Madhu and Kaitabha—a trio of titanic strength, origin, and penance—sent a shiver through his being. Under the molten sky, the penance of the Asuras cast a shadow that would not be ignored.

...

The sounds of prayers echoed in rhythmic succession, each one rising into the air with devotion. Though the scene before him was peculiar, it failed to draw the attention of Rishi Shukracharya. What truly caught his eye, however, were the two Asuras coated in white dirt, their bodies radiating a powerful aura that seemed unmistakably tied to Vishnu.

It was as if these two Asuras had been soaked in the very essence of Vishnu. From a distance, the presence they exuded felt off-putting to Shukracharya, an unsettling aura that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Hmph!" he scoffed under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "These two Asura's origin and karma must be closely tied to Vishnu. I can only hope their penance fails, or better yet, that the Indra puts an end to them."

Shukracharya muttered this silently, a curse under his breath before his face twisted in disgust. He quickened his pace, eager to distance himself from the troublesome pair. The last thing he wanted was to cross paths with them.

As he walked, he made his way deeper into the earth, until he reached the heart of the fiery chasm. The ground beneath him was scorched, molten magma flowing like rivers of flame, and the air thick with the pungent stench of sulfur.

Taking a deep breath of the thick, acrid smoke, Shukracharya allowed himself a moment of calm before he floated into the air. His body gradually turned upside down, his head facing the ground, as he hovered above the blazing magma. The black smoke billowed upward, swirling in the heat, yet he welcomed it, unfazed.

With his hands pressed together beneath his head, he caught the sweat that trickled from his body.

Drip. Drip.

The sweat fell, gathering in his hands as he performed his penance. His posture, suspended in the air amidst the smoke and fire, was a testament to his discipline—an ascetic practice honed through countless years of devotion. There were others who could endure such trials, but none could match the grace and precision of his form.

Shukracharya took a deep, steadying breath and turned his focus inward, allowing the divine presence of Lord Shiva to fill his thoughts.

"Om Namah Shivaya," he whispered, his voice a low, reverent murmur as he continued his meditation, undisturbed by the chaos around him.

…

On the other side, in Svarga, a new era dawned.

With Hiranyakashipu's complete elimination, Svarga was finally reclaimed by the Devas. The long struggle had come to an end, and the celestial realm was once again in their hands.

However, the devastation caused by Narasimha's rampage had left Svarga in ruins. The Asura strongholds had been utterly destroyed, their once mighty structures now little more than smoldering wreckage. There was no need for the Devas to take up tools to tear them down; all that was left to do was clean up the remnants.

The air was filled with a sense of relief and jubilation.

"Congratulations, everyone!" The celebrations began to echo through the celestial realm.

Amravati and many other grand cities, once nestled in the Brahma Loka, had now returned to Svarga, their radiant light restoring the former glory of the Devas' home.

"Eh!" Agni put his hands on his hips and sighed, a small frown tugging at his lips. "After all this time in Brahma Loka, I'm still not quite used to being back here."

Years spent in Brahma Loka had softened their attachment to Svarga, and now, returning felt strange, almost unsettling.

"Yes, I'm with you on that," Vayu added, his tone echoing Agni's sentiment.

"Indeed," Varuna nodded in agreement.

Indra, standing nearby, blinked in surprise and glanced at them curiously. "Have you all really moved back your cities to Svarga?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes!" came the unanimous response from Surya, Agni, Vayu, and Varuna.

Indra's gaze flickered over them in confusion. "Am I the only one who still has a palace in Brahma Loka? Maybe I'll stay there from time to time in the future."

"Didn't you prepare for this?" Indra added, his surprise deepening. He had never imagined that his fellow devas had left behind their homes in Svarga for the comfort of Brahma Loka.

He chuckled lightly, adding, "With so many Asuras still out there, and some as powerful as Hiranyakashipu, I thought it prudent to have a place to retreat to. If things ever go south again, I'll just head straight to Brahma Loka, and—" he stopped, raising his hands with a shrug, "—save myself the trouble of moving. The Devas have been beaten so many times, haven't we thought of being prepared for a rainy day?"

In an instant, his words left the Devas frozen, wide-eyed, and stunned. Indra's nonchalant suggestion had caught them completely off guard. The thought of retreating, of having a backup plan in place, was something they had not considered in their celebrations. The silence that followed spoke volumes about their surprise.

Surya frowned, his brow furrowing as he clenched his right fist and struck it against the palm of his left hand. Agni shook his head in disbelief, his eyes widening in realization. Vayu parted his lips, surprised at the idea, while Varuna turned his head with a look of regret.

No wonder Indra had been chosen as the God of Svarga!

Why hadn't they thought of this?

"Is it possible to move there now?" Varuna asked, breaking the silence.

The Devas exchanged uncertain glances.

After all, Brahma Loka was not their true home, and the idea of retreating there now, at this time, felt a bit... unsightly.

"We need to find a deva who's closer to Lord Brahma," Surya said slowly, as a new thought crossed his mind.

"Soma! Soma would be perfect!" Agni's eyes lit up as he spoke. "Soma, he can be considered grandson Brahma-pita as his father is one of Saptarisihi, Atri. If we ask him, he could move a palace to Brahma Loka for us."

It was a reminder of the time when the Trimurti had tested Rishi Atri's wife's faithfulness and given her three children. Soma had been one of their boons, symbolizing the born from the power of Brahma's boon himself.

"Exactly! Agni, you've hit the nail on the head!" Vayu's face brightened, a genuine smile spreading across his features. "If Soma takes us there, I'm sure Lord Brahma won't object. After all, we've lived in Brahma Loka for so many years. Keeping a few more palaces there shouldn't be an issue."

"That's the truth," Varuna agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

…

Time flew by.

The Gandharvas, full of enthusiasm, were hard at work renovating temples across Svarga. The Devas, too, were preparing for the grand occasion. Dressed in golden and silver attire, their bodies glowing with precious light and their divine power radiating brilliantly, they were getting ready to depart for Vaikuntha to attend the Lord's banquet. However, before they could set off, there was one task they had to complete first.

They made their way to the Nandana Garden to address a pressing matter.

The atmosphere in the garden was serene. The air was fresh with the scent of flowers, and the lush green Bodhi trees swayed gently in the breeze. The sky was a clear blue, and the lake water rippled softly as birds chirped joyfully from the treetops. It was a scene of pure natural beauty.

Indra, leaning casually against the trunk of a Bodhi tree, put his hands behind his head and stretched lazily. A yawn escaped his lips, and for a brief moment, he felt the weight of sleep pulling at him.

"Hahu~" Indra murmured, settling in comfortably. "It's the perfect time for a nap."

The other Devas froze in shock, their expressions shifting as they took in the sight. They couldn't believe their eyes.

"Why!" Agni gasped, stepping forward, eyes wide with disbelief. "No way! Is Indra going to skip the Lord's banquet and keep training?"

Swallowing nervously, Agni raised his hand, trying to intervene. "Lord Indra, let's go! This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Vaikuntha."

Indra lazily lifted his eyelids and stretched his arms. With a glance at the God of Fire, he replied, "I won't go. I said I'm going to focus on my penance next. There's no need for me to attend a party right now."

Indra was resolute. He was already mentally preparing himself for another intense round of ascetic practices. The banquet was simply unnecessary.

"I won't go," he declared firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

But Vayu wasn't giving up so easily. With a smile, he tried again. "King of Svarga, are you truly not coming? This is the Lord's gathering. We haven't seen Vaikuntha yet!"

Indra waved his hand dismissively. "It's not interesting. I'd rather practice."

Vayu scratched his head, his face twisted in exasperation. "But, if you're not going and are going to do another penance, then who will bring the rain to the Bhuloka?"

Indra raised an eyebrow, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Didn't I do it just fine before? Airavata can manage."

At the mention of Airavata, Indra glanced toward the lake, scanning the surface. "By the way, where's my dear Airavata?"

Suddenly, a white shadow shot up from the water with a mighty splash, sending waves rippling across the lake. The figure sped off into the distance, leaving them in its wake. It was Airavata, Indra's elephant, charging ahead without a second thought.

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