“Felicitations to you, O Conqueror of the Three Worlds!” The sparkling voice sang down the large throne room. Unexpected but always welcome, the members of the court turned to greet the source. Looking up from his advisors, Hiranyakashipu saw Narada standing in the grand entrance of his throne room.
He stood and held his arms out warmly. “Welcome, Davarishi Narada!” Today was the kind of day that just kept getting better. “What may I do for you?”
“O King, it is I who have come to do something for you,” Narada teased. The sage seemed to admire the garlands of flowers that hung off the ceiling in a shower of blossoms. The pillars had been embedded with tiles of cat’s eye and emeralds. Rubies sparkled along Hiranyakashipu’s throne. Narada continued, “You seem to have made yourself at home here in Bhulok. Forgive my tardiness, O King. I am sorry to have missed the coronation.”
Hiranyakashipu motioned to Kamala, who was standing in the corner of the throne room with a basket of flowers and garlands. She approached Narada and placed a garland of marigold flowers around his neck. She handed him a lotus and bowed. The devarishi smiled and folded his hands, bowing in return. “My greetings to your aunt, Kamala. May her wits remain as sharp as ever.”
Kamala looked perplexed. “Um… Thank you, Devarishi,” she said quietly, turning to Hiranyakashipu for guidance. He blinked knowingly and with a gentle nod of his head dismissed her. “Narada’s prophecies are always so unsettling,” the king thought as he watched his servant retreat.
“Narada, I’m surprised to hear that you’ve arrived late. I thought you always arrived at exactly the right time, wherever you are going.”
The sage’s flushed cheeks and bashful eyes filled Hiranyakashipu with glee. “Perhaps then after your coronation is exactly the right time. There might be fewer witnesses to how I anger you today.”
Hiranyakashipu was very serious. “Devarishi, you are the only one of the devas who came to see me after Hiranyaksha died. You may anger me a thousand times and still stand in my court,” Hiranyakashipu said. He hastily blinked away the rising tears, clearing his throat and resuming his seat. “What have you come for?” he asked, wincing at the sound of his voice.
Narada’s expression betrayed no emotions other than eternal bliss. “O King,” he said, “How come you have decided to rule your kingdom from Bhulok? I had thought that after conquering the three worlds you would have taken your place on Indra’s throne in Swargalok.”
Hiranyakashipu assessed Narada, looking over his glittering garments and garlands of flowers. “Why? Is something wrong with ruling my kingdom from Bhulok?”
“Narayana, Narayana!” Just hearing the name burned the asura king’s ears, but he said nothing. One had to accept Devarishi Narada just as he was to see any conversation bear fruit. Narada continued, seeming not to notice, “I would never insult you or Bhudevi with such a suggestion. Swargalok is so beautiful, and from there the view of this devi is marvelous. I simply thought you’d want the best view of Bhulok.”
Hiranyakashipu’s brows furrowed, meeting in the middle like a tsunami crashing the shore. “And I should go there instead so I can watch the devas steal Bhudevi?” Narada opened his mouth to speak, but Hiranyakashipu’s voice crashed over the space faster than Narada could object. “No. Here I can ensure that Bhudevi is kept as she is meant to be. It’s what Hiranyaksha would have wanted.”
“Perhaps not everything we want is worth acquiring, O King. You have already secured your kingdom and won all the riches and luxuries of the three worlds. Now even offerings and oblations come to you! What more could you want with Bhudevi?”
“She belongs to me, Narada. Where your beloved Vishnu,” he spat out Narayana’s name, “stole her from Hiranyaksha, I have won her back fairly.”
“Just as you did the Heavens,” Narada said softly. “You can win Bhulok, Hiranyakashipu. But even you cannot accomplish what Hiranyaksha wanted, because that is impossible. Indeed, what do you want her for?”
“Hiranyaksha loved her, and he would have kept her kindly. She is the one who called on that deceitful Vishnu and had my brother murdered. She’ll regret the day that she took my brother from me.”
“Bhudevi was not created for the personal pleasure of one asura. She is a goddess. As a devi, she has responsibilities beyond answering to one person’s, or one king’s, every whim, Hiranyakashipu.” The king watched Narada with suspicion. His prophecy was proving itself true, as always; Narada was here to anger Hiranyakashipu after all. “No one can own her. Her freedom is more precious than being kept well in captivity. Even by the Conqueror of the Three Worlds.”
“Besides,” Narada said, beginning to turn away from the king,”you can hold captive all the universes, the whole brahman, O Conqueror. But you cannot own the soul. To try is to only invite misery.”
Hiranyakashipu let out a tired sigh. Of course it should be that Devarishi Narada comes right after Hiranyakashipu’s coronation to drown his victory in riddles and confusion. “What are you saying, Narada? Are you threatening me?”
“It is a warning, Hiranyakashipu,” Narada said. For once, Narada’s gentle features were heavy. The king thought such tightly knitted brows were not becoming of Narada, as his tumultuous emotions clouded his soft features. They seemed to war across Narada’s face, each fighting for their voice to be heard first. Hiranyakashipu’s heart fluttered as Narada’s bright eyes seemed grey and serious.
Hiranyakashipu surveyed Narada’s clothes again, as if seeing him for the first time. Just like a deva in opulence, his robes glittered in the sunshine, and his yellow dhoti seemed to be made of liquid gold. Its blue detailing traced his body like a snake. “Who is this rishi?” wondered Hiranyakashipu.
“I have come as your well-wisher,” Narada continued. Hiranyakashipu stiffened. “Forget this foolish mission to own souls.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Narayana, Narayana.”
Chapter 4 >
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