Torrential rain poured down in an instant, drenching Airavata until he resembled a drowned rat. He wasn't the only one—on the shore, the gazelles and Agni devs' vahana goats were also caught in the downpour. Steam rose from their soaked fur, and tendrils of black smoke curled into the air.
Garuda raised his right hand, pointing proudly at the white elephant.
"Airavata! Why aren't you out continuing your penance?" Garuda's voice boomed across the stormy landscape.
"You waste your time here in Vaikuntha," Garuda continued, voice dripping with disdain, "while Indra himself is in deep penance, seeking solutions for the Triloka. And yet, here you are, content, playing like a child, when you should be fulfilling your duty, performing the penance so you can continue your duties."
Hearing this, Airavata shook his massive trunk, then lowered his head and trotted obediently out of the lake.
"Meh! Baa baa!"
The antelopes and goats bleated merrily, their voices filled with cheerful excitement at the sight.
Meanwhile, Varuna dev's mount, Makara, slowly swam back from the vast lake. Watching Airavata's retreating figure, he couldn't help but smile. The great crocodile lifted its head to the sky and released a powerful jet of water. A fine mist spread, veiling the landscape in a shimmering haze.
Wow!
From within the mist, a towering, azure figure emerged onto the shore.
"Makara!"
Makara! Makara! Makara!
A deep, resonant roar rolled across the lake, like distant thunder rumbling through the heavens. Makara's small, sharp eyes widened as he looked toward the blue silhouette.
The other divine mounts, startled, all turned their heads in unison.
The mist thinned, and the figure became clear.
The water dev, Varuna, had arrived. And he was not alone.
One by one, divine figures materialized beside him—the radiant Sun Dev, Surya, the fierce Fire Dev, Agni, and the mighty Wind Dev, Vayu. Their celestial forms radiated overwhelming power, each exuding an aura of divine authority.
The mounts stirred in recognition. Without hesitation, they all moved swiftly to stand before their long-lost friends, rushing to give them warm hugs.
Varuna's face was dark with displeasure. Vayu's expression carried an air of irritation, while Agni's smoldering gaze burned with fury. Their divine wrath reflected in the eyes of their trembling mounts.
Nearby, Surya's gaze fell upon the white elephant lying leisurely in the distance, watching the scene unfold.
It seems their penance will take a while to be completed. Surya nodded slightly, his gaze shifting toward his divine steed.
The magnificent horse lay prostrate on the ground, its wide, unblinking eyes giving it the appearance of a white marble statue—utterly motionless, not even the faintest tremor running through its body. Yet, an immense aura of penance radiated from it, shimmering in the air like golden sunlight.
Surya's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Boom!
At that moment, the divine steed's accumulated penance seemed to reach its pinnacle.
Boom!
A dazzling burst of golden light erupted from its form, rolling outward in waves like drifting clouds of liquid gold. The brilliance swirled and shimmered, and from within its radiance, a majestic figure began to take shape.
Lord Vishnu had arrived.
With an effortless motion, Vishnu raised his right hand, and a soft golden glow descended upon the haggard horse. As the divine light washed over it, the once-weary steed regained its former glory—its gaunt frame filling out, muscles restored to their prime.
"Your penance is complete."
Vishnu's voice carried a gentle power, both commanding and reassuring.
"Now, tell me—what is your desire?"
The Devs turned in unison, their eyes filled with excitement. Even those who had shown little concern for their own mounts now focused entirely on this divine horse, sensing the significance of the moment.
Surya, filled with anticipation, wasted no time.
"Make it faster than all Asuras!" he declared.
Hissssssss~
The white horse rose swiftly to its feet, shaking its head and letting out a powerful neigh that echoed across the celestial plane.
Vishnu's smile deepened. Raising his right hand once more, he summoned a streak of golden radiance and let it cascade down, enveloping the horse in a divine glow.
"As you wish!"
As you wish! As you wish! As you wish!
Vishnu's voice resonated across Vaikuntha, the echoes rippling through the vast divine realm. The celestial brilliance danced across the surface of the Milk Ocean as if even the heavens themselves rejoiced in the blessing bestowed by Lord Vishnu.
The divine horse reared up on its hind legs, its flowing mane whipping through the air as it let out a triumphant, sky-shaking neigh.
Power surged through its body—an invisible yet undeniable force of divine speed and might.
Surya's eyes gleamed with delight. "Incredible! With this steed, we will never again fear the Asuras!"
"Exactly!" Agni grinned. "And Surya, when you take it for a ride, be sure to let me come along!"
"Count me in!" Vayu added with a smirk.
"And me as well!" Varuna chimed in hastily.
With a horse that no Asura could ever hope to catch, the Devs would never again need to flee in desperation.
Surya chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Fine, fine! With this steed, we will outrun any Asura!"
Vishnu watched with quiet satisfaction, his golden light still illuminating the heavens.
Everything had been set in motion, step by step.
Now, only one task remained—
It was time to awaken the King of Svarga.
...
Time flowed like a river, ever-changing and relentless.
Centuries passed.
In Svarga, the Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha toiled in relentless penance, seeking to amass enough power to summon Brahma himself.
On the throne of Svarga, the horse-headed Asura lounged with his eyes closed, basking in the indulgent luxuries of the celestial realm.
The Ocean of Milk
A divine fragrance filled the air, thick and intoxicating, its sacred aroma permeating the vast expanse of the Milky Ocean. One by one, the Devs turned their heads, their expressions a mix of awe and delight.
Garuda spread his mighty wings, his keen senses overwhelmed by the divine scent. Even the ever-composed Narada paused, closing his eyes to savor the fragrance, inhaling deeply as though the very essence of the cosmos had taken form.
The Amrita Bhojona was ready.
With a radiant smile, Devi Lakshmi stepped forward, carrying a massive golden plate. On it, an array of small, glistening golden bowls lay arranged like the petals of a blooming lotus. Each bowl held a celestial dish—pure white rice, fragrant turmeric curry, soft puri bread, and delicate milk cakes, their sweetness enriched by divine nectar.
A faint glow of ethereal light shimmered around the sacred meal, its presence stirring something deep within every deity present. Even the most powerful divine beings, those who had long been immune to mortal temptations, could not suppress the overwhelming hunger rising within them.
This was beyond Soma wine—this was something more divine, more irresistible.
"Take it to Kailasha and awaken the King of Svarga," Lakshmi commanded, her voice serene yet absolute. A soft radiance glowed between her brows, a mark of her boundless grace.
The Sun God, Surya, swallowed hard, his eyes fixed upon the divine feast. He clenched his fists, suppressing the primal desire surging within him, and reached for the plate with trembling hands.
Just as he turned to leave—
"Wait."
Lakshmi smiled, withdrawing a piece of crimson cloth. With a graceful motion, she covered the sacred meal and whispered, "Only Indra may lift this veil. Now go, swiftly."
Surya nodded solemnly, understanding the significance of the act. With renewed focus, he took the plate and turned toward his destination.
But as he soared through the heavens, he could feel the weight of countless eyes upon him. The Devs, riding their celestial mounts across the sky, struggled to keep their thoughts clear. Their vigilance faltered, and their divine resolve wavered.
None could resist.
Their gazes were fixated on the plate in Surya's hands—on the sacred meal that called to them like a whisper from the heavens.
And one by one, they swallowed their longing, fighting the temptation that threatened to consume them.
For something far greater was about to unfold.
...
The divine mounts, too, were not immune to temptation. They slowed their flight, their heads turning toward the holy meal as if drawn by an invisible force.
Surya's sun horse sniffed the air incessantly, its head held high, nose twitching as it tried to catch every wisp of the sacred aroma. It was so entranced that it barely paid attention to where it was flying.
Airavata, the celestial elephant, had no shame whatsoever. With a heavy grunt, he sidled up next to Surya's Ashvins, his massive form pushing in close. Then, extending his trunk toward the red-cloth-covered meal, he took a deep, greedy inhale.
Hnnnnnnhhh!
At that moment, another streak of orange light flashed through the sky. The Devs turned their heads.
Descending with effortless grace was none other than Narada, the messenger sage!
"Narayana Narayana~!"
Narada Muni floated toward the gathering, his ever-present smile beaming as he joined the crowd of deities.
Surya furrowed his brows. "Narada Muni, why are you here?" he asked, perplexed.
Narada chuckled, strumming his veena with a playful shake of his head. Then, with an utterly shameless grin, he confessed, "The Amrita Bhojona smells too divine—I was hoping to ask Indra for just a little bit of food!"
His words rang out with such unfiltered honesty that they echoed through the heavens.
The Devs froze.
"!!!"
Surya glanced down at the golden plate beneath the crimson veil. A dry gulp escaped his throat. "If Indra would share just a little of his food… I wouldn't mind a taste either," he muttered.
"Actually… I kind of want to try it too," Agni admitted, his gaze locked onto the plate.
The air grew thick with unspoken desire.
"The Amrita Bhojona is only necessary to awaken Indra, as he is the King of Svarga," Surya continued, his voice carrying an edge of frustration. "Wouldn't he, as the king, share just a little bit with me? I, his younger brother have as much stake in this feast as he does."
Agni chimed in, his voice tinged with longing. "And I, too, have a claim! I serve the fires that guide the Homa to Svarga. Surely, there's a part for me, too."
The Devs, the celestial Vahanas, even the Muni like Narada themselves—all their hearts beat in unison with the same hunger. They could feel the weight of the sacred meal's allure.
And yet, they knew…
Only Indra could lift the veil.
---
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