MAHABHARATA SERIES BOOK#2: The Seeds of War (Mba) Read Free

straining her father’s heart. ‘What wrong has Kacha done that he should die so young? He was your most attentive and obedient pupil. He always served you immaculately. He performed every chore allotted to him and fulfilled his dharma. Even when I desired more than mere friendship, yet he stuck to his brahmacharya vows and remained austere and celibate. He is a great man, son of a great rishi and grandson of a great rishi as well. I could not ask for a finer life-companion. I love him too dearly to accept his loss and continue living. If you cannot revive him, then accept the knowledge that I too intend to kill myself. I shall go with him to the land of the dead and live there with him in the hereafter.’ 
    By this time, his daughter’s anguish and the realization of what had befallen Kacha had removed all trace of intoxication from Shukracharya’s senses. He was upset by the foul murder of his pupil. The danavas had had no right to slay a pupil under his own guidance. ‘This is murder of a brahmin, a terrible unforgiveable sin under any circumstances. What Devayani says is not wrong. Kacha was innocent and pure. He did nothing to warrant such a heinous end. This is pure evil. How dare the danavas slaughter my own pupil? I shall not let this stand.’
    Spurred by his daughter’s tears and angered by what his followers had done without consulting him, Maharishi Ushanas once again used the Sanjivani to summon Kacha. 
    By the power of the arcane art of resurrection, Kacha’s consciousness returned to life. His body began to form and reassemble itself. But almost immediately, he became aware of his surroundings and understood where he was. Willing his own being to stop the process of reconstruction, he spoke to his guru from within his mind. ‘Gurudev, if you bring me back fully to life as I was before, it will cost you your own life! I am within your own belly.’ 
    Even Maharishi Ushanas was taken aback at this revelation. ‘How did this come to pass, Kacha?’ 
    This time, through the teachings of his guru, Kacha had been able to retain the memory of what transpired even after he was killed. He recounted everything that had been done to him. When Kavya Ushanas came to know that his own followers had not just committed the crime of brahmin-hatya, but had also descrated their own guru’s body by tricking him into consuming another living being, he was deeply upset. 
    Devayani knew nothing of the conversation that had transpired between the disembodied Kacha and her father. She asked him tearfully why Kacha had still not returned. ‘Have you deployed the Sanjivani yet, father?’ she asked. 
    ‘This time, even my secret knowledge will not avail us, daughter,’ he said sadly. ‘For even though I dearly wish to restore your beloved Kacha to you, I cannot do so without ending my own life.’
    Devayani could not follow her father’s meaning. So he explained further, touching his belly. ‘He is in my stomach. Only by tearing me apart can he live again. If you still wish me to do so, I shall deploy the Sanjivani, but you will regain your beloved only to lose your father. Is that what you wish?’
    Devayani’s heart was rent with pain yet again. ‘Of course not, father! How can I want you to die? That is too great a price to pay for Kacha’s death.’ But having said this, she could not discern what to do next. Losing Kacha was the end of her life, while the price of losing her father was too great to pay. 
    Kavya Ushanas saw her pain and confusion and came to a decision. Without troubling Devayani further, he sent her away with the assurance that all would soon be well. Trust her father implicitly, she left him alone. 
    Shukracharya addressed Kacha directly through the power of his mind. ‘Heed my words well, shishya. Today is the day that you graduate from my gurukul. For I am about to do that which I have not done for any student before you in countless years. I am about to grant you knowledge of the