His steady, strong stance belied his fear. His steely expression aligned with the rippling muscles of his arms as he held the Vaishnavastra high above his shoulders. In his heart, he knew this was the end. Yet, he was a warrior and a king, and it was his duty to fight for his people until his last breath. Supratika, his beloved elephant, trumpeted hard even as Bhagadatta hurled the divine weapon towards his target. 

Narakasura – Bhagadatta’s Father

“Lord Vishnu!” He heard Bhudevi, Mother Earth, call out his name, her voice ragged and pitiful. His eyes witnessed her ravishing at the hands of Hiranyaksha, the Asura, who had kidnapped her and taken her to the depths of the ocean. 

He left his abode in Vaikunta and took the form of a boar. In a terrible fight, he defeated and killed Hiranyaksha. But not before Bhudevi found herself impregnated by the asura’s touch. She delivered her son, Narakasura. 

She looked with love at her newborn child. “He’s so beautiful and innocent. His father may have been wicked and cruel. But my son is going to be better. I will protect him and make sure he is safe. I will give my child an opportunity to live to the best of his potential.”

She pleaded with Lord Vishnu to keep him safe from the effects of his father’s evildoings. Lord Vishnu agreed to help Bhumi Devi and her son. He gave Naraka the Vaishnavastra, one of his most powerful weapons, saying, “As long as he holds this weapon of mine, he cannot be killed.” 

Narakasura ruled long from his capital at Pragjyotishpura, a beautiful land of plenty. He was powerful and invincible, almost invincible. He also had a boon from Lord Brahma that he could die only at the hands of his mother, Bhumi Devi, and the Vaishnavastra’s divine security. 

Naraka believed he had conquered death. 

Slowly, his personality underwent an inevitable change. Starting small with harassing the Devas, his arrogance slowly turns him into a monster, peaking at the desire to control the entire world, including Patala, the underworld, and Devaloka, the land of the sky and heavens, ruled by Indra. 

He marched to Indra’s kingdom, defeated and exiled him, and occupied his throne. He stormed the ladies’ chambers and began harassing the women, including Aditi, the mother of the Devas. In a despicable act, he ripped off the divine earrings of Mother Aditi. He took away the earrings, Indra’s prestigious decorative umbrella, and the Indraloka women to Pragjyotishpura. 

Indra rushed to Vaikuntha. “Dear Lord, You are watching all these injustices, and yet you take no action? Please save us from Narakasura’s vile acts. Is his time not yet done?” He pleaded.

Vishnu smiled at the King of the Gods. “His time is almost done, my dear Indra. However, you do realize that arrogance and vanity are not ugly temporal ornaments of the asuras alone, don’t you? You do realize you have fallen prey to them often. The power of immortality has gone to your head and that of other devas, too. Such problems are lessons in the futility of vanity and humility.”

Indra hung his head in shame and said, “Yes, I have learnt my lesson, Lord. I will be a better king and work for the upliftment of my kingdom and subjects. But please save us from Narakasura. Get Mother Aditi’s earrings back. Save the women of Indraloka.”

“Don’t worry, King of Devas. Krishna, my current avatar on Earth, is already on the job. Go in peace and wait for your time when you can ascend the throne of Indraloka again. Let Mother Aditi know her earrings will be returned to her.”

Even as Lord Vishnu was speaking to Indra, Krishna and Satyabhama, his third wife, were on their way to Pragjyotishpura on Garuda, Lord Vishnu’s vehicle. Satyabhama had always wanted to accompany Krishna in his battles. Her husband decided to grant her wishes this time for a very good reason.

When the couple reached the borders of Naraka’s kingdom, they found themselves facing Mura, the commander-in-chief of Naraka’s powerful army. Krishna annihilated everyone in a short, fierce battle. 

Naraka came out to battle and, vanity reeking from his voice, said, “Why do you waste your time, Krishna? I cannot be killed by anyone but my mother.” So saying, he shot an arrow at Krishna. 

“Satyabhama is Mother Earth-incarnate, you arrogant imbecile,” thought Krishna, even as he pretended to swoon. Seeing Krishna lying unconscious, Satyabhama was livid. She shot an arrow at Naraka, injuring him fatally. At that moment, Krishna got up and used his discus to cut the asura’s body in two.

Pragjyotishpura was filled with deathly silence, and his subjects came out to pay homage to their ruler. He was arrogant and vain, yet he was a good ruler and loved his subjects. Krishna did not miss this aspect of the asura king and realised that the kingdom was best left to Naraka’s valiant and able son, Bhagadhatta. 

Krishna spoke to the weeping Bhagadatta and said, “Every mortal has to die when their time comes. Your father managed to put off his mortality, not get rid of it. Console yourself, my dear boy. Your people are looking up to you to take them forward. Rule well, stay by their side always, and do what is good for them. And keep the Vaishnavastra. I bless you that you cannot be killed as long as my weapon is by your side.”

Bhagadatta Pays Tribute to the Pandavas

“I just want to keep my kingdom safe, dear Ministers,” Bhagadatta looked around at his court, filled with wise and learned men as his advisers and ministers. “I don’t care who I pay tribute to. I don’t want war. If Yudhisthira wants to show off his greatness through an Ashwamedha Yagna, let him. As long as he leaves my kingdom in peace. The tribute is a small price to pay for the welfare of my subjects.”

One of the senior ministers stood up and said, “My dear king, we trust your administrative and military abilities. We also know you have the best interests of Pragjyotishpura. Yet, I must place my thoughts before you so you may make an informed decision. It is true that the Pandavas seem to hold the upper hand today. But what happens if the Kauravas become stronger and the situation changes? Will they not hold it against us for shifting loyalties to their cousins? Why should we get caught between brothers?”

“You’re right, and I’ve factored that into my strategy. What gives me confidence is having the Vaishnavastra on our side. As long as Pragyotishpura is protected by it, Lord Vishnu’s blessings will keep us safe. Therefore, we will pay tribute to the one in the more powerful position to maintain peace in our kingdom.”

The ministers nodded at their king’s sensible strategy. And so, Bhagadatta, who was paying tribute to Hastinapur, shifted his kingdom’s allegiance to the newly-created Indraprastha ruled by Yudhisthira, the eldest Pandava. 

Bhagadatta Backs the Kauravas Again

“Everything lost in a game of dice! How stupid could the Kuru clan get? What were the elders doing? Couldn’t they have stopped the game and commanded the youngsters to stifle their enmity and look after their respective kingdoms? And how could Krishna not do anything about it? And why should other kingdoms get into their mess?” King Bhagadatta ranted, his anger unmistakable. 

“I’m truly tired of this infighting among the Kuru cousins. Both sides are greedy, it seems.” 

Pragjtyoishpura had just received the news of the Pandavas’ 12-year exile, followed by one year of living incognito, along with the demand for tribute to be paid to Hastinapur instead of Indraprastha henceforth. 

Like a good administrator, he called his advisers and ministers for counsel. They all looked grave, knowing the consequences of today’s decision. 

“When the exile is over, wouldn’t the Pandavas return in all their glory?” One of the ministers quipped.

“They have lost everything. Recouping and getting back their original power is going to be very difficult for them,” replied another minister.

“But if they do, wouldn’t they want to take nasty revenge on those who turned their backs on them during their difficult days?” Said another.

“And what if the Pandavas are discovered during their year of living incognito? Then, they would be sent back to another 12 years of exile, right? And that could go on.”

“Yes, that could happen too.” 

“Maybe the Kuru elders will convince the Kauravas to end the exile and let everyone live in peace,” one hopeful voice rang through the confusion and worry.

“I sense dark days. I believe a big war is imminent!” The wise minister said.

“A war between the cousins! That would be cruel. Brother killing brother!” One of the younger ministers said, appalled at the thought.

“Your youth feeds your idealism, my dear boy. When you have lived as long as I have, you know we humans can stoop to any lengths to feed our greed and desires.” The old man’s voice quivered as he thought of the horrors, bloody outcomes and irreparable losses of war. 

Bhagadatta’s face turned dark, anger combined with worry. “We have to pick a side!”

“Indeed, my lord. I’m afraid that’s going to be the worst thing for us. We have to pick a side even if we don’t have any stake on either side. That’s what happens when the powerful ones choose war.”

“If the war happens, I would have to choose the Kauravas if I pay them tribute now.”

“Yes, my king.”

“Hmm! Whose side would Krishna fight on?”

“I would bet my life he would be on the side of the Pandavas. Their mother, Kunti, is his aunt, and he has always known to favour them over the Kauravas.”

“I believe he is angry with Yudhisthira for not reaching out to him before the game of dice! Would that change his mind?: King Bhagadatta asked hopefully.

“I doubt it, my lord. During the game, when Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, was being disrobed in open court, it was Krishna who came to her help.”

“What! Disrobed in open court!” Vajradatta, Bhagadatta’s elder son said. He was shocked and dismayed.

“Yes!” His father said, his head hanging in shame, just hearing the news. 

“How can we pay tribute to rapists and molesters!” Pushpadatta, the younger son said.

“Aah! I wish we had the karmic power to be judgmental, my dear sons,” countered Bhagadatta. “Remember my father and his atrocities! I loved him. But I can’t forget how his actions almost caused the downfall of our kingdom. We must learn as much as we can from our mistakes. Passing judgment on others is one of the first lessons we should imbibe. I don’t condone what the Kauravas did to Draupadi. My heart goes out to her, and I’m furious that Yudhisthira even thought of using her as a pawn in such a deadly game. And I’m even more angry at the Kauravas and the Kuru elders. I’m just saying we are not in a position to judge.”

“Moreover,” he continued when his court fell silent. “My only priority is Pargjyotishpura and her subjects. What works best for them? And I think in this situation, paying tribute to the Kauravas would be an informed decision, right? We will see if and when the Pandavas return from their exile.”

“I believe so too,” said the wise old minister. “At this point in time, the Pandavas are nobody. They cannot come to her aid even if they want to. And we don’t have the luxury of offending the powerful Kauravas. We will cross the bridge about whose side to take if and when the war happens. Until then, my king, I think your choice to pay tribute to the Kauravas to protect Pragjyothispura is sound.”

Bhagadatta Returns Vaishnavastra to its Rightful Owner

As his wise old minister predicted, the war between cousins became a reality. As he was already under the suzerainty of the Kauravas, Bhagadatta had little choice but to fight on their side. Although he stood opposite Krishna, he was hoping Lord Vishnu’s Vaishnavastra would keep him safe.

It was the 12th day of the war. Bhagadatta was in the heat of battle, ably aided by his beloved mount, Supratika. Some of the best Pandava warriors, including Bhima and Yudhisthira, couldn’t prevent the King of Pragjyotishpura from wreaking havoc on the battlefield. 

Arjuna rushed to his brothers’ aide, his chariot driven by Krishna. Bhagadatta bowed to the Lord of Dwarka, who smiled at him, sadness writ large on his face. Narakasura’s son looked resplendent on his mighty elephant. The battle between Bhagadatta and Arjuna was between equals. Both showered sharp arrows and weapons on each other even as the elephant crushed many warriors under its legs. Even Arjuna struggled to keep Bhagadatta in check.

When the King of Pragjyotishpura was at the peak of success, he hurled the Vaishnavastra at Arjuna, hoping against all hope it would return to him after killing the third Pandava, yet knowing this was the end. Before Arjuna could react, Krishna stood up from his driving seat to meet the Vaishnavastra. As soon as the weapon touched Krishna’s body, it changed into a garland around his neck. The Vaishnavastra was returned to its rightful owner.

Bhagadatta was now vulnerable. A shower of arrows came from Arjuna, and he fell down. Arjuna’s next arrow aimed at Supratika’s forehead found its mark, and both beast and master left the human world together. 

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.