"Rambha is truly brave, daring to defy the king's orders like that!" Virochana muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"What? Did you see him running toward the human world? He's obviously scared," Kaalkeya snorted. "By the time he finishes his penance and that son of his is born, it will be ages before he can do anything!"
"Just go back, and be sure to show up tomorrow for the prayer session," another sighed, his tone heavy with resignation. This was Nishumbha, his voice thick with weariness.
"Ugh! It's better to undergo hard training than this endless charade! I'd rather cut myself a thousand times!" Dhumra grumbled bitterly.
With a collective sigh of despair, the generals began to shuffle out of the temple, their spirits deflated as they flew back to their respective palaces.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, hidden by the power of Maya, Hayagriva, Madhu, and Kaitambha overheard the conversation.
"Let's charge in now!" Madhu exclaimed, gripping his sledgehammer tightly, ready to move forward.
But Hayagriva stopped him, his hand grabbing Madhu's arm firmly. "Wait."
His sharp ears twitched as his fingers traced intricate circles in the air, his mind racing. His eyes darted, and two streams of white vapor escaped from his nostrils as he pondered the Asura general's words.
"I've never heard of this Prahlada. The people are saying he's the son of Hiranyakashipu…" Hayagriva murmured, his mind working quickly. "Could the current Asura King really be the son of Hiranyakashipu? And where are Hiranyakashipu, Hiranyaksha, and Vajranga now?"
A sudden thought struck him like a bolt of lightning, his eyes widening in realization. "Could it be that this Prahlada, through intense penance, killed or imprisoned Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu? And killed Vajranga as well?"
He couldn't help but gasp at the possibility. Turning to Madhu and Kaitambha, his expression grew serious. "This Prahlada isn't just some ordinary foe."
Madhu and Kaitambha exchanged a brief glance, their confidence unwavering.
"You two will work together to take him down," Hayagriva instructed, his voice filled with certainty. "I'll support you with archery. One shot, and it will be over."
"Got it. No problem," they both replied, their voices full of assurance.
The two were confident in their strength, prepared to face any challenge—even taking on the protector of the world, Vishnu, if necessary.
Without wasting another moment, the three of them silently infiltrated the Asura Temple, shadows blending into the darkness.
Inside the temple, Prahlada sat alone on his throne, his thoughts heavy. He sighed deeply, the weight of his responsibilities pressing on him.
"Narayan!" Prahlada muttered, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "How should I lead this group of Asuras? Perhaps I am not suited for this role... Alas!"
He sighed deeply, feeling a weight on his heart. He had never felt truly at home in the Patala loka. The atmosphere here, with its constant struggles, violence, and chaos, never resonated with him. Even if he tried to change it with his own power, it always felt wrong. It was as if peace didn't belong here.
Compared to this, he longed for the serene meditation forests of the Rishis, where peace and wisdom flowed like the gentle rivers.
But what he truly yearned for, above all else, was to enter Lord Vishnu's Vaikuntha, to be by the Lord's side and bask in His divine presence.
As these thoughts lingered in his mind, Hayagriva stood in the shadows, cloaked in the power of Maya. His form was barely discernible, a mere wisp in the darkness.
Swish!
In an instant, a divine bow materialized in his hands. With swift precision, he notched an arrow and pulled back the bowstring.
Hayagriva was a master of focus now. All doubts, all distractions, evaporated from his mind. His entire being became one with the bow and the arrow, the tension of the string building with every passing moment.
While most Asuras wielded maces, hammers, and scimitars, Hayagriva had always preferred the axe and bow. His strength was immense, but his physical endurance was not as formidable as some of his kin.
One mighty swing of his axe could shake the very fabric of the void, its power enough to split space itself. But the bow—ah, the bow was his true weapon. With one shot, he could strike down any opponent, pouring every ounce of his power into that single, fateful arrow.
The power he summoned now was enough to rival even Hiranyaksha's strength, but unfortunately, his power would be rendered useless by Hiranyaksha's Rishi blessing. That's why he needed the help of Madhu and Kaitambha—his partners in this dangerous mission.
"Prahlada..." Hayagriva muttered under his breath, focusing all his energy on the bowstring, his muscles coiled like a spring.
Meanwhile, Prahlada, unaware of the danger closing in on him, sighed again. He had resigned himself to the idea of retreating to his palace for rest, his mind weary from the burdens of leadership.
But then, something changed.
His senses tingled.
A familiar, comforting presence brushed against his consciousness, a presence that had always been with him since his youth—a presence that had protected him, watched over him, and guided him through countless trials his father had set to break his devotion.
"Narayana?!" Prahlada gasped, his heart racing. His body jerked as he turned, his eyes scanning the temple, but there was nothing there.
The sense of familiarity lingered, but the source was nowhere to be seen. Confusion and uncertainty clouded his mind as he stood motionless, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Amid Prahlada's surprise, a voice suddenly broke the silence, laced with shock and disbelief.
"You actually found us!"
Madhu's figure materialized from the shadows, his eyes blazing with intensity.
"No need to hide anymore!" Kaitambha followed closely, his presence just as commanding as Madhu's.
Together, the two Asuras fixed their fiery gaze on Prahlada.
"Hand over the throne of the Asura King!" Madhu demanded, his tone sharp and unwavering.
"Yes, hand it over!" Kaitambha echoed his voice, a cold reflection of his partner's resolve.
Prahlada blinked, his initial confusion morphing into surprise and something else—understanding. These two Asuras were disheveled, their faces caked in white dirt, but there was no mistaking the unmistakable aura of the Lord surrounding them.
Could it be...? Did the Lord Vishnu hear his wish to live in Vaikuntha?
"Are you here on orders of the Lord?" Prahlada asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and a touch of excitement.
Madhu and Kaitambha exchanged a brief, stunned glance.
What?
This Asura knew about Hayagriva? How could he know that the Lord had sent them?
The realization hit them with unsettling clarity. They hesitated for a moment, confusion and doubt flickering across their faces. But that hesitation quickly melted into resolve, and both Asuras stepped forward, their posture growing more assertive.
"So what if I know?" Madhu sneered, his face twisting with a mix of shock and rising anger. The dirt streaked across his face like the storm brewing within him. "In that case—"
Prahlada, however, remained calm, his eyes serene as if untouched by the growing tension. "Then I will give you the throne of the Asura King!" he declared, his voice unwavering and almost peaceful despite the storm of thoughts churning within him.
A warm smile curled his lips, one that held no bitterness, no regret. After all, he was a servant of the Lord. What harm was there in relinquishing his title, his identity as the King of the Asuras, the ruler of the Patalaloka? If Lord Vishnu desired it, Prahlada would gladly step aside.
But as he spoke, a sudden shift in the air caught his attention.
Hidden in the shadows, Hayagriva's expression darkened. The mention of "The King of Asura" was like a jolt to his very soul.
His body involuntarily recoiled, and the concentrated power he had carefully gathered for his attack was suddenly forced back into his own being. The force of the collision inside him was so strong that it caused a wave of internal pain.
"Ugh!"
Hayagriva clenched his teeth, stifling a groan as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. The injury was painful, but he couldn't afford to focus on it.
The blessing he carried would heal the wound soon enough. But at this moment, he had no time for that. His mind was focused entirely on the looming confrontation.
"This guy is either innocent or very cunning!" Hayagriva's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched Prahlada, his grip tightening on the pillar beside him. If it weren't for the risk of making a scene, he might have cheered in awe.
In the grand hall, Prahlada's expression remained calm, his gaze steady and serene. He stood there, a faint smile tugging at his lips, as he slowly lifted his arms, opening them wide. With that simple motion, the overwhelming power of the earth began to peel away from him, like an ancient force being stripped of its hold.
The earth itself groaned beneath him. It was as if the earth dragon had awakened, its roar shaking the very ground, causing the hall to tremble in response.
Madhu and Kaitambha stared in stunned silence. This was beyond their expectations—this guy had just stripped away the Patala loka's power from himself!
"Well, alright then," Prahlada said, his voice light and nonchalant. "I'm off to find my mother and leave Patala behind. You can have the throne."
He paused, his smile widening slightly. "But be careful. With the Patala's throne now unclaimed, there will be Asuras flocking to fight for the throne of the Asura King."
With that, he turned and walked away, his movements graceful and unburdened. His body was relaxed, and his steps were light as he exited the temple, disappearing from the sight of Hayagriva, Madhu, and Kaitambha.
Hayagriva stood there, his mind reeling.
Is this really the son of Hiranyakashipu?
He couldn't comprehend it. Prahlada's calm and self-assured demeanor was too unsettling, too different from what he had expected.
Madhu and Kaitambha, still in shock, exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha, brother! We're going to be the Asura Kings now!" Kaitambha's grin was wide, his fists clenched in excitement.
"That's right! I'll take the throne first, and then you can follow!" Madhu grinned back, slapping his brother on the back.
Kaitambha looked slightly disappointed, lowering his head. "Can't you just let me be first?"
Madhu's smile faded slightly, his face tightening in response, just as Hayagriva emerged from the shadows.
"Are you two seriously fighting over such a trivial title?" Hayagriva's voice was sharp, and his words were laced with scorn. "Do you not understand the bigger picture here?"
He stepped forward, his gaze intense and his tone urgent. "The throne of the Asura King is nothing more than a symbol of temporary power. It is fleeting, easily claimed, and easily lost. But the true role, the one worthy of your strength, lies in something far greater."
Madhu and Kaitambha exchanged uncertain glances, their egos bruised by the dismissal of the title they had fought for.
"Do you two have the vision to see the path ahead?" Hayagriva continued, his voice dripping with conviction. "You should aim higher, for the true seat of power—the position of Preserver of the World! That is a title worthy of your strength, a position that will give you dominion over not just the Asuras but all of creation. With that power, Vishnu himself will tremble before you."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in. "Forget about the trivial throne. We have the plan and the potential to be the Trimurti that shapes, sustains, and destroys the cosmos. Are you truly willing to settle for less?"
The silence that followed was heavy with temptation. Madhu and Kaitambha's expressions shifted, their ambitions stirring with the possibility of something far greater than they had imagined.
The mention of Vishnu made both Madhu and Kaitambha's expressions shift instantly. There was a flicker of doubt, but their faces remained determined.
"Tsk!" Hayagriva clicked his tongue in exasperation. "You really think I'd lie to you? I was the one who brought you two into the Patalaloka in the first place!"
His eyes narrowed as he locked gazes with them, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
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