Indra stared at the four sacred texts in his hands, the Vedas, heavy with divine wisdom. Yet, instead of triumph, an unshakable melancholy settled in his heart.
Above him, Brahma cradled the sacred texts in his four hands. A golden radiance spilled from them, cascading like the first light of dawn, dissolving the remnants of darkness. The universe exhaled as balance was restored.
The Creator's expression softened into a rare smile. "No disaster... No cosmic catastrophe... and most importantly, no Tandava tearing the universe apart so soon. Perfect."
He turned his gaze to Indra, his eyes brimming with approval. With a nod, he spoke, his voice resonating through the heavens.
"Indra!"
Indra stiffened at the address, his grip tightening around the Vedas.
"You have slain the treacherous Hayagriva and reclaimed the sacred knowledge. Your wisdom and strength have shaken the heavens themselves. You are the Guardian of Light! The Keeper of the Vedas! The Sentinel of Wisdom!"
A hush fell over the Devas. Even the celestial winds seemed to pause, waiting.
Brahma's voice deepened, imbued with divine authority. "Those who chant your name, who honor the Guardian of the Vedas, shall find wisdom illuminating their path."
The moment the words left Brahma's lips, a surge of divine power coursed through Indra. Golden light erupted from his body, wrapping around him like a blazing aura.
Whoa! What is this?
A foreign warmth spread through his being, not just power but... understanding.
Then, the light burst outward.
From within the golden radiance emerged a colossal form, a replica of Indra yet grander and mightier. Draped in pure white, its four arms bore the Rudraksha and the Vedas, each limb emanating an ethereal glow.
Vayu exhaled sharply, the wind carrying his awe. "The Dev of Wisdom..." he muttered.
Varuna's gaze deepened, waves of reverence rising in his eyes. "The Guardian of the Vedas..." he murmured.
Agni's flames crackled with intensity, burning brighter with admiration.
Then, with the brilliance of the rising sun, Surya's voice rang out—"Glory to the Vedic Guardian!"
Their voices rang out in unison, a chorus of devotion that rippled through the cosmos.
Standing among them, Rishi Brihaspati's immortal eyes twinkled with excitement. Without hesitation, he pulled out his sacred scroll and began writing furiously.
Swish, swish, swish!
"The great Indra, the wisest among Devas, struck down the wicked Hayagriva, reclaimed the stolen Vedas, and restored balance to the world..."
He paused, tapping the end of his pen against his chin before smirking to himself.
"And, of course... the most intelligent of them all~"
Satisfied, Brihaspati tucked his scroll away, watching Indra's transformation with an amused glint in his eye.
…
"A new title, huh?"
Indra felt the surge of divine power coursing through his body, and an undeniable sense of triumph filled him.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
With the title of 'Vedic Guardian' bestowed upon him, he was no longer just the King of Svarga and eldest of Adityas. He had secured an untouchable status. No wandering rishi, no self-righteous muni, not even the most eccentric rishi could throw random curses at him anymore.
Finally, some respect. He nodded to himself in satisfaction.
But before he could bask in his newfound glory, Brahma's expression darkened. His gaze sharpened as he lifted a hand toward the infinite starry sky. His voice, vast and ancient, resonated through the cosmos.
"Indra."
Indra! Indra! Indra!
The name echoed, layered like the primordial vibration of creation itself. The devas shuddered as the sound filled the air, pressing into their very souls. Even Indra felt his mind sharpen under its weight.
He straightened, instincts on high alert. "What is it, Brahmadev?"
Brahma's voice boomed once more.
"Madhu and Kaitabha threaten the universe. Now that you have attained wisdom from the Vedas, you must aid the preserver of the universe and eradicate these two Asuras!"
Indra blinked.
"...Huh?"
For a brief moment, his mind went blank. A series of imaginary question marks floated above his head.
Wait. Hold on.
So that whole dramatic appointment, being declared the Dev of Wisdom, the divine light show, the cosmic applause was all just a setup? Just so they could send him off to fight those two?
What the hell?!
This... this was blatant manipulation!
"This is a scam," he muttered under his breath.
Of course, he couldn't say that out loud, so instead, he sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Brahma-pita, with all due respect, aren't Madhu and Kaitabha blessed by the Mahadevi? They can choose the moment of their death. No matter how hard I fight, I can't break that kind of boon. This is their karma and mirtyu-yoga. Shouldn't they deal with it themselves?"
Brahma narrowed his eyes slightly.
Indra had a point.
Technically, karma should resolve itself. But he had blessed too many Asuras over the ages. If every single one of them came knocking for divine intervention, it would be a karmic nightmare.
No, this needed a workaround.
If another Asura has the ambition to be the King of Triloka, I'll just curse them to die at his hands. That way, it's still 'karma' and Indra racks up more karma.
Yes. Perfect.
Brahma stroked his beard, his expression thoughtful yet unreadable. "Indra, you raise a valid point. The blessing of Mahadevi is absolute, and the cycle of karma must take its course. However…" He paused, a knowing glint in his eyes. "The Kalchakra does not favor stagnation. Even destiny requires a hand to set it in motion."
Indra folded his arms, unimpressed. "And by 'hand,' you mean me."
Meanwhile, Narada Muni, who had been watching nervously, suddenly stepped forward. Clutching his veena tightly, he bowed slightly before speaking.
"Narayana, Narayana~" Narada intoned, his voice laced with reverence as he clutched his veena. "Madhu and Kaitabha have received a boon from the Mahadevi herself. They cannot be slain unless they grant permission. Even Narayana must abide by this boon. King of Svarga, you are the Dev of Wisdom. Surely, you have a strategy?"
Indra narrowed his eyes.
…Was Narada being polite?
Suspicious.
This was the same Narada who had, not too long ago, 'accidentally' provoked a situation that ended with Indra getting cursed. Something wasn't adding up.
Still, Indra exhaled, considering the dilemma. And then—
Maya.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
"There's a way," he said smoothly. "Use Maya."
Narada's eyes widened slightly. Even Brahma seemed intrigued.
"Madhu and Kaitabha may be mighty warriors," Indra continued, "but arrogance, consumed by their pride, blinds them. They believe themselves greater than Narayana himself."
Brahma stroked his beard, realization dawning.
"What if," Indra continued, "Narayana does not strike them down by force, but instead leads them into their own undoing? He could weave Maya around them, speak to them, challenge their arrogance, and magnify their pride. If they are made to believe that they alone are the victors, they may grant Narayana a boon of his choosing. And in doing so," a knowing glint crossed his eyes, "they will surrender the very condition needed for their defeat."
Silence fell.
Narada's fingers twitched against the strings of his veena. The devas exchanged glances, processing Indra's words.
Then, Narada grinned. "Aha! Brilliant!"
Brahma let out a low chuckle. "A fine plan indeed."
Indra crossed his arms, satisfied. Finally, he was putting that 'Dev of Wisdom' title to good use.
As far as Indra knew, Vishnu had only one way to break Madhu and Kaitabha's boon through the art of deception. By engaging them in conversation, by playing upon their inflated egos, Narayana could trick them into granting the very permission that would seal their fate.
There was no other way.
Just as Indra finished speaking, a faint voice suddenly resonated through the cosmos, reaching the ears of the assembled devas.
"I see."
Indra jolted. He whipped his head toward the distant battlefield, where the fierce clash between Vishnu and the Asura brothers raged on.
Good grief!
The Lord was in the middle of an apocalyptic battle, yet he still had the presence of mind to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Truly, Lord Vishnu was on another level.
"As expected of someone who has led Three Asura Kings to their death."
Brahma smiled, holding the sacred texts aloft. With a slight movement, he shook the Vedas, and at once, golden light surged forth, illuminating the heavens with divine radiance. The glow was so brilliant that many devas instinctively lowered their gaze, closing their eyes in reverence.
"Pranam to the Dev of Wisdom!"
Rishi Brihaspati's eyes gleamed as he spoke, his voice filled with admiration.
The realization spread like wildfire among the devas.
The King of Svarga had done it. His wisdom had guided the Lord to a solution. Soon, this battle would be over, and they could return home.
"Pranam to the Dev of Wisdom!"
"Pranam to the King of Svarga!"
One by one, the devas pressed their palms together, bowing in reverence to Indra, their faces alight with excitement. Their long exile in uncertainty was finally coming to an end.
—
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, the clash of devic and asuric forces tore through the cosmos.
Planets crumbled, volcanoes erupted, and the echoes of destruction rippled across the universe.
Yet, amidst the chaos, Vishnu remained unshaken.
As Madhu and Kaitabha lunged toward him, their demonic forms wreathed in power, the Lord of Preservation raised a hand, his expression calm.
"Wait."
His voice, though soft, cut through the roaring destruction like the primordial sound itself.
"Madhu and Kaitambha, I have to ask you something."
Vishnu's gaze was steady. A plan had already begun to take shape in his mind.
---
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