Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable

(A/N):

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Meanwhile...

Mount Kailash...

The stone ceiling above him—Unchanging. Unlike his life.

Devara lay still. Thoughts drifting.

Not racing anymore—Just... settling.

Then—The door opened softly.

Goddess Parvati. Entered.

Devara moved to sit up—But she stopped him. Gently.

Pressed him back onto the bed.

Not commanding. Just... caring about him.

"Rest."

She sat beside him. Her hand moved through his hair.

Slow. Comforting. Not divine. Just... motherly.

"...."

Then—She sang. Soft. Ancient. A lullaby. A melody not meant for ears—But for the heart.

And slowly—Devara’s thoughts faded.

"...."

His breath steadied. His eyes closed as his mind relaxed unwanted thoughts vanished from his mind.

Sleep Took Him Gently.

Not like before. Not heavy. Not forced he fell to it before he even realise it.

Next Day...

Morning came. Not loudly. But with purpose.

At the training ground—Stood Lord Shiva. And before him—Devara.

Lord Shiva spoke. Simple. But absolute.

"An archer’s greatest strength..."

A pause.

"...is composure. Not power. Not speed. Not even accuracy. Your mind. It must not waver. No matter what."

With a flick of his hand—Targets appeared.

Shadow spheres. Floating in the air. Moving. Unpredictable.

Their is only one rule here now.

"Only one is real. Hit the correct one. It will reveal itself."

Devara lifted the training bow.

No divine weapon. No shortcuts.

Just skill.

He aimed took time—Released the shot—Missed

Again. Miss

The spheres shifted.

Changed patterns. Faster. Sharper.

Like it was sensing the arrow was coming in its direction

Devara’s brows furrowed. Breath uneven. Focus slipping—

"Composure."

Shiva’s voice cut through. Not loud. But grounding. Reminding Devara when ever he looses his focus.

Which Devara nodded his head.

-Nod!

He breathed. Calming his mind. Aimed.

Released—Missed again

But He Didn’t Stop there after Lord Shiva’s reminder before he tried his best to not be frustrated by the failure.

No frustration. No complaint.

Just—Try again. And again. And again.

Until he succeeds.

Even through he felt disappointed not able to touch them even once.

After Two years...

Days blurred...

Seasons didn’t matter here—Only growth.

Under the guidance of Lord Shiva.

Devara changed rapidly. Not suddenly. But steadily. Developing his skills through hard work.

Like a blade—Being sharpened without pause.

The Archer He Became during this time is commendable.

What once took effort—Now become a instinct to him.

Arrows formed faster. Cleaner. Sharper.

He started learning astra’s knowledge under the guidance of Lord Shiva.

Divine astras—No longer overwhelming.

Now—Part of him. Summoned with thought.

Released with precision with his steady hands and aim.

But the biggest shift—Wasn’t in power.

It was his. Composure. When ever he holds his bow.

Where once he reacted by hurry—Now he observed till the last moment before deciding to release.

Where once he aimed at the target—Now he understood where the target will appear and its path.

He saw everything before shooting.

The moving targets—Once impossible—Now predictable.

Patterns unfolded before him.

Not through sight—Through stillness of his mind.

Training wasn’t everything.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Because Kailash—Was alive. With Ganesha presence. And his mischief.

Ganesha. Was chaos in disguise. According to Devara’s understanding.

He dragged Devara into games—With Shiva Ganas who were excited he joined them.

Laughing. Competing.

Sometimes... accidentally breaking things. And Run away before any one finds out.

And once while he was alone with Ganesha—With exaggerated secrecy—Ganesha showed him a place.

Hidden. Quiet.

"...."

Where he would usually hides from others to have a peace of mind himself.

"My escape. When I don’t want to be found."

A place even chaos avoided.

As for his another brother Kartikeya.

It Was different. Less words. More observation when ever he visit’s the training ground.

In his occasional visits to Kailash.

And took time for. Occasional sparring with Devara with spear. Training him to hold it.

Each clash—Sharp. Precise.

Aiming for no room for error.

When ever Devara makes a mistake he would be greeted by the back bunt of the spear Kartikeya was holding.

And some times....

A test without announcement like a sneak attack he would do.

To check Devara’s vigilance.

When ever Devara passes the tests.

No big praise. No big encouragement. He would give him a pat on his shoulder as if saying this is what he expected from him.

But once—After Devara blocked a clean block from one of the lethal attack—Kartikeya nodded in contented.

-Nod

Feeling his younger brother is learning well.

Now he could block his attack with full power. Instead of Holding back.

Another Two Years...

After two years—Lord Shiva

Looked at Devara. Not only as a student. Not as his son.

But as someone ready.

"Your archery training... is complete."

No grand celebration. No applause. Just truth about his training progress.

"There are still astras you do not possess. Not because I cannot teach them..."

A pause.

"...but because they must accept you."

The Three That Must Be Earned...

Pashupatastra

Brahmastra

Narayana Astra

"Power given is temporary. Power acknowledged ...is eternal."

Devara nodded his head. He understood.

-Nod

"...."

Then Lord Shiva’s gaze sharpened. As he revealed his condition for granting Pashupatastra.

"There is a rakshasa. In Naga Loka¹."

"Sarpaasura: Hridaya-Shata."¹

A colossal serpent rakshasa

Who can change his body size like he fits.

Possesses 100 hearts Bears 1000 heads

Which he obtained by the boon. Granted by Lord Brahma

"He cannot be killed... unless all hearts are destroyed at once—and all heads severed simultaneously."

"Miss even one ...and they will regrow. Stronger. Twice as powerful. Permanently."

Which means... This was not a battle which can be owned by repeated tries.

It was precision under impossible conditions.

Devara didn’t hesitate. He bowed to take his blessing.

-Bow

"I understand."

With a ripple of divine presence—Appeared King Vasuki¹

Majestic. Serene. Eyes ancient with knowledge and calm of a predator.

Lord Shiva spoke to him—

"Take him. To Naga Loka."

Vasuki bowed. Without question.

He turned to Devara.

"Follow me Devara."

The air shifted. Reality bent. As soon as he uttered his words.

A path opened—Descending. Deep giving the feeling the path was taking one to a underground.

Training had ended.

Not with rest—But with purpose to defeat a powerful enemy.

He needs to be careful with his enemy.

Where one mistake means making the enemy stronger.

As Devara stepped forward and entered the path which got opened—The sky disappeared.

Not darkened. Not covered.

Something else took its place.

A sky—But not the sky.

This was his first time visiting another realm.

The sky colour was very diffrent which he had never seen one like that.

Light pink. Soft.

Yet unnatural. Like dawn—That never ended.

The trees here—Were wrong. Like they were defying logic how a tree should grow.

Not dead. Not broken. Twisted. Curved. Entangled. With each other

Like massive serpents—Frozen mid-coil.

Their branches—Bent like fangs.

Their leaves—Glowed faint blue.

No flowers. No softness.

As they walked further into the realm.

Ahead—Moved King Vasuki. Silent. Unbothered. Acting like a guide.

"...."

"...."

"...."

As if this place—Was breathing with him.

As they moved deeper—Figures appeared.

Walking. Watching.

Their forms—Human. But not fully.

Eyes—Slit. Which had unusual colours unnatural.

Gold. Emerald. Deep violet. Each had different colours.

Around their eyes—Subtle scales. Barely visible. But unmistakable.

While Devara was looking around curiously.

King Vasuki. Spoke calmly—

"They are Nagas. Born with the ability to take human form."

Devara listened carefully taking in the information. Observing. The new realm and its environment.

"Not all are like them. Ordinary serpents..."

A pause.

"...must perform penance. For a hundred years. To achieve a human form."

So even here—Power wasn’t equal one were born with it while another needs to work hard for hundred years saving their poison without attacking a single one.

It was earned. Or inherited.

But to earn it they need to walk a path filled with years of dedication and sacrifice.

As they walked—King Vasuki. Spoke calmly. As he explained the situation here too. And its similarity to Bhuloka.¹

"Like Bhuloka... Naga Loka¹ too is divided. Many kings. Many kingdoms."

A brief glance around.

"...."

"This... is mine. Bhogawati Kingdom."

The People Under His Rule seems to flourish.

Devara observed them carefully.

Not fear. Not suffering. But peace like no matter what they would be protected.

Naga citizens moved freely.

Their eyes curious at the new boy who seems to be human standing besides their king—But not afraid.

A kingdom well governed can only achieve this kind of result.

A Silent Thought took a root in Devara’s mind.

’So this is what a good ruler looks like...’

Vasuki’s Royal Palace...

Soon—They arrived. Before a grand structure—Carved like coiled serpents rising toward the sky.

Gemstones embedded like eyes—Watching.

The Guards. Naga warriors stood at the entrance.

Disciplined. Sharp. Noticed them.

As their king returned—They bowed. Without hesitation.

Welcoming him back.

Inside—The air changed.

Calmer. Sacred.

As King Vasuki took Devara deeper into the palace.

There—Before a shrine—Stood his queen. Queen of the Serpents

Anantika. Eyes closed. Hands folded.

Performing pooja to lord Vishnu which she would regularly do daily.

Vasuki and Devara waited.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Silently. Respectfully. Waiting for her to finish the pooja.

Even through King Vasuki was a deep Lord Shiva’s devotte.

And also has a honor to resides on Lord Shiva’s neck.

He had never forced or stopped his wife from doing pooja for Lord Vishnu.

Because devotion—Was never interrupted.

The Meeting...

When she finished her pooja—She turned. A smile forming on her face as soon as she saw King Vasuki returns.

She knew the moment he arrived.

"You’ve returned."

Then—Her eyes fell on Devara.

A pause. Curiosity. Visible on her face.

Her husband was not a social type to the point he never brought any one to their palace all this years.

Now suddenly bringing a boy who seems to be 15 years old.

She was curious about it.

Feeling his wife gaze. King Vasuki decided to step up and introduce Devara to her.

"This is Devara. Entrusted with a important job by Lord Shiva. Son of the Trimurti."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"...."

Not fear. Not disbelief. Recognition of holding a such a background.

She stepped forward.

"Welcome."

Graceful. Warm smile on her face.

"You must join us for a meal."

Devara bowed his head greeting the elder.

"Thank you."

For a while—There was no mission.

No danger. Just—Food. Which he had never hated.

Conversation. And happy mood.

During the meal—King Vasuki asked his wife confused—

"Where is she?"

A knowing smile crossed Anantika’s face.

"...."

"Our daughter... Nagashree. She went out with her cousin. To fetch the Nagapushpam."

A soft chuckle escaped her mouth.

-Chuckle!

"For something she refuses to explain."

Even here—There were small mysteries. Simple joys.

After the meal—The air shifted.

King Vasuki stood.

"Come. I will show you. The way to... Sarpaasura’s kingdom."

Anantika froze hearing that name. Her expression hardened.

"...."

"You are sending him?"

Her voice carried concern—Sharp as he looked at her husband with a frown.

-Frown!

"Even powerful Nagas¹ struggle against him. And he is just a child."

Vasuki placed a hand on her shoulder. Calm. Steady.

With a sigh he knew why she was so worried.

-Sigh!

"He was chosen. By Lord Shiva. To take care of Sarpaasura."

Silence followed.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Because that—Was not something to argue against.

She looked at Devara.

Not as a warrior. But as a boy.

And she understood the weight he carried now.

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(Author note:)

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