Flaming Sun: Sundari Venkatraman (Indie Author): Pandava Prince

Showing posts with label Pandava Prince. Show all posts

Thursday, April 2, 2015

A-Z April Challenge 2015: B for BAKASURA VS BHEEMA

B for Bakasura vs Bheema
Google Images

The earth trembled from the sound of the snores emanating from the sleeping Bakasura. He had been completely satisfied with the meal the villagers of Ekachakra had sent him the earlier day – five jugs of wine, one cow, two goats, a few baskets of fruits and vegetables along with two huge containers of cooked rice. Even better was the hefty man who had brought the cartload of food. Bakasura snored louder, a smile on his harsh face as he dreamt of the next meal he was to receive that very day.

He woke up a few hours later, thirsty. His huge hand reached out to the last jug of wine that he had retained for the morning and drank it in one single gulp. Sitting, he was as tall as most of the trees in the forest and taller than some. Raising a paw of a hand to scratch his beard, Bakasura turned towards the direction of Ekachakra. The sun was riding high in the sky and it was on its way down. Where was his food?

Bakasura rose to his feet, knocking a few trees down, without making an effort. He took a couple of giant steps towards the village and let out a roar. It was followed by an uproar as animals and birds that stayed a few miles away, took away in a hurry, not wanting to fall prey to the asura.

Bheema, who was sitting about a hundred feet away, heard the roar. A smile on his face, he continued to eat the food that he had brought from the village – the cartload that was meant for Bakasura.

Taking a whiff, Bakasura smelled human flesh and walked towards Bheema. The sight that greeted him made the asura roar again, as he beat his fists against his chest. Though hugely built for a man, Bheema was barely half the size of Bakasura. How dared he eat the food meant for the asura?

The villagers quaked as they heard Bakasura’s roar. They turned anxiously to look at Kunti and her four sons, surprised to see them smiling. Soon, they heard a keening sound of pain. That surely must be Bheema. The old Brahman who should have sent his son that day, had tears in his eyes. He had sinned by sending his guest in the place of his son. Will God ever forgive him?

A few hours later, the villagers of Ekachakra came out to see the strangest sight. Bheema was dragging the heavy cart that held the corpse of Bakasura. Cheers rent the air as the crowd celebrated the death of the asura who had been killing the people one by one.

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

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Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

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The Multicolored Diary by Zalka Csenge Virág

Author Stephen Tremp

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

A-Z April Challenge 2015: A for ARJUNA’S FOCUS

A for Arjuna (with Drona)
Google Images

Drona was out early in the morning with all his students. Excitement was rife as they were set to enter an archery contest that their teacher had planned for them. Duryodhana was clear that this was one opportunity that he did not plan to miss to outwit the third Pandava. He was quite sick of the way their teacher played favouritism with Arjuna. He waited along with his brothers and cousins, impatient for the contest to begin.

Yudhisthira came forward to take up the challenge. Drona pointed to a wooden bird that he had placed on the highest branch of a tree and asked the eldest Pandava Prince what he was able to see. “I can see the sun’s rays falling on the bird Acharya. The bird is partly hidden amidst the branches.” Saying this, Yudhisthira let go of his arrow that went and pierced the branch next to where sat the bird, quite unharmed.

The Kauravas laughed even as the four Pandavas commiserated with their eldest brother. Next, it was Duryodhana’s turn. He was prancing about in nervous excitement, overconfident of winning. Even before Drona could explain what was required, he said, “You want me to hit the bird, right? Just watch me do just that.” His arrow pierced the main trunk that was about two feet away from the wooden bird. He walked away in a temper, refusing to look at his smirking cousins in the eye.

After a couple of more tries by Bheema and Dushashana, it was Arjuna’s turn – the teacher’s favourite. Arjuna walked forward to stand next to Drona. “What do you see, my son?” asked Drona.

“A black eye,” replied Arjuna. He did not hear the Kauravas’ laughter. Duryodhana and his brothers spoke among themselves, wondering what kind of a fool was the third Pandava. Couldn’t he see the bird? They were sure he was going to fail the test.

A proud Drona gestured for Arjuna to release his arrow. Standing there majestically with his feet apart, the right one a few inches ahead, Arjuna’s head was raised to the skies, his eyes focussed completely on the wooden bird’s eye. His hands were steady as he strung his bow and held it at the ready, the tip of his arrow shining in the morning light. Uttering a short mantra, Arjuna released his arrow that landed exactly in the spot suggested by his teacher – in the bird’s eye.