Lakshman Rao U
King Nala, having lost his wealth, power, and fame, walked out of his kingdom empty-handed with Damayanthi by his side. For three days, they lingered at the outskirts of his realm, watched by the cruel eyes of Kali. Though Nala was beloved among his subjects and esteemed by neighbouring kings, none dared to approach him,…
Indra, with commanding dignity, said unto Nala, “O King of Niṣadha, thou art bound by thy word. Let not hesitation overcome thee. Enter fearlessly the guarded palace of the princess, where armed men and women keep strict watch. By divine grace, none shall perceive thee, nor will any obstacle impede thy path. Enter the halls…
Ugrasravas, the revered bard, continued his narration of the Mahabharata, his voice weaving a spell that held the assembled sages in rapt, wordless silence. Amid that sacred gathering, Dharmaja, the son of Dharma, was ever composed—his calm words alone sufficed to cool the blazing impulses of Bhīmasena, fixing his mind within the bounds of time…
Indra, seated in his resplendent court, addressed Arjuna with words of assurance and divine grace. “O son of Kunti,” said the Lord of the celestials, “you are pure and free from sin. You stand as an apostle of self-control, a master over your senses. There is no possession in the three worlds to which you…
The Pāśupatha in Arjuna’s hands shone like the blazing sun itself, its mere radiance shaking the worlds and striking terror into Dāityas, Dānavas, Yakṣas, and even the celestial beings, who trembled knowing the boundless power it contained. For a moment, the earth quivered in her oceans and mountains, as if acknowledging the force now entrusted…
In the serene vastness of the Himalayas, the sages approached the great Lord Shiva and said, “O Lord of the Universe, Arjuna, son of Pandu, has undertaken a penance of such depth and fervour that his radiance has turned into a blazing fire, spreading awe and fear alike through the realms. We beseech you, O…
Then Spake Dharmaja unto Bhīma, “O mighty one, thy words are filled with the fragrance of righteousness. Thou hast pondered deeply before uttering them, and thy reasoning may indeed lead to the fulfilment of thy desires. Yet, it behoved me to weigh thy counsel and discern the truth within it, for as the wise declare,…
Draupadi, though pacified by the learned reasoning of Dharmaja, found her mind kindling with many more questions. For unless such queries were met, the depth of their spiritual understanding could not be known to the outer world. Indeed, upon scrutiny, their exchange stood as a brilliant discourse on ancient wisdom and the pronouncements of sacred…
When the Kurukshetra clouds were yet far from sight, Srikrishna departed for Dvārakā, accompanied by his sister Subhadrā and young Abhimanyu. Drishtadyumna took with him his nephews, the sons of Draupadī—the Upapāndavas—back to his kingdom. The Pāndavas, attended only by a band of twenty trusted aides and several groups of venerable Brāhmins, set forth toward…
Dharmaja, though eager to hear the tale of Krishna’s combat with the mighty Salva, was more anxious to know of the deeper nature of war—its impact upon the order of the world, the betrayal of justice by cunning craft. Perceiving this inner intent, Śrī Krishna began to narrate the story of his ten-month struggle. “O…
