Contenders from around the cosmos were present at the stadium made just for the Swayamvar of Rameshwari. Among them were Devtas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Vanaras, Rakshasas, Daityas, Danavas, Nagas beside humans.

All were eagerly waiting for the Chakravarti Samrat to arrive with the princess.

And soon the famous and resplendent Pushpak vimaan was seen in the sky. It landed on the stadium, from it descended Shri Ram, holding the hand of his daughter, bringing her with him.

The citizens who had come to witness the Swayamvar began cheering whereas the contenders and guests stood up with respect. The kings who had earliers seen the glimpse of divinity in Rameshwari joined their hands and bowed their heads.

Once the emperor and the royal family along with Sugreev, Hanuman and Vibhishan had been seated on the high pavilion, seeing Rameshwari seated beside her father with all her grace and elegance the contenders began whispering amongst themselves.

"Yadi yeh praapt ho gayi toh samast jag mera hoga." Some crown-princes muttered.

"Yeh ek baar mil jaaye toh apni samast Raniyo ko iski daasi bana du." Some kings, who weren't aware of Ram-suta's true self, said.

"Yeh toh kisi mani ki bhaati chamak rahi hai." The Nagas said.

"Ratna nahi surya ki bhaati." The danavas said.

"Inki aabha ke samaksh sampurn sansaar fika lag raha hai." The daityas said.

"Yadi praan priya hai toh netra aur mukh dono par niyantran saadho." Indra said who had come along the gods.

"Kya Devraj bhi Ram-suta ko paane ki soch rahe hai ?" A Gandharv asked.

"Mai yeh soch raha hu ki jinhe yeh praapt hone waali hai, yadi unhe pata laga ki tum kya soch rahe ho toh tumhara kaisa hashra hoga." Indra said knowingly.

"Kya jo inhe praapt karne waale hai, woh atyant shaktishaali hai ?" A Naagvanshi asked.

"Arrey vats, unse bina aagya liye hum unki priye par varsha bhi nahi barsaate." Indra said with a smile.

Hearing the words of mighty Indra himself, a sense of fear overtook many of the contenders, but they shrugged it off and looked at Shri Ram who came forward to address everyone.

"Meri eklauti putri aur Kosal ki priya Rajkumari ke swayamvar mei aane ke liye aur samellit hone ke liye aap sabhi ka dhanyawad. Mai dekh sakta hu ki sampurn vishwa se daavedaar aaye hai, meri putri ko praapt karne hetu." Shri Ram said, "Kintu Rajkumari Rameshwari jaise virangana, prithvi-vijayi, aishwarya-shalini gunvati aur roopvati jaisi stree ka vivah, usse hoga jo Virya Shulk dega." He told clearly.

"Virya Shulk inse kya maangte hai Chakravarti ?" A booming voice from above said.

Everyone gazed up and got astonished seeing a divine god mounted on a mystical blue bird.

Seeing her eternal companion, a smile appeared on the face of Rameshwari. Her Yuddheshwar was finally here mounted on Jaladri, determined to win her hand.

"Kya... Kya woh Jijashree hai ?" Luv asked.

"Lagte toh wahi hai." Kush said.

Yuddheshwar descened down from Jaladri, the moment he landed on the ground the entire stadium shook from its impact.

"Aapko Virya Shulk chahiye, toh apni putri mujhe dede. Yadi kisi ko aapatti hai, toh aaye aur karle yudh. Pehle prahaar ka avsar mai use dunga." Yuddheshwar said.

Hearing this contenders began whispering amongst themselves.

"Inke Bhargav roop ke krodh ke bhaagi ek baar hum ban chuke hai... Yuddheshwar roop ko krodhit kar hum punah bhul nahi karenge." The danavas said backing away.

"Yadi Yuddheshwar swayam yaha aaye hai iska arth hai ki Ram-suta Yudh-kaushala hai, hum inke milan ke bich nahi aayenge." The Nagas said and they too decided to back away.

"Yuddheshwar ne humare poorv Maharaj Ravan ko dandit kiya tha kyuki woh Devi Harihareshwari ko paane ki kaamna kar rahe the. Hume yeh bhul nahi karni chahiye." Some wise Rakshas said.

"Kayar ho tum sab." Daityas said, hearing this other Rakshas got offended.

"Jeebha par niyatran rakho. Hum yudh karenge." They said.

"Arrey murkho, Yuddheshwar hai woh." Kuber said.

"Satyavachan. Humari bhaati yahi se pranaam karlo." Indra said as the Devtas and Yakshas bowed before Yuddheshwar.

Seeing Yuddheshwar a pleased smile appeared on the face of Shri Ram.

"Yadi Yuddheshwar pehle aate toh mai apni putri ka haath ussi kshan aapko de deta. Kintu chuki swayamvar ka aayojan huya hai, anya jano ko bhi avsar dena padega." Shri Ram said.

"Mujhe koi aapatti nahi hai." Yuddheshwar said.

"Toh Swayamvar shuru ho !" Shri Ram proclaimed.

And so the swayamvar began, all the kings from various kingdoms came forward and so did Gandharvas, Yuddheshwar looked them with a raised brow.

But instead of raising their weapons they kept them at his feet and got on their knees, with joined hands, seeking his blessings.

"Kalyanamastu." Yuddheshwar said in a pleased voice.

But not all were wise enough to give up their false pride. The daityas came ahead, wielding different types of weapons, ready to fight Yuddheshwar.

Some raised their bows and shot arrows at him, but none of them pierced his body. They just broke apart the moment they touched his body. Other Daityas lunged at him, swinging their swords and maces, but they too broke down into pieces.

The daityas looked at Yuddheshwar dumbfounded, while he slowly raised one hand and with it the broken weapons also rose up midair, getting completely intact.

Yuddheshwar flicked his wrists and all those weapons got shot at their owners,  some were pierced by arrows, many were sliced by the swords and rest were hardly hit by the mace.

Seeing this immeasurable feet, some Rakshasas who had come forward to fight, threw their weapons away and got on their knees with joined hands, giving up the desire to fight.

"Kya koi anya hai ? Jise lagta hai ki woh Rajkumari ko praapt karne ke yogya hai ?" Yuddheshwar asked.

Silence was the answer. And hence it was clear who had won the swayamvar, who had won the garland of Rameshwari.

"Kya tum Yuddheshwar se vivah karna chaahti ho ?" Shri Ram asked his daughter.

"Mera saubhagya hoga." Rameshwari said with a smile.

"Toh jaao. Vijay-mala kanth mei daal, Yuddheshwar par bhi vijay praapt kar lo." Shri Ram said with a smile.

Rameshwari grinned and stood up, Ulka brought the tray in which the flower garland. Picking it up in her hands, she descended down the stairs, eager to garland him.

She walked towards him, all the eyes were stuck on her, while her's was stuck on him, as he got nearer and nearer to her reach.

He was only seven steps ahead, but before she could walk further a line of fire got formed between them, with high flames, dividing the stadium into two parts. Everybody gasped, whereas Rameshwari frowned.

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A/N

Why has a line of fire formed between Rameshwari and Yuddheswar ? 🌝🌝