The morning sun rose over the grand royal court of Kamsa, casting a golden glow over the opulent surroundings. As the courtiers bustled about, preparing for the day's proceedings, the wicked tyrant king himself sat upon his throne, his face twisted into a scowl as he looked over the reports of the kingdom's depleting treasury due to the expenses for his lavish banquets and gifts to his wicked friends.

His righteous ministers stood on one side, their faces filled with concern, while his evil friends stood on the other side, smirking and whispering amongst themselves. Kamsa slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne, causing the room to fall silent.

"Rajkosh khaali hota jaa raha hai." He said, "Ise badhane ki awashyakta hai. Maarg sujhao."

Chanur came forward and said, "Maharaj, til se tab tak tel nahi nikalta jab tak use sukhaya na jaaye. Uske tukde tukde nahi kiye jaaye. Dabaya aur pisa nahi jaaye. Iss hi tarah, jab tak praja ko dabaya nahi jaayega woh kuch dene wali nahi."

Kamsa leaned forward and said, "Toh kisne roka til se tel nikalne ko ?"

"Parantu," Mushtik spoke up, "Shudro aur Brahmano se toh kuch milne nahi wala."

Chanur glanced at him and smirked, "Kyu nahi ? Shudro se nishulk karya karaya jaa sakta hai."

"Anarth !" Akrur stood up, "Yeh anarth hoga, Rajan. Aise vicharo se bachna chahiye."

Chanur raised a brow, "Kyu ?"

"Kyuki Raja ka kartavya hai unki raksha karna." Akrur said and then looked back at Kamsa, "Sewa karne ke alawa, Shudro ke paas bacha kya hai ? Aur yadi woh bhi nishulk karde, toh anaaye hoga. Jo jeevan bhar kasht sehta hai, use aur kasht denge toh yagya mei devta aapki aahuti swikar nahi karenge."

Kamsa leaned back on his throne, and said, "Toh Brahmano se kar lete hai. Yagya ki aahuti se adhik aahuti toh unhe milti hai."

Chanur nodded in approval, "Satyavachan Rajan. Brahmano se unke bhiksha ka bhaag lena chahiye. Har Ghar se unhe bhiksha milti hai."

Hearing such wicked suggestions, Satyak stood up and said, "Anarya ! Kya Brahmano ki hatya karwa, unhe pradarit kar, aap sabhi ka man na bhara ? Jo ab unke bhiksha ka bhi bhaag chahiye ?"

Kamsa rolled his eyes as Satyak spoke, "Maharaj, Atharvaved kehta hai ki jis rajya mei bhiksha ke ann par jeene wale aparigrahi, buddhijeevi, vedagya, brahm ka anusandhan karne wale, janmana nahi apetu karmana Brahman ko kasht diya jata hai, uski hatya ki jaati hai, woh rashtra waise hi doobta hai jaise chhed ho jaane par nauka."

"Rajan," Satyak said, "Aapke yeh Loksevak, aapko nark ka dwaar dikha rahe hai."

Kamsa groaned, "Shaant raho Satyak. Abhi balak ho tum."

"Balak nahi, ek balak ka pita hu mai." Satyak said firmly, "Aur acchi mantrana aayu nahi dekhti. Sahi sujhaav jaha se bhi aaye, lelena chahiye."

"Toh Rajkosh badhane hetu sujhaav do Satyak !" Kamsa said getting irritated.

Satyak said stoicly, "Aur adhik kar lene ka aapko koi adhikaar nahi Maharaj, jab aap pehle se hi praja ki aaye ka chhatha bhaag leke bhi unhe sushasan aur shaanti nahi dete."

"SATYAK !" Kamsa stood up from his throne, enraged at those words.

"Shaant Rajan !" Devabhaag interrupted.

"Yeh mera virodh kar raha hai, aur tum keh rahe ho ki mai shaant rahu !?" Kamsa exclaimed.

Devabhaag calmly said, "Asahmati aur virodh ka sammaan karna Raja ko ana chahiye. Mantrivar Satyak prashasan ke gati se sahmat nahi, yeh inka adhikaar hai."

"Toh yeh adhikaar chheen lena chahiye !" Kamsa said.

"Nahi Maharaj." Devabhaag said, "Asahmati sadev naye raaste nikaalti hai. Aur katusatya bolne ke karan, satya bolne wale hi hatya nahi ki jaa sakti."

Akrur said, "Satya chaahe kitna bhi apriya kyu na ho, Raja ko sunna chahiye. Aur jis din, mrityu ke bhaye ke karan, lobh ke karan, Loksevak aur mantri asatya bolne lage, uss din se Rajya ki durgati shuru ho jaayegi."

Kamsa scoffed sitting back on his throne, "Tum kuleen mantriyo se mantrana karna hi vyarth hai. Mai apne inn mitro ke saath hi mantrana kar lunga. Jaao !" He said dismissing all the truthful ministers.

With heads lowered due to worry, they all left, meanwhile, his evil friends and courtiers smirked and nodded in approval, whispering words of manipulation and deceit in Kamsa's ear. They were only too happy to see the kingdom suffer, as long as it meant their own pockets would remain full.

---------

The afternoon sun had begun to peek through the ornate windows of the mansion, casting a warm glow over the opulent furnishings and luxurious tapestries that adorned the grand hall.

"Padhariye, Aryaputra." Satyak was greeted by the sight of his sweet and pretty wife, Satyakanta, adorned in flowing silk garments, her soft eyes alight with warmth and love as she welcomed him home.

Satyak smiles sadly, weary and worn from dealing with the demands of the tyrant king, and embraces her, but her keen eyes immediately notice the heavy burden that weighs upon him.

"Kamsa ne punah kuch kaha ?" She asked.

"Yuyudhaan kaha hai ?" Satyak asked avoiding her question, not wanting to worry her.

Satyakanta replied, "Kaksh mei so raha hai."

Making his way through the lavish corridors, Satyak entered the room where his newborn son, Saatyaki, lay peacefully in his cradle. Satyakanta followed him, her worry growing as she watched him tenderly and sadly gaze at their son.

"Kya chal raha hai aapke man mei ?" She asked.

"Mathura ab tum dono hetu surakshit nahi. Maharaj Kamsa ab humse nahi apne Asur mitro se mantrana karna uchit samajhte hai. Yaha ab giddo ko bhi sher ka sammaan milne laga hai." Satyak said.

As he gently caressed the baby's cheek, Satyak knew that the kingdom of Mathura was no longer safe for them. The tyrant king's reign had brought only fear and oppression, and he could not bear to see his family suffer under such tyranny.

Satyak looked back at her and sadly said, "Tumhe aur Yuyudhaan ko yaha se Jana hoga. Anyatha Kamsa ke atyachaar ka shikaar ban jaaoge. Jo mai hone nahi dunga."

However Satyakanta was unable to fathom the idea of leaving their home and their life behind. Leaving her husband behind. She stared at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and disbelief. It was an overwhelming thought that sent shivers down her spine.

"Parantu.... Parantu aapke bina hum kaha jaayenge ?" She asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Satyak looked at her sympathetically, keeping an assuring hand over her shoulder he said, "Kamsa ke atank ke karan, Yadavo ne apne patniyo aur santaano ko Kuru, Panchal, Kekaya, Shalva, Vidarbh, Nisadh, Videh aur Kosal rajyo mei bheja hai. Humare Vrishnikul ki bahut si streeya aur bacche Kuru-rashtra mei aashrit hai. Kuru Mathura se adhik sampann aur shaktishaali rajya hai. Yadi tum dono waha aashray toh Kamsa kya Jarasandh bhi tanik haani nahi pahucha sakta."

"Kintu-" "Kintu parantu ka samaye nahi hai, aryaa." Satyak interrupted her.

He said, "Tum patni ke dharm ke baare mei soch rahi ho, par iss aapatkaalin sthiti mei tumhe Mata ke kartavyo ka nirvahan karna chahiye. Rani Rohini bhi toh Vasudev ko chhod ek tapasvini ke bhaati reh rahi hai. Apne putra ki raksha hetu tumhe bhi Mathura chhodna padega."

As she looked into his eyes, she saw the determination and love that fueled his decision, and she finally understood. Tears welled up in her eyes as she embraced him tightly, knowing that they had to part ways for the sake of their son's future.

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A/N

SAATYAKI MAKING AN ENTRANCE 🔥

Also his mother's name is not mentioned in Mahabharat, hence I have made that up. And she will be roleplayed by Draunianuragini

Plus.... It's not mentioned that Satyak had sent his wife and son to Kuru kingdom, however Bhagwatam mentions Yadavas sending their wives and children away to different kingdoms.

It made sense in Saatyaki's case because he was the student of Kripacharya as well (also of Dron and Bhishm, and later Krishna Arjun).... This would only be possible if he stayed in Kuru-rashtra, otherwise why would he travel all the way from Mathura to Kuru just to learn basics from Kripacharya, when Gargacharya is there for Yadavas.

And Saatyaki spending his childhood in Kururashtra would also explain why Duryodhan gets emotional fighting him and says that he and Satyaki were good childhood friends and used to play together. (Don't worry when Duryodhan says this to him in Kurukshetra, Saatyaki laughs at him and tells him not to ramble and fight 🌝)

Also why would he make Bhishm as his teacher, when none of the Vrishnis have done that ? It means Saatyaki knew him well enough before hand to learn from him.

Also Krishna, Balram and Saatyaki are the only three Yadavas, always present in every Kuru kaand, if not then at the forefront of discussing the matter or doing something about it. For Krishna and Balram it makes sense, they are first cousins. But why Saatyaki ? It only makes sense when Saatyaki knows the Kurus from childhood to engage in the matter.

According to me, all these facts point towards one thing that Satyak had sent his wife and son to the Kuru kingdom, and Saatyaki did spend his childhood there. 👀✨