The first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over the sacred city of Mathura. Within the serene confines of the Krishna temple, a sense of tranquility prevailed. In the inner sanctum, before the magnificent Shivling, stood Krishna. After all bis day wouldn't begin until he had offered his prayers to his Aradhya.

Fresh from his morning ablutions, his curly hair still dripping wet, Krishna stood in deep meditation. His eyes, closed in reverence, focused on the divine energy emanating from the shivling. A serene smile played on his lips as he chanted the sacred mantras, his voice a low, melodious hum..

With a gentle hand, he poured water over the Shivling, the cool liquid cascading down the smooth surface. Then came the milk, its whiteness contrasting starkly with the dark stone. Next came the curd, its creamy texture contrasting with the cool water. Finally, he poured honey, a sweet offering to the Lord, followed by a generous amount of ghee, the clarified butter.

As he performed the abhishekam, Krishna felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over him. The vibrations of the mantras, the cool touch of the water, the sweet aroma of the offerings – all combined to create a sense of divine bliss.

After completing the abhishekam, Krishna sat down in front of the Shivling, his eyes closed, his mind focused on Mahadev. But as he delved deeper into his meditation, a frown appeared on his face. A disturbance, a ripple in the cosmic energy, had caught his attention.
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The soft breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers as the royal family of Ujjain arrived at the banks of the Sarayu River. The sun dappled through the leaves of the ancient trees that lined the banks of the Sarayu River.

Under a canopy of silk and embroidered cloth, King Dilip and Queen Aarvi reclined on comfortable cushions. Servants, ever attentive, moved silently amongst them, offering chilled drinks, platters of delectable fruits, and exquisite snacks. While her parents enjoyed the comforts of the royal encampment, Krishneshwari chose to sit alone by the riverbank. She watched the water shimmer in the sunlight, its gentle flow mirroring the calmness she yearned to find within herself.

Aarvi, while enjoying the serene beauty of the riverbank, kept a watchful eye on her daughter. Her silence, her withdrawn demeanor, worried Aarvi. She had noticed a change in Krishneshwari in recent years. The once vibrant and playful child seemed burdened by an invisible weight, her eyes often clouded with a melancholic sadness.

Aarvi wondered if the constant attention, the expectations that came with her divine lineage, were weighing heavily on her young shoulders. She longed to ease her daughter's burdens, to help her find joy and happiness. But how ?

"Maharaj...." Aarvi turned to Dilip, her brow furrowed. "Dekhiye na humari putri ko... Itni udaasin kyu ho gayi hai ?"

"Kya kar sakte hai, Aryaa ?" Dilip sighed, "Woh humse kuch kehti bhi nahi hai. Yadi apni chinta ka karan bataye toh hum uska samadhaan kare."

Aarvi sighed, "Pata nahi kyu Aisa lagta hai ki Krishneshwari swayam se niraash hai. Lagta hai ki uske man mei aisi vyatha hai jo humare samajh se pare hai."

As they both stared at Krishneshwari, suddenly, an inexplicable dizziness washed over Dilip and Aarvi. Their heads spun, their vision blurring. They felt a strange heaviness, their eyelids growing heavy. Before they could react, their eyes fluttered shut, and they succumbed to a deep slumber.

The guards and servants, who had been attending to them, also succumbed to the same fate. One by one, they collapsed to the ground, their bodies limp and lifeless. The thud of their bodies hitting the ground startled Krishneshwari, pulling her out of her reverie.

She turned around and saw ber parents, the guards, the servants – all had fallen unconscious. The once lively encampment was now eerily silent, a tableau of stillness in the heart of the vibrant forest.

A frown appeared on Krishneshwari's face, her eyes wide with apprehension. A chill ran down her spine.

Suddenly, a voice, cold and menacing, pierced the stillness. "Rajkumari..."

Krishneshwari whirled around, her heart pounding in her chest. Standing amidst the trees was Mayantak, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. His face, contorted with a cruel smile, bore the mark of years of plotting and revenge. Fear, cold and clammy, gripped Krishneshwari. She had encountered the Asuras before, their malevolent presence still fresh in her memory. And this just felt like a sharp scratch to her wounds.

Mayantak, his eyes gleaming with malevolent intent, extended a hand towards Krishneshwari. He tried to exert his will, to control her mind, to lure her to him. However she took a small step back, her eyes fixed on his. Mayantak was taken aback. His illusions, his spells, usually worked flawlessly.

Every instinct screamed at her to run, to flee from the menacing figure before her. But Krishneshwari remained rooted to the spot. She knew she should run, that she should escape while she still had the chance. But the thought of leaving her parents, her family, defenseless against this evil, filled her with a chilling dread. She couldn't abandon them, not when they were unconscious and vulnerable.

Mayantak, his eyes gleaming with malevolent intent, took a step towards her.

"Ruko !" Krishneshwari commanded raising her hand, her voice trembling slightly, as her heart pounded, "Paas mat ana !"

"Kya kaal ko paas aane se koi rok sakta hai ?" Mayantak smirked, amused by her feeble attempt to stop him.

Krishneshwari, hesitatingly took a step back, "Kaun ho tum ? Kya chaahte ho tum sab Asur mujhse ?" She demanded.

Mayantak chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed through the forest. "Mai hu Mayasur ka putra, aur Vyomasur ka bhai. Aur mujhe tumse adhik kuch nahi chahiye, keval pratishodh."

Krishneshwari's lips quivered. All her life, she had been plagued by the fear of Asura attacks. All the encounters with death came rushing back, a torrent of fear and confusion. For the first time in her life, a wave of despair washed over her. Was this all there was ? A life of constant fear, of being hunted, of living up to a divine legacy that she didn't even understand ? A life of being revered, yet utterly alone ?

The thought of giving up, of succumbing to the fear that gripped her, crossed her mind. It was a terrifying thought, a betrayal of herself, of her parents, of the divine beings who watched over her. But the weight of her destiny, the constant pressure to be something she didn't understand, was crushing her. Perhaps, it would be better slipping into the void where pain ceased to exist.

Krishneshwari didn't want a life like this anymore. A life that felt more like a burden than a blessing.  It felt purposeless, meaningless. She looked at Mayantak, a strange sense of resignation washing over her.

With a heavy heart, she fell to her knees, her head raised and eyes closed. She had accepted her fate, resigned to the inevitable.

Mayantak, surprised by her sudden surrender, paused. He had expected a struggle, a fight. But the princess, usually so spirited, seemed to have given up. He leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with a cruel satisfaction.

But just as he was about to grasp her, a sharp, whistling sound pierced the air. An arrow struck Mayantak’s wrist with a sickening thud, severing his hand and sending him reeling back with an agonized scream. The sound snapped Krishneshwari from her stance, her eyes flying open to witness the grotesque spectacle before her.

He looked towards the direction from which the arrow had come, his gaze searching for the source of the attack. Mayantak’s expression twisted from anger to sheer terror as he glanced behind her, his gaze locking onto the unseen archer. Panic surged through him, and he stumbled backward, abandoning his sinister quest. With his face contorted in pain and fear, he turned and fled, disappearing into the depths of the forest.

Confusion flooded Krishneshwari's mind as she watched the Asura retreat, her pulse still racing. The danger had passed, but the question lingered—who had saved her? Slowly, she turned her head, her heart aching with curiosity. And that's when she saw him, the one with the supreme-most name.

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A/N

JAAAAAIIIIII SHRIIIIII RAAAAAAM !

Btw, prabhu ne Mayantak ko jaane diya 🌝