The rays of Suryadev touched the earth providing his usual warmth. But inside the cave chamber where the hundred unborn son of Rajkumari Viswa was, it remained deprived of that warmth or light.

Rajkumari Viswa held her breath as the sound of a pot bursting open reached her ears. She held her husband's hand tightly as they went towards the sound. A gasp left her mouth and a lone tear fell from her eyes, but contrasting to that a smile took residence on her face.

And it spoke of the pleasure of a mother hearing the first cry of her child. A mother who had waited a very long time to hear that cry! A mother who had endured despair and fear unlike any! A mother who had reached the end of her patience to feel her motherhood being completed.

***

On the other hand, outside the cave the clear sky darkened with clouds and thunderclaps were heard. Wind started to blow violently. As thunder struck the dry ground and trees, different places caught fire. The sudden change in the nature frightened the animals and birds too and their restlessness could be felt from the sounds they made. Donkeys, vultures, jackals, crows and other carnivorous animals began to howl ominously.

"What is happening?" Rajkumar Jayaditya wondered loudly. He rushed to the palace and went to meet Rajguru Vihastachariya.
As he reached there, he found a worried Rajmata Vilasvati, Maharaj Jagadeesan and Rajkumar Durdharsh already present there with the Rajguru and the Mahamantri (chief minister) of Amvasthapuram, Ketu.

"What is the reason behind this sudden change of nature, Rajguru?" Maharaj Jagadeesan asked.

"Maharaj, jab bhi koyi sangkat ka aagaman hota hai, toh manussya se purb, uska bhan prakriti ko ho jata hai. Yeh sare sanket ussi sangkat ka hai Maharaj, jisne Amvasthapuram ke dharti par janm le liya hai.

(Maharaj, whenever some danger arrives, nature gets the premonition before human realizes it. All these signs are of that danger that had taken birth in the land of Amvasthapuram.)" Rajguru Vihastachariya replied gravely.

"Kiski baat kar rahe hai aap, gurudev? Kaisa sangkat?
(What are you talking about, Gurudev? Which danger?)" Rajkumar Durdharsh asked with a tensed frown.

"Yeh sanket hai, asuri shakti ke janm ka!!!
(This is the indication of the birth of evil!!!)" Mahamantri Ketu replied instead.
"Aur khed hain mujhe ye kehte huye, kintu inn ashub sanketo ke saath janm lene wala balak Vajravansh ka hi rakt hai.
(And I am sorry to say but the boy bringing all this ominousness is the blood of Vajravansh only.)" He said cautiously. But then hesitated to say it outright, still added,

"Rajkumar Kashyap ke pratham santan ka janm ho cuka hai Maharaj!
(The first son of Rajkumar Kashyap has already been born, Maharaj!)"

Rajkumar Jayaditya frowned at the implication, but Maharaj Jagadeesan looked at him with a blank expression before asking,

"Toh aap unhe badhai dene jana cahte hai, Mahamantri?
(So, do you want to go to congratulate him, Mahamantri?)"

Mahamantri Ketu's jaw slackened before he closed his mouth and looked away in embarrassment. He understood that Maharaj Jagadeesan was challenging him to say it if he dared. However, Rajmata Vilasvati didn't back out from the challenge as she addressed Rajguru.

"Rajguru, aap batai. Kya Kashyap ka jyesth putra, asuri prabbritti ka hoga? Kya issi karan prakriti yeh ashub sanket de rahi hai?

(You tell us, Rajguru. Is Kashyap's eldest son will be of devilish nature? Is this why nature is giving these inauspicious signs?)"

"Yoh toh dristtikon par nirbhar karta hai, Rajmata.
(That depends on the perspectives, Rajmata.)" Rajguru replied calmly. He turned his eyes to Maharaj Jagadeesan as he said again,

"Maharaj, Maha Rudra ke Rudra ansh, Veerbhadra jab jab jagurit hote hai, tabh bhi prakriti aise hi asanth hoti hai. Kintu Prabhu Veerbhadra ko koyi ashub nehi keh sakta. Jab jab yoh jagurit hote hai, toh unki upasthiti se asanth huyi issi sristi ka kalyan e hota hai.

(Maharaj, whenever the fierce form of Maha Rudra, Veerbhadra awaken, the nature become restless just like this. But no one can call lord Veerbhadra inauspicious. As whenever he comes, this same nature which becomes restless, faces welfare only.)"

He stopped for a moment before adding in contemplation,

"Prakriti ka yeh asthirta dekh, yeh anuman lagana uchit nehi hoga ki janm lene wala sisu asuri prabbritti ka hai. Yeh toh aane wale samay mei uske karm par nirbhar karega.

(It'll be inappropriate to say this child will be of devilish nature only seeing these signs of nature. This will depend on his actions in the upcoming future.)"

"Kintu ek baat nischit hain. (But one thing I can say certainly.)" Rajguru continued and took a few moments to choose his words carefully.

"Vajra ka sarir leke janma iss balak ka krodh bidhbhanskari hoga! Yeadhi iss balak ko apne krodh par niyantran pana nehi sikhaya gaya, toh vabissya main kebal Amvasthapuram, yeah yeh Vajrabhumi hi nehi,

samasta Aryavarth iske krodh ke bali car jayega.

(This child who was born with a diamond hard body, his anger will be disastrous! If he is not taught to control his anger, then in future, not only Amvasthapuram or this land of Vajra,

But whole Aryavarth will be destroyed by his wrath.)"

***

Raani Yamini smiled as she looked at the child who had appeared on her arm by the grace of Vayudev.

"This boy has born with my blessings. I, myself will be present in his arms. His enemies will tremble in fear even hearing his name. Your this son will be known as Prabal, Yamini."

Raani Yamini lowered her head before the lord of air and wind in respect and gratitude. As he disappeared from the place, she again looked at her newborn son with pride and pleasure.

"Prabal, my son!"

***

"Aap yeh kya keh rahi hai, Pitamahi?
(What are you saying, Pitamahi?)"

Rajkumari Viswa clutched her son tightly in fear as Rajkumar Kashyap asked that in shock.

"Main satya keh rahi hu, putra. Tumhara yeh putra samasta Amvasthapuram ke liye khatra hai. Iske aate hi prakriti mein hahakar mach gaya. Yeh balak sangkat bankar janma hai hum sabke liye.

(I'm saying the truth, son. Your son is threatening for Amvasthapuram. With his birth, the nature has given inauspicious signs. He has born as a threat for all of us.)"
Rajmata Vilasvati said with a frown.

"Issiliye aap yeaha nibedan le kar aayi hai, ki main aapne putra ka tyag kar du?
(That's why you've come with the request to me for abandoning my son?)"
Rajkumar Kashyap asked impassively.

"Rajkumar, aapko putra saw ho, yeah ninanbe, usse rastra ko adhik haani nehi hogi. Kintu yeadhi yeh balak jeevit raha, toh samagra rastra, samagra Vajravansh ko bahot badi hani ki samvhabna hai. Sastra mein aise anishth kari santan ka balidan dene ka aadesh diya hai.

(Rajkumar, if you have ninety nine sons instead of a hundred, the kingdom will not be harmed much. But if this boy remains alive, then the entire kingdom, the entire dynasty of King Vajra may face a lot of harm. In our scriptures, it is advised to sacrifice such an ominous child.)"
Mahamantri Ketu said who had accompanied Rajmata Vilasvati to the ashram of Maharishi Atharvan.

"Aab aap mujhe sastra sikhayenge, Mahamantri Ketu?
(Now you'll teach me our scriptures, Mahamantri Ketu?)"
Rajkumar Kashyap asked slightly narrowing his eyes at the man.

"Maharaj Jagadeesan ko pata hai, ki aaj kal unka Mahamantri logo ko sastro ka gyan dete phir rahe hai?
(Do Maharaj Jagadeesan know that his chief minister is distributing the knowledge of scriptures to people?)" He asked again mockingly. Mahamantri Ketu looked away nervously as Maharaj Jagadeesan or Rajkumar Jayaditya, no one knew about their little visit here.

"Putra, tumhara dukhi hona swabhabik hai. Kintu hamara mantabbya kebal rastra ki heet hai.

(Son, it is natural for you to feel disheartened. But we are here only for the wellbeing of the kingdom.)"
Rajmata said again ignoring his jab.

"Tum samajhne ka prayas karo. Rajguru ne kaha hai ki tumhare putra ka krodh bidhbhanskari hoga samasta Aryavarth ke liye.
(Please try to understand. Rajguru has predicted that your son's anger will be disastrous for the entire Aryavarth.)"

She added after taking a brief pause.

"Tum hamari baat maan lo. Main tumhare baki ke putron ko unke janm ke paschat aapne saath mehel le calungi. Tum aur tumhari patni rajmehel main aapne putron ke saath sukhi jeevhan byatit karoge. Tumhare patni ko Vajravansh ki putrabadhu hone ka samman prapt hoga. Aur tumhare putron ko milega rajjya ka samarthan aur samarth.
Maan jao Kashyap.

(Listen to us. I will take the rest of your sons with me to the palace after all of them are born. You and your wife will lead a happy life with your sons there. Your wife will get the respect and honour of becoming the daughter-in-law of Vajravansh. And your sons will gain the support and strength of the kingdom.
Accept it, Kashyap.)"

"Krodh cahe kisika bhi ho, sadebh hi binas ko aamantran deta hai. Yeadhi issi bicar ke saath balako ki hatya karne lage, toh samagra prithbi sunnya ho jayega. Aabasakta hai to unhe acche sankskar dene ki, balidan ke naam par sisu hatya ki nehi.

(No matter whose it is, anger always brings destruction. If we start killing innocent children with this philosophy, then the entire earth will be devoid of them. What is needed is to give them good values, not to kill them in the name of sacrifice.)"

Rajkumar Kashyap replied meeting her eyes straight.

"Aap apna rajjya rakh lijiye Rajmata. Main aapna Putra rakh leta hu.

(You keep your Kingdom Rajmata, Let me keep my son.)"

Saying so, he entered the hut to find Manohara still clutching their son tightly standing at a corner of the room. Her moistened eyes met his conveying her hurt and fear. Kashyap's eyes softened as he looked at the sight. He went near her and took his son in his arms. The newborn smiled in his sleep probably finding the comforting warmth of his father's embrace.

"Don't be afraid, Manohara. As long as I am alive, I won't let anyone harm our children." He assured her gently.

Rajkumari Viswa wiped her eyes before nodding as she felt some of the tension leaving her body and mind.

"What will we call him?" She asked after a few moments, caressing her son's head.

Rajkumar Kashyap stared at his son for sometime before saying,

"Shatruo se purb ise aapne aap se yudh karna hoga. Yudh hoga unse bhi jo iske kareeb honge. Yodha hoga yeh. Cahe har mile, yeah jeet, kintu prayas nehi chodega.

(Even before enemies, he will have to fight himself and those around him. He will be a fighter. Either he wins or loses, my son will never give up a fight.)

Isiliye Viswaputra ko samgra Vhiswa,

Ranakrit ke naam se janega.

(That's why the son of Viswa will be known as Ranakrit to the whole world.)"

*****

So, here is our Antihero!

Ranakrit....♥️♥️♥️

I searched for the name a lot before finding it. And I instantly fell in love with this name!

By the way, how was the birth?

Fact:

After Duryodhan's birth, the nature had indeed gave those ominous signs!

And all the learned brahmins and Rishis had gathered to warn Dhritrastra and requested him to drown the child into Ganga.

That's......... something!

I can't imagine how Gandhari must have felt at that time.

Another thing is, the competition had started since their birth only. If Dhritrastra was ambitious, so was Pandu.
If Pandu and Kunti were so saint and didn't differ between the cousins, then what was the point of Arjuna's birth?

I can understand Bheem and the twins birth story. Bheem they needed probably not knowing about the upcoming 100 or for the lonely Yudhisthir (when you're trying to make them the good guys), and te twins were for Madri,

But what was the need for Arjuna's birth if not for strengthening Yudhisthir's army?

And I find it laughable when someone tries to justify Yudhisthir's side saying, he was eldest, so he deserved the crown!

In the original Vyas's text, there's no reference of Gandhari making Duryodhan strong by by looking at him or applying some portion. It was a later imagination.

It is assumed by some that Duryodhan was born with a diamond hard body. But the lower part of his body was fragile. Since his Guru Balaram referred to him as the one who had a lightening hard body, I am taking that.