Devika bowed to Lord Somnath, the one of the twelve Jyotirlingas who blessed the Moon God to be cured from his disease, and was installed at Prabhasa, a little far from the main city of Dwaraka.

Since she had heard of Kuru Yuvaraja Yudhishthira, Devika was not at her absolute peace. The festive ambiance around her could not cheer her up. Surpassing all noise of joy around her she felt worried for that unseen Crown Prince. Was he doing well there in Hastinapura? Could he succeed in keeping the interests of his people for which he decided not to come here? Devika did not know why these questions were arising in her heart again and again. Finally today, she had left the palace to visit Somnath temple for pacifying her tensed heart.

"Prabhu," she folded her hands to the Divine Jyotirlingam, "here we all are safe and secured, happily enjoying the mood of celebration. But there in the city of Kurus he is fighting all alone against the ones who don't care for the subjects! I do not even know how much insult and danger he has to suffer there! Even his brothers are not there to protect him, neither can he share his pain with them! Take care of him, Prabhu, give him strength to fight for Dharma! Don't let him lose his battle!"

"Help! Help!" A frightened voice reached her ears, "save me from them! Help me, please!"

Devika spun round to see who was calling for help. Her eyes found a middle-aged Brahmin, gasping in fear. Seemed like he had been running for long to save himself.

"What happened, Aarya?" Devika tenderly asked.

"A group of robbers are following me!" The Brahmin informed, "I was returning from Dwaraka collecting daana on the occasion of wedding of Dwarakadheesh, on the way these men chased me to snatch the wealth I have received there!"

"Worry not, Aarya!" Devika tried to console him, "they cannot harm you here. You have taken shelter at the Feet of Lord Somnath. He will never let you face any danger."

"You don't know them, Vatse! They are manslaughters. They won't even think twice to pollute this sacred temple with a Brahmin's blood!"

"They won't be able to, Aarya!" Her voice was calm but determined, "this devotee of Lord promises you your safety, till the end of her life!"

A harsh noise was heard at the entrance of temple. Fear swayed the face of Brahmin. "Can you hear? They have reached here! Now they will find me!" He whispered.

"Stay inside the temple. Let me handle this!" Devika bowed to the Jyotirlingam once again and took out His Trishul.

It was a group of four men. The wrath in their eyes and weapons shining in their hands could not frighten Devika even a little. Rather she could sense her heart was becoming calmer in front of this situation. With all her mental strength she stood at the entrance, guarding the interior with care.

"Has any Brahmin entered this temple just now?" The leader of robbers asked impatiently.

"Even if it is so, do not presume I will let you enter to harm him." Devika calmly uttered.

"See, we do not intend to hurt a woman." The leader replied with negligence, "so don't force us to do that. Leave the entrance!"

"You can't go inside before killing me!" Her eyes flashed in calm anger as she raised the Trishul. As a child she had heard from her parents that one of her ancestors, King Shivi, did not even hesitate to cut his flesh in order to protect a bird who took shelter to him. How could she, being his descendant, ignore the responsibility of protecting the Brahmin whom she had given shelter to?

But the task was not easy at all. Though she had managed to disarm the other robbers, their leader seemed to be a harder challenge. Before Devika could make his sword fall down by hitting it hard with the Trishul, it came below her chin.

"For the last time I tell you." His voice was cold and cruel, "let us enter! Or you will die!"

Devika struggled to make herself free from his tight grip but her strength failed. Realizing that death is very close, she closed her eyes to remember Krishna's affectionate smile once for the last time.

And then the miracle did happen.

Something came in between her chin and the sword, giving a hard blow to the weapon. All she could sense a flash, and the next moment the sword fell down on the ground.

Devika looked down in surprise. What was it that saved her life from obvious death?

And she found it. A spear! Simplest in its look, but determination flashed in its sharp pointed iron head - as if someone's heart, simple in overall but had a pointed focus to protect Dharma. It hit the sword with such a skillful way that the sharp pointed head did not even touch her, though there was just one finger gap between the two!

Who was this excellent spearperson? Devika lifted her eyes to meet the one who saved her.

And her eyes were stuck there only!

There stood a tall, fair-skinned young man holding the arm of the leader of robbers. The single word fair would fall short to describe that complexion like pure gold though, as Devika felt. His face did hold an unbelievable serenity even in this situation, as if this calmness was his innate nature! But the most surprising were his eyes! Though they beamed with determination to resist the present evil at this moment, they could not hide their natural tranquility. Those large copper-hued eyes had a remarkable aura of kindness reflected from them, making Devika wonder whether they really were human eyes or two flowers, bloomed in light of honesty and warmth of compassion!

"Shame on those arms that hold weapons to raise it on women instead of protecting their honour!" He uttered in a grave and calm voice, "do not forget that valour has some ethics, too! It is not all about skill of using weapons but much more than that! Do not hold your sword unless you are ready to follow those ethics!"

"We don't have time or interest to listen to your preachings right now! Do you have some power in your arms too or only in words?" Said the leader with contempt, taking up his sword.

The youth did not reply. Neither was any change visible in his calm face. He just picked up his spear to resist the attack from other side. He seemed to be a skilled spearman, but not aggressive in attacking. The calmness he showed even within the battle surprised Devika.

Had Lord Somnath Himself arrived to punish the evil? His serene beauty and valour did not let Devika feel otherwise. Admiration filled her as she felt compelled to assist the young warrior. While he was fighting with the leader, Devika involved herself in stopping the other robbers from attacking him from back. The group of robbers could not stand long in front of their joint attack. After sometime they finally had to give up, as their leader lay disarmed at the mercy of the two strange warriors.

"Don't kill me, please!" The robber managed to fold his shivering hands, "I-I will never come here again!"

"Not only here," the young warrior said, "you will never again hold your weapons to harm someone! Leave this path of adharma! I will talk to Dwarakadheesh for giving you some honest way of earning! But before that, you have to promise that you will prove yourself worthy of it!"

"I will! It's my promise!"

The young warrior removed the tip of his spear from the leader's neck, making him free.

"Go! You are free now!" His regal personality impressed Devika, making her more curious to know his identity.

"I will never forget your kindness, Dev!" The leader's eyes were brimming over tears, "I have never seen someone like you, so forgiving even with the power of punishing! I will do what you said, Dev! This life is yours, forever!"

He actually had voiced some of her own feelings, Devika thought. She had only heard it when Krishna forgave Jarasandha despite of being able to kill him. Then she wondered how someone could do that! Today she herself witnessed another person doing the same thing. Did this person have any relation with Krishna?

The leader was addressing him 'Dev'. So appropriate it was, Devika thought. Was he not divine who could change an evil heart by influencing his own goodness into it?

"Go home." He smiled a kind smile, "I will fulfill my words when time comes."

The robbers bowed to him and left the place. Then he turned to Devika.

"Hope you are not hurt, Bhadre?" His voice was so soothing, so compassionate that she sensed she have forgotten all her pain and her heart had regained calmness.

"No." She humbly shook her head. "Words will fail me to express my gratitude to you, Aarya! I would not have been breathing right now had you not come at the right moment!"

"Express your gratitude to God, not to me, Bhadre!" He smiled, "no one can save other unless God wishes so! Moreover, I am a Kshatriya. It's my Dharma to protect. And fulfilling own Dharma cannot demand gratitude!"

Not even a single bit of pride! What was he made of? Amazed, Devika stared at his face.

"However, I still wonder what made these robbers attack you!" His words brought Devika out of her trance. She reminded the Brahmin inside the temple.

"They wanted to rob a Brahmin from his wealth." She replied, "I was trying to guard the temple entrance so that the Brahmin remained safe."

"A Brahmin? Where is he?"

"Here." A third voice made both of them turn. The Brahmin had come out.

"I will be forever in debt to you, Vatse!" His eyes were full with tears, "even my own daughter would not have taken this risk to protect me!"

"Where do you live, Aarya?" Enquired the young man, "I could take you to your home sooner."

"It's not required, son! My home is not far from here. I can go alone."

The Brahmin thanked them once again and left.

"Where will you go?" His question made Devika look at him.

"Dwaraka."

"I too am going there only. If you don't mind travelling with a stranger, may I make you reach your destination?"

His etiquette made Devika smile with a nod of agreement. It was not like that she could not return alone, but her heart was unwilling to let this man go so soon.

"Come," he led her respectfully to his golden chariot. Placing Devika on the rider's comfortable seat, he himself took the reins in his hand. It made her feel embarrassed, but she said nothing. The chariot ran with high speed. With discovering him as a skillful charioteer she also noticed with utter surprise that the chariot-wheel was at least four fingers above the ground!

Who was he, that unique combination of beauty, valour and humanity? Devika just realized she had not even asked his name!