Strategy

Yetiraj led Ashwatthama further away from the road, down to a hidden cave. Next to the mountains, this cave was painted in the colour of nature. Yetiraj knocked on the door thrice, as if in a pattern. The door opened, and they both went inside.

It was a big square library, and there were huge racks in every corner, brimming with books.

As they entered, the door slammed shut. Ashwatthama turned. An ageing Yeti was walking towards him supported by a thick and heavy staff.

‘Guru Rudrasen!’ Ashwatthama exclaimed. ‘What a surprise! It has been so long.’

He bowed to the old Yeti.

‘Bless you, Ashwatthama. How are you, son?’ Rudrasen said, in his shaky voice.

Ashwatthama nodded, and held the old Yeti’s hand to help him get to the chair at the far end of the library.

‘This is quite a big library,’ Ashwatthama said, looking all around, ‘I have never been here before.’

‘That’s because you never needed to; this time, I think you do,’ Yetiraj replied.

Then, turning towards Rudrasen, Yetiraj said, ‘He needs to know all about Dandak, and his followers.’

Rudrasen had grown old, but his expressions conveyed his emotions. He led Ashwatthama to the inner room.

‘This is our library. We keep a record of our society’s history, politics, and geography. It helps us learn from our past mistakes and envisage a better future. Thousands of years back, none of this was in place, but everything changed after Dandak’s army attacked us. That was the most humiliating chapter in the history of our existence.’

Rudrasen climbed up the nearby wooden ladder to reach for the tallest shelf. He pulled out a hardbound book. The cover was made of dark brown wood, and the title was in red: The Dandak Attack on the Himavant . The pages were sepia-toned, and the writing was bold and clear. Rudrasen placed the book on the table and they all sat around it.

‘All right! What I am going to tell you is not public knowledge. Try to keep this to yourself as much as you can, revealing only that information you feel your friends must know. You do not want to lose the war before it begins,’ Rudrasen cautioned.

Ashwatthama nodded.

Rudrasen continued, ‘This book was written after Dandak attacked the Himavant, following his curse. After he went into the netherworld, our ancestors spent much time and resources researching about him. Even during that time, our ancestors knew he couldn’t be dead, and that his soul had gone into hiding. Somehow, this information was forgotten over the centuries, and we never thought there could be a chance of his return, until you came along.

‘About five thousand years ago, Guru Shukracharya had cursed Dandak — he, along with his kingdom, would be wiped out in seven days. Dandak was terrified. Immediately, he left Shukracharya’s ashram, and ran back to his kingdom in Dandakaranya. He called for a meeting with his astrologers and sorcerers to understand if there was any way the curse could be nullified, but all of them told him the curse couldn’t be revoked. Death would follow him like a shadow, even in hiding.

‘Angrily, Dandak dismissed all the sorcerers. However, there was one who stayed back — Vakrasur. He advised Dandak to take a tour of the netherworld to find refuge in the lokas. Shukracharya’s curse would be effective on Earth, but what if Dandak sought refuge in the Patala Loka? Could he be spared then?

‘With limited options, Dandak took a last chance. Together with Raktavija and Vidyut, he embarked on a journey to the Patala Loka in his Mansa chariot. One of the fastest modes of travel on Earth, this chariot, a boon from Lord Vishnu, made it possible for him to visit the seven lokas in six days — an impossible feat for any human, asura or deva.

‘The first five lokas — Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala and Mahatala — rejected him. Dandak did not want to approach Nagaloka, since the Nagas were cunning, and he resisted signing a pact with them. He was not sure if he would be able to save himself there. Rasatala was the last option. Call it his fortune or misfortune, but the king of Rasatala agreed to help him in exchange of a large part of kingdom on Earth. The Rasatala King wanted to escape the netherworld, and in his desperation, offered life to the greatest asura.

‘The pact was simple. Dandak and his two aides would take refuge in Rasatala. They were confident that the mud storm would not be able to hit them in the Patala Loka. As a ploy, Dandak planted three alibis in his palace so that everyone in Dandakaranya could be convinced of their death. Later, after the apocalypse, Dandak and his aides would come out of their hiding and re-establish a new kingdom with the help of Rasatala’s king. He had a plan to counter Shukracharya’s curse, which we were not aware of. Dandak wanted to form an invincible asura army, both for himself and the king of Rasatala.

‘As predicted, the mud storm struck on the seventh day. However, it was not an ordinary mud storm. A gigantic wave, it was about ten times larger than the size of Dandak’s palace. Uprooting trees, houses, hills, and everything else that crossed its path, the mud storm washed away the entire kingdom. Thousands of asuras died. Not a single entity survived in Dandakaranya. The devas rejoiced on learning that an asura like Dandak had been vanquished. Even the neighbouring kings celebrated the decimation of evil. However, no one knew what had really happened. Since no one heard of Dandak in the next few decades, there was widespread consensus that he had been killed in the mud storm.

‘However, we Yetis were not convinced. After our failure to counter Dandak’s first attack, we investigated every possibility of his revival. We decided to not take chances. We developed techniques to win any battle against the mighty asuras on the mountains. We designed new weapons, armour, and documented our warfare strategies and tactics through the ages. This library that you see is the culmination of several generations’ work that we have compiled,’ Rudrasen explained.

Ashwatthama looked around at the neatly arranged shelves, with books on every topic ranging from social science, war, politics, medicine, geology, and engineering, among others.

Rudrasen continued.

‘Our ancestors sent scouts into the ruins of Dandakaranya to verify the account of Dandak’s death. We found that his Mansa chariot was missing. This led us to suspect that Dandak might have escaped, although, we were not sure of the actual destination. We decided to go with the theory that Dandak indeed survived, and based further investigation on that assumption.

‘Like your friends, we too have been keeping a close watch on the events around Aryavarta, in the interest of our kingdom’s security.

‘Unfortunately, we do not have any confirmation on Dandak’s resurrection. He has not come out of the netherworld, yet. I think he is not aware of the events that transpired in the last five thousand years, and he wants to make sure it is absolutely safe for him to make a comeback.’

‘And, that is exactly why he wishes to acquire the bow of Lord Rama!’ Ashwatthama exclaimed.

‘Yes, and he will go to any lengths to acquire it. Right now, his subordinates are busy forming an army. However, I feel, right now, your concern should not be Dandak, but his most loyal aides — Raktavija and Vidyut. These two are quite fierce. Their supernatural abilities far exceed those of any ordinary asura. Dandak groomed and trained them to be far more superior in their fighting skills than any other contemporary.

‘If you are heading back towards Avanti, as Yetiraj informed me, you need to make sure you do not let the bow get into the hands of these two asuras. They are masters of trickery and disguise, and if the bow lands with them, you would have already lost the war,’ Rudrasen explained.

‘That will not happen, Guru Rudrasen. I will not let it fall into their hands at any cost,’ Ashwatthama asserted.

‘Our civilisation is under grave threat if Dandak resurrects. He will conquer other kingdoms, with no powerful force to prevent him, and I am sure his army will not spare the Yetis in the Himavant Ranges. Although, we are better prepared than last time, war is not something we want. There are far too many deaths. So, our best bet is to defeat Raktavija and Vidyut, and stop Dandak from rising,’ Rudrasen added.

Ashwatthama nodded. He now realised why the Yetis had been keeping a close eye on the events across the Himavant Ranges, and had reached just in time to save them from the avalanche. He looked at Rudrasen.

‘What do you suggest should be our next course of action?’ Ashwatthama asked.

‘Did you come through the Valley of Illusions?’ Rudrasen enquired.

‘Yes,’ Ashwatthama replied.

‘I would recommend not to return by that route. It is dangerous because the enemies could have set a trap for you, now that you have the bow in your possession. There is an alternative route that you can take — one very few know exists.’

Rudrasen got up, picked up a large sheet of printed cloth from a nearby rack, and gently placed it on the table. It was a map of Aryavarta, with different kingdoms, boundaries, and geographical regions clearly indicated in golden ink. It was similar to the map Vikram had shown him back in Avanti. Rudrasen pointed to the map with a stick.

‘We are here now,’ he said, pointing at the red dot on the map, where the Yeti kingdom was located.

‘Now, instead of navigating through the Valley of Illusions, you must head towards Naimisharanya. These forests are dense, and you will be able to take advantage of the thickets. At the centre is the Naimisharanya Lake. According to the Vayu Purana , hundreds of sages requested Lord Brahma to show them a spot suitable for performing a yagna. Lord Brahma created a huge wheel called the Manomaya Chakra. In the name of Lord Shiva, he released this Chakra, and told the sages that the spot where the Chakra broke would be the most suitable location for performing the yagna. The sages followed the Chakra and it broke inside a forest releasing fountains of water in the shape of a Shivalinga. This water is the source of Naimisharanya Lake. Inside this lake, at the centre, is the entrance to a tunnel.’

‘A tunnel inside the lake?’ Ashwatthama questioned, looking a bit confused. He wondered if he heard right.

‘Yes, as you know well, the Pandavas had to travel incognito in the thirteenth year of their forest exile. If discovered during the final year, they would have had to spend thirteen more years in the forest. The Pandavas were in Naimisharanya during their exile, and they had built a tunnel through this forest, leading to the Matsya kingdom, located about six hundred miles west of the forest. The tunnel was the only way they could have hoodwinked the Kauravas’ spies, who were working on Duryodhana’s instructions. Duryodhana was hell-bent on finding them in the thirteenth year. That’s how he could have kept them away from Hastinapur for another thirteen years. A few days before the thirteenth year of exile commenced, they distracted the spies by creating a diversion near Naimisharanya. A few locals in disguise helped the Pandavas in their escape. As the spies chased the false trail, the Pandavas fled through the tunnel to the Matsya kingdom.

‘This tunnel, designed by Maya, is about five hundred miles long and is the most suitable route for you to cover at least halfway of your return journey without being caught. We will provide you with the fastest horses that will carry you through the tunnel in three days. Remember, you must stop only during unavoidable circumstances. Once in Avanti, the divine bow should be handed over to Guru Apasmitra,’ Rudrasen explained.

‘I can swim and breathe underwater for a few minutes, but, how will my friends do that? Also, how can we stay in the underwater tunnel for three days?’ Ashwatthama asked, surprised. His years of yogic practice in Parashurama’s ashram had enabled him to breathe underwater for longer durations than other mortals.

‘You should not worry about that. The tunnel is designed to be waterproof. Search for the stairs that begin below the water surface. Then, it is a short walk to the centre of the lake. The stairs lead to a stone door. The stone door is very heavy, and was designed keeping Bheema’s strength in mind. I think you will be able to open it. Close the gate after you all enter. Once the gate opens, you will have very little time to enter the tunnel. The gate is waterproof as well, and does not allow the lake water to enter the tunnel,’ Rudrasen explained.

Ashwatthama nodded. He was wondering how these Yetis got to learn so much about the tunnel. The Yetis had cordial relations with the Pandavas who were ruling Hastinapur after the Kurukshetra War, and it was possible they shared information with each other for greater security of the region.

‘Yetiraj and his band will accompany you and your friends till the borders of the Himavant. From there, you can enter Naimisharanya. Ride fast, and keep a strict vigil on the bow. Do not let it out of sight even for a moment. We must hope that the need does not arise, but if it does, Lord Rama willing, you should be able to kill Dandak,’ Rudrasen tried to assuage the warrior’s fears.

‘I hope to not disappoint you,’ Ashwatthama promised.

‘I am sure you will emerge victorious. Farewell then, Ashwatthama. May Lord Rama’s grace be upon you,’ Rudrasen said, blessing him.

‘Farewell, Guru Rudrasen, your wisdom is highly appreciated, and I am sure we will put it to good use,’ Ashwatthama said, preparing to leave. He raised his right hand, and bowed to Rudrasen.

Yetiraj led Ashwatthama out of the library.

‘I hope the information will be useful to you and your friends, Ashwatthama.’

‘Yes, I think we will take the route suggested by Guru Rudrasen. I must now have a discussion with Vikram and Rana, and prepare for our departure tomorrow morning,’ Ashwatthama said.

‘It is soon, and yet, I cannot ask you to extend your stay,’ Yetiraj added.

‘Yetiraj, I am concerned about Urmila. Will she be fine?’ Ashwatthama seemed concerned.

‘The physician said, she has gone into cold shock. Please rest assured that she is under good care. We are giving her the best medical treatment. It will take not more than five days for her to recover completely. Then she shall be fit enough to ride. I will ensure she gets back to Hastinapur safely. I will accompany her to the borders of the Himavant, and then arrange for a trustworthy ally to escort her to Hastinapur. We will take her through the northern side, about two hundred miles from here. We will make sure she does not have to cross the Valley of Illusions. We can cover that much distance on snow in a single day.

‘We have allies up north, however, would you know someone, prehaps, a relative who could receive her near the Chandrabhaga River?’ Yetiraj enquired.

‘Let me send a message to Janamejaya — he can receive her there. He will be the best person. Apart from that, I need to send one more message,’ Ashwatthama requested.

‘Very well! Please come with me and help me prepare the message for Janamejaya. You can send your other message too.

‘I will also arrange for your travel. After dinner, I shall run you through the arrangements, and you can depart early morning, tomorrow,’ Yetiraj said.

Then he gestured Ashwatthama to follow him, and they went towards a nearby stony path that led to the administrative building.

~

‘We cannot leave Urmila in this condition,’ Rana said in a gloomy voice.

All of them were standing outside Urmila’s chamber. Urmila was lying in bed, barely awake, and a heavy fur blanket was wrapped around her. Her eyes looked weak, and her body had almost turned light purple with cold.

‘Do not worry about her, Prince Rana. Once she starts feeling better, we will get her to Hastinapur. She will have the best treatment here. I give you my word,’ Yetiraj said.

Rana looked glum, with his fingers curled over his lips, unable to make up his mind.

Ashwatthama placed his hand on Rana’s shoulder.

‘After she gets well, Yetiraj would accompany her to the Himavant border near the Chandrabhaga River, where Janamejaya would receive her.’

He nudged Vikram. All of them walked out of the room, towards the stable, leaving Rana behind with Urmila.

Rana walked towards Urmila’s bed, and kneeled. She opened her eyes.

‘How are you feeling?’ Rana asked, forcing a smile.

Urmila returned a faint smile and uttered, ‘Better.’

This was the same woman who had put up a valiant fight a few days back in the Valley of Illusions.

Rana took her hand in his, and looked into her eyes.

‘You know, living with you is very dangerous.’

Urmila smiled, a tear trickling down her cheek.

Rana’s eyes welled up, ‘I will come back for you.’

Urmila said in a low voice, ‘I will wait.’

Rana brought her hand to his face, and placed it on his cheek. He then kissed her hand, took it in both his hands, and held it for a moment, unwilling to let go. Urmila smiled, and then she slipped into a deep slumber, again. Rana sat there for a while longer, holding her hand. He had never felt like this for anyone. He put the blanket over her, looked at her serene face, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and slowly walked out of the room.