THE DHARMA OF ADHARMA

Mythology | read 02 min #shortstories #devotional #gods #fiction

With snakes swimming toward the wooden basket, Goddess Ganga* tries to protect the grinning baby inside, who seems to enjoy his tidal path. With a promise to provide him foster care, Ganga Devi continues her flow away from Kuntibhoja*.

Somewhere near the outskirts of Kuru, a charioteer offering prayers to Surya Bhagawan* is disturbed by his horse whining near the riverbank. He feels something strike his waist and, presuming it to be a wooden log, continues his prayers.

Abruptly, upon hearing a baby's wail, he opens his eyes to find a basket filled with blossomed lotus flowers floating away. Assuming it to be offerings to Goddess Ganga*, he turns back to face the sunrise.

His concentration interrupted by the fading clanging sounds and the baby's cries, he turns again toward the river. To his astonishment, he sees tiny dusky fingers clutching the basket's edge, slowly attempting to peep out. Without a second thought, Adiratha* rushes toward the basket to find the baby curiously staring back at him.

As a human disrupts her flow, and in order to keep her promise to the baby's father, Goddess Ganga* furiously increases the water's pace, splashing waves at the intruder.

To protect the baby from the surging tide, the charioteer lowers his face to shield the child—only to witness a sparkling light emerging amidst the lotus flowers, forming an armor to protect the baby.

Amazed by the magical and blessed child, he lifts the basket into his arms, receiving it as a boon—an answer to his long-awaited wish for a child—and walks out of the river.

Meanwhile, in her house at Sutagruha*, Radha* is trying to finish her chores before her husband returns from his prayers, when she accidentally steps on her cut fruits.

“Radha, look what I’ve brought for you,” she hears her husband call out. Setting the fruits aside, she rushes from her small kitchen into the only other room. Though it lacked any signs of luxury, she was content with a home that met her needs. Out of habit, her gaze shifts leftward to the portrait of Lord Shiva hanging on the wall, her heart whispering her long-held wish.

Hearing her husband call again, she adjusts the drape of her saree and steps out to find him holding a basket brimming with lotus flowers. In his excitement to show her what lies within, he stumbles on a rock but quickly regains balance, securing the basket just before it slips from his hand.

As a lotus flower falls, she rushes forward and catches it inches above the ground. She hears her friend—who had moved into the neighboring house a few years back—chuckle, teasing her for being a true charioteer’s wife, always alert and never letting anything fall.

Rising with the flower in hand, she finds her Arya* staring at her, eyes filled with hope. Unsure of the meaning behind his desperate expression, she follows his gaze downward—into the basket. Beneath the flowers, a pair of sparkling eyes look wearily back at her.

With a flood of thoughts and hoping for a faithful explanation, she looks to her husband. But she can feel her nosy neighbor peeking in, eager for any gossip about palace affairs her husband might share.

Silently stepping back, she turns and signals him to wash his feet before entering the house, her stern glance saying all that words could not.

(To be Continued...)

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Appendix- Goddess Ganga* - River Ganges / Ganga, Kuntibhoja* - A Yadavas’s kingdom, Kuru* - A kingdom established by King Kuru, Surya Bhagawan* - God Surya / Sun, Adiratha* - A charioteer working in Kuru Kingdom, Sutagruha* - Low caste housing, Radha* - Adiratha’s wife, Arya* - Husband