Everyone's attention was shifted towards the entrance of the arena. There was a hustle going between the guards and a young man.
" Mahamantri ye kaisa kolahal hai ? "
( Mahamantri, what's going on there ?)
The king asked the Prime minister. The prime minister along with other ministers rushed towards the entrance to sort the matter out.
" Sanikon , ye sab kya ho rha hai yahan?"
( Guards , what's going on here ?")
The guards shivered with the angry tone of Senapati and immediately bowed before him.
" Pranipat senapati mahoday. Ye yuvak bheetar pravesh krne ki hatt kr rha hai."
( Greetings senapati. This young man is trying to enter the arena. )
Hearing the guards , the Prime minister and the Senapati's attention shifted towards the young man standing there. By his appearance they understood that he was a poor Brahmin who had come there in search of alms.
" Brahman , aaj hamari Rajkumari ka swayambara hai , yahan aaye sabhi brahmano ko daan avshya milega. Jao ja kr wahan baitho Jahan sabhi brahman baithe hue hai. "
( Brahman! Today is the swayambara of our beloved princess, every brahman will get alms , go and sit with the other Brahmans )
The Prime minister said to the young man with compassion. But the smile on his face disappeared as soon as the young man shook his head.
" Mai Jo daan lene aaya hoon , wo daan sirf aapke Maharaj hi kr sakte hai Mahamantri. Mai unse bhet krne ki ichcha rakhta hoon."
( I am here to get something else, and only your Maharaj can give me what I want. I am willing to meet him , Mahamantri.)
The Prime minister and the others were shocked by the words of the poor bhikshuk. There was a certain sense of pride in his tone. The Senapati fumed in anger by his tone, he couldn't digest the fact that a poor bhikshuk dared to speak like that to the Prime minister of his state.
" Bhikshuk, tumhe apne praan priy nhi hai ? Mahamantri se is prakar baat kr rhe ho. Maharaj abhi vyas hai , tum jaise logon k liye unke paas samay nhi hai. "
( Bhikshuk , don't you love your life? Maharaj is busy now , he has no time for people like you.)
Instead of being scared by Senapati's thundering , the young bhikshuk smiled and said " Ab Tak to sabhya ki bhati bheetar Jane ki agya maang rhe tha kintu prateet hota hai ki aapko aupcharikta pasand nhi Sena nayak, koi baat nhi mujhe mera marng swayam banane aata hai."
( Till now , I was trying to behave like a gentleman and was seeking permission to enter but it seems that you don't like the formalities, Sena nayak. No worries, I can make my own ways. )
Before anyone could comprehend what he was trying to say , he made his way towards the arena by crossing the border in a second. The astonished ministers and senapati ran behind him but before they could catch me , he reached towards the middle of Arena. Everyone was confused by his presence. Why a Bhikshuk would come in the middle of the swayambara? He could have waited with other poor bhikshuk in hope of charity but this young man broke the security and stood right in the middle of the arena. He must have lost his mind. Everyone thought.
" Maharaj Subodh, Maharani Sudha or Raj Purohit Ahiran ko mera pranipat. Mai Rajkumari Avni ka bhi abhivadan krta hoon."
The young man joined his hands , looked straight into king's eyes and greeted the royals.
Before anyone could say anything, the senapati grabbed his arms and tried to drag him out but the young man was strong enough free himself from the Senapati's grip.
" Maharaj Subodh , aapke nagar atithi ka swagat is prakar se hota hai ? Kya ek brahman k sath is prakar ka vayvhar uchit hai ? "
( Maharaj Subodh, this is how guests are welcomed in your state? Is this an appropriate way to treat a brahman?)
Hearing young man's word King was quick enough to respond. He waved his hand in air , indicating the senapati to back off.
King- " Yuvak ! Vayvhaar hame tum sikha rhe ho , kya kisi prayojan me is prakar chale aana uchit hai ? "
( Young man ! You are teaching me the norms ? Is it appropriate to interfere in a celebration?)
Bhikshuk - " Maharaj! Phle to bheetar aane ki agaya hi mangi thi maine, kintu aapke sanikon ne aane hi nhi diya. Or aapke Sena pati ko to aupcharikta pasand hi nhi. Isme Mera kya dosh?"
( Maharaj! At first I was asking the permission to enter but your guards didn't agree . And your senapati doesn't like formalities. What's my fault in this?)
King- " Jo hua wo uchit nhi bhikshuk, kintu aaj bhot hi shubh din hai, hamari putri ka swayambara, jao ja kr sthan grahan kr lo, swayambara k baad tumhe daan avshya milega."
( Leave , whatever happened, today is the auspicious day of my daughter's swayambara, go and take a seat , after swayambara, you will surely get the alms.)
Bhikshuk - " Maharaj! Mai yahan daan me dhan ya anaj lene nhi aaya hoon."
( Maharaj , I am not here for any charity)
" Daan nhi , to fir kya lene aaye ho yuvak ?"
( Then why are you here ? )
The confused king asked.
The bhikshuk paused and took a deep breath, he directly gazed into the king's eyes and replied " yadi daan Dene ki itni hi ichcha h Maharaj Subodh to vivah me mujhe apni Kanya ka daan dijiye."
( I want your daughter, king subodh)
Hearing the bhikshuk's words , the king blazed in fury. The Senapati's sword was just an inch away from his neck. A slight movement and the sword would chop his head. A murmure spread accross the arena. Queen Sudha , holded her daughter's hand securely. But the young man seemed unaffected by all these.
"Tum jante ho tum kya keh rhe ho bhikshuk. Yadi hum chahe to abhi tumhare praan har le."
( Do you know , what your are saying. If I want , I could snatch away your life right now.)
The angry king said.
" Mai janta hoon mai kya keh rha hoon Maharaj! Isiliye Mai bhi swayambara me bhaag lene aaya hoon . Or poore sanskar k sath aapki Kanya se vivah krna chahta hoon."
( I know what I am saying Maharaj. That's why I want to participate in the swayambara and want to marry your daughter with all the blessings and rituals.)
The bhikshuk said while joining his hands with modesty.
"Kintu tum Raj kul k nhi ho , ek bhikshuk kaise ek Rajkumari ke swayambara me bhaag le sakta hai ?"
( But you are not from a royal family, you are a beggar , how can you participate in a princess's swayambara?)
This time the eldest prince of Khyati, Abhijeet, spoke .
" Kintu swayambara k kisi niyam me aisa kahin nhi likha tha ki isme sirf Rajkul k sadasya hi bhaag lenge. Swayambara ka nyota jinke liye gaya , wo swayambara me bhaag lene k yogya hai."
( But no rules of swayambara tell that. Those who received the invitation of swayambara can participate in it.)
The stranger argued back.
"Kya tumhare paas swayambara ka nyota hai ?"
( Do you have the invitation of swayambara?)
Finally the rajguru of Maniprasth spoke.
" Haan! Swayambara ka nyota to swayam mahamantri le kr aaye the."
(Yes , Mahamantri himself had brought the invitation of swayambara.)
The stranger's answer left everyone confused. Sensing everyone's confusion, the poor Brahmin again spoke,
"Maharaj, mai Rishi keerticharya ke ashram se aaya hoon, wahi Rishi jinhone aapke prano ki raksha ki thi. Mai unhi ka shishya hoon. Mere guru ek anusthan me vyast hai to unke sthan pr Mai aaya hoon or sath hi swayambara me bhaag lena chahta hoon. Nirnay lena to Rajkumari ka adhikar hai pr yadi aaj mai dukhi lauta to aap mere guruvar k rinn ko kaise chuka payenge?"
( Maharaj, I have come from Rishi's ashram , the same Rishi who saved your life. I am his disciple. My guru is busy in a ritual so I am attending the swayambara, and I want to participate in the swayambara. The decision is in the hand of princess only. But, if I returned unhappy from here , how will you be able to repay my guru.)
Everyone in the royal family was silent as soon as the stranger finished him statement. The king looked towards his guru , who was astonished. The royal priest of Maniprasth closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The Mahamantri approached the king , while the other participants of swayambara were in dismay.
Hey everyone!!! Here is the another update. Make sure to like and comment, to motivate me to write further parts.
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