The devas erupted into cheers, their voices ringing through the heavens. It was as if they had just been promised another Amrita Bhojana and the very thought sent a surge of excitement through them. Laughter and elation spread like wildfire, their joy uncontainable.
Amidst the celebration, Shiva smiled knowingly. His deep, steady voice carried easily over the commotion.
"Parvati," he said, turning to his wife, "why don't you go to Vaikuntha and help Devi Lakshmi? I would love to taste Bhojan prepared by."
Parvati chuckled, her beautiful eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh? Is that so, Shankara?"
Without hesitation, she made her way to Devi Lakshmi, who welcomed her with a warm smile. For a brief moment, the two goddesses stood together, their radiance washing away any lingering discord in Vaikuntha. The sight was peaceful, as if the cosmos itself had momentarily stilled to admire their grace.
Indra watched the exchange, his mouth slightly open. He understood what this meant. The higher gods had spoken, and now there was no turning back. The battle against Hayagriva was no longer a question of "if"—it was inevitable.
He folded his arms across his chest, deep in thought.
Hayagriva was no ordinary foe. He was strong, cunning, and worst of all, he had the backing of Madhu and Kaitabha. Charging headfirst into battle would be reckless. It would only lead to unnecessary losses.
But brute strength wasn't the only way to win a war. There were other ways. Smarter ways.
A slow smirk crept onto Indra's lips as an idea took form in his mind.
"Since Hayagriva took Svarga from us—stealing my throne, our honor, and our home…" He exhaled sharply, his golden eyes glinting with resolve. "Then we'll take it back—fair and square."
The devas quieted, turning toward him with curiosity.
Indra stepped forward, his voice unwavering. "Vayu!"
The Wind Deva straightened, tilting his head.
"Go to Hayagriva and deliver a challenge. In three hundred years, we will settle this—not through war, but through a wager."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Another wager? Against that Asura?
Indra's expression didn't waver. "The battlefield will be the celestial skies, where Svarga meets the human world."
Vayu furrowed his brows, crossing his arms. "Indra, we have nothing left to bet."
A slow smile tugged at Indra's lips. Lifting a hand, he pointed into the distance.
"Who said that?"
The devas followed his gaze, confusion flickering across their faces—until realization struck like lightning.
"We have a divine boon. Seven steeds that no Asura could ever hope to catch."
Silence hung in the air for only a moment before excitement began to build once more.
Surya's Seven Horses.
The celestial stallions that pulled the Sun God's chariot—blessed with unmatched speed, untouchable by darkness, and tireless for eternity. They were not just divine creatures; they were legends in their own right.
Doubt faded from the devas' faces, replaced by something else.
Hope. Anticipation.
For the first time since the devas lost the svarga, smiles had returned to the faces of the devas.
…
Above Svarga, the winds howled as Vayu strode into the grand temple, his steps firm, his presence commanding. His piercing gaze locked onto the figure seated upon the throne—Hayagriva, the Asura King.
Raising his hand, Vayu pointed a single finger at him, his voice resonating through the great hall.
"Hayagriva! King of the Asuras!"
"I stand here as the messenger of the mighty Son of Aditi—the lord of Svarga, the vajra-bearer, the eldest of the Adityas, the slayer of Hiranyaksha, the scourge of Asura kings, the wakeful guardian of dharma, the great ruler of the devas—Indra! And with his name, I bring you a declaration of war!"
His voice thundered, unwavering. The long list of Indra's titles flowed smoothly, each word carrying weight as if the very air trembled with their meaning.
Hayagriva's sharp, equine features twisted into a smirk. His deep blue mane flared as he tossed his head back, then slapped his thigh with one powerful hand. Leaning forward, his cold, piercing eyes met Vayu's.
"Vayu, you dare stand before me now?" he sneered. "Have you forgotten how you fled from my palace in disgrace? Did Indra himself lend you the courage to face me?"
Laughter rippled through the hall as the gathered Asura generals exchanged knowing glances, their expressions mocking.
But Vayu did not waver. He lifted his chin high, spread his fingers wide, then clenched them into a firm fist.
"You took everything from us," he declared. "Now, we will win it back!"
"Three hundred years from now, beneath the starry sky where Svarga and the human world meet, Indra will challenge you once more in the game of dice!"
The wind roared through the temple, a force of nature answering his defiant words.
Hayagriva's laughter rang through the hall, wild and unrestrained. The other Asuras joined him, their jeers echoing against the towering pillars. The sound of braying horses and rustling banners filled the air as the storm of amusement swelled.
Then, with his mane whipping like fire, Hayagriva rose from his throne. He stepped down with slow, deliberate strides, his presence looming over Vayu.
"Good," he said, his voice rich with amusement. "A challenge from Indra—I accept!"
"But tell me, wind-dev..." He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with intrigue. "What wager do you bring to the table?"
A slow smile curled across his lips.
"Surely, Indra wouldn't dare gamble against me without something equal to Svarga?"
Madhu and Kaitambha were training relentlessly, sharpening their strength, their minds set on a singular goal—to summon Brahma and seize the Vedas. Until then, there was no need to stir unnecessary trouble, no need to provoke Vishnu.
Accepting the challenge was the logical choice.
As long as he played his cards right, Vishnu—the great protector of the world—would have no reason to interfere. And more importantly, Hayagriva thought with a smirk, he had the dice in his hands. How could he possibly lose?
Vayu, standing tall and unwavering, met Hayagriva's gaze and spoke with deliberate calm.
"We have seven blessed horses."
Hayagriva's expression shifted. A frown crept across his face as his mind flickered back to that humiliating day—the day he had failed to catch up with the devas, despite all his power.
Vayu pressed on, his voice steady.
"The blessing of these steeds is absolute. Once it begins to run, no one can catch them. Not Madhu, not Kaitambha… not even you, Hayagriva."
The temple fell silent.
Hayagriva's face darkened, his fingers curling into a tight fist. The memory of that fleeting defeat, where they had been duped by devas, beyond his grasp, gnawed at him.
Then, after a long moment, he exhaled sharply.
"Good!" His voice rumbled through the hall like distant thunder. "Then I accept Indra's challenge."
"Three hundred years from now, above the starry sky—" his eyes gleamed with determination "—I will bet against Indra once more!"
…
Kailasha.
Indra sat cross-legged atop a massive stone, his eyes half-lidded, feeling the raw, untamed power of penance coursing through his divine body.
Boom!
Inside him, ascetic energy surged like a roaring kundalini agni, as rolling thunder trapped within his bones, like a volcano on the brink of eruption. It had been building for centuries, honed through relentless meditation and discipline.
"A thousand years of penance… and yet, I've only been practicing here in Kailasha for five hundred years."
"Why did it double?"
"Could it be… the Amrita Bhojana?"
Indra muttered to himself, his mind recalling the divine feast. The devas often spoke of their unparalleled taste, but he had never partaken in it himself.
"Could resisting the temptation of the Amrita Bhojana truly enhance the power of penance?"
A slow smile crept across his lips.
"We'll see when the feast arrives. Then I'll test my will against it."
For now, there were still three hundred years left. Three hundred more years of asceticism.
As for Hayagriva's bet? Indra didn't need divine insight to know that Asura had cheated somehow. Otherwise, how can someone who had been favored by Devi Lakshmi lose in a matter of luck? He had already devised a way to defeat him this time.
With a cold snort, Indra shifted slightly, letting himself fall backward onto the smooth, cool stone. His eyelids grew heavy, and he closed his eyes once more.
"Vayu and Varuna still haven't given me back my weapons. They can handle things in the mortal world for now."
"I'll sleep for three hundred years."
And so he did.
Time in the human world passed like a fleeting dream—seasons came and went, spring melted into summer, autumn fell into winter. Before long, three hundred years had passed.
Indra's divine essence was attuned to the flow of time itself.
As if an alarm had been set within his very soul, he stirred exactly on time. His eyes fluttered open, gleaming with celestial light, and he slowly rose to his feet.
Before him, the assembled devas stood, ready for battle.
Surya stood tall in golden armor, radiating the sun's divine brilliance. Vayu, dressed lightly for combat, carried a long bow on his back, exuding an air of effortless mastery. Agni, clad in robes of deep red, held a divine staff, his eyes burning like twin flames. Varuna, the water deity, was a striking presence in his blue armor, his gaze cold and unyielding.
Indra stretched his limbs, feeling the power coursing through him. Then, with a confident smirk, he declared—
"I'm ready!"
The other devas echoed his resolve.
"I'm ready too!"
…
The air crackled with divine energy, thick with the power of the gathered devas. Their spirits burned bright, battle-ready, their eyes gleaming with unwavering resolve.
Indra stood at the center, surveying them with satisfaction. Yes—this is how a Dev should be. Strong. Fearless. Prepared to seize victory.
He stepped down from the boulder, parting his lips to speak—
A pulse of celestial light split the sky, forcing even the bravest among them to shield their eyes. The space around them warped, reality-bending to the presence of something far greater.
Then, they appeared.
Vishnu. Lakshmi. Shiva. Parvati.
Their mere arrival commanded silence. A single voice rang out, reverberating through the very fabric of existence.
"Indra!"
The name echoed, rolling across the heavens like a decree from the cosmos itself.
At the forefront, Devi Parvati stepped forward, a serene smile playing on her lips. In her hands, she carried a golden plate, its surface glowing with an otherworldly radiance.
With a graceful motion, she lifted the cover, unveiling its contents.
A soft, ethereal light spilled forth. The divine nectar shimmered, thick and golden, carrying the fragrance of something beyond mortal comprehension.
The devas, once burning with conviction, froze in place. Their throats moved in unison.
A deep hunger—not of the body, but of the soul—gripped them. Their war-hardened gazes flickered, locked onto the celestial offering.
In a single breath, their determination to go to war crumbled.
"Amrita Bhojana!"
---
Enjoyed the chapter?
If you'd like to explore more, you can find advanced chapters and exclusive content by searching Marioni on Patreon. Over 128 chapters are waiting for you to dive into!