“My heart and eyes feel soothed, while simply looking at you, Rajkumar… But, it will be even more nice when you smile at me in return” said Kamala gently to herself… “Kumari…” said Chandrika on hearing this… “Shhh…No one should hear it” – Kamalanayani.
They reached the Somnath temple. Everybody got down and went inside the temple. Other people of Dvaraka, who were there at the temple praised the names of these 3 – Yuvraj Pradyumna, Rajkumar Abhimanyu and Rajkumar Kamalanayani.
The Purohit first asked Yuvraj Pradyumna to do a milk abhishek to Lord Somnath. He did it. Next, Rajkumar Abhimanyu was asked to do the Pushp Archana, but the moment he turned to take flowers, Kamalanayani gave her basket to him by gently nodding and indirectly asking him to take it. He took it from her with a smile and did the Pushp Archana to Lord Somnath. Kamalanayani thanked Lord Shiva for this that she will grateful forever for this. She felt like a mild melodious music is flowing throughout her mind.
Next the Purohit asked Rajkumari Kamalanayani to do the Mangala Aarti. She took the Diya in a gold plate, kneeled down and then started the Aarti. Everyone gathered around started chanting “Har Har Mahadev…”. Kamalanayani prayed to Lord Shiva in her heart that “Hey Mahadev, Hey Shiva Shambho, Hey Gowripathi, Hey Priya-Pithashree… I have nothing else to pray to you other than, giving me a good opportunity to talk to Rajkumar Abhimanyu about my love, but you have already given than I think.. So, now I want to ask you that, kindly make him accept my love, if he really loves me… No problem if he asks some time to think, but I will be disheartened if he rejects… You are Jagatpita, You are my Pitha, You know what is best for me, even better than me – Kindly make anything happen which is good for me. Har Har Mahadev”…
Just when she finished praying this inside her mind, the temple bell rang and she also saw a flower which fell from Lord Somnath which are considered to be auspicious. Tears of happiness started flowing from her lotus eyes. Yuvraj Pradyumna gently patted her head. Then, she wiped off her tears and stared to walk around the temple along with both of the Rajkumars.
While walking she asked her brother to walk ahead and she tried to walk along with Rajkumar Abhimanyu, who tried to walk away ahead. While walking, she asked him, “Rajkumar, I haven’t seen you till this day, in this temple…”. He replied “What do you mean by a temple Rajkumari ?”. This was his first conversation with Kamalanayani which is not related to warfare. He never talked to her before that as he loves to be in company with the weapons. She replied “A common holy place where we worship the Almighty”. “Can you tell that it is his residence” asked the mighty archer. “Kind of… But I won’t conclude that God resides only in temples. He is omni-present” replied the beautiful princess of Dvaraka. “Then, what is the reason behind, coming to the temple to worship. I see the God, in my bow and in my weapons… According to me, God is with me always.” by saying this Rajkumar Abhimanyu started walking forward.
“But God too resides in peace, right” asked Rajkumari Kamalanayani. “Weapons do not disturb peace, but it disturbs the peace of disturbers of peace” replied Rajkumar Abhimanyu. “But you have disturbed my peace, Rajkumar…” thought Kamalanayani in her heart… But he started walking forward, but she was unable to stop him.
So, she looked around and had an idea. She started plucking the Bilva leaves in the temple. By hearing the hustle sound of the leaves, both the Rajkumars turned and came near her. She was keen on plucking them. “What are you doing?” asked Yuvraj Pradyumna. Kamalanayani replied with a smile that “I am plucking Bilva leaves, Jyest.”. “But for what, we have completed the pooja just now.” questioned Yuvraj Pradyumna.
“I am going to take it with me to the Palace” answered the princess of Dvaraka. “But grabbing the wealth of Lord Shiva destroys the dynasty. You should not do it.” ordered Rajkumar Abhimanyu. Kamalanayani smiled and thought “Thank you Mahadev! You cleared my question. He has affection for me in his heart. But I have to confirm whether it is Love or simply an affection. Kindly help me Bholenath”.
She replied them – “Don’t worry, I am taking it only for Mahadev”. Then they went inside the temple and she devoted the Bilva leaves to Lord Somnath.
Then, she took a deep breath and was about to speak with Rajkumar Abhimanyu about her love, but just then Yuvraj Pradyumna asked them all to leave to the palace as it has been too much time and the Rajkumari should not stay no longer than this outside the palace.
She was deeply irritated by the act of her brother, but started walking ahead to her palanquin and boarded it. Everyone else boarded their horses and left for the palace. She was confused yet was clear to ask a solution for this to her Pithashree – Lord Krishna..
After they reached the palace, it was time for the evening pooja in the palace. All members of the royal family gathered at the pooja hall, so did Rajkumari Kamalanayani. From the moment she entered, her eyeballs were wandering between the two corners of her lotus eyes in search of Rajkumar Abhimanyu’s dharshan. Lord Krishna noticed that she is searching him and asked her “Who are you searching Putri ?”. She was a bit shocked and replied “Nothing Pithashree”.
Then, he arrived along with Mata Subhadra and the pooja commenced. All she prayed was “I don’t know why I wish to see him always and why my heart longs for him. May be this is called Love… Hey Maa Gauri, please fulfill my desire. I don’t feel this from my heart but I feel something eternal like a desire of my Atma itself”.
After the Pooja, the dinner was served at the dining hall. As usual, Kamalanayani served food for Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama which she considers to be a great boon. But, that day, she also served food for Rajkumar Abhimanyu. Just after serving, she thought to manage the situation that everyone was looking at her including Lord Krishna, so she also served her brothers…
She noticed Lord Krishna smiling at her activities. She felt relieved after everyone stopped noticing her. Then, after all the male members of the family finished their dinner, all female members started having their dinner. She also had food. Just then, a guard came with a message from Lord Krishna to Rajkumari Kamalanayani that, he wanted her to wait in her room after dinner and he will personally come to her room as he promised. She started gulping fast and finished her dinner quickly and rushed to her room.
She was panicked about what to speak to Lord Krishna… Chandrika calmed her down and asked her to speak openly to Lord Krishna because hiding something from the divine power is impossible and will not yield anything good. She drank lots of water. She was also questioning herself that “Why she is this much panicked? Nothing has happened…”. She was finally determined to speak up everything to Lord Krishna, so that she will be free from the heaviness held in her heart.
Note: Sorry guys, I forgot to tell an important fact. From her birth as daughter for Tridev, Kamalanayani was passionate about the swing. She felt like playing the damaru while playing the swing. She thought it as representing Lord Shiva.
She sat on the swing that she had in her room and started swinging it. Then Lord Krishna entered her room and she payed respect to him by touching on his lotus feet. Lord Krishna blessed her as “Sowbhagyavadhi bhava!”.
He sat on an Asana in her room and asked her also to sit. She asked him that he needs anything to drink.. But he refused. He asked her about her decision on Swayamvara. She remembered the maids taking about the same that afternoon and did not want them to know about it. So she signaled them to go. Chandrika was about to leave, but Kamalanayani stopped her and asked her to stay with her. And she did the same.
Kamalanayani first asked a promise from her father that he won’t get angry after hearing what she says. And he clearly stated that “I promise you that, I won’t get angry but not as I will accept all that you say!”. Kamalanayani accepted it and started to speak.
“Pithashree, according to me, through Vivah, a girl or princess makes a family or family+kingdom more powerful and fertile than it was. But, it is going to be only one family+kingdom, so why Swayamvara. Won’t it be improper to insult all other kings and princes. And even though many kings and princes come by accepting a proper invitation from Dvaraka, yet there is a possibility of abducting the kannika. Swayamvara is a place where the girl is allowed to choose her life-partner but abduction of the girl during swayamvara is also accepted as Dharma in Swayamvara vidhi where the girl losses her rights.”
Lord Krishna nodded on hearing this…
Kamalanayani gulped and added that “So, Pithashree… I prefer that I don’t want a Swyamvara”.
Yet, Lord Krishna expected this, he pretended to be shocked. “Putri, then how do you think your marriage alliance will be fixed ?” he questioned her. “Pithashree, Do I have the right to choose my groom, without Swayamvara” she asked him in return.
He answered “Yes, but certain conditions apply with respect to the dignity and safety of our kingdom. You are not allowed to choose a Rajkumar from any province of enmity with us”. She was happy to hear it and answered “May I…”.
Lord Krishna pretended again to be shocked and asked her “Have you ?” and also looked at Chandrika who nodded. Lord Krishna smiled and asked her beloved daughter that “Which prince is so lucky that he has stolen the heart of my daughter ?”. With a lot of shy in her face Kamalanayani lowered her sight and answered “He is did not only steal my heart, but was mighty enough to stay in my heart…”. “And his name is…” added Lord Krishna…
“Rajkumar……. Abhimanyu” said Kamalanayani with a shy. Lord Krishna smiled but hid it from his daughter. “Why him… He does not even live in his kingdom. If you are married to him, then where will you reside? You must have to go to your husband’s kingdom after marriage…”
She answered “God does not require a temple to reside… He is omnipresent. Just like that, a true prince.. a true warrior does not need a kingdom to show off that he is a prince…” by thinking about the moments with him..
“Putri… it can be your wish.. But…” added Lord Krishna and Kamalanayani felt her heart pounding on hearing this. “But… if it comes to point called vivah and life… it requires acceptance of both bride and bridegroom to make it beautiful..” said Lord Krishna…
Upon hearing this, Kamalanayani said “Pithashree, So do you accept my wish…” in astonishment. Lord Krishna blinked yes through his eyes… thereby making Kamalanayani to spill some droplets of happiness from her eyes too…. He wiped off her tears and said “You are my daughter… And I respect you decisions and I do believe in you…”. Kamalanayani held her father’s hands and said “It is my duty to save your belief and I promise you that I will, forever..”
Chandrika was also happy and gently pressed Kamalanayani’s shoulders… Lord Krishna asked Chandrika that “Putri, do you know this already…”. Yes, nodded Chandrika…
“It’s alright Kamalanayani, did you ask his opinion in this…” asked Lord Krishna strictly.. “I tried the most, but I felt some sort of problem or disturbance in that moment, thereby making me unable to talk to him about this…” replied Kamalanayani.
“Hmm…” thought Lord Krishna… Kamalanayani added that “But, I found that he has affection for me in his heart…” by explaining the Bilva leaves scene.. Lord Krishna gently laughed and said “You are just like me… Testing others without their knowledge…”. Kamalanayani smiled in return…
“Pithashree, I cannot force him. But first of all, I want to ask his opinion as you said. Kindly help me for talking about this with him.” pleaded Rajkumar Kamalanayani. “Ok tomorrow, as you told him, you go for archery practice. I will ask him to come for lunch after the war practice. So, on the way from the camp to the dining hall, you speak to him…” said Lord Krishna..
Kamalanayani accepted this and smiled… “Are you happy putri…” asked Lord Krishna. “Yes, of course” Kamalanayani replied delightfully. “Anyway, I am really happy because you expressed/informed your thoughts and your love to your father, in advance to him. I am happy while thinking about how my daughter is not hiding anything from me…” replied Lord Krishna.
Lord Krishna asked his daughter to sleep well and was about to leave, but Kamalanayani called him and asked him to separate her brother from Rajkumar Abhimanyu, atleast for a few minutes… Lord Krishna simply smiled, nodded and left…
After that, She started screaming in happiness and started to twirl by holding Chandrika’s hands… “I did not expect this Chandrika….” she said… “Me too, Kumari…” replied Chandrika…
Kamalanayani was unable to sleep that night and was only dreaming about how she is going to express her desire to Rajkumar Abhimanyu, next day…
Today’s question: What do you think about Rajkumar Abhimanyu? Will he accept the desire of the beautiful damsel of Dvaraka… Express your thoughts as answers in the comment box below…
This series’s next episode will be released soon. Stay tuned…