‘It is better than having a husband like mine, who is asleep most of the time,’ said Bajrajala.
I could never win an argument with Bajrajala. I looked at her empathetically and she smiled. ‘I have heard about bhrata Kumbakarna’s nidravasta. But I’ve never asked you how it happened. Were you married then?’ I enquired.
‘I was married to Kumbakarna three years after he got his sleeping boon. Although I am not sure if it’s a boon or a curse,’ said Bajrajala, and then she narrated the episode when Dashaanan and Kumbakarna received their boons from Prajapati Brahma.
Dashaanan, Vibhishana and Kumbakarna were travelling to the northernmost mountain to please Shiva. After months and months of tough tapasya, Dashaanan was successful in obtaining the Chandrahas sword from Shiva as a boon. After this, he and his brothers travelled south and took vows to please Brahma, their great-great-grandfather.
Dashaanan and Kumbakarna spent months and months in tapasya, with Vibhishana ensuring that they were not disturbed by any external force or being. Come winter, rain and summer, they stood on a single foot at a time with their palms joined in respect. They chanted mantras to invoke Brahma.
Their penance not only invoked Brahma, but also disturbed the leader of the devas—Indradeva. Indradeva knew that after defeating his brother Kubera for wealth and estate, Dashaanan had his eyes set on Indralok—Indra’s kingdom situated in the mountains, also called heaven on earth for its scenic beauty. Indradeva had introduced irrigation projects to save his people from drought and famine. His designs brought rains and water to their land, which was now prospering and flourishing.
When Indra saw the brothers in meditation, he was alarmed by the danger they could pose to his kingdom. He, thus, returned to his kingdom and summoned Goddess Saraswati in his prayers. Saraswati was one of the most powerful faces of Shakti and was considered the goddess of knowledge in totality.
Indra requested the goddess to help him save his kingdom. Indra knew that Dashaanan and Kumbakarna would aim for Indralok so he asked Saraswati to manipulate their minds whenever they ask for Indraasana—the throne of Indralok.
The brothers were determined; pleased with their severe tapasya, Brahma appeared in front of them at dawn and offered them a boon.
‘You both have astonished me with your dedicated tapasya. What is it you wish to gain, sons?’
‘You are not only the creator of this universe but also our great-great-grandfather. We are the third generation in line to your son Prajapati Pulastya. Our father Rishi Vishrava is Prajapati Pulastya’s son,’ explained Dashaanan.
‘I am overwhelmed by your tapasya. You may ask whatever you wish for. As for our relationship, my son, I am related to every being on this soil,’ said Brahma.
Dashaanan took a deep breath and said, ‘Oh creator, make me immortal so I can change the course of this world.’
Brahma replied, ‘I can grant you no such boon, son. Every life on this earth has to end. Ask for something else and you shall be granted that.’
Dashaanan then asked for absolute invulnerability and superiority over the gods, heavenly mountainous spirits, demons, serpents and wild creatures. He asked to be invincible before all deva, asura, yaksha, rakshasa, pisacha, apsara, gandharva, vetala and preta races.
Brahma granted him the boon and also provided him with great strength by way of sorcery and knowledge of the divine weapons. He also gifted him a divine arrow as a symbol of superiority.
Brahma then turned towards Kumbakarna. ‘You have always followed your brother’s directions without any hesitation. Although you both are of the same age, you trust his judgement solely and give your best to stand by him. Ask, and your wish shall be granted too.’
Kumbakarna joined his hands and wished, ‘Dear lord, I ask for my brother to be seated on the chief throne in the heavens of Devaloka.’
‘Dear son, your brother has already asked for a boon for himself. You shall achieve a boon for your tapasya now,’ said Brahma.
Till then, Indra had concluded that Kumbakarna would ask for his throne. He beseeched Saraswati, and the goddess made Kumbakarna anxious. It is believed that she sat on Kumbakarna’s tongue and twisted it a little, thereby influencing his speech.
‘Tell me son, what do you want?’ asked Brahma.
‘Nidraasana,’ said Kumbakarna with his twisted tongue instead of saying ‘Indraasana’.
‘Tathastu! So be it, son,’ said Brahma as Goddess Saraswati released Kumbakarna’s tongue.
Kumbakarna felt a sudden change in his body. His limbs felt weak and his eyes droopy with sleep. ‘Oh, how do I feel so different, my lord?’ asked Kumbakarna.
‘Dear son, you have asked for Nidraasana. It is a boon to sleep throughout your life,’ explained Brahma.
‘But, my lord, I asked for Indraasana, the throne of Indralok.’ Kumbakarna panicked and realized that he had unknowingly mispronounced the name.
‘You got what you asked for, my son. And to remind you, I can only bless you with a single boon at this time,’ said Brahma.
‘But I haven’t asked for the sleeping boon, my lord. Please eliminate the effects of this boon. Don’t let my tapasya be in vain.’ Kumbakarna felt the urgent need to go to sleep. He felt tired. It was as if his body was not in his control any more. Brahma realized that Kumbakarna’s error in asking for the boon was not out of his own wish.
‘All right, son, I can limit the effects of this boon. You will now sleep for two moons at a stretch and for the rest of the months, you may lead a normal life,’ said Brahma.
‘Along with these two boons, there was a third boon that Brahma gave that day. He also blessed bhrata Vibhishana for unconditionally supporting his brothers. Vibhishana’s era of reign will observe peace, and righteousness will be established,’ added Bajrajala.
‘Bhrata Vibhishana’s era of reign? Does he rule any of the kingdoms currently?’ I intervened.
‘Not yet, bhabhi, but since he handles most of the administrative assignments in Lanka, Lankeshwar may assign him a few projects or regions for complete supervision.’
I realized that Bajrajala was the closest person I could freely talk to about such matters. I barely shared such a bond with anyone else. Our status was different but our situation was the same. Only empathy was what we could give each other.
FIVE
Dashaanan got bored of his concubine in just a few months. He limited his visits to her palace and spent most of his time planning new projects with Nanashri. Nanashri would never discuss anything personal with me but I knew he was happy when Lankesh concentrated more on his projects than on women. He also encouraged Dashaanan to spend more time with me. After court hours, Dashaanan visited my chambers regularly for afternoon meals. I was beginning to believe that my marriage was back on track. I had vowed never to leave my kingdom or Dashaanan for such a long time again.
We would talk for hours in the evening. Besides afternoon meals, he also started spending most of his nights with me.
‘Rani Mandodari, I see a certain glow on your face. Is it the result of my sweet talk or the wine from the grapes?’
‘When a woman gets all the love that she deserves from her husband, it’s all she needs to glow.’
Dashaanan laughed out loud, ‘You seem to have mastered the art of mockery.’
‘No, my lord, I use no mockery against you. However, I promise that I shall never leave you alone henceforth. It was the distance between us that led to such differences. I am never leaving you alone again.’
There were tears of regret in my eyes.
‘You will always be my first choice, Mandodari. Do not compare yourself with other women.’
‘With all due respect, my lord, how would you justify your relationship with the princess of Misr?’
‘Ah, Mandodari, she is merely a gift from the pharaoh. I am what I am with you. And you are well aware of that. I am a different man with you, and no woman can take your place.’
I smiled at the way Dashaanan was trying to conv
ince me. His justifications were flattering and I felt like I was an easy prey for his smooth talk.
‘I have something important to tell you. I will be discussing this with Nanashri and Vibhishana tomorrow.’
‘What is it, my lord?’
‘After all my years of research and learning, I have successfully created an elixir that would reverse the ageing process for me. With the use of this elixir, my body will not grow old; also, it will boost my overall immunity and provide strength.’
I didn’t know much about chemical potions and herbs, but I knew that Dashaanan had mastered the use of herbs and chemicals through the Vedas.
‘What kind of elixir is this? Are you referring to the nectar of amrita? And why do you really need it?’
‘Yes, I have created amrita! Asuras and devas have fought over this potion for years. Why is it that consumption of amrita and the right of its possession is restricted to the devas?’
‘I understand that, my lord. But how can you create amrita? I thought that the nectar is preserved by the supreme gods.’
‘Devas have kept the chemical compositions of amrita a secret for decades. But I have tested different chemical compositions and the results are similar. The antioxidants in the potion will make it work in the same way as amrita. I will have power over my age; I can conquer time and age.’
‘What will you do with such power, my lord?’ I was worried about Dashaanan’s new experiment and its consequences.
‘The question is, what can I not do with such power?’ said Dashaanan and smirked at me.
I had no idea what he had planned if his experiment turned out to be a success. The navagraha deities were already captive at Lanka. I didn’t know what he aimed at doing next.
‘My lord, I am worried about the consequences of this experiment. What if the effects are not the same as you have calculated? What if it turns out to be harmful for your health?’
‘You are panicking for no reason. This is not any careless experiment. It will help me extract all the nutrients of the elixir once the surgery is complete.’
‘A surgery? You will have to undergo a surgery for this?’
‘Well, yes! The only way to consume this elixir is to place it directly behind the navel through an incision in my abdomen.’
‘Why so, my lord?’
‘I will not be able to drink it because this amrita has been created through a chemical process. And umbilicus is centrally placed in one’s body; it is the beginning of life, the only strongest part of a child that is connected to the mother’s womb. Hence, once I place this amrita behind my navel, it will revive my body with extra life.’
‘What if something goes wrong, my lord?’
‘That is enough, Mandodari!’ Dashaanan was getting irritated with my constant questioning. ‘You should be aware that I have skilled people to perform the surgery. And nothing can go wrong when I have done my research accurately.’
‘No, my lord, I apologize for my behaviour. I am only worried about your health and well-being. I may not sound supportive, but as your wife I stand by your decisions.’
After a long time, we shared a strong bond with each other. I was concerned that my continuous objections and questions would annoy Dashaanan. I didn’t want to infuriate him any further lest he stopped seeing me. Hence, I had to blindly support him in most of his decisions.
After a few days, a team of skilled vaidyas performed the surgery on Dashaanan and put the elixir inside his abdomen. He was advised to take complete rest for two full moons. The vaidyas said that the elixir would take time to settle down in his body. They warned us that there would be sudden changes in his behaviour and temperament.
Until Dashaanan’s recovery, I supervised most of the tasks and acted as regent in court. Vibhishana and Nanashri managed the rest of the affairs. I assigned a few of my dasis to tend to Dashaanan’s needs at his palace. He was bed-ridden until his wounds healed. Mata Kaikesi visited him every morning while I narrated the court affairs to him every evening.
There was rapid change in Dashaanan’s condition during the recovery phase. The change was also much more than we had anticipated. He would suddenly feel very hungry and thirsty and would end up eating twice as much as he did earlier. He also started consuming more alcohol than before. Some days he would look extremely pale and on some he would look completely rejuvenated. I consulted the vaidyas about this condition; they pacified me saying these were natural after-effects of the elixir and there was nothing to worry about.
It was not just his temper or appetite that was impacted. Some days he would feel extremely sexually aroused and it was getting tougher to satisfy his desires. With each passing day, his desire for spicy food and rough sex was increasing. Mata Kaikesi and I tried to divert his mind with music. We asked the musicians to play soothing music outside his chambers. We also placed a veena in his chambers so he could play music on his own. However, all our efforts were in vain.
Dashaanan wanted to be entertained in his chambers, and would call upon dancers and courtesans to perform there daily. I wasn’t pleased on hearing this. Bedroom chambers were our sacred space—something only he and I shared. One day when I walked in, I saw him making sexual advances towards a dancing courtesan. Seeing this, I lost my temper and commanded the guards to stop allowing courtesans inside the chambers henceforth.
I asked Dhanyamalini to join me during my evening visits to Dashaanan. Since she was a good talker, I thought it would help me divert his mind from sex towards other things. This trick worked for a few days and I started limiting my visits from daily to alternate days. But Dashaanan wasn’t so easy to tame. He forced his fantasies on Dhanyamalini and the submissive girl agreed to everything he demanded.
He resumed court after two months. As far as his temper was concerned, it didn’t look like it was going to settle down. His court ministers were scared to approach him; his guards were always at attention and we, as a family, were terrified of him. Not only had he risked his life with that experiment, but he had also ruined his relations with the people closest to him.
As his wives, Dhanyamalini and I would give into Dashaanan’s demands to avoid quarrels. He would storm into our chambers any time during the day and insist on wine, food or sex. Failure to give him what he wanted would result in offensive charges against all of us or against any of the dasis present. He would call any of our dasis into his chambers whenever he felt like it. Although the dasis tried to hide it, we were aware of his mistreatment but couldn’t do anything to stop him.
When one of Dhanyamalini’s dasis protested against Dashaanan’s behaviour and denied his sexual demands, he threatened to kill her husband. The dasi was frightened for her husband’s life but refused to give in to his demands. An irate and incongruous Dashaanan took it as an offence and ordered his guards to kill her husband and feed his head to wild animals. She came crying to us, asking for our help to secure her husband’s release—we were nothing but embarrassed for Dashaanan’s actions. I knew my husband was ambitious and short-tempered but I never expected him to be so cruel to a woman.
Once again my heart was filled with rage and despair. I felt sorry for the helpless dasi. I marched straight towards Dashaanan’s chambers and entered his room without announcement. He was standing at a window with his back towards me; he looked drunk and had another glass of wine in his hand.
‘Ah, Rani Mandodari, the queen of my heart! I could sense you were coming from a distance. Your fragrance has filled my entire room.’
‘So you would have sensed the reason I came here too, my lord!’
‘What is the matter? You look annoyed. Or is it your husband’s longing that has brought you here?’
‘Lankeshwar my lord, I have accepted you with all your shortcomings. I know at times I have asked you a lot of questions, at times my objections have turned into quarrels and at times I may have set many limitations for your benefit, but today you have humiliated the woman in me. You have abused all the women of Lanka.’
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Dashaanan turned around at once. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘You know what I’m talking about, my lord. Today you ordered to kill someone simply because his wife would not sleep with you!’
‘Mandodari, I command you to leave my room,’ he screamed and turned away from me.
‘Lankeshwar, I am not leaving this room until we talk about it. You are the king of Lanka but don’t forget that I am its queen. The people of Lanka have certain expectations from you, my lord, and so do I. Your people have faith in you as well as in me. Hence, with all my rights in this kingdom, I am asking you to provide justice like a king!’
‘What justice?’ he was furious with me.
‘Justice for the women of Lanka, my lord. We cannot undo what has been done, but I request you to stop your guards from killing the dasi’s husband.’
‘Did she come crying to you?’
‘Yes, my lord, she came to me. I have accepted the changes in you due to that experiment. But this is not you! You can lust after a woman, but you were never so cruel! What is it that makes you so pitiless?’
I had tears running down my face. Dashaanan stood still for some time and I fell on my knees. He was quiet and looked remorseful.
‘Have you ever wondered, my lord, how I feel when you share that bed with other women? How would you feel if I spent the night with another man?’
‘Decorum, Mandodari!’ Dashaanan yelled. ‘Maintain decorum when you speak to me.’
‘When you cannot even talk about me committing adultery, then how do you expect me to live with it? Until you regret your actions, we shall not see each other.’
Saying so, I prepared to leave but he held me.
‘Stay, Mandodari. I have caused you a lot of grief and I regret it. I have brought you shame and humiliation throughout this marriage, but you have always stood beside me through thick and thin.’
‘My lord, I cannot bear anyone pointing a finger at you.’
‘I have failed as a husband somewhere. I am successful as a king but I am unable to keep my wife happy as a husband.’
Mandodari Page 4