章節 27: Chapter 27 Neelkantha
"Which of you is going?" Indra blinked and glanced around at the Devas.
The poison of death, like Halahala, was no trivial matter. Even with the protection of divine armor, he wasn't eager to face it. It seemed much more sensible to stay behind and watch as an observer. The Devas stood silent, exchanging uneasy glances and avoiding Indra's gaze.
Then, Suryadev raised his hand slightly, his golden hair fluttering, and walked over to stand beside the King of Svarga.
Did Surya want to volunteer for the task?
Agni, the Deva of Fire, Vayu, the Deva of Wind, Soma, the Deva of Moon, and Varundev, all watched in stunned silence.
Surya stood tall beside Indra, his posture proud and dignified. He turned to face the others, his head held high.
"The King of Svarga is right," Surya said, his voice calm but serious. "It took immense divine power and effort from Big Brother to forge this divine armor. You must make your decision quickly."
The Devas stared at Surya in disbelief. What a bold move from Surya! Directly pulling out the sibling, little brother card.
"Eh!"
Suddenly, Varunadev, who had been silent until now, spoke up. He raised his index finger, gesturing thoughtfully, a look of sudden realization on his face.
"Speaking of speed, the fastest Deva among us is, of course, Vayu." Varuna's comment made Vayu look at him in shock.
This traitorous little brother!
"That's right! The Deva of Wind is our vanguard—fastest and strongest!" Agnidev, added with enthusiasm. "I would call him the fastest of us all!"
"Yes, that's it!" Soma agreed, nodding.
"Then it's settled. We'll send Vayu!" Surya declared, his tone final.
Vayu fell silent. He folded his hands, turned around, and looked at Lord Vishnu, his face filled with a pleading expression. Please, give me some help!
"Vayu, go ahead," Vishnu replied, his face still wearing that warm smile, as comforting as the spring breeze. "I believe you will be fine."
"Okay~" Vayu could only nod, his words escaping in a strained whisper as he clutched the divine armor. With great effort, he lifted it.
"Go, and we will sing hymns for you, waiting for your victory!" Indra exclaimed, clenching his fists and striking his chest with a thunderous sound.
No sooner had he spoken than Surya and the others immediately clasped their hands together and began singing without hesitation:
'O Vayu, soul-carrier of the universe,
You carry us from birth to death,
With each exhale, we are reborn,
In your breath, we are freed.
Grant us peace, freedom from all burdens,
And carry us to the realm of eternal bliss.'
…
Meanwhile, Indra called upon his divine power, transforming the air itself into a mṛidangam, a sacred drum, so he could play along with the hymns.
"I'm going!"
"Don't come back without success!"
"I'm going!"
"Don't you trust Lord Vishnu! He said you will be fine then you will be fine."
Listening to the hymns, Vayu gritted his teeth. He held the divine armor tightly and activated his divine power. The winds swirled beneath his feet, and in an instant, they transformed into a white horse-shaped divine chariot.
With a leap, he soared into the air, heading toward Halahala. As Vayu approached, the spreading blue-green poisonous mist billowed fiercely toward him. The white horse and divine chariot formed by his power began to disintegrate, corroded by the toxic haze. Halahala surged forward, and Vayu, startled, quickly raised the divine armor in defense.
The Sahasrakavacha shimmered brightly, releasing a devouring force. In an instant, the green and blue poisonous mist was absorbed, vanishing into the armor's depths.
The rolling Halahala immediately ceased its spread, instead pouring into the divine armor, one wave after another. Seeing this, Vayu exhaled in relief, feeling that the danger had been a false alarm.
"Huh~ The blessings for the King of Svarga's hard work are truly invaluable!"
"This divine armor is amazing," he continued, his tone thoughtful. "Once I return, I should encourage the King of Svarga to do more penance. If he grants this armor further blessings, the Svarga will surely be at peace, and the Devas will be able to live in comfort."
The Vayudeva's thoughts were genuine, his belief in the King's power unwavering.
He raised the Sahasrakavacha high, and the golden light flashed brightly. As the rolling Halahala continued its approach, the armor absorbed the poison relentlessly.
With each absorption, the expansion of Halahala slowed, inching to a near halt. Above the sea of milk, Brahma sat cross-legged upon a lotus, gazing into the distance. His eyes focused on the Halahala, now stopped in its tracks.
"It seems the limits of Sahasrakavacha have been reached. But it may be able to contain the poison to Kshira Sagara," Brahma said, nodding slightly in approval.
However, Shiva Mahadeva, watching the poison with indifferent eyes, suddenly spoke up.
"No! Not yet!" Shiva's voice was firm, his tone laden with urgency.
At this, Brahma blinked, a realization dawning on him. He lowered his gaze to the blue-green poisonous mist, his expression tense.
Boom!
Vayu, still holding the divine armor, continued absorbing the poisonous mist, when, suddenly, the Halahala began to churn violently. The blue mist began to contract, no longer spreading outward but pulling inward, toward the center.
Boom!
Endless streams of Halahala gathered in one place, and from it, a terrifying figure began to take shape.
The figure was horrifying: its body gleamed with a blinding light, four large fangs jutted from its mouth, black-brown hair covered its head, and blazing eyes glowed with malevolent energy. Its entire body was encased in a poisonous, bluish hue—undoubtedly a manifestation of the poison itself.
Hala Hala!
Vayu stared in shock at the figure before him. The moment their eyes locked, a sudden wave of pain and weakness surged through his body.
It hurts!
What's happening?
Vayu grimaced, confusion and pain flashing across his face.
Roar!
Halahala let out a low, menacing roar, and in an instant, appeared in front of Vayu. He raised his hand and threw a punch. Vayu quickly lifted the divine armor to defend himself.
Boom!
The full force of the Halahala's strike collided with the armor, sending Vayu hurtling backward. He crashed through the air, shooting toward the other Devas.
The protector of the world, Vishnu, frowned slightly, raised his hand, and transformed into a golden light, catching the rushing Vayu with ease.
"Fortunately, I didn't intervene!" Indra thought, his eyes widening in shock. He took a deep breath and reflected. "I never expected Halahala could turn into a demon!"
Indra hurried forward to assess Vayu's condition. Thankfully, the divine armor had protected him, and Vishnu had caught him in time. Vayu had only been sent flying back without serious harm.
"Lord, what kind of monster is that?" Suryadev asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Halahala," Vishnu replied calmly.
What?! The Devas were stunned. The poisonous fog could turn into a demon?
Their eyes turned toward the figure before them—Halahala's appearance was terrifying. His sharp fangs and fiery, intense gaze made the Devas recoil. The mere sight of him brought intense pain to their bodies, causing them to quickly avert their eyes.
"I am Halahala! I am the poison of death! I am the destroyer of worlds!" Halahala bellowed, his voice booming across the Svargas.
The sound of his roar reverberated through the entire Milky Ocean, causing the waters to churn violently. Even the great Mandala Mountain trembled as massive stone formations crumbled and fell.
No. You are not. I am the Destroyer.
A calm, authoritative voice cut through the chaos.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a massive hand descended from the Kailash. It stretched slowly and reached for Halahala.
Boom!
In an instant, Halahala was captured by Shiva's mighty hand, offering little resistance as it was consumed by his fiery nature. The poison flowed into Shiva's throat, not absorbed, but turning his neck a deep, foreboding blue-black. Parvati, alarmed by the impending danger, rushed to her husband's side. With both hands, she gripped his neck, desperately attempting to prevent the poison from reaching his stomach.
Despite her efforts, the poison began to take effect, and Shiva's throat glowed with a dark blue light. As the poison swirled within his neck, Shiva's expression remained calm and resolute, unaffected by the poison.
Parvati, filled with concern and awe, gazed at him with a mix of deep love and worry. Shiva, meeting her gaze, smiled gently, silently assuring her of his strength. He had now earned the epithets Viṣakaṇṭha, the one who held poison in his neck, and Nīlakaṇṭha, the one with the blue throat—symbols of his immense power and sacrifice in safeguarding the universe by ingesting the Halahala.
Without a word, Vishnu appeared beside them, his presence calm and serene. With a graceful movement, Vishnu raised his hand and lightly touched Shiva's neck, an unspoken understanding passing between them. The Devas, watching in awe, stood in reverence, witnessing the strength and selflessness of the god who bore the poison to protect the world.
"Lord Shiva! He endures the poison for the safety of all beings. His sacrifice shall never be forgotten!"
Indra's eyes gleamed with admiration, and he immediately spoke, his voice ringing with reverence.
"This poison may claim to have the power to destroy the worlds, but in front of Lord Shiva, it is as powerless as a drop of water before the Kshira Sagara."
...
The Devas echoed in unison, their voices rising in a chorus of praise.
Watching this scene, Brahma couldn't help but feel a twinge of awkwardness. While Shiva and Vishnu received all the praise for saving the world, he felt almost invisible in comparison.
"At least give me some recognition!" Brahma thought to himself, rolling his eyes. Feeling somewhat slighted, he raised his hand, cleared his throat, and spoke with a touch of irritation:
"Halahala who seeks to destroy the world, I curse…"
As Brahma continued his incantation, he focused on the poison of the Kshira Sagara.
---
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