& Karn was graciously blessed with each of it. He believed in Karma(efforts) , was devoted to dharm , Mahadev & Maa Shakti and had a positive outlook for life... Therefore , him being successful wasn't much of a doubt to the inhabitants of Mahendragiri.

But yet they were gobsmacked....

No!! Not because Karn's devotion managed to convince Mahadev and Devi Shakti yet.....but because he had done the unthinkable... something that even the MahaShakti couldn't predict....He had become..... Shad Ripu Jayi. Shad Ripu Jayi- Karn.

The thing that yet couldn't be achieved by many Devs , the Devraj , Suryadev and Bhagwan Parshuram himself was achieved by him. He has conquered the 6 evils of mind & that too in just 6 years at the age of 14.

Dharini and Amba were the most esctatic. Hotravahan and Bhagwan Parshuram were still astonished but their eyes showed the pride they had on the boy.

The boy who sat still under the banyan tree , eyes closed in devotion , emitting a divine yellow halo , appearing like a mini sun in the green surrounding and his voice reverberating in the mountains...

||Omm Mahadevaya Vidmahe Neelkanthaye Dhimahi

Tanno Rudra Prachodayat ||

|| Omm Kalikaye Vidmahe

Shivpriyaya Dhimahi

Tanno Durge Prachodayat ||

A child's success brings more joy to his parents than him. It's this joy that I'm experiencing. I'm more than pleased with Karn.

He , in this short duration has achieved what many rishis couldn't achieve even after years of penance. His devotion towards me and Shakti is commendable. For the past 6 years he had been meticulously involved in his prayers , surviving only on fallen fruits in the initial years and then on air. And even in those times he had taken care of the animals and birds that visited him. He really has a heart of gold .

Never in my thoughts had I thought he would be able to do such a thing...becone Shad-ripu jayi..I mean he is just a boy of 14... but guess I was wrong. He is more capable than I thought. His dedication towards his mother , betterment of society , justice and his goal speaks volumes about his strong character.

Wait a minute!! This change wasn't planned by Shakti . She shares her every plan with me then y didn't she share this? Our plan was to guide Karn through my daughter's voice (Ananya) but these visions??Ok it's fine..She forgot to share about visions ..She forgot to share about her plan that he will seek us as teachers ???But now..Did she really forgot to share that he will become a Shad-ripu Jayi.?? I mean this is a major change..... Now I strongly doubt whether my lovely wife disclosed her complete plan to me???? Women !! I tell u...hmphhh!!

Fine!! But this time , I will seek my answers ...

But for now, me and Shakti have to bless him with our presence . It's high time I & Shakti acknowledge his prayers & provide him the fruits of his efforts....

I'm so thrilled....My son has completed his penance and has become Shad-ripu jayi. He has proved the world that birth & destiny doesn't decide a person's future. He has fought against both and created a place for himself.

No doubt he is Suryadev's son..His divine glow in the hills of Mahendragiri matches exactly with his father.

The changes happening till now were small but this is a big relevant change.... that hasn't been planned by me. May be it's Dev's work . He knows my wish to have Karn on Kailash and spend sometime with him , therefore,he must have done this . But atleast he should have informed me.

This is something that would create a big change in the future. & Now it's time for another change... & For this I have to prepare everything beforehand ..but first I have to prepare a room for him in Kailash.....A room that matches him...

Oh Mahadev!! My son is coming to my home for the first time , everything should be perfect.

It's been years I have hosted my son's here. Hosted !!!Hmph(Sighing)....So strange ..I , the mother of the universe can't keep my 2 son's together in Kailash. I have raised them together with love but with time they have drifted apart... from each other and..from us. Well,

Forget it...I should think of welcoming Karn. Engrossed in thoughts , I didn't notice Mahadev's arrival....

Shakti ..you didn't do it right. Hmph!! I'm not talking to u. (pouting)

Oh!! What did I do now? Wait !! Is my Dev pouting ...

(pulling Mahadev's cheeks)

Aww!! So cute ...(& Kisses his cheeks)

(smiles but regains sterness)

Don't cute me!! Tell me y didn't u share ur entire plan with me ? Don't u trust ur eternal lover (best puppy eyes in the world) I thought u love me the same way like I do but ...u ...u didn't even share ur plan with me ..(sniffs) My poor heart is hurt.

& The best actor of Multiverse award goes to .....Dev Adi Dev Mahadev.

I didn't disclose my plan to u. What plan? Which plan? What are u talking about? Moreover , I should be angry on u for not disclosing ur plans about Karn to me. Those visions, his selecting us as Guru and moreover become Shad-ripu jayi.....But I am not angry. I know you did it for me ( hugging Mahadev) I love you Dev...I love u sooooo very much...

I love you too Shakti... But..um... I didn't do anything. I thought u changed ur plan & didn't inform me.

That means neither of us did any change and that led to such a big change. But how? Only we know about her and no one else...not even brother Narayan then ,... how's it possible that a change happened without any of us getting involved? Oh !! ..I will go mad...

In the ice garden with cherry blossoms everywhere are seated Mahadev and Devi Shakti with their faces on their palms raking their brain for the occurrence of the events not planned by them.

Narayan was their first suspect , but knowing the love he harboured for his makhan and the respect and trust he had in the divine couple , he was exempted by them.

The next suspects weren't exactly suspects ... Brahmadev , Devi Saraswati, Devi Lakshmi ..they couldn't do such a thing. The other Dev's and Devi's were too terrified to do such a thing without their permission. So that left none as the culprit.

But someone was responsible ...Who? Was still a question to both of them.

Pouting cutely while sitting on the steps of the garden was Devi Shakti ... Mahadev , by now, was already in meditation to know the reason of such a fiasco....

Suddenly Devi Shakti's eyes shone and she shrieked...

Devi Shakti: Dev!!!

Mahadev instantly opened his eyes and acknowledged her...The smile on her face and shine in her eyes made his eyes twinkle with joy and lips smile in response. It's serene to see such a love where every emotion of one is expressed by the other... Anyone who's in the vicinity of the divine couple now can feel their love coursing in the air...Well in every part of Kailash their love can be felt.

Mahadev: What happened priye (dear)? Why did u call me like that? Were u planning to give me a heart attack? If yes!! Then u Need to plan better. Being with u for eons I'm immune to ur such pranks , mood swings and behaviour.

Devi Shakti pouts.

Devi Shakti: Uffo Dev!! U can complain later about me . Not that it will be much of help but still...Well I called u because I figured out who's the reason for all this fiasco..? ......Any guesses Dev??

Mahadev: Priye ... Don't play games now. I'm impatient to learn about the one who could create such a big change without us knowing....Not because he/she did wrong but because it would be good to have such great planner in our team. So who's it?

Devi Shakti: The culprit ....no culprits are .. KARNANANYA...I mean Karn and Ananya..

Mahadev: What? How? I don't understand . Explain.

Devi Shakti: Dev , do you remember our love story ? How I used to get visions of u? & Then fell in love and decided to pursue u as my husband?

(Mahadev nodded)

It's the same thing with these two.

Ananya always had a soft corner for Karn . She, in some way or other related to him. She saw his flaws and realised that it wasn't due to his pride or ego but due to the harsh treatment of the society. He was a pure soul for her who had been blackened by the atrocities and treatment of others. She wanted to guide him.

I know there are many in Kaliyug who relate to Karn , have a soft corner for him. People for whom he is an idol , people who wanted to guide him and support him & that's it. They juz wanted Karn to have a better ending. But none of them wanted his pain or to shield him . They all wanted to prove him right ignoring his flaws but Ananya knew his flaws and wanted him to accept and get over it. She wanted a part in his pain. To shield him. To support him. To show him the difference of charity and self-sacrifice. To guide him. To provide him solace. To provide him the joy of acceptance. To give him a place where he could be his vulnerable self without remorse.

& At the same time Karn needed support , guidance , acceptance , love and care to fight his loneliness and feelings of despair.

Their urges and need were strong which when combined with the energies of our given locket, created these beautiful visions. It was all their thing.

But the only thing I didn't understand is why the visions were in their grown up form? For Ananya ,her soul is in age with her body but for Karn?? & Karn clearly remembers those visions but Ananya doesn't ..Y?

Mahadev: Really? U solved the entire puzzle and are stuck in this? K tell me what is my age? Or what is ur age?

(Devi Shakti gives a 'h-u-h' look)

K..U know we are eternal but so is our energy. Every atman is a part of our energy, therefore every soul or Atman is eternal or immortal. Soul doesn't know about age. It can take any form ..it is nirguna.

Ananya imagined guiding the grown-up Karn to make him see the reasons better. And our baby Karn just wanted a happy place away from the negativity of the society. Somewhere he would feel joyous & emotionally and spiritually safe. Therefore , those visions had him as a boy. & Having two forms of himself in those visions actually helped him understand himself better.

Whatever Ananya said in those visions were imprinted in Karn's soul. She became the lightbringer for him, flushing out his hatred for the society and leaving remains of beautiful lovable memories. Memories that are part of his soul and not mind.

& Coming to ur 2nd question ...Karn is emotional , but Ananya is practical. Karn remembers her because he is receiving something from her but Ananya is giving for which she doesn't remember. Moreover, her practical thinking that something like visions , dreams etc are not part of one's life is overshadowing her ability to remember such things. For Ananya it's all in mind and therefore she tends to forget it.

Devi Shakti:... They haven't seen or met each other and are already a part of each other's life , influencing it and changing it. Now I know we won't have to do much for bringing change. These two will manage everything. (With heavy love laced voice & teary eyes)

Mahadev: That's what love is priye...u don't realise how and when but it changes ur entire self..or better say one changes itself for the person he/she loves.

Voice:

||Omm Mahadevaya Vidmahe...

We should now acknowledge our son's prayer and bring him to Kailash for his education.

Devi Shakti nodded & in a puff of wind both of them disappeared.

Cast in divine yellow glow , surrounded by trees and flowers of all possible colours with peacocks roaming freely , seated under an enormous banyan tree is a Karn. Seeing him none can say that he is in penance for the past 6 years. His body is clean and shining like gold. He is as fresh as daisy. His sun marked forehead is the cherry on top. Anyone seeing him now could mistake him to be mini Suryadev.

In the past 6 years , Karn was continuously involved in his prayers , initially stopping only for cleaning, having a fruit & feeding the hungry animal and birds . But, by the later ,3 years he got so engrossed in it that he didn't even move an eyelid. For the past 3 years, it was Dharini and Amba who were taking care of him and the animals & birds. In a span of 15 days , Bhagwan Parshuram and Rishi Hotravahan visited him , making sure there's no threat of wild animal or any other creature to him.

Everyone was worried about the kid.. specially Dharini. Although she was with Bhagwan Parshuram for eons & has seen him performing even harder austerities ; having her son in the same position made her restless.

Not only she ...but all his mother's were praying for his well being. Satyavati , Gandhari and Radha were continuously involved in religious works to wave out any trouble in his ways & Devi Ganga made sure to visit him atleast once a week in his meditative state & take care of his nutrition by her powers. She knew it was wrong of her to do that , but at the end of the day she was a mother.

It was a fine day when finally the Triloki along with his beloved Triloka Mohini decided to grant Karn his wishes...

The blue sky rumbled with lighting bolt...The atmosphere turned pleasant with wind picking speed , scattering sweet smelling flowers in the surrounding causing animals and birds to dance and sing merrily. The sudden change in atmosphere astonished the Brahma kshatriya and the Kshatriya Brahman, whereas demanded the attention of Dharini & Amba.

The pleasant change in the atmosphere meant one thing...The arrival of Shivshakti.

In a flash of light, the Adi Dev alongwith Adi Shakti were before them.

All of them acknowledged their presence by bowing.

Tranquil is what I feel. & Y not the ever-so-calm Mahadev along with the nurturer of the multiverse , Goddess Parvati is here. Their calm pleasing aura along with serenity of their faces can please even the dead. It's been years I have seen Mahadev...the last being Amba's fiasco. I was continuously angry that I couldn't provide her justice and was at peace only when she assured that she was now fine and wanted to start afresh by helping others who suffered like her. She is a strong willed woman and I'm really disappointed in Bhishm for not choosing her as wife. She would have been a great queen or even a great presence in court.

I shift my attention to Karn who is still in meditation unaware of his surroundings.

This boy has my heart and sincere respect. I have seen his life..his birth , abandonment , initial days and growing years ...& I don't know what to say. He is something else... something beyond everything. He loves everyone and is loved by everyone. He is the lightbringer of their life. Even after facing so many rejections, taunts and atrocities of this society at this tender age , he doesn't hold grudges. He juz wants justice for him and everyone like him. I'm sure he would be the most powerful just king and a fearsome warrior.

My eyes move towards Mahadev & Mata Parvati who's watching Karn fondly. Hmm..so this little munchkin has already made them his fan .. Not bad putr!!

Out of nowhere I feel a sense of loss, alongwith ....joy? Okay get a grip !! Hm..well my feelings are justified I'm losing a precious gem ..a student ...a son. He would now have to move to Kailash and Mahendragiri and I will be devoid of his presence. I still miss him accompanying me to Surya pooja , in my prayers , asking questions on everything he founds dubious and his devotion towards Dharini and me. Although he stayed for few months but has given us memories of a lifetime. I'm ecstatic that he has succeeded. Now he would be the most formidable warrior...even far better than me. I wish all the best things to happen for him and the stars to be on his side.

Putr Karn..(softly)

Karn softly opens his eyes but then hesitates a little and closes them...and again slowly softly open them. His face has a look of complete astonishment...

Oh!! He looks so cute but more handsome. Woow!! He would give a tough competition to Kamadeva..(considered most beautiful God)

Lost in my thoughts ..I didn't exactly notice how fast he leapt to the feet of Mahakaal. I juz hope he hadn't broken his bones or else the Ashvinays are his only option. He offered his prayers and respect to Ardhnarishwar who blessed him merrily .

Putr Karn we are impressed by u & ur penance ,hence, we heartily accept u as our disciple.

Thank you. Thank you Thank you so much for u have accepted someone as low as me as ur disciple.

Oh!! Although the taunts haven't made him bad but surely made him insecure about himself and his position. I glance at Mahadev to see him looking at Karn sadly. Mata too seems to be in pain. & Y won't they be ..they are present in everything and everyone for which they feel every emotion that we feel.

Mata moves forward ,hugs Karn & lovingly kisses his forehead.

No one is low putr. Everyone is equal. Got it.

He thinks something and nods eagerly.

Mahadev : Come on let's go now! Meet ur family here and bid them farewell putr ..& Get ready for ur new journey..