But Mahadev, I merely uttered those words in passing, surely the gods need not take my life for such a trivial matter," Yadwinder pleaded. He believed that his demise was a consequence of his audacious words, knowing well how easily the gods could be provoked, having been an ardent fan of the God of War game and Greek mythology.
"No, it was not your words that caused this, but rather, your time had come, and thus, you passed away," Mahadev reassured Yadwinder, his tone gentle and soothing, quelling the storm of volatile emotions within him.
"Then what does the future hold for me, Mahadev? Why am I here, and not in Swarg (Heaven) or Narak (Hell)?" Yadwinder weakly inquired. Despite the calming effect of Mahadev's voice on his emotions, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness at his own demise, yet a glimmer of joy lingered in his heart at the chance to meet his most beloved deity.
He felt comfortable discussing these matters openly, knowing the gentle and compassionate nature of Mahadev. After all, he earned the name Bholenath (Lord of Simplicity) due to his kind-heartedness and approachability. As long as Yadwinder didn't cross certain boundaries, he could freely express his thoughts and concerns.
"You cannot proceed to those realms due to the words you spoke," Mahadev revealed, dropping yet another bombshell of news. Yadwinder's placid emotions once again became unstable.
"But, Bhole, I merely spoke those words without any malicious intent," Yadwinder exclaimed, unable to contain his restlessness. The words had escaped his lips in response to the unfair treatment of Karna, driven solely by the emotions he experienced at the time, devoid of ill will.
"It is because of those words that I have decided to grant your wish. I understand why you empathize with Karna, but I have never been unjust towards anyone. Each individual receives what they deserve," Mahadev reassured, his voice filled with care for the boy standing before him.
"He was forsaken by his mother, denied knowledge, cursed for his insatiable thirst for wisdom, and even in his final moments, the truth of his birth remained concealed. Tell me, how is that not injustice, Bhole?" Yadwinder expressed with an outpouring of emotions. He felt a deep connection to Karna, understanding the pain of feeling misunderstood, even amidst a multitude of companions.
"He received everything he deserved, Putra. Yes, his mother abandoned him, but did he not gain a mother who loved him dearly and adorned his name as a crown upon her head? Yes, he was denied knowledge, but did not the greatest teacher on Earth, my own student, become his mentor? Yes, he was cursed, but did he not receive my invincible bow in return? And yes, the truth of his birth remained hidden even in death, but was not his name eternally immortalized in history?" Mahadev answered calmly and slowly, resembling a teacher imparting wisdom to his student.
"And none were spared from the consequences of their actions. Did not the mother who abandoned him suffer the separation from her own five sons? Did not the eldest son, driven by his right to inheritance, reject Karna, only to be cursed by him in return? Did not the teacher who refused to impart knowledge to Karna meet his demise at the hands of the very students he favored? Did not Arjuna, who ultimately killed Karna, meet his own end at the hands of his own son? Everyone received their just desserts," Mahadev concluded in a composed tone. His voice exuded infinite love, aimed at helping the boy before him dispel his doubts.
"I... I never thought of it that way," Yadwinder admitted, feeling a sense of shame wash over him. He had failed to consider these aspects, yet he still believed that Karna had been treated unjustly.
"But, Bhole, it is not that I desired punishment for his enemies. I sought justice for him, which he never received. I do not deny the unfairness he faced, but I implore you, I am not unjust," Yadwinder pleaded, his question hanging in the air.
Mahadev answered without the need for Yadwinder to voice it aloud, understanding the depths of his heart. "Putra, your questions stem from your anger, and deep down, you already know the answers. Have you not felt a hint of resentment towards the Karna that appeared in your dream? While he fulfilled your innermost desire to change Karna's fate, he lacked the very qualities you admired in him," Mahadev said, a smile playing upon his lips, stirring Yadwinder's emotions and leading him towards the realization he so desperately sought.
"It is time to grant your final wishes, which will bring closure and free you from mortal limitations. I will grant you boons for your good deeds, except for immortality, Putra," Mahadev announced, sensing that the moment had arrived to set Yadwinder on a new path.
"But, Bhole, I haven't accomplished anything significant to deserve such boons. Why?" Yadwinder questioned, perplexed. Although he knew Mahadev was easily pleased, he believed he hadn't done much in his short sixteen years of life. Most of his time had been spent struggling to survive, with little involvement in the gods' affairs, aside from offering prayers and folding his hands towards the sky in reverence each morning and night. His acts of devotion seemed trivial in comparison.
"In Kalyug (the Age of Darkness), you, who have felt the solitude of abandonment since birth, have aided numerous orphans financially and in their education. You have toiled day and night, taking on multiple jobs to support them. Do you think we are unaware of the money you place under the pillow of the matron at the orphanage, attributing it to our divine intervention? Who do you think I am?" Mahadev chuckled, his words causing Yadwinder's face to blush with embarrassment and astonishment.
Mahadev found the situation amusing. Sages in ancient times would spend thousands of years in prayer and meditation, seeking boons from the gods. Yet here was a man in Kalyug who could attain the same through even the smallest acts of kindness, albeit deemed insignificant by many.
"Oh, I had forgotten about that, Prabhu (Lord). So, I can ask for anything except immortality. How many wishes do I have?" Yadwinder acknowledged, realizing the reason behind his boons. He had often come across stories and novels centered around wish fulfillment, but had dismissed them as mere folklore. Now, he questioned the number of wishes he possessed and the boundless possibilities they presented.
"Yes, you may ask for anything other than immortality. You can request wealth, weapons, power, or even that I become your servant. And you have three wishes, so choose wisely. What shall it be?" Mahadev provided multiple suggestions for the boons, even jesting about becoming Yadwinder's servant. Mahadev wasn't joking, as he had previously served as a bodyguard for a devoted worshipper who had made that very wish.
"No, Mahadev, I dare not. I have long pondered this moment and come prepared. If I am to become Karna
, then for my first wish, I desire liberation from the clutches of fate. For my second wish, I request a system with the ability to traverse different worlds, like world-hopping. And for my final wish, Lord, I beseech you to come to me and answer my questions whenever I call upon you, with utmost sincerity," Yadwinder asked tentatively, aware of the gravity of his words. If he were to become Karna, then this system would be tailor-made for him, enhancing his already superior talents and demigod status. The prospect of upgrading various aspects of his being, such as immunity to curses or strengthening his armor and earrings, intrigued him. Yadwinder had often wondered why no one had ever asked for a system as a boon before. Such abilities were incredibly powerful.
"The system you desire is unprecedented, and I have never granted such a request before. However, I find your thoughts intriguing, and it is true that it can protect your mind from even our divine control. Very well, I shall grant you the first part of the system, while the other two parts you shall discover on your own. The system will notify you when they are near. Now, tell me your second and final wish," Mahadev replied, a golden globe of light materializing in his hand. Two beams of light shot off in different directions, while the third entered Yadwinder's ethereal soul form, disappearing as if it had never existed. Afterward, Yadwinder expressed his second wish and was swiftly transported through a portal, leaving him no time to bid farewell to his lord.
Mahadev turned to Parvati, the motherly feminine voice emerging from the brilliance fading away, the radiance revealing not just a man but also a breathtakingly beautiful woman. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, in their Ardhnarishwar form—where half of the body was male and the other half female—stood before Yadwinder. Ardhnarishwar symbolized the unity of opposites, conveying the male and female principles that could not be separated. It represented the constructive and generative powers of the universe.
Yadwinder, half-correct in his assumption, witnessed Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati as one. The Ardhnarishwar incarnation embodied the power of Lord Shiva and the nurturing essence of Goddess Parvati, together known as the duo of Shiv-Shakti (Power).
"He questions whether we have done the right thing by granting him these boons, or if we have given him too much. And what do you think, as you know the rage that lies dormant within him?" a motherly voice inquired, emerging from the golden brilliance that surrounded the figure before fading away.
Yadwinder was partially correct, for standing before him was not only Lord Shiva but also Goddess Parvati. Yet, he remained unaware of the boon she had bestowed upon him.
"Are you the one asking that, Priye (Darling)? I have merely granted him the boons he requested, but you, without his knowledge, have given him a boon of your own," Lord Shiva chuckled, teasing his wife.
"H-He was in pain, and as a mother, I couldn't resist," Goddess Parvati replied, evading her husband's gaze. As the incarnation of Adi Shakti (Adi=Superior/First, Shakti=Power), the mother of all, she couldn't bear to witness her children in pain, prompting her to offer a boon to ease Yadwinder's suffering.
"Do not worry, Priye (Darling), no one receives more or less than what they deserve. Now we must wait and see which path he will choose. And as for his rage, it will serve as a catalyst on his journey in life," Lord Shiva responded, understanding his wife's emotions. He had bestowed these powerful boons, allowing Yadwinder to shape his own destiny.
*To Be Continued*
Author here this Is the last chapter which is copied version of "I Become Karna With a Million Times Crit System In Mahabharata." Of "ForManaga" But i have also added some of my own content.
Thank you