Panic spread quickly among the villagers as they rushed to the cave. The chief, maintaining his composure, organized the rescue efforts. "Fifteen people are to stay here to keep guard. Everyone else, grab what you can to help! We need to get those trapped out safely!"
Inside the cave, the scene was chaotic. Dust filled the air, and the sounds of coughing and groaning echoed against the walls.
The villagers worked frantically, using their hands and simple tools to clear the debris. Arjun, despite his fear, joined in to save the people.
After what felt like hours but were mere minutes, the debris began to clear as only a small portion of the 9 to 13 meter cave had collapsed, not the entire east side.
The villagers worked in unison, pulling out the injured and tending to them. Fortunately, no one was severely hurt, though everyone was shaken.
As they continued to clear the rubble, something unexpected emerged from the debris. Arjun, his hands covered in dirt and sweat, uncovered a shiny object. He called out, "Chief, look at this!"
The chief approached and saw that Arjun had found several copper slabs with intricate carvings and something written in Sanskrit. Nearby, another villager uncovered a section of the wall with similar carvings. The chief, curious and cautious, examined the slabs closely.
"These inscriptions… they're ancient," he said, awe evident in his voice. "And this craftsmanship… it's extraordinary."
The excitement grew as more villagers gathered around the discovery. They carefully brushed away more debris, revealing a hidden passage that had been sealed off by the collapse.
After ensuring that all the villagers were present and accounted for, and that no one was seriously injured, Chief Dinesh, holding a torch, led the way into the newly uncovered section of the cave.
The passage opened into another chamber, even more expansive than the one they had been working on. The walls were adorned with beautiful, ancient paintings depicting scenes of village life, battles, and rituals, along with some enigmatic depictions of humans and animals with liquid flowing within their body.
In the center of the chamber lay a large, intricately carved stone slab, gleaming with the same coppery sheen. Etched upon it, in bold Sanskrit letters, were the words "सार" (sāra) in the upper half with small words curved under it and ``प्रसारण च वितरणम्" (Prasāraṇa cha Vitaranam)* in the lower half.
The chief held up his torch, illuminating the chamber and its contents. "We've discovered something incredible," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Arjun looked around the chamber in awe.
Dinesh seeing the content on the walls realized they were written in sanskrit.so he said to a nearby villager "get the elders here especially elder Ratan, Elder Bhima and Elder Narayan. everyone else search the cave to see if more such things are there"
Within moments, the three elders arrived, each bringing their wealth of knowledge and reverence for the past."Elders, please check this".
Elder Narayan, who had studied languages extensively in the city before returning to his village roots, approached the slabs with keen interest.
"These inscriptions are in classical Sanskrit," he said, tracing the letters with his fingers. "It's an archaic dialect, but it seems to reference the management of vital resources. Perhaps water, knowledge, or a type of energy."
Elder Ratan, known for his expertise in history and ancestral teachings, knelt by the copper slabs, his eyes widening in recognition.
"These writings, Prasāraṇa cha Vitaranam" he began, his voice tinged with excitement, "they speak of an ancient method for the distribution, sharing, and flow of... something. The exact nature isn't clear yet."
Elder Bhima, with his deep understanding of ancestral ways and the practical wisdom of village life, sat beside Arjun, surveying the walls.
"The paintings may depict a symbiotic relationship between humans, animals and the elements," he noted. "Look here," he pointed, "the liquid within the bodies seems to signify some form of energy or essence that Narayan is speaking of, integral to their way of life."
The chief, listening intently, turned to the villagers gathered around. "Our ancestors have left us a message," he said, "It's our duty to decipher and understand it. This discovery might hold the key to something vital for our village."
"Chief Dinesh, we found a few more slabs. Here" the villagers bought at least ten to twenty slabs, "there are big ones like this one over there too and on it it's written 'शस्त्र विद्या' (Shastra Vidyā)* these slabs were near those stones"
As the villagers murmured amongst themselves, the elders continued their examination of the chamber.
The three elders, along with other older villagers, began investigating what was hidden. Elder Narayan translated the Sanskrit, while Elder Ratan carefully documented the inscriptions, and Elder Bhima interpreted the paintings and carvings. Their insights gradually pieced together a larger picture.
Arjun, watching the elders, felt a mix of awe and determination. "Dadu, do you think this discovery will help us?"
Bhima nodded, his eyes shining with conviction. "I believe it will, Arjun. Our ancestors left these messages for a reason. We must understand and apply their wisdom."
The chief, sensing the growing anticipation among the villagers, addressed them once more. "Tonight, we will gather in the village square," he announced. "We will hold a celebration to honor and thank our ancestors."
"The elders will then share their findings, and we will decide our next steps together. This is a momentous occasion for all of us."
As the villagers began to clear the remaining debris and prepare to leave the cave, the excitement and sense of purpose were palpable.
At night, the villagers all gathered in the clearing square to celebrate. They danced near a fire, performing rituals and offering fruits and other food to the flames hoping the flames would bring these tribute to their ancestors.
Dinesh, after overseeing all the rituals and ceremonies, finally approached the elders. "Elders, what have you found in the cave? What wisdom do our ancestors impart to us?" As Chief Dinesh approached the elders, a hushed silence fell over the gathered villagers. Elder Ratan stepped forward, his expression grave yet intrigued.
"Chief Dinesh, our ancestors have left us profound knowledge," he began, his voice carrying a weight of solemnity. "The inscriptions and paintings within the cave speak of a deep understanding of vital resources and their management. We've deciphered references to the distribution and flow of what seems to be essence or energy."
Elder Narayan nodded in agreement, his eyes shining with excitement. "Indeed, on the big stone slab we first found, it's written that essence (sāra) is a force in nature. The slabs then describe a method for the sharing and dissemination of this essence, referred to as 'Prasāraṇa cha Vitaranam'. It's a knowledge that has been preserved through generations, waiting for us to uncover its significance."
"This essence is a fundamental force of nature that resides within every living matter. It can be found in any current or recently living matter. When a body dies, essence does not just dissipate as the organic compounds rot and decay. Instead, it is absorbed by bacteria, insects, worms, or plants, and later the animals that eat them. Our ancestors have warned us that if a being were to be dried of their essence, they would die, as essence is the very life force of a living being but can also be a formidable force."
"Then, the small slabs we found in the collapse tell us a way to sense and train this essence. Essence radiates gently from all organic matter that holds it. Depending on how much essence they have, this radiation can be sensed and measured by people who have trained themselves to do so, or by special instruments created from materials that react to it. Otherwise, it remains unseen for the most part."
Elder Bhima added, "The paintings depict our ancestors' journey and their symbiotic relationship between humans, animals, and the elements, with the essence flowing through all living beings. These depictions serve as a reminder of our interconnectedness with nature and the importance of harmony."
Elder Narayan then interjected, "The other slabs we found in the cave after you sent the villagers were about weapon art (Shastra Vidyā), detailing how to use and make some simple weapons such as spears, swords, shield and bows."
He continued, "The larger stones hold specific techniques for each weapon, like how to shoot two or three arrows at once, advanced sword fighting techniques known as talwar bazi, and various spear techniques. These instructions are meticulously detailed, with illustrations demonstrating stances, grips, and movements.but there are only mention of some types of shield, no technique for it."
Elder Ratan spoke again, his voice filled with reverence, "The precision and care with which these techniques are described show how important they were to our ancestors. They not only valued the practical knowledge of making and using weapons but also the deeper understanding of how this knowledge could protect and sustain the village."
Elder Bhima added, "It's fascinating to see how our ancestors intertwined the concept of essence with their daily lives and survival strategies. The essence wasn't just a mystical force; it was integral to their way of life, influencing their health, well-being, and even their martial practices."
Dinesh, skeptical about the knowledge of essence as he had never once encountered such mythical energy, even in the cities he had visited where no mention of such a thing existed. He turned to the elders, his brow furrowed with doubt. "Do you think whatever is written is true?"
Elder Ratan shook his head, his expression somber as he replied, "We can confirm that the weapon art (Shastra Vidyā) is real and even more advanced than our methods, but regarding the essence (sāra), we have never heard of it in our lives. We can only find out by practicing and trying the methods written on the slabs."
Despite his reservations, Dinesh knew that their ancestors wouldn't have left such detailed instructions without reason. He nodded, "Then let us begin. We must honor their wisdom and see where it leads us."
After this discussion, Dinesh looked around at the group of villagers gathered in the chamber, his gaze settling on the younger members of the community. "We need volunteers," he announced, "young people willing to try and sense this essence."
Several eager faces turned towards him, curiosity and excitement shining in their eyes. Among them was Arjun, his hand raised hesitantly but determination etched on his face.
"I'll do it," Arjun declared. "I want to try."
Dinesh nodded approvingly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Very well, Arjun. Who else?"
A few more hands went up, and soon a small group of young villagers had been selected.
Elder Narayan stepped forward, a sense of anticipation in his tone. "We will guide you through the process," he assured them, "the eight of you are to come to the clearing before the sunrise tomorrow, now everyone go and rest we have a long day ahead of us."
After the villagers went to their beds, the cave quieted. Exhausted villagers settled into their mats and hay beds, their bodies aching but their spirits high at finding their ancestral knowledge.
The flickering light from the remaining torches cast long shadows on the walls, creating a calm, almost serene atmosphere.
Beside his grandfather Bhima, Arjun's youthful frame was weighed down by exhaustion. He closed his eyes, and soon a deep, dreamless sleep was sucked into him by the exhaustion of the day's events.
A mixture of pride and grief filled Bhima's emotions as he watched over his grandson. The old man gently patted Arjun's head, his calloused hand a stark contrast to the boy's soft hairTears welled up in Bhima's eyes, reflecting the torchlight like tiny, liquid stars. Remembering his son and daughter-in-law, he muttered, "I wish you were here to see him grow up."
The old man's thoughts drifted back to the past, memories of his son and daughter-in-law filling his mind. They had been strong and brave, much like Arjun. The boy has so much of them, Bhima thought—the same tenderness, the same resolve.
He recalled the excitement and anticipation in his son's eyes when he announced his plan to get married. There had been laughter and promise during the lovely event that was the wedding. Bhima's wife was a kind but strong woman who was always willing to support her husband, and his son had been a man of dignity and honesty.
Remembering the terrible disaster that had claimed their lives and left Arjun an orphan at such a young age, Bhima's heart ached. The pain of their loss was still sharp, a wound that time had not fully healed. However, seeing Arjun grow and thrive, despite the hardships, brought a sense of satisfaction and comfort to the old man.
He continued to watch over Arjun, the boy's steady breathing a soothing sound in the quiet of the cave. Bhima whispered a silent prayer for strength and guidance that Arjun would need as he has to learn new things tomorrow.
With tears streaming freely down his tired cheeks, he gave Arjun a gentle kiss on the forehead. "They would be so proud of you, my boy," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
With a final, tender glance at his sleeping grandson, Bhima lay down beside him, feeling a sense of peace. The day's tiredness had caught up with him as well, and he soon fell asleep, his hand resting protectively on Arjun's.
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Sāra
In our novel we will call it essence. it refers to the fundamental life force or vital energy that resides within every living matter.
for this story it is MANA or Ki.
Prasāraṇa Means dispersal and distribution
Cha means 'and'
Vitaranam Means distribution and sharing
Shastra Vidyā Means knowledge of weapons