"Could it be... that I miscalculated?" Indra murmured, lowering his head in thought.
His mind raced back to the blinding light of Halahala emanating from his divine armor. He had unleashed several blasts of toxic light at Hiranyakashipu, all of which had struck their target. However, the poison hadn't just touched Hiranyakashipu but also contaminated Narasimha. Given that the human-lion was subduing the Asura king, it was inevitable that the poison had also spread through him.
"By placing Hiranyakashipu on his lap, the Narasimha has become a conduit for the Halahala. That means the blessing's conditions were broken!" Indra's eyes lit up with realization. "I've done something impossible!"
A sense of satisfaction filled him. Despite the poison's destructive nature, Narasimha, the incarnation of Vishnu, had withstood its effects—his face was tinged with blue, but he was far from dead. If this had been any other Deva or Asura, they would have perished by now.
What a surprise!
Indra cleared his throat twice, then extended his palm with an air of calm authority. Slowly, he began to approach Narasimha.
"Allow me to relieve you of the Halahala," he offered, his tone measured, though a trace of amusement lingered in his voice.
Before Narasimha could respond, something unexpected happened. Hiranyakashipu, his body ravaged by the poison, suddenly erupted.
Boom!
The Asura king's form shattered into an explosion of light, the flames of Halahala coursing through the air in a brilliant clash of green and gold. The explosion sent waves of divine energy scattering, enveloping Narasimha in a storm of blinding light.
Narasimha, now fully surrounded by the blinding radiance, felt the intensity of the power coursing through him. His nose twitched, and he inhaled deeply, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
"Raaawwrrrrr!!!"
With a primal roar, Narasimha tilted his head back, unleashing a terrifying bellow that rippled through the air. The force of the roar sent shockwaves in every direction, shaking the very heavens and earth.
Surya, witnessing the devastation, was thrown into a panic. His chariot swayed violently, the divine horses roaring in fear as the reins shook uncontrollably. Surya himself had to bend down to steady the chariot, a look of horror on his face.
"What's happening?!" he cried, his voice filled with dread.
Through the swirling green and black smoke, Narasimha's piercing eyes—once a brilliant, fierce gold—shifted into a deep scarlet, glowing with a predatory intensity. His gaze fixed directly on Indra, the weight of it heavy and dangerous.
Indra stood still, his body slightly angled, his eyes locked onto Narasimha's. At that moment, their gazes collided—two powerful forces clashing as if a thousand flames were burning between them.
...
Kailash.
Lord Shiva stood in a vast, serene field, his trident held firmly in his hand. The landscape stretched endlessly before him, a tapestry of vibrant flowers in full bloom. The colors were a symphony of hues—brilliant, mesmerizing, and breathtakingly beautiful.
With a peaceful smile, Shiva walked through the sea of datura flowers, his presence as calm as the breeze that whispered through the petals. He moved gracefully, the flowers parting around him like the embrace of nature itself. His eyes softened as he bent slightly, reaching down to pick a cluster of blooming datura flowers.
Shiva gazed at the flowers in his hand, a gentle smile playing on his lips. His thoughts drifted, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed lost in the memory of his beloved wife, Parvati.
"Exquisitely beautiful," he murmured, his voice rich with affection.
For a moment, it was unclear whether he spoke of the mandala flowers or Parvati herself.
But just as the thought lingered in the air, a thunderous roar shattered the stillness.
Shiva's fingers flicked with effortless grace, and the third eye on his forehead gleamed with divine power. In an instant, the mandala flowers were reduced to ash, the remnants scattering in the wind like fleeting memories.
A shadow of sadness flickered across his face as he lifted his gaze. His eyes, once warm, now carried a hint of solemnity and concern. His mind had already sensed the disturbance, and the peace he had so momentarily cherished now seemed distant.
...
Brahmaloka.
Brahma's arm trembled, and the Vedas nearly slipped from his grasp. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared ahead, his snow-white beard quivering slightly with shock.
The Devas around him were equally stunned. Their hands pressed together in worry as they looked to Brahma, waiting for an explanation.
Even the Creator God, Brahma, was visibly shaken.
"What has happened?" they murmured, their voices filled with unease.
Brahma took a deep breath, his expression grave. "Narasimha has been influenced by the dark emotions of arrogance, bloodlust, rage, and greed from Hiranyakashipu. Now, he has completely lost his mind."
He paused, his voice heavy with concern. "He is… going mad. Ugra Narasimha."
…
"Raaawwrrrrr!!!"
Narasimha bared his teeth and claws, his golden mane whipping wildly as he roared toward Indra with terrifying ferocity, resembling a mad lion on the hunt.
Indra flinched, instinctively taking a step back.
The lion's face was poisoned with a deep blue hue, but its power remained undiminished. It was unmistakably the incarnation of Lord Vishnu! And now, with such wrath, could it be because he had stolen someone's head?
Roar!!!
Before Indra could react, Narasimha lunged at him, his arms swinging wildly.
The air crackled with tension as the lion's claws slashed through the void, long, cold beams of light emanating from them, so sharp they seemed to cut through time and space itself.
"Brother!"
Surya, gripping the reins of his sacred chariot, shouted in panic.
Narasimha's power was immense—able to subdue the mighty Hiranyakashipu, a force of both Svarga and Earth. If this madness continued, even the King of Svarga could be in danger.
In Brahmaloka...
Agni, Vayu, and Varuna watched in horror, their faces reflecting the fear that gripped them. Narasimha was going mad, and the King of Svarga might not survive this onslaught!
Whoosh!
Narasimha flew past in a blur, his claws slashing through the air, the light from them revealing his terrifying form.
"Not today!"
Indra's voice rang out, calm and resolute. He lowered his gaze to his chest, watching as his pristine, snow-white silk garment remained unscathed. The Rudraksha beads on his arm were untouched.
Surya, watching in stunned silence, grasped the armrest of his chariot, astonished.
In Brahmaloka...
The Devas collectively exhaled in relief, marveling that the King of Svarga had emerged unscathed.
"Before the battle began, Indra was blessed by the Preserver of Creation. He cannot be harmed by any of incarnation's fury," Agni explained, his voice filled with awe.
Hearing this, the others shared a sense of relief.
"With the King of Svarga here, we should be able to hold back this frenzied Narasimha," Vayu declared confidently.
"If Narasimha cannot hurt the King of Svarga, then with Indra's strength, there will be no problem," Agni added with a reassuring smile, fully confident in Indra's martial prowess.
Soma, the Moon God, nodded slowly in agreement.
"Indeed. As long as the King of Svarga holds his ground, even if Narasimha loses control, he won't be able to break through to Brahmaloka. We are safe for now," Soma said with a calm smile.
...
The Milky Sea stretched out forever, sparkling under the soft, golden light of Vaikuntha. Goddess Lakshmi stood at the edge, her hands clasped tightly. She looked worried, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding far away.
Her husband, Lord Vishnu, had transformed into the fierce lion-man, Narasimha, to defeat the terrible Hiranyakashipu. But now, Narasimha's anger was like a wild storm, and it didn't look like it would stop anytime soon.
"Natha!" Lakshmi called out, her voice trembling with both love and concern.
Just then, Sheshanaga, the giant thousand-headed serpent who always served Vishnu, slid forward from the shadows. His many heads swayed gently, his many eyes calm.
"Devi," Sheshanaga said in a soothing voice, "don't worry. The Lord is strong and wise. He won't let anything go wrong."
Lakshmi glanced at him, her golden face still full of concern. "But Sheshanaga, he's so furious. What if he goes too far? What if something bad happens to him or Indra?"
Sheshanaga's head bowed slightly. "Devi, Lord Vishnu is beyond harm. And remember, Hari's boon protects Indra from any harm caused by his incarnations. Trust in his power. He knows what he's doing."
Lakshmi sighed, her voice soft but firm. "Sheshanaga, your faith is unwavering, but even the strongest can be overwhelmed. Can't you see how much this battle is taking from him? His fury might burn too bright and hurt more than just Hiranyakashipu."
…
"Raaawwrrrrr!!!"
Narasimha's eyes burned with fury, his sharp claws slicing through the air with a desperate, maddened ferocity. The cold light emanating from them shrieked across the sky, splitting the very earth beneath. The force was terrifying—unyielding in its wrath.
And yet...
It was futile. The claws, as sharp as they were, seemed no more than the playful swipes of a kitten, as harmless as the breeze. They barely made a mark.
Suddenly, Brahma's voice echoed from afar, cutting through the chaos and reaching Indra's ears with crystal clarity.
"Indra! Narasimha has fallen into madness! Hold him back and prevent him from destroying everything!"
Brahma's voice rang out, lingering in the air, as though to pierce the tumultuous sound of battle.
Indra's eyes widened with understanding. "I see!" he murmured, realization dawning upon him.
Turning swiftly, his gaze locked onto Narasimha's lion-blue face. Within the fierce figure, the Hora-Hora energy swirled and surged, but its spread was slow, contained for the moment within the beast's neck.
To subdue Narasimha, Indra knew more Halahala was needed. More power to tip the balance.
He stretched out his arms, closing his eyes for a brief moment. The energy within him surged, drawing from the very essence of the heavens. The power of Svarga flowed back into him, a tide of divine force rising like a volcano within his chest.
Strength!
Indra could feel it—the invincible power coursing through his veins once more. The joy of this resurgence was overwhelming, bubbling up from within him like molten lava.
"Hahahaha!" Indra laughed, the sound echoing with the promise of victory, his voice a thunderous roar in the face of the storm.
---
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