Code K

"Did the ship sink?" Samir couldn't help himself but ask.

The Dev chuckled, " The wave large enough to even drown a whale was about to hit the ship. Everyone was horrified, even the animals could feel the sense of crisis they were in. Manu and his family hugged each other as tightly as they could as if it was their last. The wave hit the ship and everyone on deck closed their eyes to meet the doom they expected. However, they didn't feel the jerk they were expecting instead they felt the shaking of the stop. Manu slowly opened his eyes and saw a huge shadow overcasting everybody and the whole ship. He realized after a moment of relief that this shadow belonged to the one whom he had subconsciously prayed to in his last moments and asked for help. This was the shadow of 'Bhagwan Matsya'. Slowly everyone else including the animals opened their eyes an saw a scene so divine that they unconsciously knelt to the ground and clasped their hands in front of the towering and domineering yet the gentle figure with six hand and half a body of fish and the other half that of a human's. After the commotion, Bhagwan Matsya instructed Manu to rest and that he would personally take charge of the huge ship. Then he tied a rope to the ship at one end and his waist at the other end and he started pulling the ship clearly much more faster."

"But which rope could sustain such strain?" Samir asked in clear confusion.

"What else could it be...?" The Dev paused and chuckled afterwards continuing he said something surprising out of nowhere which Samir had not expected to hear at all.

"The rope was 'Shesh Naag'."

With a sound of thud Samir fell down from his seat. Clearly shocked he stuttered, " Yo... You me-an the great snake with infinite heads?"

"Calm down now, it wasn't as if it was done to him forcefully and it was nothing to him. Trust me the story is just going to become wilder afterwards." 

Samir helped himself get up and said, "I need a break."

The Dev just waved his hand and a house appeared before Samir. "Go and rest now and come after recollecting your thoughts."

It was quite understandable for him to feel mentally exhausted. After all, he had just died and after that has learned so much new about everything that his perception had shattered.

After some time he came back and with a determined look said, "Tell me what happened afterwards."

There was a sharpness in his eyes that was not there before.

The Dev with an honest smile resumed the story. " Bhagwan Matsya took the ship to the Himalayan mountains, the highest land there was. The surrounding was not cold and snow as everyone on deck expected but greenery. There were no trees but there was grass growing everywhere. After everyone including the animals lest the ship and set foot on the ground, Bhagwan Matsya started speaking again and instructions came out of his mouth directed at Manu. 'Manu, you've done a great deal of work and have met my expectations. From now on, everything is in your hands. You are the future of humanity. You have to rebuild the civilization from here on out and shoulder this responsibility. I know you are capable and I also know that it is something that only you can do. Manu, my dear follower remember that I am always with you.' After saying that, he disappeared in thin air and Manu fell on his knees crying and saying, 'Yes, my lord. I will everything I can.' And that is how the civilization was reconstructed from the scratch up by Manu, his family and Saptarishis."

After a long pause, Samir said, "Was every avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu incarnated in different forms like Matsya avatar?"

"Yes and no. The avatars of Bhagwan Vishnu also showcases the evolution of lifeforms. From aquatic to terrestrial. So only his first few avatars were animal avatars however others were all human avatars."

"So that's the case. Now then, since the story has finished can you tell me about the things you mentioned before?"

"Yes, so what should I tell you first?"

Samir's eyes sparkled and he quickly said without hesitation. "Then tell me why am I here?"

"That's not something I can tell you for now."

Samir mumbled, "Well, that was worth a shot at the very least even though I expected nothing."

Samir said afterwards after some thought, "Leela. I want to learn what it is?"

"Leela in a nutshell is a divine play/sport played by the divine and mostly Bhagwan Vishnu and his avatars. It's not a casual game of any sorts but a profound teaching that one can only learn after deep contemplation and it's also a profound concept which encompasses the creation, destruction and the cyclical nature of life. Death is not the end but the starting of new life. What is created is destined to perish even the universe and this sacred duty is done by Bhagwan Shiv. Only the Bhagwan are truly imperishable because they are formless and they are not born so they won't die."

"I understand a little but me it's a bit much information however I think I am starting to get a greater picture in my mind. That aside Bhagwan are not born, but are you born if not then doesn't that mean you will also die someday."

"Nope, I won't die. I am immortal. But I was born and just like me Asurs were also born."

"But how are you immortal and what's the story behind your existence?"

"I am not immortal in the sense that you think about, I am not able to die for one Kalpa of time. After that, I and others brothers and sisters of mine will also die. However, Asurs are not immortal."

A smile spread on the Dev's face which he couldn't hide even if he tried.

Samir asked awkwardly with his head lowered, "Umm... Can you tell me once again about how long one Kalpa is?"

"Don't feel embarrassed. One Kalpa is equal to one day of Bhagwan Brahma which is equal to 88.54 million years." The Dev's face remained as still as a lake as if what he just said was something that he said on a daily basis.

"Hehe... hehe." With an awkward laugh Samir's face broke out in a cold sweat.

The Dev just ignored Samir's dumbstruck face and started saying, "Now, Let's start the origin of mine, my race and Asurs."