King of Devas

"I have no idea. Maybe in the Amaravati or the Mahasabha of the King of Svarga?"

"With so many places in Svarga needing reconstruction and entire palaces being relocated from Brahmaloka, I have no clue where anything is right now."

Surya shook his head, clearly uncertain.

Though the Asura palaces were not slated for destruction, relocating them was proving to be a monumental task. The Deva palaces also had to be returned from Brahmaloka, not to mention the construction of new residences for the incoming Gandharvas.

So much to be done. Chaos was inevitable.

"For now, let's check the Temple of the King of Svarga first," Garuda suggested.

As they made their way through Svarga, the city was teeming with movement. Gandharvas, in numbers too great to count, bustled in every direction, as busy as a swarming beehive.

"Pranam to Suryadev!"

"Pranam to Garuda!"

One after another, voices rang out in greeting. The Gandharvas momentarily paused in their work, bowing in respect before resuming their tasks.

Surya and Garuda gave them a brief nod and continued onward, soaring through the celestial realm toward the heart of Amaravati.

Before long, they arrived.

But…

"…He's not here?"

Garuda muttered under his breath, his keen eyes scanning the temple grounds.

Under the guidance of the Devis, they entered the sacred hall, only to find it filled with bustling Devis and Gandharvas, all deep in their duties. Yet the one presence they sought was missing.

Indra was nowhere to be seen. So much for that.

Garuda felt a strange mix of emotions. Was he relieved at not having to face Indra today? Or was he disappointed that his task as a Deva remained unfinished?

"Well… should we head back?" Surya asked, his tone cautious.

Garuda exhaled through his nose and gave a small nod. "Yeah."

Without another word, the two ascended into the skies and flew away.

Their speed was swift, the golden expanse of Svarga stretching endlessly beneath them. As they flew, a new sound rose in the distance.

A hymn. Loud and powerful, it carried through the air, thick with reverence and majesty.

Surya and Garuda exchanged glances before turning their gazes forward.

A massive group of Gandharvas filled the temple grounds below, swarming like ants as they worked in perfect harmony.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

They moved in unison, carrying colossal sacred pillars, each step steady and precise, creating a rhythmic, thunderous beat.

The sight was breathtaking. The reconstruction of Svarga was in full swing—alive with divine energy, brimming with purpose.

Their faces lit up with awe, their eyes drawn instinctively—almost magnetically—to a single figure standing amidst the grand reconstruction.

A towering presence.

Golden-skinned, radiant as the very sun, he exuded an aura of sheer majesty.

His upper body was bare, his luminous skin glistening under the celestial light, revealing veins knotted and coiled like the great Nāga King himself. Upon his broad, unwavering shoulders, he bore an enormous sacred pillar, striding forward with unshakable purpose.

Every step was measured, deliberate, yet with each footfall, it felt as if the svarga itself trembled.

It was him.

Indra.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A heartbeat, strong and thunderous, reverberated through the gathered Gandharvas, igniting their spirits with fervor.

"The awaited return! The divine body, awe-inspiring!"

"King of Kings! Indra!"

"O Indra!"

The Gandharvas chanted, their voices brimming with reverence. Their hymn, powerful and unyielding, spread across Svarga, filling the air with sacred energy. Many among them, fueled by this celestial song, found themselves reinvigorated, their strength surging anew.

Above, Surya and Garuda watched intently, their eyes locked onto the figure below.

A single name burned in their minds.

"Indra."

"O Indra!"

Their gazes crackled with intensity as if lightning itself flashed within them. Thunder rumbled in their chests, a primal reaction to the sight before them.

Boom! Boom!

A new wave of Pranam arose, voices echoing like rolling storms.

"O wielder of the mighty Vajra, slayer of Hayagriva!"

"He who revels in the flowing Soma—Indra, the unconquerable!"

"Son of Aditi, resplendent one!"

"Aditiya! Aditya!"

"By his command, the clouds tremble and the rain surges!"

"Indra, the sovereign of the Devas, the lord of unyielding might!"

Within this hymn of praise, Indra moved forward, his golden hair billowing, a bright smile playing across his face.

Carrying the colossal pillar with effortless grace, he reached the temple's foundation.

Boom!

He dropped one end of the massive column into place, the earth beneath shuddering from the sheer force of impact.

His expression was resolute.

His golden arms, thick and veined like entwined Nāgas, shimmered under the divine light of Svarga. Sweat, like molten gold, traced rivulets down his muscled form as he braced himself.

The chanting continued, voices blending into a celestial chorus:

"The radiant splendor of the Vajra-wielding lord, his will indomitable!"

"His battle cry resounds through the heavens, filling the hearts of warriors with valor!"

"Unmatched is the divine might of Indra, King of Svarga!"

"A cosmic force that draws the gaze of the three worlds!"

"Hail! Like the sovereign of the universe, enthroned upon the eternal seat of Rta—"

"Hail! Like the celestial benefactor, bestowing rain and prosperity upon all beings!"

Indra pressed his hands firmly against the pillar. His golden arms, radiating limitless divine energy, tensed as he began to push forward, securing the sacred column into its place.

A roar of power filled the air.

The hymn of Svarga continued.

Ga~

The sacred pillar scraped against the temple's foundation, releasing a deep, resonant growl that echoed through the heavens. The vibrations rippled across the grand structure, a testament to the sheer weight of divine craftsmanship.

And still, the Pranam continued.

"O wielder of the thunderous Vajra, O drinker of the sacred Soma!"

"Unconquerable is the King of the Devas, the mighty Indra!"

"Hail Indra, slayer of Hayagriva!"

"Hail Indra, lord of celestial thunder!"

Boom!

The pillar settled into place, standing tall, piercing toward the sky like a celestial spear.

Indra exhaled lightly, his lips curling into a triumphant smirk. Hands resting confidently on his waist, he surveyed the Gandharvas bustling around him, their movements precise, their spirits burning with renewed energy.

For him, this was no test of strength, not even a warm-up.

Still, there was something oddly satisfying about the labor. The rhythm of construction, devotion, and power intertwine in harmony. The grand halls of Svarga would rise once more, faster than before.

And in the process, he could feel something stirring within him.

The tapas, the fruit of his penance, growing, deepening, compounding.

"Multiple gains with a single effort. Not bad." Indra stretched his arms, golden muscles flexing under the divine light, then turned toward the remaining pillars.

"Let's keep going!"

He took a step forward, prepared to lift another column.

"Indra!"

A familiar voice rang out, cutting through the air.

Indra paused, his eyes narrowing slightly before he turned his head.

There, just beyond the temple grounds, Surya stood—his radiant aura unmistakable. Beside him, wings outstretched, hovered Garuda, the celestial eagle, his keen gaze locked onto Indra.

Garuda?

Indra tilted his head, clapped the dust off his hands, and strode toward them with easy confidence.

"Pranam to the King of Svarga!"

Garuda clasped his hands together and bowed slightly, his tone laced with both reverence and urgency.

He had expected to find Indra in deep meditation, pushing himself through another cycle of ascetic discipline. But here he was building temples alongside the Gandharvas.

It was unexpected. Perhaps even admirable.

The King of Svarga is compassionate, but unshaken in duty.

Still, Garuda hesitated. This situation… it almost made his task feel trivial in comparison.

Indra studied him for a moment, then smirked. "Didn't see you in Vaikuntha last time. I figured you had taken up penance yourself."

Hands still on his waist, Indra eyed him with amusement.

The last time they met, Garuda had left under less-than-pleasant circumstances, avoiding Indra's presence entirely after receiving his ire. And now, here he was, approaching on his own accord?

"So? What trouble brings you here this time?"

Garuda shifted, glancing around briefly before exhaling.

Truthfully, he hadn't expected the great King of Svarga to be this… approachable.

He could still see the divine power crackling beneath Indra's skin, but there was an ease to him—an acceptance of the work at hand, a presence that was both commanding and oddly serene.

Still, no time to dwell on it. He straightened his posture.

"I've come to Svarga on a mission from the Devi Lakshmi herself," Garuda said in a firm voice. "And for the Lord."

Indra's brows lifted slightly.

Devi Lakshmi? Not a messenger for Vishnu?

A flicker of curiosity crossed his face. Devi Lakshmi rarely sent messengers without a reason. What could be so urgent? Indra crossed his arms, eyes gleaming with interest.

"Go on."

Garuda inhaled.

"The matter is like this..."

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Author's Note: Most of the hymns in this scene are either taken directly from the Rigveda or heavily inspired by it. References like Indra's might, his thunderbolt (Vajra), and his drinking of Soma are all Vedic in origin. The mention of Hayagriva, though, is a necessary addition to safeguard the continuity.

In this context, Soma does not refer to Soma Deva, who is also known as Chandra, the moon god. Instead, it refers to the Soma drink, a sacred, divine elixir described in the Rigveda. This drink was offered during yajnas (rituals) and consumed by Devas, especially Indra, to gain strength and divine ecstasy.

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