Chapter 35: Chapter 35 There is an imposter among us
The Devas assembled in an orderly line, their presence exuding divine grace. Yama, the god of death; Vishwakarma, the celestial architect and patron of craftsmen; and Bhumi, the Earth Goddess, each approached in turn. With reverent hands, they poured and held golden bowls brimming with Amrita, the elixir of immortality, its crystalline liquid flowing like a pristine spring.
Standing nearby, the Gandharvas Chitraratha and Tumburu began to hum a melodious tune, their voices weaving an ethereal harmony. The Apsaras Menaka, Rambha, and Urvashi danced lightly to the rhythm, their movements were as fluid as the Amrita itself.
As the Devas raised their heads and drank deeply from the sacred nectar, their expressions transformed into ones of awe and renewal.
"The power of Amrita courses through my very being!" exclaimed Kubera, the god of wealth and the king of the Yakshas—nature spirits.
"So warm, so comforting!" remarked Agni his face glowing with blissful contentment.
"I feel stronger than ever!" declared Vayu his voice vibrant with newfound vitality, as the divine essence invigorated his spirit.
The Gandharvas' music swelled, and the Apsaras twirled gracefully, their performance adding to the celestial celebration of rejuvenation and divine harmony.
...
The residents of Svargaloka intoxicated by the power of the immortal Amrita, couldn't help but revel in its effects. Amidst the celebration, Svarbhanu, disguised as a Gandharva, blended into the Svarga's legions. From his vantage point, he looked at the endlessly long line, which stretched so far it made him uneasy.
What frustrated him further were the beautiful goddesses, who occasionally joined the queue, gliding past the Gandharvas with grace.
Svarbhanu watched the line grow longer and longer, his place consistently at the back. His face darkened as a sense of boredom crept in.
"How long will this take?" he muttered. "At this rate, it could take years. I need to find a way out of this."
As he pondered, his eyes caught sight of a goddess in a flowing white dress, passing by numerous Gandharvas. Her elegance left only the memory of her graceful back.
"Who is she?" Svarbhanu wondered, his interest piqued.
The Gandharva standing nearby, eager to show off, replied with pride, "Don't you recognize her? That is Yami, the daughter of Surya, twin sister to Yama, the god of death. She's also the goddess of the Yamuna River."
Svarbhanu's eyes gleamed. He smirked slightly, his hand brushing his beard as he admired Yami's figure.
As a member of the Danava clan, Svarbhanu wasn't as skilled in combat as the Daitya clan's generals. However, his mastery of the Maya far surpassed that of most Asuras. It was this power that had allowed him to slip so seamlessly into the Svarga's army.
"It's time to show my true power," Svarbhanu thought to himself, feeling a surge of confidence.
Without a second glance at the queue, he turned away and strode out of the line, snorting in disdain.
"Only a fool would wait in this endless line. There's a better way, and I'm going to show them how it's done."
Making his way to a secluded corner of Amravati City, Svarbhanu twisted his neck and turned sharply. The magic of Maya began to swirl around him, his true powers coming to life.
In the blink of an eye, the imposing Gandharva warrior vanished, replaced by a serene goddess in a white dress. Her face, strikingly beautiful, was identical to Yami's.
"Devas will never see this coming!" Svarbhanu chuckled to himself, pleased with his disguise.
With a swift motion, he soared into the air, heading straight for the Devas' banquet.
Whoosh!
Svarbhanu moved quickly, eager to drink the Amrita before Yami could. As he flew past the endless line of Gandharvas, he couldn't help but smirk at their unawareness, twitching the corners of his mouth in amusement.
Hum!
Svarbhanu accelerated toward the temple where the Devas were drinking the Amrita. Below, a group of Gandharvas stood idly, watching the festivities from afar, until their calm was broken by a sudden outburst.
"Did you see that? Goddess Yami just looked at me and smiled!" said Vishvavasu, his tone brimming with excitement.
"What? No way! That smile was meant for me!" Chitraratha shot back, crossing his arms indignantly.
"Wait a minute... Didn't Yami just pass by here heading in that direction?" Tumburu interjected, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Why is she now coming from the same way again?"
"Really? You must be mistaken!" Suruchi replied, shaking his head as if dismissing the notion.
"Yeah, you've got it wrong! Yami smiled, and it was at me!" Chitraratha exclaimed with certainty, his chest puffing out proudly.
In an instant, the gathering of Gandharvas dissolved into a chaotic chorus of overlapping voices, each one adamantly convinced that Yami's ethereal smile had been directed at them. Their usual melodious harmony was nowhere to be found, replaced instead by a cacophony of bickering that echoed through the Svarga.
...
As the Devas drank the Amrita, Svarbhanu, disguised as Yamuna, finally arrived at the temple where the divine nectar was shared. He landed in front of the temple, taking a moment to look around curiously before striding confidently inside.
At that moment, Soma was seated, enjoying the Amrita. His eyes immediately fell on 'Yamuna.'
The goddess before him had a youthful glow, exuding vitality and grace. She walked with an air of confidence, her white skirt fluttering with each step, revealing her ankles, as pale as ice, and her slender, snow-white thighs. This appearance was in stark contrast to the usual coldness she radiated.
"She's stunning!" Soma thought to himself. "Yama's sister is truly beautiful!"
Soma's eyes gleamed with interest. He had always been drawn to beauty, especially when it came to women he couldn't attain. Among such women, he had a particular fondness for those who were both gorgeous and unattainable. For instance, he had long admired Brihaspati's wife, Tara, for her elegance, wishing to soothe her loneliness and dispel her coldness beneath the moonlight.
After all, Tara's husband spent most of his time in solitude, following the King of Svarga instead of being with his wife. Soma had yet to find an opportunity with her, but now, the sight of Yamuna filled him with new desire.
"I like what I see!" Soma thought with a grin. "I heard Yama often argues with Yamuna about her free-spirited nature. I wonder if there's a chance for me..."
Nearby, Surya also spotted the 'Yamuna' figure and frowned, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Yama, keep an eye on your sister," Surya muttered under his breath.
Yama, noticing the 'Yamuna' before him, shook his head in disapproval. He wasn't surprised by the scene—if anything, it confirmed his earlier concerns.
"She always does what she wants," Yama muttered under his breath. "Father never says a word to her. Girls are always favored by their fathers, aren't they? No matter what she does, Father only sees her charm. But if I step out of line even once..."
He pulled a sour face and turned away, ignoring Surya, leaving the latter speechless. Surya rose to his feet, his golden armor catching the light and glowing with divine radiance. His face, handsome yet unyieldingly stern, betrayed no flicker of emotion as he strode purposefully toward the 'Yamuna'.
As he drew closer, Surya's sharp eyes began to notice discrepancies—subtle at first, but undeniable. The light that should have surrounded Yamuna's form lacked her characteristic warmth and purity. Her gait, her aura, her very presence felt…off.
Yama, now glancing sideways, also began to scrutinize the figure he had avoided. His frown deepened. "This isn't her," he muttered, his voice cold and steady.
Meanwhile, Svarbhanu, hidden behind his illusion, felt a surge of excitement. His Maya powers were so potent that even the Devas of Svarga could not detect a single flaw in his disguise or halt his plans.
Amrita—he was almost there.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation as the wind swept beneath his feet, carrying him swiftly past many Devas. His thighs moved so quickly that he nearly tore off the long skirt hindering his progress.
"Devi Yamuna, you're finally here!" Soma greeted with a faint smile. The cold silver light of his armor shimmered, and a hint of concern flickered across his handsome face.
"Mmm!" 'Yamuna' hummed softly, gazing directly at Soma with an intense stare. "It's my turn."
"Of course!" Soma replied, gently pushing aside the beautiful goddess who had been waiting eagerly. He took Yamuna's hand and turned to reveal a glittering golden pot on the divine table.
But just as they were about to partake, a sharp voice rang out.
"Soma!"
Soma's eyes narrowed as he reluctantly released 'Yamuna's' hand.
Svarbhanu, disguised as Yamuna, glanced longingly at the Amrita. He took a step forward, but just as his hand reached out, a strong, fiery-hot grip seized his wrist.
"Daughter!" Surya's voice boomed.
Svarbhanu, frozen in place, tried to pull away but found himself unable to budge against the powerful grip of the Sun Deva.
"Yamuna, what are you doing?" Surya demanded, pulling 'Yamuna' in front of him and glaring at his daughter.
A heavy silence fell over the temple, and all eyes turned toward the confrontation. The air was thick with tension, and the atmosphere was charged with confusion and suspicion.
Then, a deep, joyful laugh echoed from outside the temple.
The Devas turned in unison.
Indra stood grinning, his presence commanding attention. Beside him, a beautiful goddess in a white dress raised her hands, covering her pink lips with a smile of infatuation, clearly delighted by their conversation.
"Yamuna?!" Surya gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The temple fell silent again as several pairs of eyes exchanged puzzled glances.
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