"Greetings, friends! In the previous part, you witnessed how a pair of birds sacrificed their lives to fulfill the duty of hospitality and save the life of a traveler resting beneath their tree. Now, let’s take the story forward...।"
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Years after that miraculous incident in the forest, one night in Suryapur, the capital of Sauvir Nagar...
An uneasy, heavy silence hung over the palace. From one wing, the faint whimpers of labor pains and the groans of a woman could be heard. A short distance from that chamber, in another room, King Sukarmaditya of Sauvir Nagar was pacing restlessly, his hands clasped behind his back. He would sit down for a moment out of exhaustion, only to rise and resume his anxious pacing.
Suddenly, a maidservant entered through the open door, her face radiant with joy. She chirped, "Victory to the King! Maharaj, the Queen has given birth to a son. Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Hearing such melodious words, the King stood stunned for a moment. Today, after years of waiting, his longing for an heir was fulfilled. Joy was about to burst from his heart, but composing himself, he asked, "And how is the Queen?"
Another visiting maidservant replied, "Victory to the King! The Queen is well, Maharaj! Both the mother and the son are healthy. We pray that they always remain hale and hearty and live a long life. Many congratulations and auspicious wishes to both of you from us and all the subjects, O King!"
Hearing this blessed news from the maidservants, the King’s heart found profound peace. Overwhelmed with emotion, he immediately took off the precious pearl and ruby necklaces he was wearing and gave them to the maidservants as a traditional reward (Neg).
Soon, this joyous news spread throughout the kingdom. Celebrations began across the land to mark the Prince’s birth. On this occasion, the King waived taxes for the public and gratified them with food, clothing, and other gifts so that the Prince could receive the blessings of the subjects. King Sukarmaditya was exceptionally skilled and just; his subjects loved him deeply. Thus, the people celebrated this birth as if a son had been born in their own homes.
When it was time for the naming ceremony, the royal family's Chief Priest named the newborn 'Vikramaditya.' He prophesied that the Prince would be brave, kind, learned, and wise, growing into a successful King endowed with all noble virtues.
Thus, the Prince of Sauvir Nagar grew up playing in the palace. At the appropriate age, the King and Queen sent him to a Gurukul for education and arms training. There, he acquired complete knowledge of scriptures and weaponry from the gurus. Due to his sharp intellect, simple demeanor, and bravery, he became a beloved student of the teachers and a favorite friend among his peers.
In the Gurukul, Prince Vikramaditya befriended Dhruvdev, the son of his own kingdom’s minister. Their friendship was like a body and its shadow. The two friends studied, played, ate, and lived together. Prince Vikramaditya had absolute love and trust in his friend. They knew each other’s hearts and were always there to help.
After several years of completing their education at the Gurukul, the Prince returned to the palace with his friend and began learning administrative skills under his father’s guidance. King Sukarmaditya, along with his ministers and kinsmen, began teaching his son the virtues of policy and governance, in which Dhruvdev was also included. The King, the Prince, and everyone else saw in Dhruvdev the image of a future minister.
One day, the King and Queen were sitting in their private chamber when Prince Vikramaditya entered after seeking permission. The Prince greeted his parents and sat down after receiving their blessings and consent.
The Queen, embracing her dear son, said with a smile, "What sudden necessity has brought our extremely busy son to us today? You have started remaining even busier than your father."
Before the Prince could say anything, the King spoke up, "Son, this arrow of sarcasm was aimed directly at me." Then both father and son laughed.
The Queen also looked at her husband from the corner of her eye with a smile but said nothing. The King said, "My Queen, it is I who summoned the Prince here. In fact, he himself does not know why he is here."
Vikramaditya also said with hesitation, "Mother, I meet you every day... it’s just that due to lack of time, the three of us don’t get to sit together for long. What can we do? Our royal responsibilities are such."
A sense of satisfaction at their son’s sense of duty reflected on the faces of the King and Queen. The King said with a smile, "Son, your words are true, and we both understand this. Your mother was just taking the opportunity to tease you." Seeing his mother smiling, the Prince smiled too.
The King said, "Son, I have thought of an essential task for you, which you must undertake as my command. Beyond the weight of the necklace and the crown, you must recognize the scent of your own soil, my son."
Vikramaditya said, "Certainly father, tell me what I must do?"
The King said, "You must live in the kingdom in disguise, remaining unknown, and find out for me the needs of the subjects and their joys and sorrows." (Hearing this, the Queen was about to say something, but the King gestured for her to remain silent). The King continued, "During this time, you will live as an ordinary citizen in the nearby and remote provinces of the kingdom and send me information from there. I have chosen some extremely trustworthy people for the exchange of information. So, tell me, will you do this for me?"
Vikramaditya said with a happy heart, "Of course, this is a very interesting and exciting task! I will certainly do it, but I have one request."
The King said with a smile, "I know, you want to take your friend Dhruvdev with you."
Vikramaditya smiled and said, "Yes, do I have permission for that?"
The King said, "Son, come here tomorrow with your friend after making the necessary preparations. I want to take a small test of Dhruvdev; then you may take him along. And yes, remember that this entire plan is confidential."
Vikramaditya said, "As you wish, father! May I go now? I have planned a boat ride in the lake with my friends; they must be waiting."
"Certainly son, you may go now," the King said.
Vikramaditya greeted his parents and left.
'To be continued...'
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Coming up next: What 'unique trial' does Maharaja Sukarmaditya have in store for Dhruvdev? Will Dhruvdev be able to overcome this mysterious challenge? And why exactly did the King choose this difficult path of a commoner's life for his son, forsaking all royal comforts? Find out in the next exciting chapter of 'Suvarna'!
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