So it was! A queer situation! In a even Queerer time. Indra was tensed, confused, and afraid. He was having this strange feeling!
'Why me?' 'Why not Varuna, or his boyfriend?' 'Why not Rudra or Vishnu?'
Thoughts like these were floating in his mind. He had a reputation. A reputation of Warrior, Brave and Mighty.
'How can these strange feelings develop in a man's heart?' thought Indra.King of devas, Lord of men, Indra is invictus, never lost, then? he was loosing himself.
"These feelings, are they proper for a man?" He said while drinking soma. "I've destroyed so many cities which came in our way, Conquered the unconquered. Even the great Vrita couldn't stand in front of me. This day, I couldn't stand on myself!"
Indra honor was at stake, or as he thought so! They call him Thunder, what will they call him now? These feelings for Yuvanashva's New born, which had erupted like lava from the volcano heart of his, If expressed he will surely loose his status! Indra was afraid, for the first time. He never thought that his great fear is not any enemy,but something within.
"Why me, why nature has chosen me! Nature?" Indra saddened, " How can this be natural? This never happened before! Then why these new strange feelings are born in my heart?"
This indeed was a new thing, but once everything was a new-thing! And what happened in the world this time is also unique. Never before a man gave birth to a baby. Now Yuvanashva did it. But why Indra has to participate in this strangeness.
"This surely is a work of Brahmins, they can bind us to do what they want." thought Indra " But why they will do this? Is this a revenge for killing brahmin Vrita? Or they do this for amusement? Oh you brahmins of earth listen to Brihaspati your fellow brahmin and amuse yourself with materials on earth and not us!"
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While Indra was having these thoughts, Agni entered,"what happening there?", Indra asked Agni reported,"Yuvanashva came to senses after delivery!"
"and?"
"Its a boy as said the royal doctor"
"Is he healthy?"
"Yes and the same inquired the father. 'He is born of a great person my king' saying this entered royal brahmin' He surely is healthy!' 'But hungry', The doctor said.'And we do not have anything to feed a new born', said brahmin, ' If nothing is arranged, we have to feed him with honey''Had he born of a woman', grieved the doctor ' He surely have got his deserved milk"
Agni was experienced reporter beyond any doubt.
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Listening all this Indra became uneasy.
"No" He shouted, "Nothing matters now" He was furious like Varuna.
"My feeling are genuine, natural, and not imposed!"Indra then wept like Rudra, sobbing he murmured "I've won territories, haven't I Agni! You people respect me and love me as a King, brave and strong. But i'm week Agni! Surely I'm week!"
Agni shouted, "How dare you say that! We believe in you, your are our brave warrior, our great king. Mighty lord! How dare you question our belief!"
Indra smiled, "You say that only because you are unaware of my feelings!"
"What feelings?", inquired Agni for the first time."Leave it", said Indra, " None of it matters now, let us go to Yuvanashva place!"
and so they left
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"Look" Shouted Agni, "They are about to feed boy, stop!"
"who is this?", asked the royal brahmin furiously, "You Agni-deva! How can you come without being ignited (invited)?"
"Sometimes as brahmin myself, I'm self ignited" Answered Agni, further he said "and welcome our lord, Purendra!"
"Welcome lord! what bring you here?" The brahmin doubted.
"Love" replied Indra, turning towards Yuvanashva, lord questioned, " How can you let your child feed like an orphan?"
"I have no choice Lord, I'm not woman enough to produce milk!" excused Yuvanashva.
"But I'm" Saying this Indra, the epitome of manhood took the child in his hand, and put his fingers into the mouth of the baby, "mama dhati" he said.
The doctor was amazed, "Wonderful Nature, see how baby suckle Indra's hand, No need for water or honey or anything, the lord himself has produced milk! Amazing!"
"Indeed amazing", Said Brahmin, " Just now we have seen King giving birth, and now we see Lord feeding him like mother! Wonderful indeed, even what seemed very rare and strange is, let the men know from now, is surely natural"
Agni said, "I do not get who is more satisfied, the baby or the lord. Look at the face of lord! It is glowing like of Soma."
The Lord Indra was looking at baby as he sucked milk. "This indeed is a great feeling" thought the lord, "I don't know why was i so afraid? This feels good. It doesn't matter what world thinks of me! I'm good the way I'm! The truth is I'm true to myself, self alone is truthful!"
Yuvanashva felt awkward, "Brahmin you called Indra 'like mother', while you used 'father' for me. I gave birth to my baby!"
"So you think mother is sweeter a word than father king?" bahmin asked while Indra came out loud, "Think not this king, I'm surely his mother as I've fed him. You surely is his father as you gave birth to him. But a father too feeds his son and mother too gave birth. I here proclaim that I shall ever be known as the one who suckled his baby, Yuvanashva never be embarrassed by this strange incidences for this birth is divine indeed."
"And hence forward the the baby would be called Mandhatri, Hence his name bear the greatness of the lord, the beneficent and ever loving", said Brahmin.
"Jai ho, Prince Mandhatri whose very birth is devine", hailed doctor, "and jai ho Indra, who like God quenched the thirst of baby. You indeed is Quencher and protector"
"Jai ho, Indra-deva, the lord of the devas, the lord of the men, the brave and mighty, thunder, quencher of thirst, protector and loving and ever beneficent", said the brahmin.
"Jai ho, Indra-deva, the lord of the devas, the lord of the men, the brave and mighty, thunder, quencher of thirst, protector and loving and ever beneficent", hailed everyone except Yuvanashva.
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