Kalketu Brings Pratapbhanu Back

Pratapbhanu was exhausted, he fell asleep right away. The wicked Muni however, had a lot on his mind , so he sat down to think. Along came Kalketu the rakshas/demon, who was a great friend of his. The two, had conspired to bring down the king, and Kalketu was the one who had disguised himself as a wild boar and misled him.

Kalketu was a conniving rakshas, who had one hundred sons and ten brothers.They all were extremely evil and corrupt, and they had created havoc with the devtas, brahmins and saints. Pratapbhanu was already aware of them, so he had killed them all in war. The rakshas and the fake muni had made this scheme, to get even with the enemy. Due to his destiny, the raja had no clue, he was oblivious to what was going on.

Ripu Tejasi Akel Api Lagu Kari Ganiya Na Tahu

Ajahun Det Dukh Ravi Sasiha Ser Avsechit Rahu

Tulsidas has said here, that a valiant enemy even if he is alone, should be considered formidable, at all times. He gives the example of Rahu (a demonic being, who during the time of the samudra manthan /churning of the ocean, drank poison, and before the poison could go through his body, Vishnu cut off his head. Thus, his head is considered immortal and called Rahu, while the body is called Ketu) whose head alone causes grief to the sun and moon during an eclipse.

The fake muni greeted his rakshas friend happily, and briefed him of the events that had taken place until then. The rakshas assured the fake muni that his work was done and he would take it from there. He would come back to meet him after four days, after annihilating the entire family and kingdom of Pratapbhanu.

The angry rakshas by his powers of illusion, transported the king and his horse back to his palace. He laid the king next to his queen in his sleeping chambers, tied the horse back in his stable, then took the royal cook to a cave in the mountains and left him there. Then, he came back, and posing as the royal cook, went to sleep in his bed.

The king was surprised to wake up in his own bed the next morning. Remembering the fake muni's scheme, he quietly left the room, and rode off with the same horse without letting anyone know. The city rejoiced when he came back in the afternoon.

For Pratapbhanu, three days seemed to be an eternity. Remember the fake muni was supposed to meet him? We shall see what plans he had for the king now!

As I have talked about earlier, Ram Rajya (utopia ) is under our eyes. Everyday, when I write, I feel blessed that I have the Ram Charitra Manas which chalks my path for the day. I find my direction from there. From this story we learn that one must be happy with what one has , and try not to hanker for more. After all, what Pratapbhanu had, andhe had a lot, but he still was not satisfied. What do you think happened to him? Well, we will have to see! Meanwhile, how can we not be fulfilled in Ram Rajya? JAI HO!