Vetal and Vikram: Vetal’s last flight

Vikram, I will let you go—but before that, you must answer my question.

"Vikram, who is responsible for the pollution that has spread everywhere on Earth? You know the truth, and if you fail to tell it, a thousand pieces will fly from your head".

Vikram replied, “Vetal, pollution spreads because of human-made waste, plastic, petrol fumes, and so on. Since humans create these things, humankind alone is responsible.”

Vetal chuckled softly. “Vikram, your answer is true.” Saying this, he shot into the sky, but no matter how far he flew, he could not spot a single tree.

Exhausted and defeated, Vetal finally clung to an electric pole. A fierce 440-volt current surged through him. Vetal crashed to the ground with a thud. He found release.

And Vikram? He remained alive - to languish and die slowly in the hell of pollution.

 * Vetal means Ghost, evil spirit 

Govardhan: The Protector of Brij

 

Clad in emerald garments, Mount Govardhan stood with its head held high against the sky. Lush meadows stretched all the way to the distant Yamuna. At its foothills lay many lotus-laden lakes; the beautiful land of Braj was adorned with cranes, ducks, swans, and wondrous birds, as well as deer, tigers, and a host of wild creatures.

Along the Yamuna’s banks, groves thick with kadamba, mango, guava, and myriad other plants and trees made leafy bowers. One day, herdsmen came into this region with their cows, buffaloes, and goats. As humans do, they felled trees to build and to burn—but they planted none in return. In a short time Mount Govardhan was stripped of vegetation; only soil and stones remained. With each monsoon, landslides began. The lakes at Govardhan’s base silted up with mud and rock. The bowers along the Yamuna vanished. The wild creatures too departed from Braj.

One day a storm came: clouds roared and a terrible rain fell. The Yamuna swelled in flood, with no trees along her banks to hold her back. Her waters entered the villages. Elsewhere, the treeless slopes of Govardhan crumbled. A torrent of mud surged down into the settlements. Hundreds of homes were leveled. Hundreds of herdsmen and thousands of animals were carried away. All believed it was the wrath of Lord Indra. They resolved to conduct a sacrifice to appease him. But Shri Krishna opposed the rite.

Krishna said, “This calamity has come upon us through our own folly. We ourselves destroyed the trees and plants on Mount Govardhan and along the Yamuna’s banks. We forgot that Govardhan is our guardian. Had we not been blinded by selfishness and acted foolishly, this terrible rain would not have harmed us so. We must restore Govardhan to his former glory.” The herdsmen accepted Krishna’s counsel. Under his leadership, they planted trees again upon the mountain. They revived the lakes at its base. Moreover, Krishna caused ninety-nine lakes to be made. Along the Yamuna he had thousands of trees planted, reweaving the groves.

Time passed. Braj once more grew rich in greenery. Wild creatures—beasts and birds—returned. One day another fierce rain came, but this time no muddy flood followed. The hundreds of ponds across the land gathered and held the rain. The trees along the Yamuna gentled the force of the flood. The herdsmen and their animals were safe. Mount Govardhan guarded Braj.

Krishna showed the world the way: when we protect nature, nature protects us. To keep nature safe, our sages endowed mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests with divinity. Today we have grown selfish; for petty gains we are destroying nature. The result: terrible floods, collapsing hills, thousands perishing. If we would save humankind, we must again follow the path Krishna showed.

The Reflection

 

“You are my soulmate across lifetimes. I simply cannot live without you.   “I can’t breathe without you. That’s how deep my love runs.” Saying this, he hung up the phone with a soft “Love you.”

 “Ha! Ha! Ha!”

The reflection in the mirror burst into mocking laughter.

 “What a liar you are, you vile demon. How many women’s lives will you ruin?”

“Who asked you to interfere? Stay quiet.”

“Wretched man, it’s in my nature to reveal your true face.”

“Oh, King *Harishchandra the truth-teller, your ranting is beyond my tolerance now. Time to deal with you.”

Smash!

In an instant, the reflection shattered into pieces.

He looked down.

There, lying in a pool of blood, was the man within him.

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* Raja Harishchandra was a legendary king renowned for his unwavering commitment to truth and virtue—even sacrificing his kingdom, family, and freedom to uphold a promise and remain truthful.

When Paradise Eats the Planet

 

Uneducated and the fool Kalidasa sat on a tree branch, hacking away at its trunk with their axes. A sage passing by warned Kalidasa, “Fool, the moment this tree falls, you will fall with it—and perhaps perish alongside it.” Convinced by the sage’s words, Kalidasa climbed down. He would later become a great scholar and writer. Kalidasa, in his literary works, beautifully described the love between humans and animals, birds, creatures, and trees and flowers. He portrayed the splendor of nature with vivid elegance.

Today’s Yayati sought to taste the bliss of heaven right here on earth. He built a house of cement and concrete and filled it with wooden furniture, cupboards, and paneling. Every amenity—air conditioner, microwave, refrigerator, television, washing machine, computer—ran on electricity. A petrol-powered car waited in his garage. Yayati believed himself almighty, and for sport he hunted the forest’s creatures until they vanished from the land.

To satisfy his every craving, he stripped forests bare, gouged deep into the earth, and wounded her to extract vast mineral wealth. He mined coal by the ton for power and drew petrol from the earth’s blood to fuel his vehicles. The air grew foul, the water toxic, and disease spread unchecked. Instead of heavenly joy, Yayati now suffers hellish torment.

 In desperation, Yayati sought refuge with the sages. They told him, “Yayati, liberation from this torment demands that you honour the right to life of every creature—animals, birds, plants, and trees alike. Cease drinking the earth’s blood and wounding her body. Nothing less will free you from your suffering.”

 The question remains: will Yayati heed their counsel, or will he, driven by his lust for paradise, continue to endure the pains of hell?

---

 

*Yayati is a king from the ancient epic Mahabharata who once craved the pleasures of heaven during his lifetime. His desires knew no bounds until he finally awakened to the truth, renounced all worldly pleasures, and embraced the life of an ascetic.

 

Short Story: The Peepal Tree and the Suicidal Boy

He had failed his 12th-grade exams once again.

“A boy who can’t even pass his 12th—what’s he going to do in life? How long are we supposed to feed you for free? Whether you live or die, it’s all the same to us!”

His father’s harsh words kept piercing his heart. Thoughts swirled in his mind—I can’t even pass a simple exam. My life is useless. If I die, at least there will be one less mouth to feed at home.

He decided to end his life.

Near the village was a cliff where prisoners were once executed by being pushed off. When he reached the edge, he looked down to make sure a jump from there would be fatal. But what was this? Just below the cliff, between two cracks in the rocks, a small peepal tree was growing.

Its roots clung tightly to the stones, anchoring themselves without soil or water. Yet, the tree stood tall and swayed gracefully in the wind, defying gravity.

What if I jump and get caught in the branches of this tree? he wondered. But then another thought struck him—There’s no soil here, no water, just a crack between rocks—and yet this tree survives. It never complained about not having enough support and never gave up on life. It found its way even in the harshest conditions.

I have a roof over my head and food to eat. Am I really thinking of dying just because I failed an exam?

He realized that like the peepal tree, he too would surely find a way to live and thrive. Pushing away thoughts of suicide, he returned home, ready to start life afresh with new determination and hope.

Short Story: The Fragrance of Jasmine Flowers

 

Short Story: The Fragrance of Jasmine Flowers

He was standing, waiting for the bus. She stood beside him, wearing a garland of jasmine flowers in her hair. A gentle drizzle had begun.

Suddenly—BOOM!—lightning struck with a loud crack.

"O! God!" she gasped and instinctively clung to him—just for a moment.

"Sorry, hmm!" she said quickly, stepping away. Just then, her bus arrived. She glanced at him once before boarding.

He stood there, stunned, watching her go. She left, taking his heart with her—leaving behind her touch, the scent of her body, and the lingering fragrance of jasmine flowers.

The hands of time in his life froze at that moment. Even today, whenever the clouds roar and lightning flashes in the monsoon, at that same bus stop, you will find an old man… holding a garland of jasmine flowers in his hand waiting for her ...never ending waiting......

Hundred-Word Story: The Purpose of Life

 

Forgetting thirst, hunger, and sleep, he walked on, lost in his own trance. Many travelers crossed his path, but he took none along. He did not rest for even a moment. Alone, he marched on with determination along the endless road.

At last, the sun began to set. His body grew weary, his eyes heavy. He could walk no further. He asked himself, I have been walking since morning, yet why haven’t I reached my goal? Did I make a mistake?

For a moment, he opened his eyes—the whole world was bathed in golden hues. The eternal celebration of sunset continued. As he took his final breath, he realized—the purpose of life is to walk the endless road, scattering golden hues of joy along the way.

Snakebite - Two Short Stories

 

First Story:

The king’s soldiers captured a venomous serpent that had taken the lives of many citizens in the kingdom. The soldiers asked for the king’s command:

"Maharaj, what should be done with this venomous serpent?"

The king promptly ordered, "There is no need to think—crush it to death!"

Without delay, the soldiers killed the serpent.

Second Story:

The king’s soldiers captured a venomous serpent that had been responsible for the deaths of many citizens. They awaited the king’s command:

"Maharaj, what should be done with this venomous serpent?"

Instead of making a hasty decision, the king sought advice from his ministers.

First Minister’s Advice:

"Maharaj, without any second thoughts, this venomous serpent must be killed. If it is released, it will bite again and endanger the lives of more citizens. If left alive, more serpents from the nearby jungle will invade the city and threaten the people."

Second Minister’s Advice:

"Maharaj, we must also consider the serpent’s side. A serpent is venomous by nature, and its bite is deadly. However, we are civilized humans. 'An eye for an eye' is not our principle. Whether it is a citizen or a serpent, both deserve justice. Taking its life without deeper thought would be unfair."

The king found the second minister’s reasoning convincing and decided to consult a committee of esteemed citizens. The committee consisted of highly intelligent, progressive, and multi-talented individuals.

The committee of esteemed citizens advised the king:

"Maharaj, a serpent is venomous by nature, and biting is its instinct. It bit people simply because of its nature, not out of malice. Since its bite is poisonous, people died, but how can the serpent be blamed for that? Sentencing it to death would be unjust. Instead of killing the serpent, we recommend keeping it in a golden cage and offering it milk as an offering every Nag Panchami. This way, it will not escape or pose a threat."

The king agreed with the committee’s advice and spared the serpent’s life. He had the serpent placed in a golden cage and began offering it milk every year on Nag Panchami.

However, one Nag Panchami, while the king was offering milk to the serpent, it bit him, and the king died from the venom.

he Question:

Who was responsible for the king’s death?

Was it the serpent or the committee of esteemed citizens?

The sage Swami Trikaldarshi said:

"Whoever can answer this question correctly will never die from a serpent's bite."

Bhagiratha’s Solar Disc

Long ago, King Bhagiratha of the Ikshvaku dynasty ruled the earth. One day, a demon named Halahal emerged from the netherworld and appeared before the people. He tempted them with the promise of comfort, wealth, and power, and they fell into his trap without realizing it.

Halahal bestowed lightning upon humankind but poisoned the air. Thousands grew sick from the toxic fumes, and multitudes perished. Seeing his people suffer, Bhagiratha resolved to defeat the demon, yet all his celestial weapons proved useless against Halahal’s dark might.

At last, Bhagiratha turned to the god of the sun, offering unwavering devotion. Pleased by his worship, the sun god granted him a radiant solar disc. With this divine weapon, Bhagiratha cleansed the poisoned air and vanquished Halahal, who fled back into the depths of the netherworld, subdued once more.