The
mighty King Bali, conqueror of the three worlds, decided to perform a
grand Rajasuya Yagna on the banks of the Narmada River, in the city
of Mahishmati. The city transformed into a spectacle akin to a Kumbh Mela.
Lords and monarchs from across realms, including Indra—the king of
gods—gathered to witness the ritual. Thousands of merchants, artists, Brahmins,
and citizens thronged the city.
To
accommodate the multitudes, vast forests were cleared. Lavish arrangements were
made for food, shelter, and entertainment. For the amusement of the royals,
hunting expeditions were organized. Thousands of wild animals were slaughtered
for sport and feasting. Even the sacred ritual demanded the sacrifice of
countless innocent creatures.
One
night, as King Bali prepared to sleep in his royal chamber, he heard a voice:
“Your Majesty, grant me refuge. Protect me.”
Startled, the king looked around—no one was visible. He called out, “O unseen spirit, reveal yourself. Fear not, you are under my protection.”
The
voice replied, “I am revealed, O King. I am Microscopic Virus. I am
so subtle, so minute, that your eyes cannot perceive me. I dwell in the bodies
of animals in the forests of Narmada. But your soldiers and guests have hunted
thousands of them. I have no shelter left. If I find a place within the human
body, I shall survive. Humans host thousands of microbes- shall become one of
them.”
Moved, King Bali said, “So be it.”
Microscopic Virus entered the bodies of thousands gathered in Mahishmati. Within days, fever swept through the city. Kings, nobles, and commoners alike fell ill. Thousands perished. The grand yagna remained incomplete. The guests returned to their lands.
Mahishmati
was abandoned. The city of the three-worlds-conqueror lay desolate. King Bali,
defeated not by armies but by a microscopic Virous, fled in fear of death. He
retreated to the netherworld, deep in the southern realms, seeking refuge.
(Deforestation
and changes in land use bring humans closer to wild animals, creating
conditions for viruses like Ebola, HIV, Nipah, Dengue, and Yellow Fever to
spread from forests and make millions of people sick. Together, these viruses
kill millions every year.)
Startled, the king looked around—no one was visible. He called out, “O unseen spirit, reveal yourself. Fear not, you are under my protection.”
Moved, King Bali said, “So be it.”
Microscopic Virus entered the bodies of thousands gathered in Mahishmati. Within days, fever swept through the city. Kings, nobles, and commoners alike fell ill. Thousands perished. The grand yagna remained incomplete. The guests returned to their lands.
