Brahma's ancient brows furrowed slightly, revealing his concern, "Indra is leaned in his penance now; Vishnu may be anxious!"
"Why is that?"
Goddess Saraswati tilted her head, a trace of doubt flashing in her bright eyes. Vishnu is the protector of the cosmic order and one of the Trimurti. Even if the King of Svarga is undergoing penance, it shouldn't concern Vishnu.
Brahma shook his head and exchanged a knowing glance with his wife, his eyes glinting with wisdom, "Don't forget the curse of Sage Durvasa!"
Upon hearing this, Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, immediately grasped the situation. She gazed beyond space and time from the Brahmaloka to Vaikuntha. Sure enough, on the Serpent of Eternity, Sheshnaga, the divine bed that supports the Vishnu appeared to be missing a figure beside him.
"I understand now; his wife, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and auspiciousness, has vanished. The Sage cursed the gods to lose their wealth and luxury, and as a symbol of wealth, Lakshmi's absence also impacts Vishnu."
Goddess Saraswati clutched her veena and suddenly realized the full extent of the issue.
Brahma nodded in agreement, "The Trimurti cannot intervene in the universe directly, as this would disrupt the universe's balance or might destroy the universe. It is contrary to the responsibilities of a protector. He can only leave if there is sufficient Karma, which requires King Indra and the other devas to ask him to help them. But now the King of Svarga is deeply engrossed in his penance..."
"Vishnu must be quite distressed!"
A knowing smirk played at the edges of Saraswati's lips. "Why do I get the feeling you're gloating?"
Brahma's eyes flickered as he tried to feign innocence, but he was caught red-handed by his wife. "Gloating? Me? No, no, you must be mistaken!"
Caught by her discerning glance, Brahma finally turned his head, rolling his eyes as he looked away and muttered, "It's just… karma, after all."
…
Above the endless cosmic ocean lies the Kshira Sagara—the cosmic womb from which creation is constantly regenerated, maintained, and protected. It is also the home of one of Trimurti's Lord Vishnu Vaikuntha.
Serpent of Eternity, King Shesha is coiled, his immense body stretching billions of miles into the ocean. As a bed for Vishnu, the protector of the world, he bears the weight of his divine lord.
At this moment, Shesha, the king of the thousand-headed snakes, flicked his tongue in agitation. His tail stirred helplessly, creating huge waves, while his thousand heads anxiously turned to gaze at Lord Vishnu.
"Bhagavan, why did the Devi suddenly disappear?" Shesha inquired.
"Don't worry!"
Vishnu lay on his side atop the giant serpent, a faint smile gracing his lips. He was in no hurry—not at all! He understood that the goddess of wealth had been affected by the curse and had sunk into the Krishi Sagar. However, the curse was cast with the power of penance, which he could not break forcefully.
The only solution for now was to empower the Devas once more. As the protector of the world, he knew exactly how to restore their strength. He had already devised a plan, which he reviewed in his mind several times:
Churning the Kshira Sagara!
Affected by the Rishi Durvasa's curse, many treasures had returned to the Cosmic Ocean. He would summon the Devas and instruct them to churn the ocean to extract the divine treasures transformed by its power.
Indra, the King of Svarga, was currently engaged in penance; surely he would come to find him soon. No need to rush!
Vishnu understood Indra all too well. The king was proud and arrogant, outwardly brave yet inwardly paranoid of Asuras.
The most important thing to remember is that those who are accustomed to enjoying luxuries often find it unbearable to endure hardship. When Indra's struggles become too great to bear, he will naturally seek his help; all Vishnu has to do is wait.
Vishnu smiled, resting his chin on one hand, and slowly closed his eyes, lying on his side to sleep.
Seeing that Lord Vishnu remained unhurried, Shesha felt a sense of relief, "The Lord has a plan in his heart. Perhaps this is part of the Lord's Lila!"
Lila refers to divine play. All things and phenomena lie within the grasp of the Trimurti. The disappearance of the Devil Lakshmi may simply be the Lord's Lila, a playful interlude to bring about a reunion after a long separation.
As Shesha contemplated this, the anxious movements of his tail, which had been thrashing in the sea of milk, gradually settled into stillness.
...
Vishnu yawned slowly, his lotus-like eyes gradually opening to gaze at the vast ocean of milk. "Shesha! How many years have I slept?" he asked.
"Bhagwan, you have been sleeping for five hundred years!" Shesha lowered his snake head and replied.
To the gods, time holds little value, and five hundred years is nothing more than a brief nap. But…
"Five hundred years…" Vishnu blinked, musing to himself before asking, "Has Indra not come?"
"No!" Shesha's thousand heads shook in response. "Indra really hasn't come!"
Vishnu's surprise showed as his eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately turned his gaze toward Svarga.
The world of Svarga appeared even more dilapidated! Once filled with pure holy energy, Svarga Loka was now on the brink of resembling the human realm, in ruins and decay. The Devas had also grown weaker.
Vishnu focused on the adobe of the King of Svarga, where a powerful surge of penance surged forth, manifesting as blue lightning. It painted a picture of vibrant life and abundant growth.
"He is truly performing penance for Brahama!" Vishnu remarked, his frown deepening. The period of rigorous penance could extend over hundreds or even thousands of years. Would his wife, Lakshmi, have to wait?
After a moment's contemplation, Vishnu relaxed his brow; he had devised a solution. If he informed Indra that he possessed a way to restore the devas' power, Indra would surely bring the Adityas to him, allowing Goddess Lakshmi to return.
"Garuda!" Vishnu called softly, summoning his faithful companion.
"Garuda! Garuda! Garuda!"
His faint voice resonated in the entire cosmic ocean, echoing in layers and spreading across the Trilokas for billions of miles, reaching far and wide.
Garuda! Divine Eagle! He is the son of Rishi Kashyapa and Vinata and is a loyal follower and Vahana of Vishnu!
"Bhagwan is calling me!" Garuda exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
He flapped his enormous wings, stirring up a tempestuous wind that filled the sky with dark clouds as if an eternal night had descended upon the Triloka.
With a powerful beat of his wings, Garuda soared above the Cosmic Ocean, casting a vast shadow like a shroud of darkness. Amid the endless waves that roared around him, he spotted his Lord Vishnu.
"Pranam to Lord Vishnu!" Garuda clasped his hands together and bowed slightly, then raised his head in reverence to look up at his Lord.
With a warm smile, Vishnu sat upon the snake bed, gazing lovingly at his faithful follower. Unlike Brahma, whose followers were often Asuras—who would frequently turn their backs after completing their penance—Vishnu's devotees were characterized by their pure hearts and unwavering loyalty. Each of them remained steadfast, never straying from their devotion to him.
"Garuda go to Svarga and inform the devas that I have a way to lift their curse, ask them to come to the Vaikuntha to see me!" Vishnu instructed softly.
Garuda, lost in the joy of being in the presence of his Lord, initially failed to notice the absence of Goddess Lakshmi. After processing Vishnu's command, he quickly replied, "As you say, Bhagwan!"
As a golden eagle, Garuda was incredibly swift, able to navigate the three Lokas effortlessly, as if playing among trees.
Not long after, he spread his wings and arrived in Svarga. With a graceful transformation, Garuda took on the form of a human, adorned with two magnificent wings on his back.
His hair was tousled, adorned with a gold ring resting on his forehead. He had tied his black hair back, revealing a heroic visage, while his golden armor gleamed brightly.
Garuda gazed at Svarga in astonishment, questioning whether he had taken a wrong turn and ended up in a human village.
The once luminous and ethereal sea of clouds had transformed into putrid mud. The opulent palace had vanished, replaced by crumbling straw houses that seemed as if they could be blown away with a single flap of his wings.
The handsome faces of the Gandharvas, who typically served the gods, were now covered in dust, their skin rough and sallow.
"This is what Svarga has become! It's all Indra's fault!"
Garuda's realization hit him, and he clenched his fists, anger boiling within him. He was furious!
