MAHABHARATA SERIES BOOK#2: The Seeds of War (Mba) Read Online Free PDF

Devayani’s life considerably. With such tiny incidents are the lines of itihasa redrawn sometimes. 
    After the women finished bathing and emerged laughing from the river, Devayani picked up the garment nearest to her. The other women did the same, none realizing at first that their clothes were interchanged. As they dressed and saw each other dressing, realization dawned. Most of the other women simply laughed and assumed it was a prank played by some gandharva. Some even called out to whomever might be hiding behind the trees, teasing them about being too shy to come out and play with the girls. None minded the others wearing their garments for they were all asuras and regarded one another as equals. But when Devayani saw Sharmishtha wearing her garments, she lost her temper. 
    ‘Asuri! How dare you wear my clothes? Don’t you realize you are inferior to me? I shall now have to burn those clothes. I cannot possibly be seen wearing them again! You asuris have no sense of how to behave or conduct yourselves, ignorant women!’ 
    At this uncalled-for rebuke, Sharmishtha lost her temper as well. For though she was indeed an asuri, and as such supposed to treat Devayani with greater respect, she being the daughter of the guru of the asuras, yet her father was none other than Vrishaparva, a lord among asuras. She took offense at Devayani’s tone and words and lashed out sharply. ‘Who do you think you are? Just because you are Shukra’s daughter you think you can speak to anyone thus? I would have you know that my father is more respected than your own!’
    Devayani stopped in the midst of stripping off the garments she had mistakenly pulled on and glared at Sharmishtha. ‘What nonsense are you spouting, asuri? Do you even know what you’re saying? My father is the preceptor of your entire race! Everyone bows before him. He is above every single asura, and more respected than anyone else in this realm.’
    Sharmishtha made an offensive sound that drew nervous laughter from the other girls and a shocked reaction from Devayani. ‘Go speak your wild claims to the fish in the river. They might even believe you! My father is higher than your father in the asura race. Even when seated or lying down, he is still higher! In fact, you should see the way your father, the great Kavya Ushanas, bows and cringes before my father! My father says his compliments are so sweet, they sicken his stomach. Because that is what your father does: he is a man who begs and praises and pleads for alms, and always has his hand out for more droppings. He survives on the generosity of asuras like my father. Without us he would be nothing. And you? You are nothing. You are not even your father! You are just a beggar who is too deluded to realize it. We pity you and let you pretend and keep your airs but nobody here respects you at all! Even your great beloved Kacha spurned you and left rather than ask for your hand in marriage. And we all know how you begged and pleaded with him. Because that’s what beggars do!’
    Devayani was furious. She had no words to offer. Twin points of rage burned on her high cheekbones like smouldering coals. Her dark eyes were as venomous as a queen cobra’s fangs. Tearing off Sharmishta’s garment, she flung it at her companion who had also been her friend until now. Then she stalked over to where Sharmishta stood and tried to wrest her own garment from the asuri. 
    But Sharmishta was an asuri after all, and no stranger to aggression and violence. She slapped Devayani roughly and at once, a fight broke out between the two girls. Devayani’s garment was ripped into half during the struggle. Sobbing and humiliated, Devayani clutched the half garment and began to stumble back homewards. But Sharmishta followed her and chased her down. They fought again in the forest and while fighting, Sharmishtha saw that the open mouth of a well behind the other girl. Manouevering Devayani in that direction, she pushed her into the