Krishnapriya Devashree

99. When Reason Fails

 "This is vile," she muttered under her breath.

"I had no idea your devotion came with so many conditions. What's a little dust and dirt? It can all be washed away, you know." He waved a hand dismissively.

"But it's not just dust!" one of them cried out, her face pale. "There could be... there could be dung on our feet! We walked through the village, Rishivar. Who knows what filth we stepped on?"

"Dung?" Narad Muni repeated his grin widening. "Yes, perhaps there is. A bit of cow dung, goat dung, dog feces, maybe even some monkeys and horses,  maybe even humans?—oh, who knows what else? The earth is full of surprises, after all."

The women recoiled visibly, horrified by the thought. One of them covered her mouth as though she might faint.

"This is disgusting!" another woman exclaimed, her voice shaking. "How could you even think to bring such filth near Dwarkadhish?"

Narad Muni let out a hearty laugh, unable to contain himself any longer. "You act as though I've asked you to smear poison on him. What's a little dirt to the Lord of Dwarka, hm? Surely he won't mind. He's quite forgiving, you know."

"I am sure Rishivar is joking, right Rishivar?"

"I am quite serious, I assure you!"

"But we can't do the thing that you are asking us!"

 "Ah, but wasn't it you who said you'd do anything for Dwarkadhish? Anything at all? One moment you're ready to offer your blood, your wealth, your kingdoms—and the next, you're recoiling from the very earth that sustains you. I must admit, I find it rather... enlightening."

"This is different!" one woman cried, her voice shrill. "Blood is noble! Dirt is filthy! You want us to humiliate our Lord. If you are so eager why don't you do such a thing yourself Rishivar?"

Narad Muni laughed. "Me? I never said I would do anything for Shri Krishna. It was you! Why must I do anything?"

"You must be truly mad Munivar." the Princess of Kosala spat "Do you even know who Dwarikadhish Shri Krishna actually is? People say he is the Supreme one...."

"So what?"

So?" the princess repeated, "Don't you know what will happen if we do such a thing....we will be sent to hell!"

"Not just that, we will be cursed for lifetimes!"

A collective shudder ran through the group.

 "I've heard stories about hell. They say those who insult or humiliate the Lord are sent to the darkest pits of hell—Raurava, where wild beasts tear apart sinners!"

"Yes. They say in hell, you're cast into lakes of boiling oil, where your skin peels away but you never die!"

"And that's not all!" the Princess of Kosala added. "They say the fires of Avīci burn hotter than the sun itself. Once you fall into that inferno, there's no escape, no mercy!"

"Not to mention Kumbhīpāka. The punishment for disrespecting the divine. They boil you alive in molten metal! For eons!"

Another woman clasped her hands together as if praying for forgiveness. "Rishivar, we'll be cast into Asipatravana, where the very leaves of the trees are like razor-sharp swords, cutting us to shreds with every step! How could you suggest such a thing?"

 "And the demons! They'll tear you apart, limb by limb, only for your body to mend itself so they can do it again!"

"The Naraka tales are true!" someone whispered, her voice trembling. "There's a pit where serpents crawl into your ears and feast on your brain while you're still alive. That's what happens to sinners!"