One week later;
Suryaloka;
In the forest located behind the palace, a deep voice was echoing throughout the place.
"Ooooommmmm Namah Shivaaaaya"
"Ooooommmmm Namah Shivaaaaya"
"Ooooommmmm Namah Shivaaaaya"
"Ooooommmmm Namah Shivaaaaya"
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Goddess Sangya was inspecting the loads of food in boxes. She looked quite pale and thin at first glance. Goddess Chhaya was accompanying her as usual and was helping out her sister in tasting the food to make sure nothing was wrong.
"Sister, it's been a week already. I think it is time for you to stop this stubbornness. Just look at yourself…" Goddess Chhaya suggested her after her tasting was done.
To which, the goddess of clouds replied, "I took an oath, Chhaya. Until the day my son returns from his tapasya, I will continue to do my vrata (fasting). If not for Karna, Mahadeva should come down for my devotion and bless him."
Chhaya sighed, shaking her head, "Do you really think Lord Shiva will bless our Karna after just one week of tapasya? It will take years... decades... for him to earn that. He is already being foolish… are you going to do the same?"
Sangya kept silent.
Chhaya continued. "Ever since he returned from Kailasa, Karna has busied himself in tapasya. Talk to Suryadev and tell him to disrupt Karna's tapasya. His 16th birthday is almost here, and he also has to leave for the Gurukul for 12 more years. Isn't it foolish to do tapasya now?"
Sangya took a deep breath and murmured, "I will go."
With the servants carrying the boxes of food, Goddess Sangya left the palace and went to the forest.
As she reached the giant peepal tree, she saw animals gathered around a handsome teenager who was glowing in radiance and continuing to recite the mantra of Lord Shiva.
Goddess Sangya looked at the teenager covered by a layer of divine energy and mumbled with shivering eyes filled with worry, "Karna, my son…"
She had the urge to go there and disturb Karna's tapasya by force, but she couldn't do it as she was worried about the backlash her son might face. IN the end, she could only silently stare at her son while the servants served the food to all kinds of animals.
Of them, the unicorn that was guarding Karna ended up being the first to get served as usual.
Even if the servants served the other animals, they wouldn't eat until they got the unicorn's permission. It was such a command it had over these lower life forms.
Goddess Sangya patiently waited until all the animals had their food and then walked toward the peepal tree. She didn't disturb her son's deep meditation but instead stroked the unicorn's mane, "Ashvina, thank you for looking after him. And I ask you to continue to protect your friend until he accomplishes his goal, alright?"
*Neigh*
The unicorn let out a low, gentle neigh and nodded vigorously, nuzzling her hand once as if to comfort her.
Goddess Sangya couldn't help but stare at her son again. "Why do you have to be taken to Kailasa. The more I try to stop you, the more you are moving closer to Mahadeva."
*
A week ago;
When Nandi carried him away from the darkness of Patala, Karna had opened his eyes only for a moment, long enough to see snow-covered peaks and feel cold wind on his face, before darkness took him again. When he finally woke properly, he was lying on soft deerskin under a wide open sky. The air smelled of pine and wet stone. Above him, the mountain seemed to touch the stars.
He tried to sit up. Pain bloomed in his chest where the spear had struck. A gentle hand pressed against his shoulder.
"Lie still, child. Your body still remembers the wound, although it was healed."
Karna looked up.
A woman sat beside him, beautiful in a way that made his heart quiet. Her skin glowed softly like moonlight on snow. Dark hair fell over one shoulder. A simple red sari wrapped her, yet she looked more regal than any queen he had ever imagined. Her eyes were filled with love and kindness, similar to his mother's.
"Goddess Parvati…" Karna whispered automatically, as only one could have such a motherly aura. His voice cracked from disuse.
She smiled, a small, warm, the kind of smile her mother gives when he wakes up.
"You recognized me? You were seeing me for the first time, right?"
"Yes, I don't know. It just came to me, O' Mother of all Creation." Karna tried to fold his hands in respect, but pain stopped him halfway. She caught his wrists gently and lowered them.
"No need for that now. You have already shown respect with your music in Patala. Mahadeva heard every note."
Karna's eyes widened in surprise. "He… heard?"
Goddess Parvati nodded with a smile. "He always hears his devotees. Even when they do not know he is listening. Especially when they do not know."
She helped him sit up slowly, propping his back against a smooth boulder. A small fire crackled nearby. Above it hung a simple clay pot. Steam rose with the smell of rice, ghee, cumin, and something sweet Karna could not name.
"You must be hungry, Karna," she said.
Karna looked around. "Where is… Mahadeva?"
Parvati's smile turned a little wistful. "He is in deep meditation inside the cave. He will not rise for anyone today. But he asked me to look after you. Anyway, the lunch is ready."
Karna stared at her, unable to speak.
The Supreme Goddess cooked food for him? And he can eat together with her? Was he dreaming?
Parvati laughed softly, knowing his thoughts. "Do not look so shocked, Karna. You were in the presence of the one who was also called Annapurna. Now, we can't have you return on an empty stomach on my watch, now, do we?"
She took a wooden ladle, stirred the pot once, twice, then served a portion of khichdi into a leaf plate. Ghee glistened on top. A few curry leaves floated like green jewels. She added a small piece of jaggery on the side.
"Eat slowly," she said, placing the leaf in his hands. "Your body has been through much."
Karna took the first bite.
Warmth spread from his tongue to his chest. The rice was soft, the dal perfectly spiced, the ghee rich and comforting. But it was more than taste — it was peace. Every swallow seemed to quiet the chaos that had lived inside him since the abduction. The pain in his chest dulled. His breathing became steady. For the first time in days, he did not feel afraid.
He ate in silence for a while. Parvati sat beside him, watching the fire, not speaking.
After some time, Karna lowered the leaf and washed his hands.
"Mother…" He hesitated, then spoke the word that felt both bold and right. "Can I… Can I see Mahadeva? Just a glimpse would be enough."
Goddess Parvati looked at him then, and her eyes softened even more. She took his hand into hers and said, "Child, shall I tell you an incident that occurred in my life?"
As Karna's face beamed and he nodded, Goddess Parvati narrated. "Back when I was only a mortal princess, when I was on a journey to meet Lord Shiva, I was tested in many ways. One of those tests was that when I reached the lake of Manasoravara and was about to gather the water, Nandi and other ganas came to meet me. They almost convinced me that Mahadeva is not far away, and Nandi promised me to let me meet Mahadeva. At that moment, I thought, when Mahadeva himself is not far away, why should I bother giving the jalabhisheka to the linga? But still, I thought of doing it one last time and decided to take Nandi's offer. And then I began to gather the water, but the pot could never gather the waters of the lake. Whenever I tried it, the water just disappeared. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't see the success. And then I realized my mistake. I realized that in the Linga form, Lord Shiva is seen as a god, and I was following the route of Bhakti. A devotee can't see a Shiva Linga and Lord Shiva as two separate things. Coming to your question, yes, Karna, you may take a glimpse at Mahadeva from far away while he was meditating, but if it makes you feel happier and more content than if you worship the linga, that means your devotion isn't up to the mark. If you are a true devotee, the only time you will feel more content is when Mahadeva himself comes to you, not when you go to him."