The Secret of the Nagas

Chapter 23 The Secret of All Secrets

The convoy crossed the gates of Branga and sailed into the river’s westernmost distributary, the Madhumati. A few weeks later they passed the spot where Shiva had battled with Parshuram.

‘This is where we fought Parshuram,’ said Shiva, patting the ex-bandit on his back.

Parshuram looked at Shiva and then at Sati. ‘Actually, this is where the Lord saved me.’

Sati smiled at Parshuram. She knew what it felt like. Being saved by Shiva. She looked at her husband with love. A man capable of pulling the poison out of the lives of all those around him. And yet, he couldn’t pull the poison out of his own memories, still being tortured by his own demons. No matter how hard she tried, she could not get him to forget his past. Perhaps that was his fate.

Sati’s musings were interrupted by Parshuram. ‘This is where we turn, My Lord.’

Sati looked in the direction the exiled Vasudev pointed. There was nothing there. The river seemed to skirt a large grove of Sundari trees and carry on towards the Eastern Sea. ‘Where?’ asked Shiva.

‘See those Sundari trees, My Lord,’ said Parshuram, pointing towards a grove with the hook fixed on his amputated left hand. ‘They lend their name to this area. The Sundarban .’

‘Beautiful forest?’ asked Sati.

‘Yes, My lady,’ said Parshuram. ‘They also hide a beautiful secret.’

On the orders of Kali, the lead ship turned into the grove that Parshuram had pointed towards. From the distance of her own ship, Sati could see the figure of Parvateshwar, also on the deck, looking at Kali and trying to argue with the Naga Queen.

Kali simply ignored him. And the ship continued on a course that appeared to be its doom.

‘What are they doing?’ asked Sati, panic-stricken. ‘They’ll run aground.’

To their shock, the lead ship simply pushed the trees aside and sailed through.

‘By the holy lake,’ whispered an awe-struck Shiva. ‘Rootless trees.’

‘Not rootless, My Lord,’ corrected Parshuram. ‘They have roots. But not fixed ones. The roots float in the lagoon.’

‘But how can such trees live?’ asked Sati.

‘That is something I have not understood,’ said Parshuram. ‘Perhaps it’s the magic of the Nagas.’

The other ships, led by the royal ship that carried the Mahadev, glided into the floating grove of Sundari trees and entered a hidden lagoon where the gentle waves of the Madhumati came to a halt. Shiva looked around in wonder. The area was lush green, alive with raucous bird calls. The vegetation was dense, creating a canopy of leaves over the lagoon which was massive enough to hold ten large ships. It was nearing the end of the second prahar and the sun was at its peak. Within the shaded lagoon however, one could mistakenly think it was evening time.

Parshuram looked at Shiva. ‘Very few people know the location of the floating grove. I know of some who have tried to find it and have only run their ships aground.’

The ten ships were quickly anchored into long stakes in the banks after being tied to each other and pulled behind a dense row of floating Sundari trees. The vessels were