@ Satosha

The narrative has the power to capture people's imagination. The Fairy and her friend were hooked to the story. They wanted to know how people reacted to see Matsya back in the town. Did they recognize her even though her smell was gone? Did she see the same version of reality that she lived in that village couple years back; or did she see a new version - may be an "anti-version" of her previous world - her "tiny box".

As if the Angel read their minds - you always see something new when you return to your home town - he said - that is kinda true for any place where you made some memories, but home is something that flows in your blood. You readily notice the diffs that you had otherwise ignored, for the change is unnoticeable to a boxed observer - like a frog in a boiling pot. A "return" spotlights the change. But that is NOT how you see the anti-Yellow!

The Angel continued talking to a rather surprised Fairy and her friend - to be able to see the inverse of your reality - the other side - you must change your persona inside-out. No one must recognize you in your own home - he said - No one even looking for your return. And you must be exact opposite of what you were - a beggar if you were a king, rich if you were poor, handsome if you didn't have the looks, a singer if you were a thinker, and fragrant if you smelled like a fish. Such an internal shift ain't easily accessible, that's the reason, we never see the other side [^otherSide]. Buddha did it when he returned back to Kapilvastu. Despite being on invitation from the king, he went out alone to get food for himself - as a beggar. He wandered alone in darkness the streets and squares that used to be lit up even on expectation of his visit.

Buddha being enlightened knew it doesn't matter if the new vantage is good or bad - the purpose really is to see the "other side". As you become observant of both sides of your tiny box - your reality - of the color and the anti-color, you have a chance to realize approach the "knowledge" held with in - and only a "chance" it is - there is no guarantee that you would spin towards "white" at any moment of the quest. An opposite spin towards "darkness" is as much probable - it is a coin toss unless you have the tools to keep you steadfast on your quest - to find who you are!

The Angel thought for a while, looking at his watch as he didn't expect this conversation to go this long - returning to your home with anonymity, and with exactly opposite persona is a powerful experience. It is like going to your office after many years of retirement - as "a nobody" where you served as a Deputy or a Boss. You feel as if the walls and the chairs are mocking you for you never cared to notice them. You thought office was made of the "people" and now realization that the people were the most fungible in that confine - all your peers are gone long back, and all your subs are probably transferred. Same thing happens when you go back to your school after say twenty years of graduation.

It proves to you that the "knowledge" held "with-in" is always complete. What changes is how you see it. It appears the way you view it. Beauty, in fact, lies in the eyes of the beholder and so is misery - the Angel thought this was a good point to stop!

Tell us more of her return O, good Angel - insisted the friend fully hyped at the way Matsya blossomed as a character - now that you have kindled the interest you can't hold the narrative back. As she said it, the mid night bell rang. The club was about to close.

May be some other time - said the Angel, but he quickly changed his mind - On the second thought, how about you see it yourself ?

How ? - asked the Fairy - last I checked we still can't travel back in time - she smiled.

Yup, we can't travel back in time, but you can see it in your head sets - replied the Angel - How about you come with us - he pointed to the friend - both of you may get into virtual reality at the back seat while I keep my hands on the wheel (and eyes on the road). He didn't miss the opportunity to curse the traffic controllers - what is the point of self driving chariots if at least one must sit on the steering - he raised his hands in frustration :-)

Yes sure - said the friend - my car can follow yours. There is no need for someone to be on the steering if there is no one in the car - strange rules (of the Wizland) - she laughed - A chariot may drive itself without living beings but if there is even a dog inside, someone must be on the wheel - They even track the eye balls to make sure the driver is awake!

After clearing the bills, the Fairy summoned her old Model X. The friend had the latest iteration - they call it Model ∑ - for it could drive in three modes - on roads, water and air. The Angel hopped on to the driver seat while the two friends entered the headsets on the back - "Vision Pro 14" the latest combined product from Apple, Google and Meta. It is the height of centralization but it works :-) , unlike the one from the "decentralized resistance" that has no sense of smell or real touch.

From the driver seat, the Angel navigated them to a new locale built at the dawn of the civilization. He asked Siri to tune in to the chapter 10 - the "Identity" - the sequence of separation. They could see Matsya riding her boat as she waved good bye to Maharishi, and her two year old. She had tears in her eyes. And once again, she had no clue what to expect! What is it that she is going to see in her "Knowledge", if she got lucky or would she fail Maharishi and her son! She felt pressure of separation building as if it was a test destiny so carefully planned for her. Tears roll up when we don't understand what we are feeling!

Maharishi's eyes moistened too. He wished her luck for the reality is fickle. Things may go insanely wrong at the flutter of a butterfly. The business of prediction is risky - he thought. And "Identity" definition is a matter of absolute chance despite all the wisdom that he had at his disposal, it had taken him better part of his early life to really figure out what he himself stood for.

In Sanskrit, Identity is called Swaroopa - the shape of self .. And it is a mirror image of the "Knowledge". It is also the begonning of Karma ..

Swaroopa ..

The village was in a state of shock when Satyawati made it to the docks. Maharishi had fixed her boat that it looked like a new built. Matsya was long gone from the memory of that village. She docked her boat and turned to a group of fishermen who were looking at her in disbelief — Is there a place to stay in this village and also who is the village head here? I wanted to seek permission to moor my boat on this dock — she acted as if she didn't know the docks she grew on! She had practiced this opening line of her new act many times, but in real, it felt different. And she felt a tinge of excitement!

The fishermen were speechless. They had never seen a more beautiful woman and her fragrance was driving them crazy. One of them offered her his seat standing up. Other offered her food that his wife had packed. Yet another offered to take her to the village head.

The village head — Dashraaj in mid seventies, had seen the life long enough to be enchanted with anything glittering. Or at least that was what he thought. His ideas were forcefully changed by Maharishi but at the core, he still thought he had a role to play. His week eyes couldn't see Satyawati well enough, but he couldn't resist the smell. It was as if some goddess stepped into his home. He too stood up to offer a seat and water . When she sought his permission to dock the boat, he didn't think twice. Satyawati saw the power of fragrance first-hand. She was happy. She kept on — Is there a place I could rent to stay. I have some gold.

The word “gold” rang a pleasant bell in Dashraaj's ears — you are village's responsibility. You don't need to spend a penny here. You are like a daughter to me, why don't you stay with us? Matsya could see the greed painted on his face, yet his words sounded pleasant. On the other hand, Satyawati was getting used to privileges of the rich and the beautiful!

He continued - I have three daughters who could help you on the boat. She nodded her acceptance and said thanks in Sanskrit to make sure she was considered not only beautiful (and rich) but educated too. She had her moves fully planned!

10.1

The news of arrival of a beautiful 'noblewoman' had already spread in the village. Men and women stopped at whatever they were doing and flocked to village head's home. Every man was eager to help a "single" beautiful woman. Some applauded her for navigating rough Yamuna alone. Matsya was stunned at the double standards but then she smiled at the duality. Yet she reasoned - how could same set of people ignore poor Matsyagandha? It felt like Matsya actually died. Something in her told her she needed more power. Power to rule the entire world. She will never be as exposed and as needy as Matsya was. She must build on her gifts. She however, was not sure if the desires were taking over her. What is the right thing to do - she questioned herself - let go the opportunity at hand or to capitalize this lucky break? May be Krishna would answer that one day! — she thought. For now, her focus was as clear as the brightness of that summer day.

After few days of rest and cooked meals served on demand, Satyawati returned to her boat. Along with her, three Dashraaj girls. The older one slightly older than her and youngest slightly younger. Middle one was her age. She was back in the business as she saw a line of commuters growing to board her boat. She smiled and a song came to her lips. Life is gracious for the rich and beautiful — she thought. The thought was soon replaced by the memory of Krishna. Every success must be paid in some form, some pain. She reminded herself that Krishna was with Maharishi. He couldn't have asked for a better father.

Time took the wings again. Every evening she reminded herself what Maharishi told her - don't get lost in your new reality for the only way to see the truth is to find who you are. You must try to actively engage in self discovery. The ability to see your tiny box from both sides is just a tool , it is not a guarantee. And when you start getting lucky on this path - you must embrace light - not darkness! Self realization is NOT about giving up. It is about doing the righteous!

The insights that Maharishi gave to Satyawati helped her bear the truth. The truth that the reality that we are willing to die for is fickle - as if an image in the mirror that appears different from different angles. Exposed to this fact, a normal mind would completely lose the faith - life would appear meaningless. And the journey from losing faith in "reality" to realizing Swaroopa may be long. Satyawati was determined to put on the battle for Maharishi told him that the her next assignment was hidden in her Identity. She would know her actions when she found who she was!

Her boat got popular — like a tourist attraction. People started pouring over just to see her and to listen to her sing. And of course the fragrance. She got rich but she was still waiting for the next season of Maharishi's prediction. Dashraaj declared her as his daughter. There were many suitors who would happily surrender their lives' worth for Satyawati, but none of them could make her “rule the world” - as prophesied. More importantly, she was curious of the bigger cause that Maharishi said she was a part of. For now, she was okay with the respect (and recognition) that she knew not existed. And she kept on sharpening her skills — music, singing, looking good and of course smelling good.

10.2

The village accepted Satyawati, though it was still hard for her to accept her new version. Sometimes she would wake up early to walk past her old home. She even went inside. The door was totally gone. The holes in the roof had widened. She wondered if she should get it fixed but then the dilemma - what if her cover got compromised. Sometimes she would take her boat to Yamuna in the middle of the night, and spend hours on the haunted island. Sometimes she would lock herself up in her room without water and food. On one hand there were aspirations - she could get whatever she wanted, on the other hand there were doubts and fears - what if she lost her fragrance - what if someone recognized her. The mind like a pendulum and the heart like a wave. Sometimes she wanted time to skip the years of wait, other times she wanted the time to stop. It was as if she had the answer stuck in her mind but unable to verbalize it. What exactly is the life and why is this game being played?

One fine morning she found herself - it dawned upon her all of a sudden. As she let her boat into the waves of Yamuna, she saw the water flowing right under her boat. What exactly is the river ? - she asked herself. Is it the two banks or is it the water that flows with in? An obvious answer was "both" - the banks as well as the water - that is a rational description of the river !

But she reasoned further - what if there is no water, would it still be a river? Would she be able to sail through a waterless river? And if there was water, it would somehow find the banks. It might spread into a flood but sooner or later, it would cut through the soil to make the banks. Banks are made by the flow, not the other way around. And all her life she kept chasing the banks - from one side to another. She thought the flow was the cause of her pains for she had to row harder in the rainy days when Yamuna peaked. And turned out it was the flow - the source of her livelihood and life.

She recalled Maharishi said the reality is a Yantra - a configurable machine. But now she understood what he meant. Just the way water in the river shapes the banks, the thing that flows in us shapes us - our reality. That thing is important. That thing is "knowledge"!

Freedom from the fears and the desires is normally simultaneous - no different for her but she didn't have time to even notice this freedom for her vision was now fixated on the ever flowing self. That one that is bound with in the two banks of her being - beautiful her and ugly her - poor her and rich her - fragrant and the one who smelled life fish. She realized the taste of her Atma - her knowledge - herself.

It was like entering a new home that you built with utmost care. When you get to sit in there first time, you just wanna feel that moment. As if her body was the home and her inner-self wanted to rejoice just being in the safety of her body. Calm and peace. There was no hurry to do things. No actions urgent but not doing them either was no fun. She recalled again the words of Maharishi - when you will see it, you will know you have seen it. There was no other way to explain the experience.

Not only herself, she also realized the name that Maharishi gave her. Satyawati means who bears this truth ..

10.3

Things were not as good on the other side of Yamuna. Back to his Ashrama, there was a welcome celebration for Maharishi and Krishna. No one asked about the mother for they were all busy checking out the toddler who could already speak broken Sanskrit. He had the Gaytri Mantra by heart.

The apparent joy in Ashrama appeared a bit subdued to Maharishi. At the very first chance, he asked Maitreya if things were fine. When he found Maitreya quiet, Maharishi dug deeper.

The momentary waves of anger arose in Maharishi as he heard about house arrests of his friends — Ugrasen and Vasudev. No one could ever imagine that a political thug of yesterday would have the audacity to chain the very hands he grew in. And to tax eternal congregation of Vasishtha. It was both ridiculous and crazy and he wondered how did Kansa even got such ideas - who is driving him to this utter destruction of the work that he so painfully accomplished with his father. A part of him tempted to repeat the magic of his youth - trap him in his own fire and let him burn alive, but then, other part demanded 'new-found' compassion. After-all, what difference between him and Kansa if he too acted like a monster !

The news of Maharishi's return did alarm Kansa, but the evil minds have their own plans. He thought Ugrasen and Vasudeva need to be further secured to keep them as a bait in case Maharishi resorted to his fire traps. On the other side, Maharishi had discovered compassion. He tried many routes to show Kansa his righteous path. His every move was deemed as a sign of weakness by the misguided youth of Kansa. Assuming no threat from Maharishi, his misdemeanours turned into felonies, and finally into sheer acts of cruelty. He forced Acharayas not to share any donations with the congregation till the Ashrama paid up the tax with compound interest. Short of attacking the congregation, he adopted all the tactics to choke the life out of the research work. Worst part was, he seemed to enjoy it all.

After almost five years of struggle, Maharishi finally gave up. He thought Gods himself would deal Kansa a lesson, for the time must bring it's own twists. Only thing that kept Maharishi going was Krishna was shaping up more than his expectations. At a tender age, he was already been through most of scriptures - vocally. And blessed was he with rare memory — once heard, he never forgot a verse — even those complex ones that took normal students months to internalize.

10.4

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Kansa delivered the final nail to the Ashrama when he officially declared Maharishi and his allies as the "enemies of state" and asked them to vacate the lands on this side of Yamuna with in a month. Time was of the essence. Maharishi called a general meeting of all the Yogies later that evening — to announce that the Ashram needs to be moved to the island. He told his disciples that the island was now free from curse since Dwaipayana was born there. And since it was out of Sur Sena boundary, Kansa had no jurisdiction. But moving a thousand strong congregation was not easy. Housing needs to be built ; jetty was a must, and there were ton of other requirements to migrate the place. Maharishi sent a pigeon out to Shantanu to summon his help if he or some of his leaders were around.

Later that evening, Maitreya talked about Vasudeva to Maharishi. His assessment was Kansa might have him killed sooner because he was the only valid stake to the crown. Maitreaya had a friend in Kansa's council who had let out a note to Maitrya. The note read that Vasudev's days were numbered. The plan was to show as if he was trying to escape and back-stab him. Maitreya knew his so called friend played on both sides though he didn't blame him for keeping this balance - he must give something to Kansa just to stay relevant in the power structure. Effectively all his messages must be verified but this one appeared to make sense. Kansa was convinced that Maharishi was no more a threat and in any case he had Ugra Sen as the ultimate bait. Keeping Vasudev alive had no purpose to him. Moreover it was a threat to his claim. An atack on Vasudeva's life was inevitable. The immediate question was how to delay the inevitable.

Having discussed it together for an hour, they came up with a scheme. Given that it was impossible to get Vasudev and Devki out of Kansa's clutches, they must plot a good reason for Kansa to keep Vasudev and Devki alive. Their lives were precious even if they were living behind the bars.

Being an astrologer extraordinaire, people believed in Maharishi's predictions. Most of the times, he didn't want his name attached to his vantage or even the prophesies. But this time, it was different. This time it was a bluff. Maitreya sent a pigeon addressed to his accomplice in Kansa's council, with a secret message, that he had obviously take to Kansa, for Maitreya knew his friend played on both sides. It noted that Maharishi predicted death of Kansa. It said, once Kansa killed Vasudev, Devki too would die of grief with in a week. They would reincarnate such that no one, even with magical powers, could trace their location. And in their next birth, their eighth offspring would kill Kansa for the misdeed of killing his sister and her husband.

The object of the message was to abstain Kansa from killing Vasudev. But reality is always with some nuances. Kansa focused on the word 'eighth'. The message caused panic in his mind. To him, it meant that both Vasudev and Devki must be kept alive till they have eight off-springs. And he must kill the eighth.

His evil mind saw it as an advantage to declare it as a divine announcement from the skies. The distorted announcement that went out for public consumption was that eighth child of Devki and Vasudev would kill Kansa. It legitimized Kansa's claim that Vasudev had plotted treason - not only with other kings but with the divine forces too. He must be kept imprisoned but Kansa would still grant the couple best of life to live and procreate. He assumed that the people would see it as an act of kindness on his part - here you have proof that your eighth nephew would kill you, yet you wanna grant your sister a chance to live a normal married life - with babies. Could she ask for a better brother!

Even Maharishi was unaware that the eighth child of Devki was going to be the chosen one .. Vishnu's seventh incarnation — to deliver the lead role of Krishna Dwaipayana's epic .. but we are getting ahead of ourselves!

[^otherSide]: The other side: Everyone gets a chance to see the other side but we fail to see it. For example the transition from youth to the old age is an opportunity to see our "tiny box" from an opposite side but we miss the chance because the actors around us (Sanghdosh) don't allow to see the new. Even in altered world we continue to retain our past - with our family and with our friends, we continue to hone our echo-chambers. At some point our echo-chambers get so irrelevant that the "death" remains the only way to clean up the system. An opportunity to really understand our Swaroop turns into our "demise". It is not uncommon that people who are normally born poor turn rich in the old age and vice-versa. Stronger people lose their vitality faster than the ones born weak. Same with looks, influence and popularity. A chance to see both the sides was always built in the design of the wave nature but we lose the opportunity because we don't approach it like an opportunity. Effectively - instead of looking at the center from two different sides, we split the center around our Ahamkara. We see a rise with the youth and a demise as we grow old - two separate halves of reality centered around our ego - mirror images - one on the left and another on the right - a wave!