At once, Karna felt like new doors opened to him. He felt tears prick his eyes. He then looked down at his hands and quietly said, "Before I was abducted by the asuras, I was in Gandharvaloka, with my umm… my umm… Roshini. We were betrothed and supposed to marry after I returned from my education. Anyway… we were there to see the Indra Kamala. She said that it fulfills our wish. And when I saw the flower, I only had one wish in my head. I wanted to see this Para Brahman. But Father said that it is impossible, and not even the gods ever saw the Para Brahman. They only see Para Brahman in the Trimurthi, and when I heard that, I thought maybe, if I could get a glimpse of Lord Shiva, whom I pray to every day, I thought my wish would be fulfilled."
Goddess Parvathi's eyes glistened for a second in revelation, understanding the reasoning behind Karna's question. She couldn't help but reach out and place her palm on the top of his head, "Then, pray, my child. When your tapasya reaches Lord Shiva, he will come to you. And a god is obligated to fulfill his devotee's demand as long as it goes against the laws of nature."
She then rose gracefully and added. "Rest for now, son. The news of your safety has already been relayed to Suryadev. After you wake up, Nandi will take you back to Suryaloka."
Karna bowed his head low.
"Thank you… Mother. For the food and also for the advice."
Parvati smiled again, that same warm, knowing smile. She then raised her hand, "Go with my blessing, Karna. May you be successful in your endeavors."
*
And once he returned home, Karna wasn't the same anymore. His entire thoughts were occupied by the memories of the one mere day he stayed at the abode of Lord Shiva.
Without telling anyone why or taking permission from his parents, Karna suddenly decided to go against the wishes of his dear mother and started doing a deep tapasya like the great sages, without moving from the spot, without eating any food or drinking water, and constantly reciting the mantra of his god.
And it has been a week since then.
Back to the Present;
Several more days passed in the blink of an eye.
Karna remained under the giant peepal tree, his voice steady and deep as he chanted the mantra without pause.
The divine energy that had always lived inside him, sealed for years by his father's power and broken recently during the incident at Patalaloka, began to stir once more.
At first, it was subtle, like a warm breeze rustling the leaves around him. But soon it grew stronger, spilling out from his body in waves of golden light mixed with something purer, something devotional that no seal could fully hold back.
The forest responded first.
Trees that had stood for eons stretched even taller, their branches thickening with fresh green leaves. Flowers bloomed out of season. Lotuses unfurling in the dry soil, jasmine vines wrapping around rocks as if alive with new purpose. Animals gathered closer, their eyes glazed in a trance, drawn to the peepal tree like pilgrims. Birds perched on Karna's shoulders without fear, squirrels curled at his feet, and even the wild deer stood motionless, gazing at him with unblinking eyes.
*
Inside the palace, the servants felt it too.
An old guard with a limp from an ancient battle straightened suddenly, his pain gone as if it had never been.
A cook's fever vanished mid-stir, her skin cooling under an invisible touch.
People whispered in awe as wounds healed on their own.
But not all was well.
The attraction grew stronger as days passed. Soldiers began to abandon their posts to guard the Sun Palace and instead began to wander toward the forest in a daze. The maids forgot their duties, drawn to Karna and the tree.
Goddess Sangya obviously noticed the change.
She was in the temple, praying to Lord Shiva for her son, when her maid, who was standing nearby with a silver platter in her hands with flowers in it, disturbed her by slipping down the platter.
When Sangya looked at the maid and asked what had happened, the maid spoke in a daze with her eyes wide and unfocused. "My lady… the light… it calls me." She began to leave.
As Sangya hurried to the balcony and saw the trees towering unnaturally high, flowers carpeting the ground in vibrant colors that seemed too alive. "Karna…" Her chest felt tight in worry.
Goddess Chhaya joined her soon after with a deep frown on her face. "Sister, look at the servants. They move like sleepwalkers. Even I feel a pull, as if the forest wants us all there. Karna's divine energy is causing more damage than healing."
Sangya's hands trembled as she gripped the railing. "Is he alright?"
Chhaya clenched her fists, barely controlling her frustration, "It's not Karna you should worry about. It's the people. We must tell Suryadev."
The two goddesses made their way to the throne room, where Lord Surya sat, his radiance dimmed by distraction.
Lord Surya nodded when Chhaya explained quickly. "I know what's happening in my abode, Chhaya. Even I'm subtly affected by it. But I can't stop it or seal his powers, like before."
Chhaya's face turned grim. "You can't stop him?"
Lord Surya nodded gravely. "I believe I have already told you. Karna's source of divine energy comes from his divine armor and earrings, which were created by my divine essence and gave a condensed form. That's why his energy is so pure. Before, I could seal it because the energy was also a part of me. But now it's mixed with the power of pure Bhakti. Because he is inexperienced and hadn't traveled anywhere except for Gandharvaloka, where he only pursued music, his Bhakti was untouched by any Kama (Lust), Krodha (Rage/Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Delusion/Attachment), Mada (Pride/Arrogance), and Matsarya (Jealousy). Because of that purity and his extreme concentration, the divine energy he was now emitting spilled to our realm, affecting everything."
Rising from his throne, Lord Surya further said, "I might not be able to seal it again, but I can contain the spillage."
He reached the balcony and saw the forest down below, raising his hands. Golden streams of his own power flowed toward the peepal tree, aiming to wrap around Karna's glow like a net.
But the energy pushed back instead.
Lord Surya's power bounced away, scattering into harmless sparks that made nearby flowers bloom even larger. He tried again, sweat beading on his brow for the first time in ages. "It's… resisting me. The devotional force is not just pure, but it is too strong. If I stop him now, I will hurt Karna instead."
Chhaya's worry deepened. "What if it spreads beyond Suryaloka?"
Lord Surya's face hardened at that question. "I just hope that the insecure elder brother of mine will stay away from this matter.
Just as he feared, word has already reached Lord Indra in Svarga Loka.
He sat on his throne, elephants trumpeting below, when a messenger arrived breathless. "King of Gods, news from Suryaloka."
Indra frowned, hearing the news. "Karna? Surya's mortal son, the one who was given divinity after his birth? I thought he was still a child. How could he emit that kind of devotional energy? And most importantly, what kind of desire does he have?
He pressed his hands together in worry. "He won't ask for my throne, right?"