Table of Contents
Journey back to Rasatala
Following the same route that he had used to come to earth, Ashvatara went to the opening of the tunnel. He entered the tunnel and passing through the other worlds, he was soon back in Rasatala.
Kambala was waiting. The moment Ashvatara emerged, Kambala broke out into a musical welcome. Ashvatara then met his sons, Susharma and Devsharma, who were waiting for him. They were wondering what had happened. “The task you felt impossible,” Ashvatara said, “has now become my objective. The goddess has blessed Kambala and myself. Both of us will now try to make that possible.”
Preparing for Kailasha
Ashvatara, Kambala, and the Naga princes sat and discussed the next steps. Ashvatara and Kambala would leave for Kailasha, entrusting the princes with the kingdom until their return.
Ashvatara and Kambala went to a chamber where musical instruments were kept. They looked around and wondering what to choose. Then they chose what they thought would be perfect - Rudra Veena. This instrument was dear to Shiva and it was said this had been created by Shiva himself. They both chose one each.
Before leaving, the brothers went to take blessings from Shesha and Vasuki. After receiving the blessings, they left the palace.
A Pilgrimage
With instruments in their hands, the two naga kings entered the tunnel which would take them to earth. Reaching the surface, they began their ascent towards Kailasha. Shiva's place. Pure. Silent.
They reached the peak and spotted a flat outcrop. The two brothers decided to use this spot as their base.
Ashvatara laid his staff down and placed his veena gently upon a smooth rock. Kambala did the same.
Music for Lord Shiva
Once their camp had been set, the two Naga kings, sat cross-legged on the stone, backs straight. Carefully, they unwrapped their veenas. Ashvatara began tuning the instruments slowly. Once they were ready, the two brothers began playing.
They started with soft, rising melodies. As the day progressed, their music deepened with the most delicate patterns being played at twilight.
They played music which displayed their love and devotion towards Shiva. They played pieces that depicted the peace of the region and awakening of the soul and also music that was about total surrender.
With the blessings of Sarasvati, they were able to shape their music as per the mood and the time of the day, creating ragas and dedicating them to Shiva.
Shiva's Boon
Days passed like this. Ashvatara and Kambala continued their music, in praise of Shiva. One day, when they had stopped playing, the brothers kept their instruments aside and bowed down. They felt something around them. A strange kind of vibration. Suddenly the veena strings began moving. As if invisible hands were playing the instruments, wonderful melodies began filling the air. The ground began to vibrate. Before them, the air began to coalesce and the atmosphere swayed, weaving itself into hologram like projection of Shiva.
They heard a voice, echoing in the atmosphere. "Ashvatara, Kambala. You have played instruments with devotion like no one has, ever before. You prayed with devotion, not for yourselves but for someone else. I am pleased with your devotion. What do you seek from me?"
The two brothers bowed low and said, "O Mahadeva, the great one. You are the keeper of the universe and watch over all of us. You have protected the universe from getting destroyed numerous times and once you held poison in your throat to prevent it from spreading all across. O three-eyed lord of Kailasha, the other gods bow before you. You roam as an ascetic but you also play the role of a householder and have the great Goddess Uma as your wife. You are spiritually brilliant and your spirituality brightens the universe. If you are pleased with our devotion then bless us. Grant us the boon we seek."
Then Kambala became quiet and Ashvatara spoke, "My sons Susharma and Devsharma have developed a great bond of friendship with Ritadhvaja. He is a young prince who is grieving for his wife. His loss has not made him bitter. He is a very noble person. He has shown loyalty, truthfulness and depth of character which is rare. In him, we see someone who acts with purity even in sorrow, who is willing to honour love without demanding its return, and who accepts the path of suffering without losing his integrity. My sons see that Madalasa’s death broke something in him, and in helping to restore it, because a good soul like Ritadhvaja does not deserve this. Let Madalasa be reborn as my daughter. I make a pledge to protect, raise and honour her. Let her return with her youth intact, so that the love she had shared with her husband could continue without disruption. You are considered Adi Yogi — the first yogi, the one who first discovered and passed on the science of yoga. Let Madalasa be born to awaken spiritual awakening in others. Grant us this. "
The form of Shiva shimmered and a voice spoke.
“O noble ones, I am pleased with you and your selflessness. What you have asked for will happen. You live in Rasatala, which is linked with what lies beyond death—afterlife, rebirth and spiritual transformation. You have to go to earth. Ritadhvaja is now conducting the annual shraddha ceremony for Madalasa. Go there." Shiva told the Naga kings what was to be done next. Saying that, the image of Shiva disappeared.
Bowing down, Ashvatara and Kambala left the place.
They went back to Rasatala, with their veenas.
Madalasa's Rebirth
As soon as they were back, Ashvatara went into his chamber. He knew what he had to do. He first performed achmana by taking a small amount of water in his right palm and sipping it three times chanting names of Vishnu for internal purification. He then sprinkled some water over his head. He then went to a corner where he did his worship. There he sat down and began to take deep breaths, relaxing himself. He then began chanting the names of Shiva. While doing so, he made and offered three rice balls, in the memory of Madalasa. He then picked up the middle ball and consumed it. He then resumed his meditation.
Soon his face began to glow. Light began to emanate from his forehead. The light intensified and began to take shape. Slowly human contours began to form and soon standing before Ashvatara was Madalasa. The impossible had occurred. She was back. There was difference. Madalasa was reborn with memory of her past. The soul had carried with it, experience and spiritual knowledge. It thereby enabled her to perceive the impermanence of worldly existence from the beginning of her re-emergence. This made her a yogini from beginning.
Ashvatara sent for trusted female attendants. When they came, they were entrusted with a secret mission. They had to take care of Madalasa and keep her hidden. No one was to know about her existence. The beautiful Madalasa began living there, spending her time reading scriptures. The strangeness of her second life was changing her. She began to wonder - What is the meaning of sorrow? Why was I sent back? Who am I, if I am no longer queen nor wife?
Days began to pass. Susharma and Devsharma also not aware about Madalasa, went and spent their time with Ritadhvaja.
Ritadhvaja Invited to Rasatala
It was evening. Torches had been lit. Ashvatara had taken some freshly brewed wine. He was feeling light-headed. His sons had come home, after spending the day with their friend. Ashvatara, relaxed, said to his sons, "My sons, you had spoken about your friend and his worries. I did tell you then to invite your friend to our land. He should know that he is friends with Nagas and not humans. Let him come here. Give him whatever he needs from our land. He trusts you, treats you as brothers and honours you. You should definitely bring him here one day."
The next day Susharma and Devsharma went to meet their friend. He was sitting along. staring at the sky. The friends knew he must be thinking about Madalasa. They tried to joke with him, to make him feel normal. The prince joined them and they began playing games of dice. After sometime, Susharma said, "We have told you about our place, which is different from this. We want you to come and visit our place and see where we stay. I am sure you will enjoy it."
Ritadhvaja turned to his friends. He said to them, "You are very dear to me. You have made me start enjoying life. When I am with you, I forget my sorrow. All that I possess is not mine alone. It is yours too. Do not draw lines between your house and our house. If you genuinely care for me, remove that division. My home, my life - all this is yours. You gave me company when grief was all I had. Do not speak about boundaries.”
Devsharma said, "Ritadhvaja, what you have said, we agree. Also, what we have is yours too. Our father has made a request. He had told this to us many times but we kept forgetting. The last time we saw him; he insisted that we bring you along. He considers you as his son after hearing about you. He wants to meet you and see you. Like Shatrujit is your father, please consider Ashvatara, our father, as your father also. Come with us and meet him. "
Ritadhvaja said, "I am truly blessed. Your father has shown affection towards me. I am grateful that he has expressed a desire to meet me. I have done nothing great and he still thinks about me. There can be no greater honour than this. Come. Let us leave at once. Not for even a moment of delay."
The journey began. Susharma and Devsharma rode with Prince Ritadhvaja in a chariot. They asked the charioteer to take them to the banks of river Gautami. “This is where we stop,” Susharma said to Ritadhvaja. “Please ask your charioteer to return.”
Ritadhvaja, trusting, nodded and dismissed the charioteer.
The prince looked around. "They must live across the river," he thought. "Perhaps they will summon a boat now."
Susharma stepped forward, looked around to ensure they were alone, and chanted a mantra.
To Ritadhvaja’s astonishment, the surface of the river began to pull apart. The water peeled back, revealing a path made of stone descending deep, beneath the riverbed.
Without hesitation, Susharma stepped into the parted river and turned back to gesture.
“Come, Ritadhvaja. Walk between us,” he said. “I will lead. Devsharma will walk behind.”
Ritadhvaja stepped forward. He trusted them. Behind him, Devsharma chanted another mantra. The river closed behind them as they moved, sealing the way.
The prince followed Susharma, with Devasharma walking closely behind. The path descended beneath the riverbed and Ritadhvaja entered a world unlike any he had imagined.
It was Rasatala. The prince turned to look at his companions—and then stopped in astonishment.
Gone were the simple robes of the learned young men he had called friends. The two who stood before him now radiated a divine presence. Their skin was glowing. On their foreheads were marks of a swastika. They were wearing crowns shaped like hoods of serpents. Ritadhvaja understood. The friends he had laughed with, played games with were not ordinary travellers. They were Naga princes. They had taken on the form of brahmins when they first met him on earth. He said nothing and bowed his head.
King Ashvatara's Grand Welcome
Word of the prince's arrival travelled quickly and reached the ears of Ashvatara.
As Ritadhvaja walked around in the new world, he could hardly believe what he saw. This was not a shadowy underworld. Rasatala was beautiful. It was a wonderful world below the surface.
Children darted past him. He saw young maidens dressed in beautiful clothes and jewels. He could make out beautiful music coming from houses. There were many beautiful mansions around them. In the centre was a beautiful palace. The two princes led Ritadhvaja inside this palace. Seated on a throne at the far end of a large hall was a calm person. His skin glowed liked that of Susharma and Devsharma.
Ashvatara, king of the Nagas, radiated a divine presence. which had a soothing effect on the prince.
Susharma and Devsharma stepped forward and said to the figure seated on the throne, "Father, this is our friend. He is our brother in heart and spirit. This is Ritadhvaja, who rides the wonderful horse Kuvalya.” Ritadhvaja stepped forward and bowed low.
Ashvatara known for his wisdom, command, and virtue looked at the young prince and asked him to come closer. The prince went and the king got up and embraced the prince. The king then kissed the prince's head as a blessing. He said, "May you live long. May all your enemies fall before you. May you always honour your parents. You are fortunate. My sons speak highly of you in your absence. Always be noble and remain truthful.”
After welcoming the young prince, Ashvatara said to his sons, “This young man has travelled far. He trusted you and has crossed across worlds. He deserves not only our respect but celebration. Let us make him feel the joy of our home. Take him you. Show him to a room. Let him bathe and become ready. After that we shall have a grand feast and enjoy the company of one another. Let us fill this world with music and laughter.”
Ashvatara put his plan into motion. Servants moved around. A grand feast was prepared and served. Musicians played beautiful music for the guests. All enjoyed themselves.
After the feast was over, Ashvatara then said to Ritadhvaja, "My dear child, please remember one thing. You are not just as a guest here. You are very dear to me. Tell me about your home on earth? How are things there? Be frank and honest. Speak to me openly like you would speak with your father. Think of me as your father. You are as close to me as are Susharma and Devsharma. Everything I possess is yours. The wealth, the riches, all that I have, it is now yours as well.”
Ritadhvaja was touched by the gesture of the Naga king. He began speaking. "My father, King Shatrujit, has ruled his kingdom for many years. There is no lack of wealth or luxury in my life. We, your sons and I— are young. We are strong and have no worries. We are not greedy. We have our fathers in our lives. There are some who do not get to experience that. I am so lucky to have the love and support of not one, but two fathers. I have gained everything I could ever want.”
Literary Parallels: Orpheus and the Underworld
Orpheus in Greek mythology uses music to descend into the underworld.Modern Interpretations and Life Lessons
This story speaks about human condition:
Ritadhvaja’s suffering and his friends’ attempts to heal it reflect how friendship and trust help in emotional recovery. Grief doesn’t demand denial but transcendence through meaning.
In an age of noise and distraction, art is sacred. Music, when offered with devotion, becomes a form of meditation.
Madalasa’s return with memory highlights reincarnation as opportunity—to evolve with consciousness, to begin life awakened. In modern psychology, this mirrors the idea of “post-traumatic growth” or second-life spiritual rebirth.
Wisdom from the Naga Tale
- Tune your life with intention, clarity, and devotion.
- Practice selfless action as Ashvatara and Kambala did.
- Build friendships like that of Ritadhvaja and the Nagas.
- Use grief, like Ritadhvaja, to become more open-hearted, not bitter.
The tale of Ashvatara, Kambala, and Ritadhvaja reflects the soul’s longing: to love, to lose, and to return transformed.
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