Table of Contents
Ritadhvaja's Return
Ritadhvaja left the banks of Yamuna riding towards the palace of the king. He had been away for long and his parents and Madalasa would be worried. He was thinking what Madalasa would say. Would she be angry? She will scold me first," he thought, "for not sending a message… for staying away too long. Then she will pretend to be angry, but her eyes will give her away. She will ask if I ate, if I slept, if I was fine. What will I say to her? That I stood watch over a sage's hut by the Yamuna. That I did not move until he returned from worshipping Varuna. That I never forgot her, not even for a moment."
he then thought about his father. "It was his order that I go and protect the sages. I obeyed. Did he worry when I didn’t return for so long? Or did he believe that his son would never fail? he is the king. He carries the burden of dharma. Will he embrace me? Will he look at me with the pride of a ruler and not as a father? even if he doesn’t say it, I know he will be relieved. My mother must have prayed, ‘Let him return safe… let me see my son again before my eyes close forever.’”
His mind went to the elders—teachers and ministers who had watched him grow and thought, "Let them see… their Ritadhvaja is coming home."
He leaned forward, fingers tightening on Kuvalaya’s mane and said, "Come on, friend, we need to get home at the earliest.”
Kuvalya snorted as if understood and increased his speed. Soon the palace walls were visible in the distance.
The Tragic News of Madalasa
Something was the matter. Any normal day would mean people walking around, crowding in places. Everything seemed unnaturally quiet. There were very few people around and they too seemed to have a vacant look in their eyes.
One woman who was sweeping a floor of a house happened to look up and her eyes met Ritadhvaja’s. Her broom slipped from her hand. She was not sure what was she seeing. She called out to people in the house. A man came out. He too saw the prince. He shouted. "Our prince!"
People who heard this looked around. They could not believe their eyes. A person came forward. The prince had slowed down. This person touched Kuvalaya. This was no dream. The prince and Kuvalaya were really there.
The person began shouting, "“The prince. He is alive. He has returned back to us. Inform the king and the queen."
People began gathering. His friends who had thought he was dead came running. They greeted the prince but did not dare inform him about Madalasa. “They look at me as if I have risen from death,” he thought. “What did they believe had happened?”
He dismounted from Kuvalaya. Taking the reins in his hand, Ritadhvaja began to walk.
With friends and citizens behind him, and Kuvalaya by his side, Ritadhvaja stepped across into the palace to meet his father.
Grief and Resolve: Ritadhvaja's Vow
His eyes fell upon Shatrujit. The king looked tired. Ritadhvaja rushed forward and embraced his father. The king held his son tight, not sure what was going on. The prince then embraced his mother. Other relatives and elders hearing about his arrival came there. They were all amazed and shocked. Happy to see him alive yet not sure what was happening.
People there were talking. “May you live for a long time. May you be fortunate. May those who try to harm you be destroyed."
Ritadhvaja was barely listening to them. He was scanning the premises. Where was Madalasa? Why did she not come? Was all well?
Shatrujit, with tears in his eyes, told his son. He told him how a sage had come bearing grim news, how the court had fallen into mourning, how the ornament had fallen to the floor, and how Madalasa, on seeing it, had collapsed lifeless.
As Ritadhvaja listened, the colour drained from his face. He heard from the king how Madalasa's body had to be carried to the banks of Karnavati and how the last rites were performed.
His parents stood there, heads bent in sorrow. No one had bothered to validate the words of the sage. All they had thought was, it was a sage speaking. How could a sage lie?
The prince sat down. He was thinking what Madalasa would have gone through. "She died thinking I was dead. She gave up her life for me."
He began crying saying, "Shame on me. I am alive and my beloved is dead. Kundala said, protect your wife. Instead, I became the cause of her death. What is this life now, without her?"
Controlling himself he stood up. He said to the people present there. "Madalasa died because of me. I want to give up my life. How will that help? That will not get her back. She proved her nobility by sacrificing her life. That is something which is considered virtuous for women. That may not be seen in the same manner, if I kill myself. There is no point crying over her. No tears will bring her back. I am a prince. I am strong. If I surrender to my grief and appear broken, then Talketu wins."
He then said to his father. "It is my duty to serve this land. I was born to protect this kingdom. My life is not mine alone. It is yours. I cannot think of destroying my life. "
Saying this he took leave of his parents and went to his chamber. It felt strange. When he had left this place last, Madalasa had been there and he had told her he would be back soon.
He thought of life ahead. "What lies ahead for me? Should I cut off all pleasures of life and live like an ascetic? Will doing that bring back Madalasa? Denying joy to myself will not help her. I will live rightly."
A messenger came to him that the king had asked to see him. Ritadhvaja went to Shatrujit. The king said, as the husband he would need to perform the last rites of Madalasa.
He walked to the banks of the river Karnavati. He began the water rites for Madalasa. He filled his cupped palms with water and chanted mantras as directed by the priests. He offered sesame seeds and lit a fire and completed the last rites.
With the rites completed, Ritadhvaja stood there with folded hands, praying. Then he went back to his chambers. he then decided what he was going to do. He said to himself, "Madalasa is no longer alive. I loved her and with her passing I will not take any other person as my spouse in this life. I will not seek the company of women. I make a solemn vow. I will from now on, only share my time with men who are equal to me in age and character. I will lead a life of dharma."
Challenging the Impossible
Susharma and Devsharma stopped here.
There was silence.
Ashvatara had listened to everything his sons had said.
They said, "Father, you had asked us what our friend wanted. We mentioned an impossible task. This is what he wants. He somehow wants his wife back. For one who is dead, how will we get her back? We have heard about great kings who have got swayed by temptation. We have heard of sages who gave up their meditation as they got tempted by apsaras. Our friend has been true to his word. We heard from him about his grief and want to help him. But how? This is a task only Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva can help with."
Ashvatara was quiet. His elder brother, Kambala, was also present there. Ashvatara and Kambala, both were wondering what was the next step. Ashvatara then thought of something. He then had a quick discussion with Kambala. He then smiled and said to his sons. "My sons. When people are told that something is beyond their reach, most will turn away. They quit the journey before even making an attempt. Impossibility frightens them more than the struggle itself. That is how opportunities slip away. They slip away not because of fate but because no effort was made. You say this is something no one can attempt. How many have attempted it? I have no fear. I had spoken to your uncle and we have decided that now is the time to act. Kambala will take care of the kingdom while I attempt to find a solution."
Before leaving, Ashvatara went to consult Vasuki, the Naga who was a constant companion of Mahadeva. He told Vasuki what the issue was. "I wish to go beyond fate. How shall I proceed?"
Vasuki said to him, "Only Shiva can help you in your venture. Please him, but not by supplication only. Shiva loves music. Please him by composing and playing ragas. Go to Plakshavatarana. There go and please goddess Sarasvati. With her blessings, you will be able to please Shiva. May you be successful."
Sarasvati Grants the Knowledge of Sound
Ashvatara took off his royal robes. He removed his crown and his jewellery. He dressed himself in simple coarse cloth and with a staff in his hand, he went to a place in Rasatala, his kingdom. This place was a tunnel that had been built by Shesha, the great Naga himself. Using that tunnel he crossed through Mahatala, Talatala, Sutala, Vitala and Atala. The tunnel ended near the Himalayas. Ashvatara stepped out. He prayed to Bhoomi Devi, goddess Earth. He then set off towards Plakshavatarana.
In the Himalayas, was a place called Plakshavatarana. This was the place where river Sarasvati had descended on earth. This place had been named after Plaksha, a fig like tree. The place was of rocks, worn by waters of the river and by sages, who had sat there to seek the blessings of the goddess of music and knowledge.
After some days, Ashvatara reached Plakshavatarana. It was a forest through which river Sarasvati was flowing. He chose a spot facing the river and went and stood there. He bowed to the river. He then began his austerities.
He ate little - fruits that had naturally fallen from trees formed his diet. He then prayed to the One he had come to seek—Jagaddhatri Sarasvati, the Mother of the Universe.
He began his invocation.
"O Sarasvati, I do not come only to praise you and please you. I have come here to dissolve in you. You are the goddess of speech and knowledge. You are the thread from which the entire universe had been created. Born from Brahma, you have surpassed him. You are both the source and the end of all things.
You are roots of all opposites: joy and sorrow, freedom and bondage, truth and illusion. These did not bind you but are expressions of your own will.
You are Akshara, the imperishable syllable that holds all forms and yet you are beyond them.
I see you as the presence within every change, the truth behind all illusions.
You are not just the sound of Om, but the source of that sound.
You hold within you the three worlds earth, sky and heaven; the three Vedas—Rig, Yajur and Sama, and the three paths of knowledge—Vedanta, Samkhya and Yoga.
You shine as the three lights—the Sun, the Moon, and Fire.
You reside in the three gunas, the three divine sounds (Vowel, Consonant and Om), the three sacred stages of life Brahmacharya, Grihastha, and Vanaprastha.
You flow through past, present, and future. Every triad is a manifestation of you.
You are much more than the goddess of speech, learning, or music. There is the supreme form of yours which cannot be described by anyone. Its name cannot be pronounced. This form is inexpressible, transcendent and can only be realized through devotion and inner awakening.
You have pervaded everything—that which has shape and that which does not. That which could be measured and that which was beyond parts.
You are the essence of truth and knowledge that permeates all levels of existence. Everything we can see, touch, or experience and even that which lies beyond our senses or comprehension is rooted in You. Whether something exists independently or as a combination of elemental forces—whether on Earth, in the heavens, or in other worlds, You are the underlying force that makes it knowable. Through your vowels and consonants which are the building blocks of speech and language, knowledge becomes accessible. You are the medium through which truth is expressed, experienced, and understood."
After his prayer to the goddess, Ashvatara fell silent, praying.
Before him river began to shimmer. From the river a pillar of light emerged. This was Sarasvati.
Ashvatara felt her presence and opened his eyes. The goddess had heard his prayers and had appeared before him. A sound began to emerge from the pillar of light. This was not sound traveling through the air, but rather appearing in his heart. He could hear the goddess and respond to her, by just being immersed in the divine light.
“Ashvatara,” the voice said, “brother of Kambala, and ruler of Rasatala, you have pleased me with your devotion. I can look into your heart and see the truth and devotion. I have come to you. I will grant you a boon. Tell me what you wish for, and I grant it."
He could feel the goddess ask him this. He closed his eyes. Then he began to communicate without speaking, through thoughts and vibrations.
“O Mother of Sound, I bow before you. Kambala and I seek the same. I am here before you, to ask on behalf of both of us. Grant us both the knowledge of sounds and speech. Grant us knowledge of spoken words and mental speech. Give us knowledge of phonetics, meters and grammar. Give us knowledge of the science of vibration. Give us knowledge of every sound that is there in the universe."
The voice said, "Ashvatara, you and your brother have a pure mind and heart are capable of deep devotion and austerity. You both are beyond ego. You are here to ask for a boon to help Ritadhvaja and not for yourself. For such selflessness, I will grant you the knowledge of the science of music. This science is sacred even among the gods."
"I will give you knowledge of the seven fundamental notes in Indian classical music. These are Sa (Shadja) –root; Re (Rishabha) –ascent; Ga (Gandhara) – emotion; Ma (Madhyama) – Balance; Pa (Panchama) – harmony; Dha (Dhaivata) – resonance and Ni (Nishada) – yearning. You will have the knowledge of how these notes form musical expressions of mood and emotion. I will give you knowledge of seven ancient styles of song, each echoing a unique state of devotion or experience. You will know the seven ways sound can be structured into rising or falling pitch patterns. Along with this you will have the understanding of rhythmic cycles. You will master the three tonal scales - Shadja Grama, Madhya Grama and Madhyama Grama.
I bless you with the expertise of four poetic meters and the three types of tempos. I grant you command over vowels and consonants.
No one in this universe has this knowledge. Through you and Kambala, this knowledge will spread in the worlds. You will be remembered for this."
The column of light vanished. For a moment there was silence. Then Ashvatara felt something. It was the sound of the river. He was able to identify the beats. It was musical. The goddess had blessed him with complete knowledge of music. In Rasatala, Kambala felt an awakening inside him. It was soothing, divine. He felt like singing. He picked up a veena and began to play. He had no idea about music and here he was playing the instrument flawlessly. Kambala uttered a prayer to the goddess and got ready for Ashvatara to come back home.
The two brothers now had complete knowledge on the musical notes, poetic meters, rhythmic cycles, tempo, tonal systems, melody and its variations, beats and time cycles and complete mastery over vowels and consonants. Along with this, they now had mastery over musical instruments and could play whatever instrument, they wanted to, flawlessly.
Lessons from Ritadhvaja's Story
The prince’s friends want to help. The task is impossible—how do you bring back someone from death? Everyone says it cannot be done. But Ashvatara says: “Let’s try.” Ashvatara represents faith beyond logic. He says: people often give up too soon—not because the task is truly impossible, but because they don’t try. Real change begins with someone who says, “I will not give up.”
Modern Relevance
- Grief is universal. We all lose people. But our reaction—whether we give up or grow—is our choice. The prince shows the path of strength.
- Don't believe in “impossible.” We often say “it can’t be done” too quickly. Ashvatara shows that trying is what brings change.
- Sound heals. In today’s noisy, distracted world, real music—tied to emotion and silence—can bring peace and insight.
- Knowledge is sacred. What we learn and share becomes our true legacy. The brothers didn’t ask for wealth—they asked for understanding.
- Create and Express: Sing, write, speak, share—don’t keep your emotions locked.
- Challenge the Limits: What feels “impossible” in your life? Is it really?
- Listen Deeply: In silence, great insights can emerge.
This story is a mirror of human experience. Grief, love, silence, music, hope—all timeless themes. The prince returns not just home, but into a larger truth.
Let the story guide us, heal us, and inspire us to live with purpose, strength, and depth.
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