After I freshened up using the water drawn from earthen pots, I found a couple of dhoties and kurtas to wear, shedding my travel clothes which were now damp from the cool evening air. I felt rejuvenated and energized as I donned the fresh attire. The moment I settled down at the communal table,
I was greeted warmly with a simple yet hearty meal — a soft chapati paired with nutritious cereals, followed by a warm glass of milk. Each bite was comforting, filling not just my stomach but also my soul with a sense of belonging.
As I savored the delicious food, the sun sank below the horizon, bathing everything in a tranquil twilight. The world outside was slowly swallowed by darkness, leaving only the flickering flames of fire and candles to illuminate the courtyard, casting dancing shadows on the walls. People mainly merchants and travelles were not seizing their merchandize and slowly settling down to their wooden bed to sleep.
A cloak of sleepiness began to settle over me. Yawning deeply, I made my way over to a wooden bed that beckoned me with its inviting embrace. Without delay, I succumbed to the allure of sleep, drifting into a deep slumber as the soothing sounds of the night wrapped around me like a cozy blanket.
As the clock struck midnight, the entire palace lay enveloped under a canopy of stars, resembling a celestial tapestry woven with brilliance — each chamber flickering with the soft glow of lamplight and the fragrant smoke of sandalwood. The main shrine dedicated to Lakshmi-Narayana exuded a gentle luminescence, illuminating the sacred names inscribed upon its walls. Nearby, a diligent brahmin recited verses in hushed tones, his voice a melodic prayer meant to safeguard the royal lineage throughout the night.
Armed guards patrolled the castle's ramparts, their shadows stretching across the pristine white stone, a silent vigilance over the sleeping village beyond the fortified walls. Inside the palace, however, each breath seemed to echo through the stillness, and every flickering flame upheld a harmony that resonated with the cosmos itself.
Within the confines of their distinct chambers, the king, his queens, sons, and daughters — though physically separated — remained united, as if bound by delicate threads of a magnificent golden fabric woven by the threads of dharma and destiny.
In the innermost sanctum of the palace, nestled beyond intricately carved stone mandapas and corridors adorned with vibrant murals, lay the king's private chamber — an embodiment of austere majesty. The walls were embellished with stunning frescoes depicting the legendary Kurukshetra, and the ceiling soared high above, painted with the constellations that whispered tales of the universe. Sandalwood panels filled the air with a soothing fragrance, lulling anyone within.
Resting upon a grand platformed bed crafted from lustrous sal wood, draped in fine cotton sheets, the king lay in solitary contemplation, surrounded by the fierce guardianship of intricately carved lion-footed pillars and majestic sculptures of Garuda, the king of birds, and Nandi, the revered mount of Lord Shiva. A flickering lamp burned softly beside his head, casting a gentle glow on a bronze idol of Vishnu. On the nearby table, the Rajya Dharma Grantha, a royal moral text, lay open — a cherished companion he turned to each night, seeking clarity and wisdom to guide his rulings by day.
His chamber was suffused with tranquility. The distant soft clink of a guard's anklet was the only sound, harmonizing with the whispering breeze that slipped through the delicate netted windows.
Each queen had her own wing — a personal palace brimming with charm and elegance. Each residence looped around a serene private lotus pond, embellished with flowering trees that danced in the moonlit marble courtyards that sang of solace.
The first queen, the esteemed matriarch and mother of the eldest princess and prince, resided near the temple garden. Her chambers, adorned in hues of gold and green, were where she often held enlightening scriptural discussions that echoed wisdom through the air.
The second queen, gifted in the art of music, found solace near her cherished veena, lulled to sleep by the soft glow of her sandalwood oil lamp.
The third queen was a warrior princess, her small dagger close at hand beside a statue of the ferocious goddess Durga, embodying strength and courage.
The fourth queen, a healer at heart, tended to a variety of rare herbs and healing scrolls, her chambers infused with the aromatic essence of incense and medicinal plants, creating an atmosphere of restorative bliss.
Last but not least, the youngest queen—still youthful and brimming with poetic dreams—wrote verses by the shimmering moonlight, the silk drapes in her chamber fluttering softly like the whispers of a distant dream.
While each queen enjoyed the opulence of her own chambers, the four princes claimed adjoining stone chambers within a fortified section that surrounded a central courtyard; their space echoed the spirit of bonding and camaraderie.
Each of their modest beds was purposefully adorned – a simple cot paired with a soft woolen blanket, a steadfast sword resting by the head, and prayer beads waiting beside them for an evening prayer. In that palace, every detail, every flicker of light, and every sound draped the kingdom in a shroud of serenity and unity, a nighttime harmony, echoing the deeper connection of family and purpose that thrived within those storied walls.
In a serene corner of the sprawling kingdom, a royal guru kept a watchful eye, ever ready to offer wisdom to any prince who might awaken with pressing questions about dharma— the righteous way of life— or matters of war and governance. His presence was a calming balm, a reminder that the weight of leadership required not only strength but also profound insight into the moral fabric of their world.
Palace was huge and remains still the same as during the day because of the beautiful candles and shiny surfaces that shines like pure gold. Guards patrolling all over the palace looking for any intruder or out of place. Their vigilance was atmost required and that was their karma and dharma.