Parnika and Nitiksha had started off their education, and they were easily among the top students of their class. Understanding everything with ease and being excellent in almost all subjects.

Today they were going to learn something that their teachers were excited to teach them. Mridul had mentioned something about the text they would start learning that had all the knowledge of the world.

"Everything about dharma, artha, kama and moksha can be

found here. What is here can be found elsewhere. But what is not here cannot

be found elsewhere." Mridul read from a text, he looked around his class and started explaining, "This granth is known as the fifth Veda, it is known to have all the knowledge of the world."

He started reading from the text, "For the sake of ensuring dharma, the lord

Krishna Dvaipayana, who will not return, composed a summary known as

Bharata and it took him three years.

This history is sacred. It is deep in meaning and is as revered as the

Vedas. With brahmanas as the foremost, it should be heard by the three varnas.

A man who does this is freed from sin and obtains fame. There is

no doubt that he advances towards supreme success. If one faithfully studies the

sacred Mahabharata, or even if one studies one quarter of it, one is purified

and all one's sins are destroyed.

If a person controls himself and reads the account of the Mahabharata, there is no doubt that he advances towards supreme success. This is immeasurable and emerged from the lips of Dvaipayana. It is auspicious and sacred. It is pure and removes all sin.

If a person controls himself and listens to Bharata being recited, there is no need

for him to sprinkle himself with water from Pushkara."

Mridul smiled as he spoke, "Mahabharat, is not only our history, but blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors. It is a story of the struggle and sacrifice of our ancestors. By reading and understanding their dedication and hard work, we honour and value that Mahabharat is not just a story, but a legacy that has been passed down through generations.

It is about the pain and endurings by our ancestors in order to achieve Dharma, and peace as what we have today. Understanding Mahabharat is a reminder of the importance of cherishing and protecting their legacy."

Nitiksha heard each and every word of what Mridul was speaking, as if her life was dependent on his words. The description of Mahabharat, in Mridul's word had stolen her heart;

Mahabharat was a part of history, and yet she was excited as if someone was telling stories of her family.

"We begin Mahabharat with:

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् |

देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जय मुदीरयेत् ||

It means, 'We should first offer our prayers to Narayan, Narottam, Devi Saraswati and Vyas before starting Jaya,'

Narayan is the preserver of the universe, he is our father who takes care of us whenever we are in trouble.

Nar is the twin brother of Narayan, he is humble and kind.
Devi Saraswati, the goddess of education, creativity, and music;
And Vyas the composer of Mahabharat."

Nitiksha raised her hand, not understanding one part of Mridul's words, Mridul looked at her and said, "Do you have any doubt?"

Nitiksha nodded, "Who is Nar? I know Bhagwan Vishnu, Mata Saraswati and Ved Vyas Ji, but not him." She had a little frown on her face, wondering why she didn't know about him.

"Bhagwan Nar," Mridul started and softly Nitiksha mumbled, "Bhagwan Nar,"
"You will know more about him as we understand Mahabharat. He is the Mahanayak of Mahagatha Mahabharat."

Nitiksha nodded, "And why do we pray to him first?" Her face curled up in confusion. Mridul replied, "Because his life is an example, he is a perfect man. He is someone on whose footsteps everyone should walk, learn from his life; Of how he turned his sufferings to success, how he always upheld Dharma."

Mridul's answer was satisfactory, for now;
But Nitiksha wanted to know more about this humble god.

The day had passed, Mridul hadn't actually started with Mahabharat, but merely gave a background on the sacred text; He had given a task to all his students, to learn the first shlok of Mahabharat written by Gajanan himself.

While Parnika was resting on her bed, Nitiksha was sitting straight reciting the shlok over and over; Though she had already learnt it well, she liked how well it fit on her tongue.

"naaraayanam namaskri'tya naram chaiva narottamam,
deveem sarasvateem vyaasam tato jayamudeeryet."

She had already recited it over a hundred times, yet she didn't feel that she had done it wholly.

Parnika sighed, "You are doing great Niti, you should sleep now." She told her, worried that the younger princess would stress herself out.

"I don't know Parni Jiji, but it doesn't feel satisfactory, yet. I think I should practise more." Nitiksha replied.

Parnika sat next to her, "You know Narayan, Nar, Devi Saraswati and Ved Vyas Ji wouldn't mind if you pronounced a word wrong, as long as you speak it with pure heart, they will all be happy."

"I just don't want to disappoint anyone," Niti muttered to which Parnika laughed, "Oh Niti, you won't disappoint anyone, not even your enemies."

Nitiksha giggled as she heard Parnika compliment her, again~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Lines in 'italics' are taken from BORI CE, and while writing Mridul and Mukul teaching Mahabharat, I will be using a lot of lines from BORI CE, and they will be in italics.
Keep this in mind for future chapters.

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