"Kintu, kabhi kabhi karm mei khot hota hai aur vyakti niyati ko dosh dedeta hai."

Dilip found himself lost in thought, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow over the tranquil waters of the Kshipra river. Seated on the sandy banks, he gazed into the rippling currents, the soothing sound of flowing water providing a comforting backdrop to his contemplation.

Dilip's mind was consumed by the words of Krishna, echoing in his ears like a gentle whisper. The idea that people often blamed their destiny instead of their own actions resonated deeply with him. He pondered the choices he had made, the paths he had taken. He kept questioning himself whether he had made the right choice in relinquishing his claim to the throne in favor of his nephews.

Was it his fate to step aside, or was it his actions that led him to this moment ? Should he have stayed to rule the kingdom in the future, or was it truly noble to retire and pave the way for his nephews ?

It was a universally acknowledged fact that worldly happiness is but the temporary remedy one constantly seeks for all the diseases with which worldly life is beset with. When this relative and fugitive nature of happiness becomes apparent, people naturally give up running after it, to seek permanent peace in renunciation.

However, Dilip and his wife had renounced the comforts of royal life, but not out of contentment after satisfaction but as an exile from home in quest to subdue any future familial conflict. Then how can the weight of his ambitious young age and an unfulfilled destiny not prove to be a hindrance for him to fully embrace a life of retirement ?

The cool evening breeze whispered through the trees, carrying the distant echoes of prayers from the ashram. Lost in his conflicting thoughts, Dilip suddenly felt a calming presence beside him. Looking up, he saw Krishna, his eyes brimming with wisdom beyond his years, sitting beside him.

"Man vyakul ho raha hai, Krishna." Dilip said.

Krishna smiled, "Man toh tabse vyakul ho utha hai aapka, jab se aapne Mahishmati ka tyaag kiya hai."

"Kya sansaar ka tyaag karke jeevan jeena shresht nahi ?" Dilip asked.

Krishna shook his head, "Sansaar tyaagne ka yeh arth nahi ki aap apne karmo ka tyaag karde. Na toh koi karm se vimukh hokar karmfal se mukt ho sakta hai, aur na hi koi sharirik roop se sanyaas lekar gyaan mei siddh ban sakta hai. Shresht woh hai jo sansaar mei reh kar bhi, iski maya se asakt na ho."

Dilip listened carefully as Krishna spoke softly, "Jeevan ke pratyek ashram ka ek niyamit samaye hota hai. Aap Avanti ke Yuvraj the jisne grihast ashram mei pravesh kiya hi tha, aap veer aur parakrami yoddha the, aapko apni praja ki raksha karni chahiye thi.... Kintu aapne toh balako ke hatt se Raj tyaag diya."

"Parvivaar mei shaanti banaye rakhne hetu maine Yuvraj-pad ka tyaag kiya. Mere bhi kuch mahatwakankshaye thi, icchaye thi... Kintu apne putra-samaan bhatijo ke liye maine sabhi icchao ka tyaag kiya." Dilip said.

Pausing for a moment, he asked, "Krishna, sabhi gyaani kehte hai ki icchaye hi dukh ka karan hoti hai. Jab maine meri icchao ka tyaag kar diya fir bhi mujhe shaanti kyu nahi mil rahi ? Ashram jeevan toh rajtantra se saral hi hai. Yaha koi shadyantra nahi, kathor niyam nahi, koi yudh ka bhaye nahi... Fir kyu mujhe shaanti nahi mil rahi ?"

Krishna sighed, "Sansaar mei ishvar sabhi ko kisi udeshya hetu bhejta hai. Bina uss udeshya ko purn kiye, manushya ko vanprasth kya sanyaas ashram mei bhi shaanti nahi milti. Woh vyakti Raj-mahal mei chhodo, swarg mei bhi vichlit hi rehta hai."

Keeping a hand over the Haiheya's shoulder, Krishna said, "Jeevan ke kashto se bhaagna unka nivaran nahi hota, Dilip."

Dilip glanced at Krishna, his eyes reflecting his inner turmoil as he weighed his choices. Krishna's presence brought a sense of calm, yet Dilip's uncertainty lingered. Wrestling with his internal conflict, he finally rose to his feet.

"Raatri ho rahi hai Krishna. Hume ashram lautna chahiye." Dilip said.

Krishna gazed at the river and said,"Mai thodi der aur baithunga."

"Kyu ?" Dilip asked.

Krishna smiled sadly, "Mere Mathura lautne ka samaye aa gaya hai."

"Kal ? Kintu abhi 64 din hi toh huye hai aapko aaye ?" Dilip was confused.

Krishna sighed, "Jab vidyarthi sabhi Vidya grahan kar leta hai toh use Guru aur Gurukul ka tyaag karna hi padta hai. Mai aur Balram Gurudev ko unki dakshina de, prasthan karenge."

"Oh." Dilip lowered his gaze, "Socha tha aapke saath rehne ka aur samaye milega."

Krishna chuckled, "Chinta mat kijiye, Dilip. Mai ek baar kisi ke jeevan mei pravesh karu... Toh fir saralta se jata nahi. Humara milna laga rahega."

"Kintu aap hi keh rahe hai ki vidyarthi Guru aur Gurukul ka tyaag karte hai. Tyaagi huyi jagah aayenge ?" Dilip asked.

"Aapko kya lagta hai ? Aap jeevan bhar iss ashram mei hi rahenge ? Bhavishya dekha hai aapne ?" Krishna asked.

Dilip shook his head, "Bhavishya toh kisi ne nahi dekha."

"Samaye sadev ek jaisa nahi rehta, Dilip. Kabhi ek Raja vanvaasi ban jata hai, toh kabhi vanvaasi ek Raja. Manushya ko sabhi paristhiti hetu sajj hona chahiye." Krishna said.

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A/N

64 days of Gurukul has been completed, now do you know what Guru dakshina Sandipani shall ask ?