Entanglement With Fate (Part 2)

20. Astras

"There are three astra associated with the earth. Bhaumastra, Parvatastra and Bhumirasaastra." He told me. "I'll teach you how to invoke it but this has to be learnt in a proper way. Astras are not regular arrows."

I nodded. I knew about astras very well.

"Are you sure that I'm ready for it?"

He looked at him, a bit surprised. "You'd be the only person who ever asked me this question."

"Even though I do pretend that I'm as much of an adult as my elders but I know that I am only 18 years of age. Neither have I done any kind of tapasya nor do I have the age. That is why I am asking."

"I have clarity about why I am giving you this knowledge. The power of this astra is a power connected to your own elemental control. Regardless of your age, you have shown your ability to make thoughtful decisions. You have the courage. You have the mental strength to handle the energy of these astras. Moreover, right now, I am teaching you to invoke it, until I feel that you are completely prepared with it, you aren't allowed to experiment with them."

"Not to mention, I don't even have my bow. Not all bows are capable of handling astras."

"I am aware. That is why you will learn the mantra now. When it seems that you have managed to contain the energy of the astra, I'll give you a bow for you to be able to practice the astra."

I nodded not arguing anymore. He's a great teacher. If he thinks I can handle it, I can handle it.

"Bhaumastra is used to create tunnels through the earth and summon several jewels from below the earth. Your ability to cast illusions and this bhaumastra would work as a defence and offence." He told me and then gave me the mantra. I repeated the mantra. Assurance that I had learnt the mantra wrong, he proceeded further. "Parvatastra is used to invoke mountains through the sky. Highly effective when you are severely outnumbered." Then gave me the mantra. "Finally Bhumirasaastra. It would invoke lava from the core of the earth and outpour into the opponent's side."

He gave me the mantra and repeated them to imbibe the strength of the astra. The mantra itself had some high energy.

"A great warrior is the one who knows how to set off an astra, restrict it and retrieve it. You are Vishnusuta, you'll naturally have a reservoir of that basal quality needed to handle an astra. What you have to learn is how to sharpen it. Simple astras of the devas can be attained by a Guru. I can give them to you but if you ever wish to stand in an equal stand with Virat, it is eminent that you earn astras that extremely powerful."

"Brahmastra, Brahmashira, Brahmanda, Raudrastra, Maheshwarastra, Teen Baan, Mahapashupatastra, Narayanastra and Vaishnavastra," I answered.

"Yes. Out of these, two of them you can contain due to the fact that you are half of Vishnu himself. The only thing is attaining it. I assume that you aren't under this misconception that he will give it to you just because you are his child."

"No, I am aware that I have to earn it through merit. The last thing my father would do is just give it to someone who doesn't have the merit to earn it."

"Good. Just like Narayanastra and Vaishnavastra, Mahapashupatastra and Teen Baan can only be given by Mahadev. For the rest five of them, I can give you the mantra but only when you have mastered warfare skills, I will give you those astras. Handling those astras is very particular."

I nodded a yes.

"I know that I have to earn Narayanastra and Vaishnavastra but is it earned through tapasya? I know that the astras pertaining to Mahadev have to be earned through tapasya but what about these two?" I asked.