MY GAME BEGINS Episode 4 / Chapter 4: The Truth, Atonement, and Redemption Part 8: Narada Gita to Srinivasulu (Part 2)

 MY GAME BEGINS

Episode 4 / Chapter 4: The Truth, Atonement, and Redemption

Part 8: Narada Gita to Srinivasulu (Part 2)

Wiping the tears from his blood-stained cheeks with the back of his trembling hand, Srinivasulu looked up into the serene, glowing eyes of Sage Narada. His throat burned, but the questions consuming his soul forced their way past his lips.

"Devarshi... if... if I truly committed such a terrible sin by coming here," Srinivasulu rasped, his breath catching in his chest, "then why did the divine powers granted by Lord Venkateswara work when I fought against Ren in the forest?

"Right after I arrived in this world, when he attacked me, those powers manifested and saved my life! If my actions were unrighteous from the very start, why did those divine transformations answer me then? And why have they completely abandoned me now?"

He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, his fingers digging into the bedsheets as a deeper, bitter anguish welled up inside him.

"And I have another question, Devarshi—one that haunts me day and night," Srinivasulu continued, his voice rising in desperate confusion.

"Why do all those isekai heroes get to enjoy such joyful, effortless lives? Did they never make mistakes? If what I did was a sin, aren't the things they do far worse?

"At least I still carry sincere devotion for Lord Venkateswara in my heart! They don't even have that! People who have no faith in Karma, no love for the Divine, who know nothing of Lord Venkateswara and care even less—why are their lives so perfect?

"In their stories, they wield unimaginable powers however they please, indulge every selfish desire, and face absolutely no consequences!

"Why am I, a devotee of Lord Venkateswara, subjected to these agonizing trials, while they never have to face any consequences? Why are they free of any judgment?!"

Devarshi Narada did not answer immediately. Instead, a gentle, compassionate smile touched his lips, radiating a calm that seemed to quiet the turbulent air of Ren's room.

"You ask because you are still blinded by illusion, Srinivasulu," Narada said softly, his voice carrying the deep resonance of absolute truth.

"Yet the answer has been right within you from the very beginning. You simply haven't realized it yet. Recall the exact moment those divine powers manifested in the forest!"

Narada took a slow step forward, the golden light around his divine form expanding gently.

"When Ren drew his blade and lunged at you in the wilderness, you were completely unarmed, helpless, and terrified.

"In that moment of pure vulnerability, you called upon Lord Venkateswara with a heart free of deceit. To protect your life, the powers granted by the Lord's divine grace manifested instantly. Through His mercy, you were saved.

"But do you remember under whose identity you stood in that forest?"

Srinivasulu blinked, his breath stilled.

"Those divine transformations answered you only while you stood as Srinivasulu," Narada revealed, his gaze unyielding yet full of sorrow.

"The exact moment you stole Ren's face, usurped his identity, and entered his life—spinning an endless web of falsehoods to protect a stolen life—you stepped firmly onto the path of Adharma.

"From that very second, the supreme powers granted by the Lord's grace ceased to function."

Narada leaned closer, his eyes searching Srinivasulu's pale face.

"Think back carefully, Srinivasulu. During all those days you walked around wearing Ren's face, acting as Ren, and living Ren's life... did the Five Divine Transformations granted by Lord Venkateswara ever answer your call?"

Srinivasulu's eyes widened in sudden, horrifying clarity. A cold shudder ran down his spine.

"No... Devarshi," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"None of the divine transformations answered... Only the ordinary, baseline abilities inherent to this fantasy world functioned... Not the Five Divine Transformations granted by the Lord."

"Reflect upon this now!" Narada urged gently.

"Why did the divine grace that answered Srinivasulu refuse to answer you the moment you pretended to be Ren?"

Srinivasulu sat frozen, the weight of the realization crashing over him like a tidal wave.

Without pausing, Devarshi Narada addressed the youth's second dilemma.

"Your second question is one that entangles many who wander in the darkness of spiritual ignorance.

"But listen closely, Srinivasulu: your human life is sacred and priceless beyond measure!

"Comparing your real, divine existence to fictional characters in fantasy tales is like comparing the tiny, fragile flicker of a household oil lamp to the overwhelming, immortal brilliance of Lord Venkateswara Himself!"

Narada raised his hand, gesturing toward the open air as if weaving the truth before Srinivasulu's eyes.

"When human beings begin comparing their real lives to fictional constructs and weeping over imaginary characters, their spiritual downfall begins!

"Consumed by envy and self-pity over illusions, they become blind to the gorgeous, sacred life the Almighty has actually granted them.

"The darkness of that grief drags them deeper into agony until they see only suffering, completely forgetting every blessing bestowed upon them by the Divine."

Narada's voice softened, rich with profound philosophy.

"Understand the true value of your real existence, Srinivasulu, and the true nature of these fictional stories.

"Those fantasy lives are merely the flame of an oil lamp. Just as helpless moths are captivated by the glow of a lamp, flutter around it, and hurl themselves directly into the fire only to be burned to ashes—so too do human beings become mesmerized by fictional tales.

"They compare their precious, real existences to paper phantoms, hurling their happiness into the flames of delusion and destroying their lives!"

Sage Narada paused, letting the weight of his metaphor settle upon Srinivasulu's heart.

"If those fictional stories are merely the heat of a tiny lamp," Narada continued, "then the life granted to you by Lord Venkateswara is as vast and radiant as His divine light!

"Every single human life created by the Supreme Lord is inherently beautiful, yet so many wander through existence without ever recognizing either the Almighty or the precious gift He placed in their hands."

Narada looked deeply into Srinivasulu's tear-filled eyes.

"Your life is real, Srinivasulu—as real as the boundless affection, compassionate heart (Bhakta Vatsalata), and eternal grace of Lord Venkateswara.

"But those fictional heroes? They are born merely from human imagination and ink printed on paper. They possess no soul, no karma, and no ultimate truth.

"To measure the sacred gift of human existence against imaginary paper characters is nothing short of pure ignorance."

Srinivasulu swallowed hard, his chest tight with conflicting emotions.

"But Devarshi... the Lord Himself granted me this boon!

"I only came to this world because He answered my prayer! If I ended up stealing Ren's face and life, why didn't the powers granted by His grace guide me away from it?

"Why did He send me here in the first place?"

Narada let out a quiet, knowing sigh.

"Think carefully, Srinivasulu. What were the exact words of the prayer you offered before the Lord?"

Srinivasulu went silent, searching his memory.

"You prayed: 'Lord, send me to that world! Grant me a life like his, give me powers like his, and give me a chance to live like a hero!'" Narada reminded him gently.

"That was all you asked for. You asked for a chance to experience adventure, to wield powers, and to live as a hero in a new realm.

"You never asked the Lord for permission to erase Srinivasulu, steal another living boy's face, usurp his life, or build a life out of continuous deceit!

"Had you expressed such unrighteous desires in your prayer, do you truly believe the Supreme Lord Venkateshwara would have ever granted your request?"

Narada shook his head slowly.

"The Lord granted you passage to this world, bestowed divine powers upon you, and gave you the most precious gift of all: free will.

"But you misused that freedom!

"The wicked impulse to defeat Ren, steal his face, and claim his existence for yourself did not come from the Lord—it was a dark whisper planted directly into your mind by Kali Purusha!"

Srinivasulu gripped his knees, his mind racing back to that fateful day in the forest.

"Then... when I fought Ren... you were there, Devarshi!

"After I defeated him and he fell unconscious, you used your divine powers to make his wounded body vanish into your mystical realm (Maya Loka).

"Why did you do that? And if you knew I was stepping into Adharma, why didn't you intervene? Why didn't you stop me from taking his face?!"

Narada smiled softly, his expression overflowing with divine patience.

"When Ren lay bleeding and unconscious on the ground, I vanished the wounded Ren into my celestial realm solely to heal his wounds and save his life.

"That was an act of mercy toward a fallen soul—not an act to assist your theft!

"And as for why I did not forcefully stop you... recall what transpired before you ever crossed into this world!"

Narada looked at him with grave intensity.

"Did I not appear inside your quiet room back in your real world to counsel you?

"Did I not warn you explicitly after the battle, before you stole Ren's identity, that walking the path of unrighteousness would strip away your divine grace and that the divine powers would abandon you?"

Srinivasulu slowly nodded, his breath shaking.

Narada placed a comforting hand near Srinivasulu's bowed shoulder, though he did not touch him.

"Lord Venkateswara commanded me to advise you, to enlighten your heart, and to offer you righteous wisdom," Narada explained firmly.

"He did not command me to take away your free will or forcibly alter your choices!

"To intervene by force would be a direct violation of the universal Law of Karma (Karma Viruddham).

"Every human soul possesses the sacred freedom to choose between good and evil, and every soul must reap the fruits of its own actions.

"If I had forcibly stopped you from making a choice, I would have stripped away your freedom."

Narada stepped closer, laying bare the spiritual reality.

"Whether you choose righteousness or unrighteousness depends entirely upon your own spiritual maturity (Paripakvata).

"My duty as a divine messenger is to offer you sacred guidance whenever I appear—not to compel your hands by force.

"You were given the freedom to act, and now you are experiencing the inevitable results of those actions."

Srinivasulu gasped deeply, the weight of the cosmic law pressing heavily upon his heart. He felt completely silent before the divine truth, unable to offer a single defense.

"Tell me, Devarshi..." Srinivasulu whimpered, his voice trembling with desperation.

"You say Kali Purusha caused all of this. If Kali Purusha was orchestrating all of this... how was he able to influence me so easily?

"Why did I fall so helplessly into his trap?"

Narada's expression turned deeply solemn.

"Kali Purusha exploited the deep, unhealed loneliness inside your heart to influence the original wish you made before the Lord.

"But once you arrived here and defeated Ren, he trapped you by weaponizing the Arishadvargas—the six fundamental enemies of the human mind!"

Narada began counting them off, his voice echoing like judgment in the quiet room.

"First, the moment you set eyes upon Rose in this world, Kali Purusha ignited Kāma—uncontrolled, selfish desire—within your heart."

"Second, when you witnessed Ren's status, his impressive powers, and his comfortable life, Kali Purusha stoked Krodha—anger and resentment—driving you to view him as an enemy who needed to be conquered."

"Third, after taking Ren's form, the realization that marrying Rose would grant you Chief Rai's immense fortune, nobility, and political authority awakened Lobha—boundless greed and covetousness—within your heart."

"Fourth, every time I manifested to guide you toward the truth, the memory of the divine powers granted by the Lord filled you with hubris.

"Kali Purusha fueled Mada—blinding pride and arrogance—convincing you that you were above divine counsel and did not need to listen."

"Fifth, the constant, paranoid fear that someone would discover your secret, coupled with the obsessive desire to keep this fraudulent life solely for yourself, gave birth to Mātsarya—jealousy and malice—forcing you to weave lie upon lie to protect a stolen existence.

"And ultimately, Moha—delusion, blind attachment, and spiritual ignorance—you started believing that the stolen identity was truly yours."

Narada looked at the weeping youth with profound pity.

"Look at the tragic irony, Srinivasulu!

"The very inner enemies you thought you would conquer as a grand fantasy hero are the exact monsters that conquered you!

"It was these dark passions that compelled you to commit deceit, steal another man's face, and ultimately sever your connection to Lord Venkateswara's divine grace!"

Srinivasulu broke completely. He slid off the bed, collapsing onto his knees upon the cold floor, his head bowed as tears poured uncontrollably from his eyes.

"I am trapped..." Srinivasulu sobbed, his shoulders shaking violently.

"I built my own prison... I bound myself in dark karma with my own hands!

"Is there any way out of this darkness, Devarshi? Is there any path of atonement left for a wretched sinner like me?!"

Narada looked down at the weeping youth, his divine aura softening into a warm, golden embrace.

"There is always a path, Srinivasulu," Narada said gently.

"People often say that Kali Yuga is the most horrific age—a time of rampant darkness and suffering, especially for lord's devotees, because Kali Purusha holds sway over the world.

"But in truth, Kali Yuga is the most glorious of all ages for a true seeker of God!"

Srinivasulu slowly raised his tear-stained face, his eyes wide with wonder.

"How... how can a dark age be the most glorious, Devarshi?"

"Because unlike the previous ages—Krita, Treta, and Dvapara Yugas—attaining liberation (Moksha) and reaching the Supreme Lord required grueling austerities, massive ritual sacrifices (Yagnas), complex penances, and decades of intense meditation," Narada explained, his voice filled with radiant hope.

"But in this Kali Yuga, elaborate rituals are not required!

"Simply remembering the holy name of Lord Venkateswara with a pure, loving, and sincere heart—even for a single moment—is enough to grant supreme liberation!"

Narada stepped closer, offering the ultimate key to redemption.

"To conquer the Arishadvargas that have bound your soul, there is only one supreme, infallible refuge: Bhakti Marga—the Path of Devotion.

"It is the greatest spiritual shield in this entire age.

"And there are two ways you can walk it."

"The first path," Narada revealed, "is Complete Spiritual Contemplation

(Ananya Bhakti).

"You must anchor your entire mind, heart, and intellect upon Lord Venkateswara.

"Realize that all worldly desires, temporary positions, and mental illusions are fleeting, while Lord Venkateswara alone is the Ultimate, Eternal Reality.

"Live every moment in selfless devotion for Him, completely unattached to earthly rewards."

"The second path," Narada continued, "is Righteous Action Dedicated to the Divine (Nishkama Karma Yoga & Bhagavat Arpana).

"Refuse to harbor evil thoughts or commit deceit. Perform good, selfless deeds that ease the pain of others.

"In every duty you fulfill and every human being you encounter, see the divine presence of the Supreme Lord.

"Remember that whatever work you do, see the Divine within it.

"Remember that you have a right only to the action, never to its fruits! The results belong solely to Lord Venkateswara.

"When you surrender both the work and its outcome, knowing that the Lord acts through you and bestows what is fitting, you free yourself from attachment to the fruits of your actions."

Narada smiled warmly, his voice bathing Srinivasulu's spirit in peace.

"When you cultivate this true spirit of devotion, you will rise far above the Arishadvargas and draw infinitely close to Lord Venkateswara.

"Every dark chain forged by Kali Purusha will shatter, and your soul will find complete liberation from this worldly entanglement!"

The divine sage paused, his transcendent presence illuminating the entire room as he looked down at Srinivasulu with divine affection.

"Are there any remaining doubts lingering inside your heart, Srinivasulu?" Narada asked softly.

"Ask fearlessly, and I shall answer."

(Episode 4 / Chapter 4: Part 8 — Part 2)