On the outskirts of the capital of Mahishmati,
The tribal army had been stationed in the outskirts. A couple of hours intervened between the hour of dawn. An officer dragged one of the tribal men out of his bed.

"Follow me", he ordered.

"Where are we going, Dora?" The tribal's teeth chattered in the cold air.

"Stop your chit-chat. You'll know when we reach there."

He showed him a lonely cave, "I'll wait outside. Clean up this cave in ten minutes."

The tribal accomplished the task entrusted to him. He stealthily glanced this way and that before he drilled a hole into the wall of the cave and covered it with a hollow piece of bamboo bark.

The officer who was waiting outside was becoming impatient. He tapped his feet against the wall of the cave, "How long is it taking for you to clean?"

"Almost done, Dora. This cave has been unused for years", the tribal replied. He hastened outside.

"Go and join the others", the officer said. He dismissed the tribal man while he stayed back to maintain watch over the cave.

The tribal withdrew with a deep and low bow to the officer. He crept up from the other end towards the place where he had drilled the hole in the cave. He settled down near the hollow end.

He heard three distinct voices from within the cave. He edged closer to overhear everything.

"There is a change in plans. Instead of the unrest we planned to create over Narasimhas no-show at the Yuvaraju Pattabhishekam, we will assassinate him during the royal march towards the venue."

"It will be difficult to murder him during the march. His royal guard will be accompanying him."

"I have tampered and changed several orders. The present royal guard will comprise the tribals whom we enlisted."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! They will be of no use to Narasimha in times of emergency."

"Yes, that's why they will be positioned there. The procession will pass through the seven major streets in the capital. Contingents loyal to us will be placed in the fifth street. The moment Narasimha enters with his guard, my forces will slaughter him. Subahu will be shocked. He will try to save his son. The tribals in the royal guard will be unwittingly obstructing his approach till the deed is done."

"What next?"

"Our private army will surround and take the forces loyal to Subahu by surprise. I will kill Subahu myself."

"Such a fool-proof plan!"

"I spent many years planning it. It ought to be fool-proof."

Suddenly, there was a deadly silence. The tribal peered into the hole to see why he was unable to hear anything. His eyes met a pair of ominous, slimy red eyes glaring back at him from the other side of the hollow. He fell back terrified. He covered himself with a black woollen blanket. A loud voice assailed his ears, "Kill him."

They had all been cheated. He had to inform his companions and the Prince about the plan. He hid himself on a steep ledge. He scribbled something on the tip of his blanket. He hastily tore that edge and tied it to the feet of his pet parrot before he sent it away.

After that, he jumped down and swam across the river to the other bank. He looked behind him. His pursuers had reached the opposite bank. An arrow pierced his back. He sprinted ahead unmindful of his own personal injury.
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At the Palace,
Narasimha bowed to take the blessings of Subahu and Eiravati. Subahu held him close to his heart. Eiravati stood back and watched both father and son. The guilt that she hid the truth from them momentarily faded into the background.

Narasimha was engrossed in his father's arms when he heard the words at the back of his mind, "Gajendra, you are the son of Mahendra Baahubali. Subahu is not your father. You were born to kill him." He jerked and jumped back in horror.

The queen mother, Kamaroopi marched in upon this scene, "I don't think we need to proceed with the coronation. Rather, we should send an army to Kunthala to reclaim our lost territories."

Subahu held his hand up, "You played with my life. Strife. Peace. Victory. Failure. Love. Hate. Where was I in any of your choices? I refuse to let you dictate terms in my son's life."

Kamaroopi sulked, "You became an emperor because you listened to me. You will lose everything the day you start listening to your precious wife."

The open animosity and disregard she had for her daughter-in-law came to the forefront. She hated the influence that Eiravati held over Subahu.

"Nanamma, father wants the coronation to happen today because he wants to uphold your words", Narasimha intervened. He winked at Subahu and Eiravati as he lifted Kamaroopi up in the air and spun her round and round in his arms, "You are my best grandmother, aren't you?  Let everything happen the way it is."

Kamaroopi's head started spinning. She shouted, "Alright...alright..Put me down, brat!"

The minute Narasimha got the assurance that she wouldn't oppose any of the plans; he set her down gently on the plush red cushion to his left. She gasped as she remarked, "Your son is a charmer, Subahu."

Subahu instructed Narasimha, "After you have completed your abhyangana snanam (ritual bath) with scented oils, the panchamrithas (milk, yoghurt, ghee, sugar, and honey) and the waters of the seven holy rivers, your mother will do your vijaya tilakam (applying vermilion on the forehead symbolizing victory) at the Rama temple. There will be a procession across the streets of the capital. You will be accompanied by a royal guard as you receive the military salute of all the military contingents. I and your grandmother will be waiting for you at the town square for your Yuvaraju Pattabhishekam (official declaration as the Crown Prince and Successor of the King). Now I will give you some time to prepare yourself for today."

Narasimha retired to his room to prepare himself for the ceremony. Just as he was about to leave, one of his attendants whispered in his ear, "He says he will see only you."
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On the bank of Bhagiradhi,
The priests chanted Vedic hymns as Narasimha took a ritual bath on the banks of Bhagiradhi. The common people jostled and craned their necks to catch a glimpse of him. The soldiers had a tough time controlling the unruly crowds. The people showered flowers on him. Narasimha bowed with averted eyes to express his gratitude for their immense love and affection.

A slight tremor ran through his body as he saw all of them. It passed as quickly as it came. The head priest offered resplendent new clothes and glittering ornaments. The festivities were on in full swing. The trumpets blew, the strings twung, the drums thrummed, the bards sang and the dancers danced,
"Pudami chandrudu vachchadu O Ramamma,
Pattaabhi Ramudu Vachchadu O Ramamma,
Aruvadhi naalugu kalalowpoosana patti,
Ningini yele Maharaju Vachchadu Amma,
O Ramamma, O Ramamma!"

(One who is like a moon on earth has come O mother of Rama,
That Rama who was coronated has come O mother of Rama,
One who has mastered the sixty-four arts,
That Emperor has come to rule over the whole earth O mother of Rama,
O mother of Rama, O mother of Rama!)

Narasimha slowly ascended the temple steps. The people standing on either side cheered loudly. His mother Eiravati was performing the Arathi (waving the lamp in concentric circles) before Lord Rama. Narasimha came and stood beside her. She looked at him to her heart's fill before she resumed performing the Arathi. She sang,
"Aajaanu baahum, Aravinda deham,
Rajeeva netram, Ramaniya mithram,
Mohanaakaaram, Mridutharaabhasam,
Kamaniya gathram, Tribhuvana paalam,
Atiloka shauryam, Trilokaika veeram,
Maarutha tulya vegam, Vasudaika naadham!
Vedanta saaram, Dharma Parirakshakam,
Karunaa Swaroopam, Ravi Vamsa Tejam,
Dasaradha nandanam, Kausalya suputram,
Shantha Priya anujam, Ramam Aprameyam!"

(One who has long hands that reach up to the knees, one who has a handsome, delicate and flower-like body,
One who has beautiful lotus-like eyes, one who is a wonderful friend,
One who has a shapely and statuesque physique, one who is sweet-spoken,
One who has a melodious voice, one who is the ruler of the three worlds,
One who possesses bravery that is out of this world, one who is a warrior of warriors among the three worlds,
One who is fast and swift like the wind, one who is the ruler of this earth!
One who is the essence of Vedanta, one who is the protector of Dharma,
One who is kind and charitable, one who is the light of the lineage of Ravi {Sun},
One who is Dasaradha's son, one who is Kausalya's son,
One who is Shantha's beloved younger brother, he is the peerless Lord Rama!)

After completing the song, she turned towards Narasimha. She applied a long, vertical red mark on his forehead and sprinkled turmeric stained rice grains on him. Narasimha took his mother's hands in his and asked, "What do you want me to become, mother?"

"It is my wish that my son becomes the idol whom our people will worship year after year and not the effigy people burn year after year. Choose the right path however difficult it is. Don't be swayed from it by whoever your opponent is."

Narasimha placed his palm over hers as he said, "I will, mother. Ni ashe na ashayam. (Your wish is my goal.)"
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