Chapter 239
Clearly, he carved these by hand overnight after returning home.
Upon seeing these statues, the surrounding vendors were somewhat tempted—after all, for the Bharata, worshipping gods has long been an indispensable part of their lives.
However, after they inquired about the price, their faces once again displayed the same mocking expression.
The reason is simple.
After carving these statues, Drona strictly followed the Vedas' instructions to sanctify, consecrate, and perform a series of prayers.
This is the complete procedure that is only performed when a statue of a deity is enshrined in a temple.
As Brahmin, he naturally priced it according to the highest standards in the temple.
But the people setting up stalls here are all small vendors, so how could they afford these exquisitely crafted statues?
By noon, Drona still hadn't sold anything. He said to Hebe in distress, "Master, I've thought about your words carefully, and they do indeed make a lot of sense. I've started to make a living according to your advice. But why am I still facing this predicament?"
Do you think this is a temple?
Hebe asked him.
Drona looked around. The place couldn't be described as filthy, but with so many people coming and going, it was far from clean.
"How can that be considered a temple?"
"Then why are you selling idols that are only worshipped in temples on the roadside?"
Hebe covered his face with the fan again. "You can carve another batch of wood carvings in public and sell them. As for these exquisite statues, just consider them non-sale items."
Drona trembled upon hearing this.
He not only felt that Hebe was teaching him business skills, but also felt that Hebe's words contained profound meaning about the Dharma.
Hierarchical social hierarchy, a society of unequal status... Oh, how exquisite!
Drona quickly bowed again, then sat down by the roadside and began to carve an idol.
First was Indra, the king of the gods, then Agni, the god of fire, and then Vayu... Without the usual consecration and blessing procedures, Drona had carved most of the statues of the Vedas gods in no time.
At this moment, someone else came to inquire about the price, so naturally, they asked about the previous batch first.
This time, Drona was smarter. "These are not for sale, but the batch I'm carving now is for sale."
After a moment's thought, he offered a price that was one-tenth of what he had previously offered.
"OK."
The customer happily tossed out a silver coin, saying, "Then I'll take this Indra statue home with me."
Then, until dusk, Drona sold several more statues.
Looking at the silver coins in the alms bowl, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
"Is this what the Vaishya's daily life is like?"
Drona looked at Hebe's retreating figure, "Why is it that they, living among the common people and constantly on the move, are still able to comprehend the wisdom hidden within the Dharma?"
The more Drona thought about it, the more conflicted his expression became.
Does the Dharma and Brahman not only exist among Brahmin and Kshatriya in this world?
Drona felt as if he had subtly touched a red line.
No, I can't keep thinking about it this way.
The safest course of action would be to continue his previous Brahmin practice and live by begging.
But... as night fell, Drona looked at his son lying in bed, his face flushed from eating, and finally lit the candles again, carefully beginning to carve the face of the idol with a knife.
Chapter 301 Vigilante Justice.
In the following months, Drona stopped talking to Hebe about matters related to the Dharma.
When he stopped talking about Vedic wisdom and the supreme Dharma, the man's piety in carving statues made his business exceptionally prosperous.
This is also the operating logic of the entire Bharata social system—people of higher castes always have more opportunities to try and fail.
As everyone knows, the Brahmin priest class is more or less somewhat fanatical.
When Drona is willing to lower his stance, people actually feel a sense of being "flattered".
After all, he was a Brahmin! A statue carved by Brahmin would surely be more efficacious, wouldn't it?
Ashvasena's lips were no longer dry and cracked, Drona began to have money to buy him honey to drink and milk candy to eat.
They no longer wore those tattered loincloths, but instead put on comfortable and well-fitting long robes.
Sometimes Drona would recall the morning he emerged from the Forest of Asceticism, determined to live a life of asceticism.
The little boy followed closely behind him, his face showing both anticipation for the future and fear of the unknown.
Drona himself was not afraid of hardship, but he cared deeply about the Ashvasena, especially when his son suffered because of him, which made him feel even more guilty.
But thankfully, things are getting better right now.
As Drona thought this, his carving knife continued to move, outlining the faces of the Vedas gods.
Pelican Town was initially created by Hebe, and everything and everyone in the town was made of illusion. As time passed, outsiders gradually moved in, and nobles came and declared that the place was under the rule of the Kuru Dynasty. Thus, the illusionary creations became fewer and fewer, and the real scenes became more and more numerous.
The lord of Pelican Town placed a large order the day before yesterday, wanting Drona to carve a complete set of Vedas gods for him, as well as symbols of Brahma and the two great gods.
Drona certainly wouldn't refuse business that came knocking on his door, but what puzzled him was that the lord must have known about his Brahmin identity to have sent someone to place the order.
If that's the case, why didn't he just invite me to his home instead of asking me to prepare the food and deliver it to him?
Isn't this unnecessary and a huge hassle?
Drona couldn't figure out the key point, but he didn't ask Hebe —once the complete set of statues was carved, he had Ashvasena take the wooden box to the lord.
There are several considerations behind letting the Ashvasena.
On the one hand, it was always difficult for Drona, as Brahmin, to interact directly with him, while Ashvasena, as his son, could be seen as Drona's representative to some extent.
On the other hand, guests from afar are always treated with hospitality by the lord of Pelican Town. Ashvasena is now able to eat his fill, but it wouldn't be fair to say he's eating very well.
Drona still hoped that Ashvasena could drink some milk and eat some of the food of nobles.
The messenger listened to Drona's arrangements but didn't say anything.
However, when they arrived at the town center, at the lord's mansion, the messenger told Ashvasena to go back and that he would take the idol inside himself.
"No, my father instructed me that these statues have undergone a strict consecration process and must be handed over to the lord by the Brahmin himself."
Ashvasena refused outright.
"Brahmin ..."
The messenger gave a cold laugh but remained silent.
"Okay, then you can go in by yourself."
A banquet is being held in the lord's mansion, attended by both nobles and wealthy merchants.
The current lord sat in the first seat.
Since he was appointed as the local governor, he has vigorously promoted commercial development, and as a result, the status of the Vaishya has risen accordingly.
As the saying goes, "When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame." The same principle applies to Maslow's hierarchy of needs in the West.
After material needs are met, people always need some spiritual sustenance. The lord had just heard that a "Brahmin" had recently arrived in the city, skilled in sculpting idols.
On a whim, the lord sent someone to place an order there, but as time passed, he had long forgotten about it.
After all, it's just a small amount of money.
Ashvasena, carrying the wooden box, had barely taken two steps when he was stunned into standing still by the sight of people drinking and making merry.
"Hey, boy, come pour me a drink!"
Upon seeing the dark-skinned Ashvasena, the guests present didn't think much of it.
As two generations passed, the original Dravidian and Aryans had long since become mixed.
People with dark skin may be of high caste, while people with fair skin may not necessarily be of low caste.
But generally speaking, the "Israelis" are unlikely to make any mistakes.
"I... I am not a servant! I am here on my father's orders to deliver the idol the lord ordered!"
Upon hearing this, the decadent music that had been playing at the banquet immediately stopped.
The guests present all turned their heads with different expressions, staring at the Ashvasena. The lord, sitting in the main seat, smiled and twirled the golden tassel hanging from his head.
"Oh, it's true."
The lord smiled and said, "Someone, give the child the agreed-upon reward and let him take it back."
Immediately afterwards, a servant handed over a box containing silver coins and jewels.
Ashvasena was about to take the box, his stomach started growling.
It turned out that Drona had planned the time in advance, wanting him to have a good meal at the lord's place.
Upon hearing the voice, the lord laughed, "It seems that 'Master Drona's' family is indeed poor, hahaha."
Then, awkward laughter erupted from all four seats. It wasn't loud, but it was like the hissing sound of a snake spitting out its tongue, sending chills down your spine.
"We have guests from afar, and they are Brahmin of noble status. They should not eat the same food as us."
The lord smiled kindly, "Fortunately, I had already prepared the Brahmin special food."
He waved his hand, and another servant brought over a pot of "milk".
The "milk" was cloudy and had no aroma whatsoever.
Xie Ashvasena had never drunk milk before, and after traveling all this way, he was already hungry and thirsty.
He quickly grabbed the "milk" and drank several mouthfuls; then he grabbed the crispy balls next to him and stuffed them into his mouth. He had only eaten two when the plate in front of him was taken away.
Ashvasena stared blankly at the lord sitting in the main seat.
The once kind-faced lord had now become cold and unfamiliar.
"If you were truly Brahmin, you would surely drink pure milk and eat the finest honey and sugar balls. How could you not tell that this is nothing more than a soup made of flour and water?!"
"Does Pelican Town really tolerate such a despicable swindler?"
Before he could finish speaking, two servants came over and snatched the box containing jewels and coins from Ashvasena's hands.
The guests around the room shouted, "Kill him!"
Some people shouted excitedly, "Execute him!"
"The Wrath of Rama! The Wrath of Rama! The Wrath of Rama!"
Finally, all the sounds merged together, becoming a rhythmic cheer.
What they were expecting was a form of private punishment branded as the wrath of the Rama.
Legend has it that in a fit of rage, the Rama killed the Ravana; then he slaughtered twenty-one nobles on earth who did not follow the Dharma; finally, he fought a decisive battle with Hanuman, who had strayed from the Dharma. Their battle ended the previous generation and gave birth to a new world.
Those sinners who died Rama's wrath fell into hell deep in the southern sea, hanging upside down.
These sinners are constantly being penetrated from behind by evil spirits. Not only that, but their skin is also repeatedly peeled off, and they are subjected to the triple punishment of seawater, fire, and ice. When their skin grows back, the previous punishment is repeated.
The lord touched his belly and looked at the Ashvasena's neighing face, which turned deathly pale with fright.
"Hahaha! All done!"
"The Dharma teaches us to eliminate all enemies who deviate from the right path. Therefore, let us use the 'Wrath of Rama'!"
"Guards, arrest that man named Drona as well, then gather the townspeople and torture them—in this world, impersonating Brahmin is a grave sin."
Next to the fruit stand.
Drona's usually stern face now showed a subtle smile.
He tried several times to share his joy with Hebe, but Hebe always lay on the recliner without saying a word.
Karna also manages the business at the fruit stand.
Drona couldn't stand it any longer. "Master, your wisdom has indeed impressed me, but I don't understand. Aren't you the owner of this fruit stall? Why don't you take care of the business yourself? Karna is so young, yet you have to run a business. Don't you feel ashamed?"