0 - Prologue

**please read before you begin**

This chapter is basically a paraphrase summary from Ramakien so that everyone has some background knowledge for the fantasy elements in the theme of this novel. There will be a lot of strange names, but there is no need to worry/freak out. The name you should pay attention to is just Svarbhanu (and Shiva) really. The next chapter (and most onward) will be in the POV of our MC and totally modern and easy to read, unlike this one, so I recommend treating this chapter as a slightly weird bedtime story!

– the color of truest love is not red, but the darkest black (The Pilgrim Kamanita) –

Prologue: Kshira Sagara

Kshira Sagara (Noun). kṣīra “milk” and -uda, sāgara “water, ocean” (Dictionary)

Gods create human

Or is it the human fear that creates gods

Once upon a time…

When the gods and demons are in the never-ending war, Indra [1] , the King of Svarga, was cursed by the Sage Durvasa to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune. The curse affects all gods who are under the rule of Indra, this leads to the rise of the demon forces day by day.

The gods sought Lord Vishnu’s help [2] , who advised them to pretend to form an alliance with the demons to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality.

The Samudra Manthana or the churning of the Ocean of Milk starts with all kinds of treasure herbs being cast into the ocean. Mount Manthana was used as the churning rod and Vasuki (King of the Serpents) became the churning rope [3] .

To churn for the nectar, two sides of forces are needed to gyrate the mountain and the ocean [3] . The gods deceive the demons into holding the head of the snake by gushingly praising them as the superior being worthy of holding the head, while the gods, taking advice from Vishnu, agreed to hold the tail.

This is the scheme of the gods, as the Vasuki would vomit poisonous flames when twisted and pulled.

As a result, the demons were poisoned by fumes emitted by the mouth of Vasuki while they churned his body. However, the burning fume of the poison continues to spread, leaving the gods no choice but for the Shiva [4] to incarnate down to Mount Mandarachala and swallow the poison. From the spread of this powerful poison, Shiva’s neck turns black (blue) from that day onward.

Fourteen treasures emerged from the Ocean, and a pot containing the amṛta, the heavenly nectar of immortality. To protect it from the demons, Vishnu himself disguises himself as a beautiful and enchanting damsel to distract the demons while the gods consume the nectar. Before the demons noticed, the gods had already gained power so great that they could not overcome.

However, a demon named Svarbhanu [5] disguised himself as a god to drank some nectar. The sun and moon god noticed this and informed Mohini [6] , who became furious as they refuse to allow any demon to have the nectar. Mohini throws the Sudarshana Chakra, which cut Svarbhanu into half, nevertheless, the power of the nectar keeps Svarbhanu alive, but his soul and body are split.

One half keeps chasing to swallow the moon [7] as his revenge.

While the other drift through the sky and become a shooting star.

Until the days continue to pass.

Translator Note:

Hello, lovelies! This is Tomo, and my first project on Foxaholix. Please also welcome Bekawhoosh, who is joining me as my proofreader! This project is scheduled to update every Monday (plus 1-2 additional chapters if I can).

This is a novel that I really love. Plus, I also have fond memories with the tale of Ramakien since my childhood. I hope that everyone will enjoy reading this story and get to know a little bit more about Thai culture and folklore. If you have any questions or want to have more information about any part of this novel, please feel free to leave a comment and I will gladly answer them!

Footnotes:

[1] Indra, a guardian deity in Buddhism and the king of the highest heaven.

[2] Vishnu, God of Preservation, one of the holy trinity (Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva, who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world).

[3] Kshira Sagara (picture) – the scene of the churning of the milk ocean at Suwannabhumi airport, Thailand

[4] Shiva, God of Destruction.

[5] Svarbhanu, or the demon ‘Rahu (head)’ and ‘Ketu (Body)’.

[6] Mohini, Goddess of Enchantment.

[7] In Thai folklore, it is believed that the Lunar eclipse occurs when Svarbhanu swallows the moon.

Translator Notes:

Finally, I have edited the footnotes into this chapter *Wiping sweat* If there are any terms anyone still doesn’t understand, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll be happy to answer! (This also applies to all the chapters, sometimes I just don’t notice that non-Tais are not familiar with the terms.)