For over two centuries, due to the collective penance of Celestial beings, Kaliyug on planet Earth had brought time to a standstill. However, this cessation had unleashed Kali's malevolent forces upon other realms of the universe. Mahadev and Brahma Dev grasped the gravity of altering the timeline once more. The pause on Kaliyug could not be sustained indefinitely; it had to continue, or the penance would be completed, allowing Devi Niyati to reshape humanity's destinies. As the two gods converged to confer with Narayan, they arrived at the resplendent Vaikuntam.

Vaikuntam, the realm beyond mortal comprehension, was an expanse of shimmering golden light. The Ksheersagar flowed gently, reflecting hues of saffron and crimson as celestial lotuses bloomed serenely. The air resonated with the eternal chants of "Om Namo Narayanaya," a melody that stirred the soul. Lord Narayan lay in yogic sleep on the serpent Adishesha, whose coiled body floated effortlessly on the cosmic ocean. Mata Lakshmi sat devotedly at Narayan's feet, her serene countenance illuminating the sanctity of the moment.

As Mahadev and Brahma Dev approached, accompanied by their consorts Devi Parvati and Devi Saraswati, Mata Lakshmi's eyes opened, sensing the weight of their mission.

Narayan smiled and addressed the visitors. "Mahadev, Brahma Dev, I sense the weight of your hearts. You seek my guidance regarding Devi Niyati. However, let us not forget that she is not someone to be disturbed lightly. Her presence, her intervention, comes at a cost. Even now, the celestial beings' penance is not entirely selfless. Many among them wish to rewrite the destinies of their kin from Dwaparayug, driven by personal grievances and desires."

Mahadev countered, "While it's true that some celestial beings harbor selfish intentions, their desire to change the course of Kaliyug is not entirely unethical. We can perhaps forge a better future for all."

Narayan's smile faded slightly. "And yet, each intervention in time reshapes the fabric of existence. Devi Niyati's touch is powerful but unpredictable. If we alter the course of fate, we cannot foresee the consequences."

Mata Lakshmi, observing the exchange, interjected softly, "Swami, perhaps we must consider the plight of the people. Even in the depths of Kaliyuga, faith in us persists. We must give them hope and a chance to grasp Dharma anew for their sake. If calling upon Devi Niyati is the only way, we must proceed."

Narayan turned to his consort, conflicted. "Priya Lakshmi, you speak with compassion yet underestimate the implications. Devi Niyati's intervention will alter destinies and could destabilize the cosmic balance. However, if Tridevi stands united in this decision, I shall not oppose it."

Devi Saraswati stepped forward, her voice resonating with wisdom. "Let us embark on this penance together to invoke Devi Niyati and seek her guidance. But we must tread carefully, for the price she demands will not be small."

Narayan conceded; thus, the Tridev and Tridevi joined the celestial beings in their penance. The heavens bore witness as divine chants echoed through the cosmos, invoking the goddess who held the threads of fate in her grasp.

As the six gods began their penance, the celestial beings opened their eyes, sensing the presence of the Tridev and Tridevi. The air vibrated with anticipation as they awaited the arrival of Devi Niyati, the elusive Goddess of Fate.

The Arrival of Devi Niyati

Amidst the resonance of the divine hymns, an unprecedented phenomenon occurred. The cosmic fabric trembled as a radiant figure materialized-a form none had seen before. Devi Niyati, the personification of fate, emerged. Draped in ethereal robes that shimmered like the night sky adorned with countless stars, her eyes reflected the past, present, and future. Her presence exuded authority and mystery, commanding reverence from all.

As the celestial gathering held their collective breath, Devi Niyati's ethereal form began to shimmer, like the first whispers of dawn on a summer morning. Her voice, a gentle zephyr that rustled the leaves of fate, carried the weight of eons.

"In the vast expanse of the cosmic universe, I have witnessed the birth and death of stars, the dance of galaxies, and the eternal cycle of creation and destruction," she began, her words weaving a spell of enchantment. "And yet, I have never been prayed to or sought after... until now."

Mahadev's smile was tinged with reverence as he stepped forward, his eyes burning with an inner fire. "Devi Niyati, as Trikaldarshini, you possess the power to see the past, present, and future of every being in the universe. We implore you to rewrite the course of lives for those who uphold Dharma, allowing them to understand its true essence and paving the way for Narayan's incarnation as Kalki to vanquish Kali."

Devi Niyati's gaze swept across the gathering, her eyes lingering on each face like a mother's gentle touch. "I am the predetermined course of life, the external force dictating the outcomes of one's actions. Though I know the outcome of every life, individuals can change their fate through their Karma. The fabric of destiny is intricate, and the threads of cause and effect are intertwined."

The air seemed to thicken as she spoke, heavy with the weight of forgotten memories and unfulfilled desires. Devi Ganga's eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling like a leaf in an autumn breeze. "But Devi, don't you know that my son Devavrata is destined to follow Adharm? Aren't you the one who ordained it?"

Devi Niyati's smile was a whispered secret, a mystery hidden in the folds of time. "No, Devi Ganga. It is not I who decided his fate. His own Karma forged the path he walks. Remember, your son Bhishma committed a grave sin, piercing a snake with an arrow and abandoning it to suffer on thorns, and no family of the snake is able to save its life. The snake's curse resulted from his actions, and his fate was sealed."

The gathering listened, entranced, as Devi Niyati's words wove a tapestry of fate and consequence, each thread carefully intertwined with the next. "His adherence to Dharma marked Bhishma's 17 lives, but in his final life, he chose Adharma. His failure to protect a woman, a member of his family, was a grievous sin. Tell me, Devi Ganga, do you think I should intervene on behalf of your son? Why should I alter the course of his fate when his actions have led him down this path?"

The Scathing Indictment

As Devi Niyati's ethereal form faded, Narayan's voice beckoned her to remain, his tone laced with a deep longing. "Devi Niyati, my sister, I implore you to consider the plight of those who possess Dharma in their hearts, though they may not fully comprehend its essence. Their struggles, their doubts, and their fears - all echo within my soul."

Devi Niyati's gaze lingered on Narayan, her eyes piercing the veil of time. Her voice was a gentle breeze, yet it carried the weight of countless lifetimes. "Narayan, you have always been the champion of free will. You subtly warned the members of the Kuru family of their impending fate, yet they chose to ignore the subtle signs. Why must I intervene now? Should we not allow the natural course of events to unfold?"

Her words dripped with disdain, a scathing indictment of the celestial beings. "Tell me, Narayan, something which you have told Uddhava too. Duryodhana has Vivek(wisdom), so he knows he is not a good player of dice, so he asks his uncle for help. What about Yam Raj's son Yudhishthira? He could have certainly said that Krishna could have played the game being his cousin?"

Devi Niyati's voice rose, her anger and frustration boiling over. "If you, as Krishna and Shakuni, had played the game of Dice, who do you think would have won? Can he roll the numbers you're calling, or would you roll the number he is asking?"

She scoffed, her contempt evident. "Forget this. I can forgive that Yam Raj's son forgot to include you in the game because he lacks Vivek, but he made another blunder. He prayed that you should not come to the hall, as he did not want you to know that he was compelled to play this game through ill fate. He tied you with his prayers and did not allow you to get into the hall."

Devi Niyati's gaze swept across the gathering, her eyes blazing with anger. "I know you were just outside the hall, waiting for someone to call you through their prayers. Even Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva were lost. They were only cursing Duryodhana and brooding over their fate, and they forgot to call you. Even Draupadi did not call when Dusshasan held her hair and dragged her to fulfil his brother's order."

Her voice dripped with venom. "She was also arguing in the hall based on her abilities. She never called you until he started disrobing her. She gave up depending on her strength, and when she uttered, 'Hari, Hari, Abhayam Krishna, Abhayam,' and prayed for you, you got an opportunity to save her modesty."

Devi Niyati's gaze locked onto the celestial beings, her eyes blazing with anger. "Now, tell me, celestial beings, if your sons have lost their Vivek, if Devi Ganga's son is unable to understand the Dharm, then what's wrong with people of Kaliyug doing the same?"

Her voice rose, a thunderous crescendo. "Tridev and Tridevi can save when people trust them. Didn't Krishna save Meera? Didn't Narayan preach to people with the help of Anamaya, Rama Dasu, Tulasi Das, and many more Bhakts of his? What more?"

Devi Niyati's anger boiled over, her words a scathing indictment of celestial beings. "How often can Gods tell people to respect women and not be arrogant, which is ultimately failing them? What more do you want Gods to make them understand when they cannot understand this?"

Her voice dripped with contempt. "Ravana's death happened when he abducted Sita and was arrogant? Kurukshetra happened when they didn't ask for forgiveness for what they did and were arrogant because of Bhishma, Guru Dronacharya and Suryaputr Karna. But people never understood the lines between and only grasped what they liked and started blaming women for everything."

Devi Niyati's gaze swept across the gathering, her eyes blazing with anger. "What should I do if people are not having the wisdom they need? For the last time, I'm saying everyone's life proceeds based on their Karma. I don't run it. I don't interfere in it. I'm only a witness. Not just me, Tridev and Tridevi are witnesses to it."

Her voice rose, a final, scathing indictment: "I stand close to you and keep observing whatever is happening. This is Paramatma's Dharma. But Kaliyug people even misunderstood words. They thought they could commit blunders and evil acts, considering they were not calling for any help. But they forgot, and Yudhishthira made the same mistake, too. Isn't Karmphal data Shani Dev? "

"No one understood and realized that when Narayan stands as a witness next to anyone, how could anything go wrong?" Devi Niyati's voice was a scathing rebuke, her words dripping with disdain. "He definitely cannot do anything terrible, yet people forget this and think they can do anything without his knowledge."

Her gaze swept across the gathering, her eyes blazing with anger. "That is when they get into trouble. Dharmaraj's ignorance was that he thought he could play the game of gambling without Krishna's knowledge." Devi Niyati's voice rose, her words a thunderous condemnation. "If he had realized, with the experience of his past events, that he was always present with everyone in the form of Sakshi (witness), then the game would have been different."

The Divine Indictment

Narayan's eyes burned with an inner fire, his voice trembling with emotion. "One's own Dharma, performed imperfectly, is better than another's Dharma well performed. I have preached the importance of selfless action, and now I must practice what I have taught. The weight of their suffering is crushing me, Devi Niyati. I request you grant them a chance to rediscover their inner balance."

Devi Niyati's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, yet her voice was tinged with a deep sadness. "You have quoted your own words, Narayan: 'Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma phaleshou kada chana, Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani' - You have always emphasized the importance of performing one's duties without attachment to the fruits of those actions. And yet, here you are, asking me to alter the course of fate."

Narayan's gaze met Devi Niyati's, his eyes filled with a deep sense of desperation. "I am aware of the principles I have taught, Devi Niyati. Yet, I also recognize that the fabric of time is complex, and the threads of cause and effect are intertwined. I ask not for a reversal of fate but an opportunity to restart the cycle of Dwaparayug. Grant this boon, dear sister, and I shall be eternally grateful."

Devi Niyati's form shimmered as if the very fabric of reality was being rewoven. Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of countless possibilities. "If I am to alter the course of time, it must be done from the beginning or at a pivotal moment in Dwaparayug. The consequences will be far-reaching, and the price will be steep. Are you prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead, Narayan?"

Narayan's smile was a testament to his unwavering resolve, yet his eyes betrayed a deep trepidation. "I am prepared, Devi Niyati. I will replay the role of Krishna, guiding and supporting those who seek to uphold Dharma. Mahadev, will you take on the task of pausing Kaliyug, ensuring that the fabric of time remains intact?"

The Cosmic Reckoning

Mahadev's silence was suffocating, crushing the celestial beings beneath its weight. They begged, their voices laced with desperation: "Help us, Mahadev, please."

Mahadev's deep sigh was a harbinger of the apocalypse: "The Entire Yug cannot be taken care of, Narayan. Time is fleeting, and Kali's darkness threatens to consume the people of Kaliyug. Your presence in Dwaparayug will shatter the cosmic balance, rewriting the story of Krishna. The consequences will be cataclysmic."

Mahadev's gaze locked onto Devi Niyati, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Devi, I'm MahaKaal, the embodiment of time itself. For the betterment of the world, I'm willing to help you reach 200-250 years before the birth of Shri Krishna in Dwaparayug. Is that acceptable to you, Devi?"

Devi Niyati's response was a cold, calculated whisper. "No, Mahadev, that's not how it works. I cannot leave the universe in an imbalanced state. If my help is needed, then celestial beings must aid me on my terms. Remember, Mahadev, everyone seeking my help must pay the price and the dues."

Dev Raj Purandar's eagerness was palpable, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Yes, Mata, we are ready. Please tell us how we can pay the price."

Tridev's chuckle was a low, ominous rumble while the celestial beings looked on, their faces etched with embarrassment. Devi Niyati's smile was a gentle whisper laced with a hint of malevolence. "No one knows me better than myself, Dev Raj. Not even Tridev, for I have always played with the threads of their lives. I know their deepest fears, their darkest secrets. And I will use that knowledge to shape the course of destiny."

Chandra Dev's voice was laced with a hint of desperation. "No, Devi, we are ready. Anything. Everything. You want my son Varchas to be born as Abhimanyu, take him. I'm prepared to make the sacrifice."

Devi Niyati's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound, her eyes glinting with a hint of madness. "No need for that, Chandra Dev. But remember, my game is very different from how Narayan will play. And Narayan, you must help me fully this time while I try not to unleash a maelstrom of pain upon you."

The celestial beings exchanged terrified glances, their faces ashen. Devi Niyati's words hung in the air like a challenge, a test of their resolve.

"For every Gyaan I give, for every word I speak, the Niyati of everyone will change. But when the question is asked, and if they fail, Niyati will repeat the same Karma - DEATH. And this time, the price is not heaven but a fate worse than hell."

The celestial beings gasped, their voices barely above a whisper. "What do you mean, Devi?"

Devi Niyati's smile was a cold, calculated whisper. "If they commit the same mistake or sin in their journey, they won't even belong to hell. They will live the lives of nameless souls until Mahadev destroys the universe."

The Fate's Reckoning

The celestial beings trembled, their voices barely above a whisper. "Mahadev?" The weight of their decision hung in the air like a guillotine, poised to strike.

Devi Lakshmi's voice was a haunting reminder, a mournful whisper that sent shivers down their spines. "We told you, the price is high. Are you prepared to pay it?"

The Goddess of Fate's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, her gaze piercing the souls of the celestial beings. "Now, are you ready to play the game with Niyati?" Her voice was a low, thrumming hum, like the vibration of a harp string.

The celestial beings exchanged terrified glances, their faces etched with fear, their hearts heavy with foreboding. "As you wish, Mata," they whispered in unison, their voices trembling like leaves in an autumn gale.

Narayan's eyes locked onto Devi Niyati, and his voice was laced with a hint of trepidation, a thread of uncertainty that threatened to unravel the very fabric of fate. "I feel you are pleased, my dear sister."

Devi Niyati's laughter was a chilling whisper that sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest celestial beings. Her eyes glinted with a hint of madness, a spark of divine insanity that threatened to consume them all.

"Oh yes, Narayan. I'm ecstatic. This time, the stakes are higher than ever before. The story is the same, but the way it flows is different. Be prepared, Narayan. Even you don't know how I will be born as a mortal woman."

The celestial beings held their collective breath as Devi Niyati vanished into the cosmic expanse, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty, a sense of foreboding that hung in the air like a challenge. Tridev's expression was a mixture of fascination and fear, knowing that the stakes were astronomically high.

A sense of dread settled over the gathering, a feeling that once Devi Niyati was born, the fabric of fate would be irreparably altered. The future would be uncertain, and destiny would hang in the balance. The cosmos seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the birth of Devi Niyati, the mortal woman who would wield the power of fate. The fabric of reality trembled, anticipating the cataclysmic events that would unfold. The celestial beings knew that they had crossed a point of no return and that the consequences of their actions would be catastrophic.