Bhokal aka Alok, the prince of fairyland, is known for his different types of stories and powers. He had the powers given by Mahaguru Bhokal – like the ability to fly, immense power, and that magical shield and sword. But the biggest quality of Bhokal’s stories was not just his powers, but the Indian mythological stories and moral lessons reflected in them.
The name of the comic we are going to talk about today is “Divyastra”. This is counted among the best stories of Bhokal. This comic, published in 1997 and written by Sanjay Gupta, is not just a story full of action and adventure, but shows a test of bravery, devotion, sacrifice, wisdom, and patience that transforms Bhokal from a common hero to a true megastar.
Essence of the story: One word and one big purpose
The foundation of “Divyastra” is laid on a very emotional moment. At the beginning of the story, we get a glimpse of Bhokal’s past – how he lost both his birth mother and fairy mother. But fate gave him the love of a third mother. Initially, Bhokal considered her a witch, but that same loving mother pulled him out of death and gave him life again. While leaving, the mother tells him the secret of the divine weapons left on earth by the gods. These divine weapons were made to erase the incarnation of some great and terrible sin.
Bhokal had promised that even if he lost his life, he would definitely get those divine weapons. This promise takes this entire story forward. Bhokal’s aim is not personal, but to protect all of humanity. For this great work, he sets out towards the mysterious and scary Manism Valley, where Divyastra is hidden. His real test starts from here.
The Search for Divyastras: The Real Test of Strength, Understanding, and Character
This comic is not like a simple adventure. To reach every Divyastra, Bhokal has to face different challenges, and every time a new aspect of his personality is tested. Author Sanjay Gupta has written these examinations in such a way that every challenge becomes different and memorable.
First examination (Garuda and Sudarshan Chakra):
Bhokal’s first encounter is with a giant Garuda, who can speak like a human. There is a fierce fight between the two for a while, but then Bhokal hears the voice of his conscience and realizes that it is not an ordinary bird. He immediately stops the fight and bows down to salute Garuda. This was his real test of intelligence and humility.
Then Garuda Dev comes in his true form and tells him that he is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, and the Lord himself had sent him to test Bhokal. He is happy to see Bhokal’s humility and gives him a special book, which will help him find the Divyastras.
With the help of this book, Bhokal reaches the Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna. But the Chakra is being protected by a terrible lion. Bhokal uses his power and pushes the lion into the circle. The very next moment, the Chakra cuts the lion into pieces.
Now the real difficulty was to achieve the Chakra in front. It was revolving so fast that as soon as anyone went closer, it would pull them in and tear them apart. But Bhokal showed his wisdom here. He thought – when Lord Vishnu holds it on his index finger, the same method should be adopted. He gathered courage, moved his finger forward, and controlled the Chakra. Immediately, the Chakra calmed down and landed on his finger.
This test was not just of strength, but it tested both Bhokal’s intelligence and faith.
Second examination (trident):
The next divine weapon was the trident of Lord Shiva. But it was hidden behind an invisible wall. Bhokal gives full strength, but the wall does not break. After repeated attempts, he understands that where forceful power becomes useless, the path of devotion has to be adopted.
This is where the story takes a new turn. For the first time, Bhokal rises above physical strength and resorts to spiritual strength. He makes a Shivalinga there and starts worshiping Lord Shiva with full devotion.
But the test of devotion is not so easy! Instead of Lord Shiva, his vehicle Nandi appears, that too in a fierce form. Nandi attacks Bhokal. Here Bhokal’s courage and tolerance are truly tested. He bears every blow and bleeds, but does not give up worship and his faith.
Finally, Nandi calms down upon seeing his unwavering reverence and hands him the trident of Lord Shiva. This test shows that true devotion lies not only in worship but also in standing firm on one’s faith even in the most difficult situations.
Third test (Pinak bow):
It was written in the book that “sacrifice” is necessary to get the Pinaka bow of Lord Shiva. The condition was that the place should be anointed with the blood of a brave man. But there was no other brave man there except Bhokal.
Without the slightest hesitation, Bhokal decides to sacrifice himself for the betterment of humanity. He is about to pick up the dagger and cut his throat when Pinak Dhanush himself appears in front of him.
Actually, this was his test—can he really sacrifice his life for such a big task? And Bhokal succeeds in this examination. This was the biggest example of sacrifice and selflessness.
Fourth and fifth examinations (mace and Pashupatastra):
After this, Bhokal needs Hanuman ji’s mace. For this, he has to worship Goddess Kali. Here he is tested through a fierce battle with demons. Bhokal faces them with complete bravery and acquires the mace.
Then comes the turn of Lord Ganesha’s Pashupatastra. For this, Bhokal faces a giant beast, i.e., a bear. But here Bhokal does not rely only on his strength. He shows respect and reverence towards Ganapati, and seeing this, the bear calms down. It is clearly understood from this incident that not every problem is solved by sword or fight. Sometimes reverence, respect, and the right attitude can eliminate even the most difficult obstacles.
Final examination (Vajra):
At last comes the turn of Indra Dev’s thunderbolt. For this, Bhokal faces snakes and humans. They are protecting an ascetic sage. Bhokal fights them, but takes full care that no one dies and the sage’s penance is not broken.
This was the real test of both his restraint and fighting skills. Seeing this behavior of Bhokal, Indra Dev becomes very happy and offers him a thunderbolt.
Art and portraiture
The biggest strength of this comic is its artwork, which has been created by Kadam Studio. The special identity of Raj Comics of the nineties is visible here at its peak. Bhokal’s powerful body, his golden wings, and facial expressions look so alive that while reading it seems as if everything is happening in front of the eyes.
Action scenes are amazing, whether it’s a war in the air with Garuda, a brutal fight with Nandi, or a bloody fight with demons. Every scene is tremendous and full of thrill. The depiction of divine weapons is also wonderful, especially the fast speed of Sudarshan Chakra and the divine glow of the Trishul are worth seeing.
The use of colors is bright and extremely attractive, which gives more depth to the mythological and fantasy atmosphere of the story. The layout of the panels is so good that the pace of the story never slows down, and the reader does not feel bored even for a moment.
Writing and messaging
The backbone of this comic is its writing, which has been created by Sanjay Gupta. He filled the search for a simple purpose, Divyastra, with so much depth and layers that the story became not just an adventure, but an inspirational saga.
The dialogues are short, have a direct impact, and fit perfectly for the nature of each character. But the real treasure of this comic is its message. It shows that physical strength alone is not enough to become a real hero. A true hero is one who has qualities like intelligence, humility, devotion, sacrifice, respect, and restraint.
Bhokal passes all these examinations and stands as an ideal in front of the readers.
Overall, this comic is a spectacular celebration of Indian culture and mythology. Reading it makes us realize how much depth there is in our old stories and how many big inspiring messages we can find in them.
Conclusion
“Divyastra” is not just a comic, but an entire epic story. It gives more depth to Bhokal’s character and makes him one of the most mature and powerful heroes of Raj Comics. It has tremendous action, exciting adventure, the fun of fantasy, and also a beautiful combination of spirituality. The story progresses quickly, the artwork is excellent, and its message is heart-touching.
This comic is read today with the same freshness and impact as it was in its era. It is a journey of nostalgia for the old readers, while a great opportunity for the new generation to connect with the world of Indian superheroes.
If you want to read a story that takes you on an exciting journey and also teaches you moral values, then definitely read “Divyastra”. This Raj Comics gem is the shining star of the golden era of comics, which always reminds us why Bhokal still holds a special place in the hearts of comics lovers.
