" Who are the Eight Immortals?’ asked Adhyapika. ‘One of them is Ashwatthama, the son of guru Drona. He was given immortality not as a boon but as a curse for his misdeeds. Then there’s Vyasa, the sage who narrated the Mahabharata. He was born in Tretayug, lived through Dwaparyug and Kalyug. Also there is the Asura King Bali whose pious deeds on earth provided him with the boon of being able to visit his subjects once a year during Onam.’ ‘That’s only three,’ said Adhyapika. ‘Well, the fourth is Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother. He was made immortal in order to maintain morality and righteousness in Lanka. Fifth, there’s Kripa, the kulguru of the Kurus. His impartiality towards all of his students was the reason for his immortality. And sixth, Parshurama, the master of astras, shastras and celestial weapons. He is waiting for Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, to appear so that he may train him in warfare. Seventh is Markendeya, a devotee of Shiva who was granted immortality by him when Shiva and Yama fought each other. Finally, there’s me, the eighth.’ ‘But why were all of you in Ashoka’s "

― Ashwin Sanghi , The Sialkot Saga