*****
Mitrasen, who had returned to Vaishali from Takshashila and was staying in the palace premises, was given the responsibility to speak to Amogh. Mitrasen was also faced with the task to give explanations to his own wife Vrushali…. Amogh and Vrushali were equally shocked to discover the truth… A strange silence gripped the entire royal palace of Vrij. Rikshavi had confined herself to her chambers. It seemed to her that she had lost her identity. Suddenly, her Taat was not her father, and her Maa was not her mother anymore… Some strangers were her actual parents… Queen Bhairavi was also in a state of frenzy. Though she lovingly met Amogh, her long estranged son, she became reclusive and refused to meet King Vrajesh. Amogh was shifted to his royal chambers in the palace. He also grappled with his newfound status as the Prince of Vrij…. King Vrajesh tried to take Baijaamaa’s help to console Queen Bhairavi, but in vain…
*****
“Why have you come here Maa? Do you want me to move into the chambers of Mitrasenji?” Rikshavi sarcastically asked as she turned her back to Queen Bhairavi. Rikshavi had not yet met her actual parents. She was seething with anger. She felt cheated. “No my dear…” said Bhairavi with a heavy voice, “You will always remain my daughter and the Princess of Vrij…. But I think you should at least meet Vrushali. Even she was unaware of all this, just like us… We have all been deceived by our destinies, child….” “Not by our destinies, Maa… By His Highness King Vrajesh!” Rikshavi bitterly exclaimed. “He is your father Rikshavi. He has brought you up! You cannot speak about him like this!” Queen Bhairavi rebuked Rikshavi… “He did it to protect the heir of Vrij, the future King!” Bhairavi said… “We cannot blame him, child! He did what was necessary…” “Then why are you not speaking to him?” Rikshavi asked. “He could have shared this with me earlier, Rikshavi. The relationship of a husband and wife is based on trust. He did not trust me! You will not understand this hurt, child. You will know when you get married…” Bhairavi tearily replied. She hugged the sobbing Rikshavi and consoled her. Both of them silently proceeded to meet Vrushali.
As Rikshavi confronted her, Vrushali broke down. Rikshavi did not know how to react to this lady, who was her actual mother! She was meeting her for the first time… “Please move to the chambers of the palace with Mitrasenji, Vrushali!” Queen Bhairavi requested, “After all, you are the parents of the Prince and the Princess of Vrij!”…..
*****
Amogh listlessly walked through the corridors of the palace. The turn of events had completely shaken him….. He now had an extremely strange legal relation with Rikshavi…. He was the prince of Vrij by birth. She was the princess of Vrij by the laws of adoption…. His parents had brought her up…. Was she then his sister? The thought was immensely repelling. Her images still haunted him in his tranquil moments. But desiring her suddenly looked incestuous… “Is the prince hood worth this pain?” he thought to himself as he clutched Rikshavi’s payal. He was rather happy being Mitrasen’s son… If he could change destiny, he would have given up the kingdom for the sake of his love… Hot tears rolled out from his sleep deprived eyes…. “Damn!” he muttered and threw away the ornament…..
*****
“We need to talk…” Bhairavi hesitantly said. Amogh listlessly stared at her… His eyes were red. His cheeks were stained with incessant tears. Bhairavi’s heart pained to see her son in this condition…. She had finally gathered the courage to enter the prince’s chambers… Though she was his biological mother, they so far shared a largely formal relation.
Amogh came back to his senses after a few moments. “What brings you here, Your Highness?” he politely asked. “Maa… I am your Maa…” she insisted. Amogh weakly smiled. “What brings you here Maa?” he repeated. Bhairavi simply opened her fist. It revealed a gold ornament… “Rikshavi’s payal!” Amogh instantly recognized the ornament which he had lovingly preserved. He looked aside to hide his tears which obstinately flowed out in spite of his best efforts… Bhairavi placed a hand on his shoulder. “She is your sister, my son!” she said in a soft voice… “And she is in love with your friend, Vikram!”
Amogh sharply looked back at his mother. “Yes, dear…” Bhairavi weakly continued, “I have raised Rikshavi… No one understands her better than me…”
Amogh collapsed on the floor… Bhairavi cradled his head in her lap and let him cry his heart out. She knew that tears could be the only relief for a broken heart….
*****
CHAPTER 9
LOVE BECKONS…
“Truth is stranger than fiction!” exclaimed Vikram as he heard about the recent incidents from Amogh. The friends had hardly met at leisure since they had come to Vaishali. Vikram had just returned from Kaawar. He was blissfully unaware of Amogh’s attraction towards Rikshavi.
“You will blurt out your philosophy everywhere!” teased Amogh, “God knows what Rikshavi fancied in you…”
Vikram turned red with embarrassment at the mention of Rikshavi… “How did you know?” he asked. Amogh laughed. “Almost everybody knows, Vikram, maybe except the King. Everyone has seen you two roaming around in the gardens everyday..” he said.
“Well.... We used to meet casually… Rikshavi wanted to know more about Philosophy…” Vikram tried to cover up.
“Really?” Amogh asked with a mischievous smile. Both the friends laughed and embraced each other.
“How is Rikshavi?” Vikram tenderly asked. “She is not very good. She has become bad-tempered and irritable. Queen Bhairavi has requested you to meet her as soon as possible….” Amogh said. “Queen Bhairavi? Does she also know?” Vikram asked with surprise… “Yes you fool!” Amogh chuckled. “She feels that Rikshavi has become so irritable because she is missing her dear friend in these trying times…” he added with a wink, “Go and meet her, my friend!”
*****
“Greetings, Rikshavi!” Vikram said as he spotted Rikshavi walking in the palace gardens at their usual meeting time. “Greetings! How are you? Rikshavi replied. She hid her delight with great difficulty. “So how was your trip to Kaawar? How is Acharya Birendra? she asked. “The trip was good. Uncle Birendra is doing well…” Vikram answered. There was a clumsy silence between the two for a while. They kept walking silently.
“And how is Chaitra? She must have grown up now!” Rikshavi broke the silence. She tried to sound casual, but her voice revealed her apprehensions. “Oh yes, she is good. I played with her and gave her a doll as a gift” Vikram replied with a mischievous smile… Rikshavi looked at him quizzically… “She plays with dolls at this age?” she murmured. “Of course Rikshavi, Chaitra is barely ten years old now. She was a baby when Uncle Birendra left Takshashila…” Vikram replied. He had a broad smile on his face. Rikshavi’s face suddenly lit up. “So Chaitra is not a young girl, but a kid…” Her thoughts reflected on her face.
Vikram had sensed Rikshavi’s envy. It was obvious that she was in love with him, just like he was in love with her…. Their eyes met...
“I think you should get married to me before I am really taken by another beautiful young girl!” Vikram said, as he looked at her with a mischievous smile. Rikshavi laughed. “Which other girl is going to bear your boring philosophy, Vikram? I don’t think any other girl has that kind of patience…. Besides that, I am a Princess… Princesses don’t marry unless you fulfill the conditions of their swayamvara….” she said.
Vikram smiled. “So what is the condition of your swayamvara, Princess?” he playfully asked, bowing to Rikshavi. “Please don’t make me do some feat in archery though… Find out something easier…!” he chuckled….
Rikshavi suddenly looked forlorn. “I am no more a Princess, Vikram! Actually, I never was a Princess! I am the daughter of Mitrasen” she tearily said. Vikram tenderly held her hand. “I know everything, Rikshavi” he said, “Amogh told me about it. Indeed, strange are the ways of destiny! Had you come to Takshashila with Mitrasenji, we would have met much earlier…” Rikshavi smiled at Vikram. Their eyes met once ag
ain. Vikram moved closer and tenderly kissed her forehead, holding her in his arms. She swiftly moved away before he reached her lips. Vikram did not let go of her.
“When will you come and meet my father?” Rikshavi asked. “Which one?” Vikram asked in return. Both of them laughed….
*****
“I would be happy to give you my daughter’s hand, Vikram. But it would be more appropriate to seek the approval of King Vrajesh. After all, he has brought up Rikshavi…” Mitrasen told Vikram. Vikram looked worried. “I am a common Brahmin, Mitrasenji… Will King Vrajesh agree to our marriage?” he apprehensively asked. “Rikshavi’s wishes matter the most to the royal couple…” Mitrasen thoughtfully replied, “And history indeed has instances of Kshatriya women marrying Brahmin men! I will accompany you when you meet King Vrajesh…”
Vikram felt relieved.
*****
“What do you do for a living, my boy?” King Vrajesh asked Vikram. “I am a teacher, Your Highness! I am the disciple of Acharya Dhaumya… I have learnt philosophy, history and military science. I have taken up a teaching assignment in Takshashila. I will be leaving for Takshashila after a month” Vikram replied.
Queen Bhairavi, Prime Minister Prabhavsen, Mitrasen and Vrushali sat around in silence. Vrajesh’s face lit up as he heard the name of Acharya Dhaumya. “This boy would be useful…” he thought. “Rikshavi also wants to marry him, Your Highness…” Queen Bhairavi softly added, breaking into the King’s thoughts. “But will you be happy if I send your daughter to a far-away land, Bhairavi? You will not be able to meet her for years!” Vrajesh asked her. Bhairavi sighed. “He is Rikshavi’s choice, Your Highness!” she said.
“I have a condition!” the King said after a long pause. “Tell me, Your Highness!” Vikram calmly replied as everyone watched the two. “I always wanted to create an excellent learning centre in Vrij like Takshashila…. a University…. I want you to oversee this project and teach there!” Vikram was pleasantly surprised. He looked at Mitrasen, who nodded affirmatively. “I would be privileged to handle this project, Your Highness!” he responded.
“So be it, then!” Vrajesh exclaimed, “We would be happy to give our daughter to you in marriage, Vikram!” “I am grateful to you, Your Highness!” Vikram said with gratitude. “Prabhavsenji, kindly summon Acharya Devak, so that we can decide on an auspicious day for the wedding ceremony…” King Vrajesh ordered his Prime Minister.
*****
A small engagement ceremony was arranged for Vikram and Rikshavi in the royal palace of Vrij. Acharya Devak decided an auspicious day for the wedding, which was around three months later. The coronation of Prince Amogh was also planned two days after the wedding, as per the directions of Acharya Devak. Prime Minister Prabhavsen got busy assigning work to people for the grand wedding and the coronation of the Prince of Vrij. Architects were also summoned to prepare a plan for a University in Vrij. A place near Kaawar was finalized. The royal palace of Vrij was buzzing with activity…..
*****
CHAPTER 10
THE KSHATRIYA CODE
“None of my family members have ever entered this Sheshagara, my son!” Vrajesh said to Vikram in a grave tone, as Prabhavsen looked on. “I am honoured to get an opportunity to be here, Your Highness!” Vikram politely replied to the King. He gazed at the stand in the corner. Prabhavsen was astonished to notice that Vikram’s eyes did not have any awe. Vikram looked at the stand as if he had been seeing it since his childhood. His hand pined to touch it, but he controlled himself. “Acharya Dhaumya’s name has worked…” he thought to himself. He had not expected to enter the Sheshagara so soon.
“What do you think about it, my boy? Vrij will be ever grateful to you if you could help us in restoring our heritage…” Vrajesh continued, pointing towards the stand. The King’s words sent an angry pulse in Vikram’s head…. “Heritage?! How can this man steal something and call it his heritage?” he reminisced. “I will put in my best efforts, Your Highness!” Vikram replied, quickly regaining his composure. “This boy is indeed not as eccentric as his Guru…” the King thought. “What can you make out of this verse?” the King questioned him further. Vikram looked back at the verse…
Om Sudarshanaya Vidmahe
Mahajwalaya Dhimahi
Tanno Chakra Prachodayat
“This is a typical Rigvedic format, Your Highness!” Vikram answered, “I will give you an example…” Vikram went on to recite another verse…
Om Narayanaya Vidmahe
Vasudevaya Dhimahi
Tanno Vishnu Prachodayat
“This means –
We will perceive Narayan,
We will meditate upon Vasudev,
Through which Vishnu will enlighten us.
The verse uses three different name of the same deity - Narayan, Vasudev and Vishnu are one and the same… The verse says that meditating upon him will enlighten us!”
Vrajesh looked at Vikram with wide eyes as he tried to grasp the implications of what he had just said. He again translated the verse on the base plate in his mind…
We will perceive the Sudarshana,
We will meditate upon the enormous flame,
Through which the chakra will enlighten us.
“Do you mean to say that ‘Sudarshana’, ‘enormous flame’ and ‘chakra’ are one and the same?!” Vrajesh asked with astonishment.
“Yes, Your Highness!” Vikram calmly replied.
“This indeed complicates my search…” Vrajesh exclaimed.
“I cannot decipher the hidden meaning of this verse, Your Highness! But I will certainly try…” Vikram said.
“May God bless you, son!” Vrajesh contentedly said.
“The meaning is beyond the bounds of your intellect, O foolish King!” Vikram thought to himself, as he left the Sheshagara. His eyes brimmed with tears as he remembered that beautiful day of his childhood…….
*****
Little Vikram curiously fidgeted with the knob on the wall behind the ‘shivlinga’ idol in the temple. “What are you upto, young man?” the priest of the temple asked his son, as he entered the ‘garbhagriha’.
Vikram was startled. He looked down and awkwardly fiddled with the ‘janeu’, the sacred thread which hung on his shoulder. His heart was filled with guilt. His father smilingly placed a hand on his shoulder. “Never let your curiosity get better of your virtues, my child!” he said. He slowly turned the knob on the wall. “The time has come to tell you about this son!” he said, as he opened a cavity in the wall.
The father and son were unaware of a Vrijian spy who had been moving around the temple during those quiet afternoon hours…. The spy soon realized that the temple housed a secret treasure….
The cavity in the wall gradually opened. The large vertical hollow on the other side revealed one of the most magnificent objects that Vikram had ever seen. “You will have the responsibility of protecting this heritage after me…. Until it is time for its destined owner to claim it!” the serene priest said, “Now that you have seen it, you have to take a vow that you shall always keep this a secret…. Only some privileged human beings have known about this. It’s a legacy of the Lord…”
*****
“Greetings!” Prabhavsen called out as he saw Vikram in the royal garden. He was obviously waiting for Rikshavi. Vikram politely greeted the Prime Minister, but his reluctance was apparent.
“I will not take a lot of your time…” Prabhavsen cheerfully said. “You are welcome to take as much time as you want, Sir!” Vikram politely replied. “Well...” said the Prime Minister, “I am really impressed by your expertise in philosophy… I wanted to ask you something, just out of curiosity….” Vikram was startled, but he kept a straight face. “Sure, Sir!” he said. “Acharya Dhaumya had mentioned about some ‘Kshatriya code’.” Prabhavsen said, “The King thinks that this is some eccentric idea invented by the sage himself. But I do believe in his words. Do you know about the ‘Kshatriya code’ Vikram?”
Vik
ram took a deep breath. “Yes, Prabhavsenji… I know about it…” he said in a deep voice, “For centuries, Kshatriyas have followed a fundamental code of conduct… they would wage wars or fight battles either for their rights or glory, not for land…”
Prabhavsen was intrigued. “Can you elaborate a little?” he eagerly requested. “The war of Kurukshetra was waged by the Pandavs for their rights”, Vikram said… “Before that, battles were generally conducted after the ritual of ‘yagnya’, a fire sacrifice made to attain eternal glory. The King who conducted such a ritual challenged other kings for a battle. The other kings could either accept his suzerainty or fight him. After the ritual concluded and the battles were over, the victorious king would organize celebrations and feasts. Even the defeated kings were respectfully invited for such a ceremony. They were respectfully reinstated in their thrones. After being defeated, they were not deprived of their kingdoms, but only their glory. If a king died in a battle, his eldest son would be put on the throne. The vanquished kingdoms had to pay a tribute to the victorious king and accept his suzerainty… That was the sole consequence of a battle… nothing more…”
“We follow this conduct even today, Vikram!” Prabhavsen exclaimed, “Though we do not conduct rituals like the ‘yagnya’ anymore, we do not deprive any king of his kingdom even today. The vanquished king has to accept the suzerainty of the victorious king and pay him a tribute… Even King Vrajesh follows this code…. We have not deprived any of the defeated kings from their kingdoms… they are our vassal states now, but their kings continue to rule them….”
“That is exactly what we call ‘the Kshatriya code’!” Vikram exclaimed. “Thanks a lot, son!” Prabhavsen thanked him and left. Vikram smilingly looked at the wise old Prime Minister. “Only if the King had such prudence!” he sighed.
The Rigveda Code Page 10