“That is phenomenal!” Vrushasen exclaimed. Rikshavi and Vikram smiled. “That is not all, Vrushasen!” Vikram added, “A common corridor shall run along all the four compounds. Across the corridor on the other side, we shall have laid out gardens, fountains and artificial ponds. These gardens shall have study rooms for students and also some recreational facilities!” “I am mighty impressed!” Vrushasen remarked, “But what would be the University’s student capacity?” he asked. “We expect to start with around five hundred students. But at its peak capacity, this University campus would accommodate five thousand students!” Rikshavi replied.
Indeed, the University of Kaawar was planned to be one of its kind in the entire Bharatkhanda. Even Takshashila did not have such an organized learning facility….
“Would students from outside Vrij be also allowed to study here, Princess?” Vrushasen asked. “We would welcome students and teachers from all across the Bharatkhanda, Vrushasen! Just like Takshashila!” Rikshavi enthusiastically replied. Vikram let out a discreet sigh, but Rikshavi noticed it. “What’s the matter, Vikram?” she asked. “Well…” said Vikram apprehensively, “Gandhaar has the political stability which makes Takshashila an ideal learning centre…. Locationally, its mountain terrain makes it unattractive for a foreign attack. Hence education can freely flourish there… I am not sure whether we would be able to create a similar political stability here in Kaawar…..” Rikshavi looked unaffected by Vikram’s words. She was too happy to be cynical. “Thank you for your analysis, O great teacher of military science!” she said, as she bowed down to Vikram with mock respect. Vikram laughed.
“This is my dream, Vikram! And my heart tells me that it is going to come true. We all will make it happen!” Rikshavi cheerily said. “To begin with, let’s think of making those cowsheds usable now!” Vrushasen added. Everyone laughed heartily…
*****
“The military of a kingdom generally consists of infantry and cavalry. Infantry consists of soldiers on foot, who engage in a direct combat with the enemy. The cavalry consists of soldiers who ride and fight on horsebacks. The armies of some modern kingdoms like Vrij also have a branch called artillery. This branch of the army is equipped with lethal long range weapons which can destroy large sections of the enemy’s army at once..….” Rikshavi could hear her husband Vikram delivering a lecture on military science. She was sitting by the wall of the temple courtyard, gazing at the waves of the lake through a canopy of gently swaying trees. Acharya Birendra had allowed them to take classes in the temple courtyard during afternoons. It was late afternoon, and Rikshavi mirthfully watched the fading sunrays dance on the waves of the lake. She kept alternating her gaze between the lake and her husband.
“Is artillery the most critical section of an army, Sir?” a student’s question caught Rikshavi’s attention. She looked intently at her husband who pondered over the query. “No…” Vikram firmly asserted, “The most critical section of an army is always the infantry…” The student was puzzled. “Pardon me Acharya!” he said, “But I beg to differ… Wouldn’t the artillery be the most powerful section of an army? It has lethal weaponry which can destroy large sections of the enemy’s army. You yourself told us about this sometime back, Sir!”
Vikram smiled. “You are right in saying that artillery is the most powerful section of the army, my dear! But it is not the most important section!” The student looked even more puzzled. “Students!” Vikram addressed his class in a clear, firm voice, “Always remember that artillery can destroy, but only infantry can occupy! In the end, a battle or a war is always won by the infantry…. In an army, there is no weapon more lethal than a motivated soldier, and there is no danger more imminent than a selfish, unmotivated soldier. No army, howsoever technologically superior, can hold ground without its infantry! Your infantry has to be skilled, strong and motivated towards a single objective – victory! It should consist of men with superior abilities who are ready to face the brutalities of war combat – men who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice!” The students listened with rapt attention.
“So would it be correct to say Sir, that in spite of the technologically superior artillery of Vrij, which is feared across the entire Bharatkhanda, its infantry still remains critical to its success in a battle?” the same student asked again. Vikram’s face turned pale for a moment. “Absolutely right!” Vikram quickly regained his composure and calmly replied.
Rikshavi could read Vikram’s changing expressions…. Something was amiss… But she was also impressed with the student’s intellect. She turned to him for the time being. “What is your name, dear student?” she asked. “Vasumna!” the boy replied with folded hands. “May God bless you!” Rikshavi said. “Don’t you attend archery classes?” she asked, “I have not seen you there!” “I have already learnt some archery techniques!” Vasumna proudly replied. “Who taught you archery?” Rikshavi asked. “Daara, the head of tribals!” Vasumna replied.
Rikshavi was astonished…. She knew that the tribals too had traditional knowledge in archery, but this boy was certainly not a tribal. Yet, Daara had been generous enough to teach him. This was so unlike the vain Kshatriyas and Brahmins, who refused to impart knowledge to other communities, especially tribals.
“I certainly would like to attend your archery classes! But I have a condition!” Vasumna suddenly said, breaking into Rikshavi’s thoughts. Rikshavi was rather amused. This was a rare instance where a student was citing conditions to a teacher! “And what is your condition, boy?” she asked. “You should grant me one wish if I defeat you in archery some day!” Rikshavi was amazed at the boy’s confidence. “Your wish would be certainly granted, dear student, if you can actually defeat me in archery!” she said with a confident smile. “I am obliged, my lady! I will be there at the archery class tomorrow!” Vasumna enthusiastically replied, oblivious to Rikshavi’s sarcasm. Before Rikshavi could respond, Vasumna swiftly bowed down and walked away.
The other students also took leave of their teacher as evening fell. Acharya Birendra entered the temple courtyard and started lighting the lamps of the temple. Vikram sat by the courtyard wall. Anxiety had returned to his face…… Rikshavi looked at Vikram and then gazed at the overpowering idol of Goddess Durga, as it lit up in the glow of lamps. “Protect the kingdom of Vrij!” her heart prayed… The Princess of Vrij folded her hands and bowed down before the Goddess.
*****
“Aren’t we going home?” Rikshavi asked Vikram as she saw him gazing at the setting sun across the lake. The evening sky had turned into hues of orange. “Isn’t this beautiful?” Vikram asked. “Yes!” Rikshavi smiled. “You know, the early morning sky at dawn does not look much different than this!” Vikram said as he looked at Rikshavi. Rikshavi was startled. She seemed to understand, but looked away. “The sun which rises at dawn; sets at dusk, only to rise again the next morning… Hence, we should not fear dusk…” Vikram said, as the two kept walking towards home. His words sounded more like a monologue rather than a conversation. Baijaamaa waited for them at the door of their house. The sun had almost set, and the couple appeared like two black specs against the backdrop of the orange sky……
*****
The night sky was lit up with a bright full moon. Streams of moonlight entered through the window. Rikshavi got up and pulled the curtains. She tried to fall asleep, but in vain. She twisted and turned in her bed. Vikram heard his wife jostle besides him. “What’s the matter Princess?” he asked her teasingly, “Is this humble bed not comfortable enough for the Princess of Vrij?” Rikshavi gave an angry glance to her husband and turned to the other side. Vikram could notice her angry face in the dim moonlight. He realized that his wife was in no mood for any teasing. He gently ran his fingers through her hair. “What’s the matter Rikshavi? Why are you so uneasy?” he asked.
Rikshavi looked back at him. Her eyes had brimmed with tears. “Do you think that Vrij is vulnerable, Vikram? Can it not withstand the onslaught of the looming battles
with Kosal and Magadh?” she asked. Her words quivered with apprehension. Vikram suddenly sat up and walked towards the window. He gently opened the curtains and let the moonlight in. Rikshavi followed him. “Answer me Vikram….” Rikshavi persisted, as Vikram stood by the window, gazing outside. “What do you think Rikshavi?” he questioned back, without turning towards her. “Vrij is known to be the most powerful kingdom in the entire Bharatkhanda, Vikram” Rikshavi said, “My Taat, King Vrajesh, has developed powerful artillery within the Vrijian army. The Vrijian artillery consists of unique and technologically superior weaponry. No one in Bharatkhanda owns such weapons. The kingdoms across Bharatkhanda fear the military might of Vrij!” “Your words lack conviction, Rikshavi…. If Vrij is militarily so powerful, why are you so worried?” Vikram asked.
Rikshavi looked crestfallen. “I don’t know, Vikram” she said, “But I have a strange inkling that something is amiss… And I know Vikram, you are hiding something from me…. Something you know about Vrij…. Please tell me about it!” As Rikshavi pleaded, Vikram turned back and looked at her. His face had hardened. The dim moonlight highlighted the grave look on his face. “Sadly, the military might of Vrij is a myth, Rikshavi!” he calmly said. Rikshavi was shocked. “Why do you say so, Vikram?” she asked. “It is true that Vrij has the most powerful and technologically superior weapons. It is also true that Vajrasen is one of the best commanders an army could have...” Vikram said, “But the Vrijian army lacks something very critical…” “Infantry?!” Rikshavi asked. “Yes!” Vikram said, “the Vrijian army does not have enough infantry on its rolls… It heavily relies on mercenaries…” “Who are mercenaries?” Rikshavi asked. “Mercenaries are soldiers who are not on the payrolls of the kingdom. They are hired by the kingdom only at the time of battles and wars. They may not essentially be the citizens of the kingdom. Many tribes in the North of Bharatkhanda provide such mercenaries to various kingdoms, in times of war” Vikram said. “So how are such people harmful for the army?” Rikshavi asked. “The sole motivation of such mercenaries is the pay that they receive for participating in war… They have no attachment to the kingdom, nor any feeling of loyalty towards their commander or the king…..” Vikram said, “Hence they are not inclined to take risks which can turn the tide of the battle… It is also difficult for a commander to effectively deploy and control an army which has a huge section of mercenary soldiers. This also results in lack of cohesion within the army… An army with a larger proportion of mercenaries can be easily disrupted….”
Rikshavi blankly stared outside the window…... A strange silence befell the room. A cool breeze gently blew from the window. But Rikshavi had broken into sweat. “Haven’t you told this to Amogh?” she finally asked Vikram after a long silence. “I have told him, Rikshavi… I told him again and again…” Vikram replied, “But he dismissed it as some eccentric theory of military science which I had developed… After all, it is a regular practice in the Bharatkhanda to hire mercenaries… And this land has not seen a large scale war for a long time… So many kingdoms have not recruited sufficient infantry…. But Vrij is now faced with a situation where we have enemies on our diametrically opposite borders…. Your father has also created enemies by recklessly conquering kingdoms in the western Bharatkhanda. They are now the vassal states of Vrij, but any one of them can turn against us…. Vrij needs to deploy its own soldiers towards its boundaries, even before a war is declared. And believe me Rikshavi! Even a civilian who is more attached to his kingdom would make a better soldier than a mercenary in such times. The Great War of Kurukshetra was a ‘Dharmayuddha’….. it was supposed to be fought on the basis of certain rules of fairness. But history says that rules were violated even during this Great War…. Kosal or Magadh are not exceptions… I don’t expect them to fight with fairness… We need our own people to fight such crooked enemies….”
“So what do we do, Vikram?” Rikshavi impatiently asked. “Should we tell Taat?” “What can we do Rikshavi? Do you think King Vrajesh will listen to us? We have no authority to take decisions for the kingdom of Vrij…. We can only pray….” Vikram replied with a sigh….
“Doesn’t Amogh realize that his decisions are critical for the future of Vrij?” Rikshavi exclaimed in exasperation. She completely trusted Vikram’s expertise in military science.
“Calm down, dear……” Vikram said, “Amogh did appear rather uninterested in the affairs of the kingdom…. But I believe that my friend definitely knows that his decisions are critical….May be, he genuinely feels that his decisions are right for his kingdom…. The fate of any kingdom is as good as the foresight of their King or Prince… It hangs on the thread of their decisions….”
“And what about the people…” Rikshavi thought to herself….. “Should they also suffer the consequences of a war due the decisions of their King?”
“The people of the Bharatkhanda will not suffer now… We will not fight wars…. We will not fight for these selfish kings… We will be the kings of our own destinies!” The words of Viduraksh eerily resounded in the silence of the night. Rikshavi was startled by the hallucination. She rested herself in the comforting arms of her husband and closed her eyes….
*****
“Your aim will not work after a certain distance, my boy…. Before taking aim, you need to judge whether the distance between you and your target is right……” Rikshavi said to one of her students. A make - shift archery yard was built for her classes in Kaawar. Her classes were generally held in morning, followed by Vrushasen’s classes in medicine, which were held in cleared cowsheds. Vikram held his classes in the temple courtyard in the afternoons.
“Don’t puzzle the student, Rikshavi. You have started sounding like your philosophical husband!” Vrushasen jovially remarked, as he watched Rikshavi’s classes. Rikshavi ignored Vrushasen’s comment. “Don’t worry!” she told the student, “You will eventually be able to judge the correct distance with regular practice…”
“Don’t make comments in front of my students!” she chided Vrushasen in a low voice. “Sorry!” he said, “I am sure your students will have much better facilities of practice once the University construction is complete….” “When do you expect that to happen?” Vrushasen asked after a short pause, “We are here in Kaawar since eight months now!” “It will take another year, I guess!” Vikram said as he entered the yard. Vrushasen sighed. “Don’t worry, friend!” Vikram said as he patted his friend’s back, “We will be able to start using a part of it within a month!” I have already sent a messenger to Vaishali a few days back, with a proposal to partially start the University. We have requested for the necessary funds and deployment of a few teachers from Vaishali……” Vikram suddenly paused. “I wonder why the messenger has not returned yet!” he murmured and walked out of the yard. Rikshavi felt her heart beating fast…. “Was anything happening in Vaishali….?”
*****
Vikram and Rikshavi sat by the lake, watching the sunset. An hour had passed by, but none of them had spoken a word to the other. The silence between them weighed heavy with apprehension….. The messenger from Vaishali had not returned yet…. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a galloping horse. Both of them got up and stood alert, facing the direction of the sound. Sure enough, the messenger had returned and was galloping in their direction!
“Greetings!” the messenger said in half breath, as he got down from his horse. “Your request for funds has been approved, Sir! However, we will have to wait for a month for the funds and the teachers…” The messenger handed over a message roll to Vikram. “Why have you taken so long? Is there any news from Vaishali?” Rikshavi impatiently asked. The messenger took a deep breath. “The Vrijian army has attacked the kingdom of Saurashtra under the leadership of our commander Vajrasen….” the messenger informed. Rikshavi and Vikram were puzzled…. Why on earth had they attacked Saurashtra? “What about King Vrajesh and Prince Amogh… Where are they?” Rikshavi asked. “They are in Vaishali, Your Highness!” the messenger
replied. Rikshavi looked at Vikram apprehensively…. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Why Saurashtra?” Rikshavi exclaimed aloud after the messenger had left. “I am equally confused, Rikshavi!” Vikram replied with a straight face, “Saurashtra is a far away unambitious kingdom on the western coast… I see no reason to attack them… What makes me worried though is that Vaishali might be vulnerable without Vajrasen….”
Rikshavi was worried.
“I know why King Vrajesh has attacked Saurashtra” Vikram thought to himself with disgust… “The Lord had left his mortal body at Prabhas in Saurashtra… The stupid ambitious king seeks to acquire the Lord’s weapon, but in the process, he has left his own kingdom vulnerable!”
*****
“I had gone to meet Daara today, Vikram…. He says that he has not seen any activity across the Kaawar lake…. He has also stationed a few of his men on the banks of the Ganga. Some of his men have been patrolling the borders of Magadh too… But even they have not seen any activity since a few days…..” Rikshavi told Vikram, as they sat by the lake, watching the sunset. Vikram appeared puzzled…. He had himself sent Rikshavi to meet Daara and make enquiries. “This is strange… I expect an attack on Vaishali from Magadh, Rikshavi! King Makardhwaj will not miss this opportunity to attack Vaishali when Vajrasen is away….” he said. “But the reports from Daara’s men indicate nothing like this…..” Rikshavi replied, “And I completely trust Daara’s men. It was they, who gave us advance reports of infiltration by the Magadhans, last time when we were in Kaawar….”
“Oh yes!” Vikram exclaimed… “Then the Magadhans already know that it is not easy to infiltrate Vrij through Kaawar without being noticed…. They will definitely take another route to Vaishali…. May be they will cross the Ganga from the western banks…. Kaawar is near the eastern banks of the river…… I am such a fool! I should have thought about this earlier!” Vikram exclaimed in exasperation.
The Rigveda Code Page 13