The godown was a huge four storied structure with neatly arranged high shelves for storing various types of goods. Each shelf had two attached ladders to reach the top bracket of the shelf. Workers were silently arranging goods in their respective shelves. “The lower storeys are for the heavier goods… Since spices are light weight items, we will allot you one of the upper storeys…” Jarawar informed them. The group reached the uppermost storey. The lady whispered something to one of the traders, apparently her husband. “Can we also take a stroll on the rooftop terrace? I am sure it would be breezy there… It is getting too hot here!” the trader said. Jarawar hesitated. “Oh, why not…” he said after a pause.
Soon the terrace lock was opened and Jarawar guided them onto the rooftop terrace. He did not notice that the other trader had quietly slipped out of the terrace after sometime. Indeed, it was breezy on the terrace. “Thank you friend!” the trader said, “my wife wanted to get some fresh air!” The lady slightly lifted her uttariya from her face and looked at the city gates… She could see the blue flag of Sravasti fluttering over a mast placed on the central wall. It had an inscription of the shivlinga.
“Why is a shivlinga inscribed on the flag?” the trader asked Jarawar. “There is a story behind this, Sir!” Jarawar replied, “One of the royal ancestors, the King of Kosal, was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He once conducted a “mahapooja” in the temple of Lord Shiva and prayed that Sravasti may always remain impregnable. The next morning, the temple priest found a piece of blue silk, covering the shivlinga. The King considered this as a boon from Lord Shiva. He declared that the blue silk would be his royal flag which would be put up on the city gates. People of Kosal believe that as long as our blue flag stands on the city gates, Sravasti can never be conquered!” The trader glanced at his wife. “Thank you, Jarawarji…” he said, “We are really obliged…. This is a booking advance....”
Jarawar’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the gold coins in the silk purse which the trader handed to him. “Let me show you the allotted storage space!” he eagerly said. The doors of the terrace were closed, as the three proceeded to go back…
*****
“Have you gone crazy, Vikram?” Amogh said, “How is it possible to break the flag-mast on the city wall?” “Well… that is the only way to break the morale of the Kosal army…” Vikram replied. “And why invite the wrath of Lord Shiva? The flag is considered to be a sacred boon of Lord Shiva! How can we fall such a sacred piece of silk to dust?” Amogh ranted. Vikram laughed. “Sacred piece of silk? Boon of Lord Shiva? Do you really believe such stories, Amogh?” he said. “What do you mean?” Amogh angrily asked.
“People are naïve, Amogh.” Vikram said, “And the royal ancestor of Kosal was indeed a smart fellow. Kings use such strategies to keep up the morale of their army. This has two advantages – the army remains confident and the people believe that the King is a great soul who has the blessings of God!”
“You mean to say that the royal ancestor might have lied to his people?” Rikshavi asked. She wished she could ask this to her grandfather, King Mahendra, the former King of Kosal. “Of course, Rikshavi!” Vikram replied with a smile. “It is an easy logic..…” he added, “As per our scriptures, Lord Shiva’s abode is the Kailasa, in the cold and dry Himalaya mountains…. HE stays there like an ascetic and wears tiger skin. HE deplores riches…. How can HE gift a piece of silk to anyone? Lord Shiva teaches us to shun this maaya and lead a simple life…. HE cannot give a piece of silk as a boon… a piece of silk symbolises wealth, which HE shuns…”
Rikshavi and Amogh looked at Vikram in amazement. “I am proud of you!” Rikshavi said with a smile. Amogh nudged Vikram. “But how are we going to break that flag mast, my dear lovebirds?” he asked with a playful smile. “Well, we will have to use the rooftop terrace…. It is the tallest building in the vicinity!” Vikram said. “I have seen the rooftop, Vikram!” Amogh thoughtfully said, “The flag-mast is beyond my shooting range even from there!”
“But it is within my shooting range gentlemen!” Rikshavi interrupted. Amogh gave Rikshavi a weird look. “What are you saying, Rikshavi? Have you also got some boon or some magical bow?” he sarcastically asked. “Yes, of course!” Rikshavi smilingly said, “My mother has blessed me with a boon – the Bhairavi Dhanush!”
*****
“We are grateful to you!” the wary traveler said to Mahipal. Mahipal was a servant at Jarawar’s godown. “Stay here for the night, but move out early in the morning!” Mahipal warned the traveler. “I will lose my job, if my master Jarawar finds out!” he added. “My family needs a roof only for one night…. We will move out before dawn!” the traveler replied with folded hands. He handed over one silver coin to Mahipal. Mahipal quietly left.
“Let’s move in Amogh!” the traveler whispered. Soon, Amogh, Vikram and Rikshavi were inside the godown. “But how are we going to open the terrace?” Rikshavi asked. “I have a duplicate key!” Amogh said with a wink. Rikshavi remembered that Amogh had slipped out for some time from the terrace during their last visit. The three quietly entered the rooftop terrace.
A half moon lit the sky, but scarcely. Rikshavi proceeded towards the edge of the terrace, followed by Vikram and Amogh. She figured out a suitable place from where she could get a clear view of the flag mast. She stood there, gauging the distance and the height. Amogh could hardly believe that Rikshavi was capable of shooting such a distant target. But he looked on somberly. As Rikshavi stabilized her stance and lifted her bow, her shadowed figure looked like an idol of a lovely apsara to Amogh. His mind wandered as he hopelessly tried to look at another direction….
Rikshavi drew out an arrow from her quiver and pulled it against her bowstring. She held the position till she could get a perfect aim.
“We will have to break it at the first instance. Repeated attempts would give rise to suspicion” Vikram had told her. The sharp tip of her arrow gleamed in the scarce moonlight. For a moment, Rikshavi felt as if the tip of her arrow broke out into a bulbous peacock feather. Startled, she closed her eyes… This was not the first time that Rikshavi had a vision of the peacock feather…. The peacock feather was a symbol of Lord Krishna…. “All my efforts will lead to the fulfillment of your vision, O Lord!” she murmured…. “I will not lose sight of your mission!” Rikshavi opened her eyes and focused. Within moments, the arrow was released from the bow. It zipped across the landscape like lightning and hit the flag mast. The sharp edge of the arrow cut across the length of the mast. The mast cracked and tilted.
Amogh was astonished. He kept alternating his gaze between Rikshavi and the flag mast. Whom he now saw was not just a beautiful silhouette – she was one of the finest archers of the Bharatkhanda. Amogh’s heart pined for this magnificent woman. He distracted himself with great effort…
The three watched the flag mast with bated breath from the terrace. Soon, the flag fell. The news spread like wild fire after a few soldiers saw the flag falling. The entire city including the royal palace went chaotic through the night.
Rikshavi, Amogh and Vikram quietly retired to the shadows of the godown…
*****
The rising sun witnessed a strange gloom over the city of Sravasti. Citizens were seen flocking towards the city walls to see the fallen flag. Rumour spread that Lord Shiva was angered by the sins committed by King Indraneel. The army was in disarray. Royal priests advised the King to perform penance and seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva.
King Indraneel was perplexed. His royal forefathers had put the flag at an impregnable height. How did the flag mast break? Was it the work of an insider? But that could not be possible. The soldiers and citizens of Sravasti revered the flag and guarded it with missionary spirit. King Indraneel inquired with the guards stationed at the wall. They reported that an arrow had hit the flag mast! King Indraneel was stunned. He had not heard about any technique which could hit targets at such heights… Who was behind this? Or was it really a divine intervention?
*****
“Surrender your kingdom, O foolish king! It is time that you pay for your sins…. Lord Shiva has withdrawn his blessings from Sravasti…. You have invited his wrath with your sins…. I will revenge the death of my elder brother, Prince Pranav… You are an evil traitor, Indraneel…. If you care for your life, surrender yourself by sunset… Or be prepared to face your death…. By the grace of Lord Shiva, good will prevail over the evil!”
Indraneel was furious to read the message sent by Prince Amogh. “That brat!” he angrily murmured. “Arrest this messenger!” he ordered. “It is against the law of the land to arrest political messengers, Your Highness! We will lose the co-operation of other kingdoms in the Bharatkhanda if we arrest him” his minister quietly reminded Indraneel. “Go tell that brat…. I will easily crush him…. I do not fear his attack!” Indraneel roared at the messenger. The messenger bowed and left the royal palace….
*****
The landscape outside the city of Sravasti was filled with a dusty haze, as the Kosal army and the Vrijian army stood in front of each other. Rikshavi and Amogh were at the forefront, in their chariots. Vikram was Rikshavi’s charioteer. “They have elephants Rikshavi!” Vikram said, “Our army will be an easy target for them… their elephants are likely to charge at us and break our frontal attack…”
“Let’s spread ourselves!” Rikshavi said. “What do you mean, Rikshavi?” Amogh asked. “We will arrange ourselves horizontally like a crescent….” Rikshavi suggested, “Their elephants will charge at us and launch a frontal attack. They will try to break into our army. Since we are in a horizontal formation, our army will quickly disperse in two halves on both the sides and completely avoid the frontal attack. After we disperse, we will attack their flanks!”
“That’s a brilliant plan….” Vikram said, “This strategy would take them by surprise. Also, their army would get divided in order to face the attack on its flanks. They would lose cohesion. Elephants are slow animals. They too, would lose a sense of direction. We have to capitalize this chaos!” “And let us try to eliminate Indraneel as soon as possible. This would break the remaining morale of the army!” Amogh added. “Fine!” said Rikshavi.
Soon, the landscape was filled with sounds of conches and battle cries. Both the armies charged at each other. The momentum of the Kosal army was soon lost after the Vrijian army suddenly dispersed and attacked its flanks. Rikshavi lead the attack on one flank and Amogh spearheaded the attack on the other side. A fierce battle ensued. Many Kosal soldiers were killed by their own elephants, as they tried to turn on the sides.
Indraneel was frantically trying to bring co-ordination within his army. Rikshavi spotted his chariot. Indraneel too, looked at Rikshavi from a distance. He aimed his bow at her. But she was beyond his range. Vikram had cleverly kept their chariot at a safe distance. Rikshavi smiled. She raised her Bhairavi Dhanush and took aim. Indraneel did not expect her arrow to reach him. He did not move his chariot and stood still, gauging his way towards Rikshavi. Within moments, Rikshavi’s arrow pierced Indraneel’s chest. Indraneel fell. The entire Kosal army went into a state of panic. Soon the Kosal army, badly wounded and insulted, gave up. Sravasti was captured!
*****
Gloom befell the royal palace of Kosal, as the corpse of King Indraneel was brought in the royal court. King Mahendra and Queen Chandrika silently wept as they saw Indraneel. “Grandfather!” Rikshavi called out to him. She held his hand. Amogh was dumbstruck as he confronted his grandfather.
“The throne is now yours, Amogh!” King Mahendra said in a choked voice, with folded hands, “Indraneel has met his destined end!”
“I do not desire the throne of Kosal, Grandfather!” Amogh said, “I want Vrij back!”
Rikshavi’s face suddenly hardened. “General Taarak will not pay any heed to us, Amogh!” she said, “Even if Sravasti has been captured by us! We cannot let go of Sravasti unless we capture Vrij!”
“Vaishali is not only in General Taarak’s hands, Rikshavi… the Magadhans have also occupied it!” Vikram added.
“Well then…” Amogh said, “We will reinstate King Mahendra on Kosal throne, once we capture Vaishali!” “I agree!” Rikshavi said. “You both are right…” Vikram agreed, “Prince Kapil, Indraneel’s son, is only five years old… King Mahendra needs to be reinstated!”
“We’ll hold Sravasti in trust till Vaishali is captured…” Rikshavi told her grandfather. “I agree!” King Mahendra replied in a sagacious voice. Soon, the crimson flag of Vrij was hoisted on the city walls of Sravasti and all over the kingdom of Kosal.
*****
“Where are we going?” Amogh impatiently asked as he walked through the narrow path in the forest. He disliked Rikshavi’s secretiveness. “We are going to visit the ashram of Acharya Shashwat. He is the teacher of your mother, Queen Bhairavi. He has also taught Rikshavi…” Vikram informed him. “But why are we going there?” Amogh asked. Vikram simply shrugged. “Even I don’t know that!” he said. They silently followed Rikshavi along with a few soldiers.
“God bless you, my child!” Acharya Shashwat blessed Rikshavi as she touched his feet. Vikram and Amogh also touched the Acharya’s feet. “This is Prince Amogh!” Rikshavi introduced Amogh. “Ah!” the Acharya said, “You are extremely fortunate to have a sister like Rikshavi!” Amogh gave him a wary smile. “Sister?! Yes… that’s what she is…” he reminisced…
Soon, they entered a hut, following Rikshavi. They saw two men and two women quietly meditating inside. All of them had tied their hair atop their heads in neat buns. The men had flowing beards. They all were clad in simple cotton clothes. Rikshavi’s eyes brimmed with tears as she saw them.
Amogh and Vikram were bewildered. The men and women looked very familiar. Rikshavi quietly went near one of the women and touched her feet. The woman opened her eyes. “Rikshu!” she gasped and hugged Rikshavi. Tears rolled down their cheeks. “Maa! Taat!” Amogh exclaimed as he realized that the men and women were none other than King Vrajesh, Queen Bhairavi, Mitrasen and Vrushali! Rikshavi and Queen Bhairavi were still sobbing. “At last, you have come!” another man exclaimed as he entered the hut. He too had hair tied in a bun and carried a flowing beard. “How are you, Prabhavsenji!” Rikshavi asked him. Vikram and Amogh turned back in amazement…..
*****
“The throne is safe, Princess!” Prabhavsen said, pointing to King Vrajesh. “So is the heir to throne!” Rikshavi smilingly said, pointing to Amogh. The people in the hut looked at each other with amazement.
“Princess Rikshavi has killed Indraneel in battle. Prince Amogh, Rikshavi and Vikram have captured Sravasti!” Prabhavsen informed everyone and narrated the incidents of Sravasti. Everybody looked at the youngsters with pride. “Bravo!” Vrajesh exclaimed as he heard about the conquests of his children. Tears rolled down the cheeks of Queen Bhairavi. At last, the death of Prince Pranav had been avenged. “You would be proud of your children, Your Highness!” Prabhavsen said, looking at King Vrajesh. The King gave a cold look to his Prime Minister.
“I am facing anger and distrust of the King since we have arrived here, Princess!” Prabhavsen lamented. Rikshavi folded her hands and faced King Vrajesh. “I beg your forgiveness, Taat!” she said, “I had forced Prabhavsenji to bring you here. The kingdom of Vrij is safe as long as you and Amogh are safe!”
“And I followed the advice of the Princess because I have profound faith in the prophecy of Acharya Devak!” Prabhavsen added. King Vrajesh was startled. “What do you mean?” he asked with wide eyes. “Who else but the Queen herself knows the astonishing words uttered by the Acharya?” Prabhavsen replied.
“Yes…” said Bhairavi, “I remember…. Acharya Devak had read Rikshavi’s horoscope…… He said - She will protect this land from evil forces! Though she will not have any position of power, she will rule!”
King Vrajesh was baffled. “But Prabhavsen…..” he stammered, looking at his Prime Minister. Prabhavsen folded his hands. “I know, Your Highness…” he said,
“You had ordered me to give the birth details of Prince Amogh to Acharya Devak…. And you hence believed that the prophecy was about Amogh… But I had to give the accurate details of Rikshavi, Your Highness! Had I given the details of Prince Amogh to Acharya Devak, the great astrologer would have instantly concluded that I have given him the details of a male child and not a female one. Our secret would have been revealed… It was necessary to give him the details of Rikshavi herself…. The prophecy was hence about Rikshavi, Your Highness!”
King Vrajesh was astounded. Rikshavi looked uneasy at the mention of the prophecy. “We are grateful to you, my child!” Vrajesh said in a choked voice to Rikshavi, “Ask for a wish, my dear… time and again, you have protected me and our family… Tell me dear… what do you wish for?” Vrajesh’s eyes had brimmed with tears.
“What else, Taat?” Rikshavi replied, “I want to see you and Amogh being coronated…. But will you promise me one thing?” she asked. “Of course my dear… tell me!” King Vrajesh eagerly said. “You and Amogh will not get re-coronated unless I bring the waters of the Abhishek Pushkarni myself!” Rikshavi said.
King Vrajesh smiled. “I promise you my child!” he said, “You are the one who has dreamt about our coronation and have fought for that dream. So it will be you who will bring the sacred waters of the Abhishek Pushkarni for our coronation. I promise you that neither I, nor Amogh will be coronated unless you bring the waters of the Abhishek Pushkarni for our coronation!”
*****
“Where are Commander Vajrasen and Samarjit, Prabhavsenji?” Rikshavi inquired after everyone dispersed. Prabhavsen suddenly looked crestfallen. “They have been held captive in Vaishali… They had to stay back to ensure that the King, Queen and I had left safely…” he informed. Rikshavi was saddened. “We will certainly rescue them!” she said with a resolve. “What are we going to do now, Princess?” Prabhavsen asked. “Let us rest for a while, Prabhavsenji! We need some time to think…” Rikshavi replied, “And kindly supervise the arrangements for the medical treatment of our wounded soldiers. The disciples of Acharya Shashwat and the royal doctors of Kosal have already housed all our brave warriors….” “Sure, Princess!” Prabhavsen replied. He was once again heartened to see the compassion of the Princess.
The Rigveda Code Page 16