He knew he was making sense and the council would have to agree with his argument even if it did not like it.
An elder member broke the ponderous silence and asked, ‘Is war the only way to augment our national income and provide work to the burgeoning population? Mahodayapur has never fought wars for expansion and only defended itself and its neighbours from other belligerent kings. Can’t we think of a more innovative way to optimize our resources?’
Vishwarath recognized the elder as his father’s oldest supporter. He realized he would have to change the old guard soon if he wanted the council to go along with his decisions.
He shook his head vehemently and said, ‘Believe me, uncle,
I have considered all possible options and nothing seems to serve the purpose as best as this one. Do not forget that my great-grandfather had done the same when he asked his sons to expand the boundaries of the kingdom instead of dividing it into four parts.’
The elder fell silent but Vishwarath could see other members being swayed by his argument so he further pushed his point. ‘At periodic intervals, a kingdom needs to expand its boundaries and establish its dominion for if we do not do it, one of our neighbours might come knocking at our doors with the same ambition. I wish to provide a kingdom large enough for my sons instead of making them toil for it like Grandfather Kush had done.
‘Our society is fast reaching a stage where if new elements are not added, it will start stagnating. There is a growing youth population whose aggression needs to be channelled for the benefit of our kingdom. Before trying to convince you further, I would appreciate it if other members in the council also shared their frank opinions.’
Vishwarath knew his logic would appeal to the defence minister so he turned to him first and the minister did not disappoint him.
Clearing his throat, he said, ‘It would be good for the troops to get some action since we have been keeping them occupied solely through military exercises for many years now. Mahodayapur has not faced a threat in a long time and we do not know how our troops would fare if one materialized in the future.’
He let his words sink in and then said, ‘I agree with the king’s suggestion. We could start with a small kingdom to test our army’s preparedness and then decide the further course of action.’
Vishwarath felt elated but did not let the relief show on his face. He turned to others now to gauge their reactions.
The minister for human resources said, ‘It is true that our young blood is turning lethargic and complacent. While the previous generations toiled and earned their way to comfort, this generation has been born into plenty and does not value what it has.’
Vishwarath was thankful to the minister since he knew every generation considered the next one more pampered and less industrious. Few elders could disagree with this notion so he felt hopeful of getting more support for his campaign.
The youth minister, who paradoxically was an old lady who had been a prodigy in his father’s time, said, ‘I agree with what you say —war seems like just the right thing to infuse new vigour and build a feeling of patriotism in the youth. However, I cannot support the loss of young lives that a war would entail, for then we would not have any youth left to build the future!’
Vishwarath did not want the argument to turn in the direction of loss so he hastily countered, ‘Madam, you seem to place very little faith in our military leadership! With such fine generals as the defence minister here, how could you even entertain the notion of loss of life at our end?’
His words had piqued the defence minister’s ego and the old hawk replied hotly, ‘There will be minimal loss of life for our soldiers should we go to war. That much I can assure you. We may not have fought in a long time but our preparedness for war is still more adequate than the neighbouring kingdoms’. Plus, a step-by-step approach as I had suggested before will help us decide where to focus and we can rapidly modify the training as required.’
Vishwarath turned to the industries minister, another veteran who seemed to have no opinion whatsoever and was observing the proceedings dolefully. He raised his voice and addressed the septuagenarian, ‘A war can kick-start our weapons and logistics industries, spur agricultural growth and give a big boost to invention. Don’t you see? This is the opportunity Mahodayapur has been preparing for all its life! The abundant reserves we have, of both food and riches, are the resources that can sustain this campaign and we have never been in a better position to wage such a war.’
The finance minister nodded. ‘I agree. It would definitely give a fillip to a lot of industries and put new checks and balances in place. Of course whatever expenditure is incurred on such an exercise would have to be more than compensated for by the returns from the conquered kingdoms.’
Vishwarath looked at the minister who had spoken last and smiled inwardly. The rest of the assembly seemed to be considering these new inputs. He knew the council would never have agreed to his proposal had he only spoken about his own sense of achievement. But, use the right words and everything falls into place.
Besides, what he had said wasn’t wrong. Their kingdom did need a new initiative to take it to the next level and he had only presented the true scenario in front of the council.
The fact that it happened to resonate with his personal ambitions was a happy coincidence and, yes, quite convenient as well.
Adhyaye 14
Following the agreement of the council, Mahodayapur launched an aggressive military campaign to expand its frontiers.
Vishwarath’s first targets were the smaller kingdoms that had been the protectorates of their relatives’ kingdoms and these were won easily. He then moved on to the sister kingdoms of Kausambi, Dharmaranya and Girivraj that had been founded by his grandfather’s brothers.
Even though the three kingdoms existed peacefully, Vishwarath wanted them to bow down to his might. His military prowess was unmatched and he showed his mettle riding on his sister’s unicorn, shattering limbs and splattering marrow all over battlefields. One by one the three kingdoms fell and Vishwarath established his dominion over them.
It had been a big victory and he decided to sit on it for a while. Any future conquests would require regrouping his new generals and strengthening his army further. Accordingly, he decided to return to Kanyakubja after disbanding the local armies and rewarding the old generals by making them his representatives in the newly won kingdoms.
As he turned his troops back towards his capital, he felt a sense of jubilation and achievement. The world seemed to be in his hands and he could see himself becoming the next Chakravarti Samrat. Little did he realize that life has a way of turning things upside down and changing the proverbial lock just when it seems you have figured out the key to it.
Crossing the mountains of the north where he had studied under his guru, Rishi Dattatreya, Vishwarath sent a major portion of his army ahead and kept a few hundred soldiers behind. He wanted to spend some time roaming through the pine forests and reliving the nostalgia of his youth.
As he passed through the fragrant woods on the northern boundary of his kingdom, he stumbled upon an astonishing sight—right ahead, in a tiny clearing, a snake and a mongoose were basking in the sun, oblivious to each other’s presence.
Not very far from them a herd of spotted deer nonchalantly chewed on the lush green grass while a snow leopard stretched out amongst them. The lack of fear in the deer and the absence of aggression in the leopard amazed Vishwarath, as did the apparent indifference of the otherwise sworn enemies—the snake and the mongoose.
This place seemed magical and he decided to explore it on foot. He motioned his soldiers to stay silent and cautiously moved towards the deer. While his movement made the snake slither out of his sight and the deer and mongoose scatter, the big white beast still rolled around in the sun, stretching its back like a domestic cat.
Perhaps, he surmised, these animals have not encountered humans as predators yet. As he moved closer, the big cat took a turn and
followed his movements with its keen eyes but still made no attempt to get up or attack. Vishwarath had learnt hand-to-hand combat and could take care of most wild animals with just his dagger but he did not feel threatened at all so let it stay sheathed.
As he came within touching distance, the leopard got up with a swift movement and sat upright, swishing its tail. It let out a soft roar that stopped Vishwarath in his tracks. He pulled out his dagger from its sheath and got ready to defend himself in case the beast attacked.
Within moments, two saffron-robed boys with shaved heads came running towards the leopard. Vishwarath watched in amazement as the two boys petted the big beast and then turned to him.
The older boy addressed him with folded hands, ‘O Kshatriya, it is my responsibility to inform you that you are entering the boundary of Brahmarishi Vasishth’s hermitage and that no weapons are allowed in this protected sanctuary where humans and all other forms of life live in harmony. May I request you and your men to not use your weapons in this sacred space?’
The king admired the confidence in the boy’s voice. He realized that he was not trying to mock Vishwarath’s authority since he clearly did not know his true identity. Nodding, he put the dagger back in its sheath.
So this is where the Brahmarishi resides, Vishwarath thought. Now he understood why the creatures of this jungle did not follow the law of the jungle. Vasishth was not an ordinary human but the son of Brahma himself! It wouldn’t hurt to take his blessings for the next phase of expansion he had in mind.
Aloud he said, ‘Boy, go and inform the Brahmarishi that the king of this land has come to his doorstep and requests an audience with him. My men shall take care not to hurt any creature in this sanctuary.’
The boys immediately ran back to a thatched structure, taking the leopard with them. Soon, an athletic man in his early twenties, with flowing dark hair and a short beard framing his handsome features, appeared. He walked to the king and welcomed him with folded hands and a genuine smile.
‘I am Shaktri, the eldest son of Brahmarishi Vasishth and Mother Arundhati. It is an honour for me to welcome our liege to this sacred grove on behalf of my parents and the rest of the ashram,’ he said. ‘I invite you and your men to refresh yourselves in the waters of the nearby brook. My father shall be waiting to meet you once you feel more comfortable.’
Vishwarath nodded at the young rishi and thanked him for the welcome. He ordered his men to set up camp in the woods and refresh themselves in the brook. He knew how important cleanliness was to these hermits so he himself did the same and then ambled towards the ashram.
As he came closer, his mind was put at ease by the cool breeze flowing from the south. The air echoed with chants from the Vedas and he saw sages of various age groups around the ashram going about their daily routine.
There was a thick aroma of wild rose in the air and the trees were filled with chirping birds of various hues. As he walked closer to what seemed to be the central hut, he saw a rishi of impressive size emerge from the doorway followed by a kindly looking woman who he assumed was the rishi’s wife.
They were Vasishth and Arundhati.
The Brahmarishi must have been quite advanced in age, yet looked to be not older than forty. He stood as tall as Vishwarath himself, with a straight back and a well-built frame. His long snow-white hair was kept in place by a string of rudraksh sported by Shiva worshippers; another one adorned his neck. His eyes were the colour of molten lava and the ruddy glow on his cheeks reflected his good health and the effect of continuous living at this high altitude. He wore the saffron garments of an ascetic and the telltale marks of a Vaishnav on his forehead, neck and arms as a sign of his devotion to Lord Vishnu.
Vishwarath knew this was not an ordinary rishi and knelt in front of him with folded hands. ‘O learned sage, please accept my humble salutations. It is my good fortune that I can receive your blessings at this stage of my life and request prosperity and abundance for my kingdom.’
The patriarch placed his hand on the king’s head and asked him to get up, ‘Utishth, Maharaj. This is the first time I am meeting you but I can already sense the great achievements in your recent past. It is the honour of this ashram to welcome you and your men and offer you our hospitality.’
Vishwarath bowed his head and rose. Vasishth then took him to a short wooden rest where they could sit more comfortably. He inquired about the welfare of the royal family and spoke about Rishi Dattatreya.
After chatting for a while Vishwarath decided to take leave but the Brahmarishi invited him to stay for lunch. The king smiled at the naiveté of the hermit and said, ‘I thank you, Brahmarishi, for your kind invitation but I have over three hundred men and an almost equal number of animals with me. I hardly think it possible to make arrangements for all of them here!’
Vasishth turned to look at his wife and they both exchanged a smile.
‘Don’t worry, my king,’ he said. ‘With the benediction of Shakra, the current Indra, we have the capacity to fill the stomachs of every man, animal or bird that arrives at our door hungry. Six Indras have come and gone in the previous eras, yet I have never seen anyone as generous as him don the mantle of Indra. Please, we request you and all your men to join us for lunch.’
Vishwarath still looked around doubtfully and wondered how it would be possible to feed so many mouths.
Yet, he had heard of the magical powers that rishis possessed so he shrugged and said, ‘All right, Brahmarishi. I shall be really interested in observing how this remarkable feat is going to materialize.’
Adhyaye 15
As his men sat down cross-legged amid the towering pine trees, Vishwarath again admired the sylvan surroundings and remembered the old days spent in his guru’s hermitage.
Sunlight barely managed to filter through the thick branches and the grass was littered with bursting pine cones. He remembered numerous treks taken with Yamdagni on such slopes when they were at the ashram. Guru Dattatreya had told them that climbing was the best exercise and had made sure they undertook at least one trek or rock-climbing session every day.
Small tables were placed in front of each soldier while Vishwarath himself sat beside the Brahmarishi and his wife and watched in amazement as hermits of the ashram began distributing food amongst his men, filling the leaf plates with rice, lentils, bread, fruit and yoghurt.
He knew his men were as hungry as he was but they waited for their king’s order to begin the meal. When the last soldier had been served the assorted food items, Vishwarath gave his men permission to begin. That was just as well since the ravishing aroma of the pure organic food was driving them crazy and his men dug into the sumptuous meal with gusto.
Vishwarath couldn’t control himself any more either and, taking Vasishth’s permission, put the first morsel of food in his mouth. His eyes popped in amazement. Never before in his life had he tasted such nectarine food!
He had assumed that the prodigious quantities required to feed hundreds of men, that too at such short notice, would mean compromising with the taste but he couldn’t have been more incorrect in his assumption. This food could put to shame even the head chefs in his royal kitchen.
The simple long-grain steamed rice gave off the enticing aroma of saffron and cardamom while the lentils had been simmered slowly on a wood fire, cooked in gravy of tomato, nutmeg and cinnamon, imparting to it a heavenly taste. The soft baked bread was perfectly done in a clay oven and was served with dollops of clarified butter while the yoghurt was of such sweet taste that it seemed to have been made out of ambrosia.
To wash it down they were served panna made of mango pulp, and the cheese and stoned peaches offered as dessert seemed to have come from Indra’s own gardens. By the time Vishwarath had finished his meal, he was burping with satisfaction.
‘My lord,’ he said to Vasishth, unable to control his emotions, ‘I am sure I speak for all my men when I say that the food we had today was undoubtedly the best we have ever tasted in our lives!’
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The Brahmarishi looked indulgently at the king’s face where satisfaction and disbelief seemed to be present in equal measure. He accepted the compliment graciously and said, ‘It is a matter of great honour for us that our humble ashram was able to provide the king and his men enough food to satisfy their hunger. I know Kshatriyas are generally fond of meat and intoxicants but here we follow strict principles of vegetarianism.
My wife had worried whether we would be able to satisfy your taste buds but we are glad to see that you found the food to your liking.’
Vishwarath shook his head and said, ‘O learned sage, the thought that I was missing on meat or wine did not even cross my mind! This food was so delicious that I could happily turn vegetarian just to have it every day!’
Then he asked the sage, ‘Please satisfy my curiosity and tell me how so much delectable food was prepared at such a short notice?’
The patriarch answered, ‘As I mentioned earlier, Rajan, we have been blessed by Shakra with a gift that provides us the ability to cater to the needs of each living being that comes to our threshold in need.’
Vishwarath asked half-jokingly, ‘Brahmarishi, has Indra gifted you the wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksh from his own gardens?’
The sage just smiled, leaving Vishwarath completely flummoxed. Taking pity on him, Vasishth offered to directly introduce him to this gift. He gestured for the king to follow him and asked Shaktri to accompany them.
The three walked towards the stables where Vishwarath saw all his animals being taken care of lovingly. The ashram acolytes were tending to their wounds and massaging their limbs with soft muslin while the notes of soft music flowed from another hut nearby.
As they turned a corner, Vishwarath saw a huge frangipani tree spreading to the heavens, showering the ground with its yellow and white blossoms. He wondered how a tropical tree could grow so luxuriously in this Himalayan terrain but his doubts were pushed aside by the intoxicating fragrance of its flowers that beckoned him. The enclosure below it was fenced and whatever was being protected inside was not visible from this angle.
Vishwamitra Page 7