Ashoka the Great

by Keuning, Wytze

  ‘But millions in my Father’s great empire sacrifice animals, build altars and pay with their precious offerings to the Brahmins!’

  ‘He, who does not understand symbols, offers animals and worldly possessions. But that offering will never liberate him from having to come back to earth to purify his karma. He who understands that Brahman is within himself and experiences in wisdom that we are all one with, it will be liberated from this existence.’

  ‘Why must one be liberated?’

  ‘Because the world is maya, delusion, beguiling. Those who are aware of this know that there is no need for animal sacrifice. Gaining knowledge is their way of making an offering.’

  Ashoka stared intently ahead for some time.

  ‘But mankind will need a long time yet to be convinced of this wisdom,’ added Sayana.

  ‘Mankind will need a long time to break free of those who profit by this delusion!’ replied Ashoka sharply.

  ‘It will never break free of this, because acquiring profound knowledge is difficult and making offerings is easy, and thus human. This state is rooted in both the greed and laziness of the average person.’

  ‘You believe then that animals must be snuffed out, soma-offerings brought and heavy prices paid for them, forevermore?’

  ‘Whether they must, you already understand my view. Will it happen? See here, my resolute Ashoka: As long as there are people who approach the gods with greedy hearts there will be priests with greedy hearts to receive them.’

  This thought took deep root in Ashoka and would often determine his actions; many years of reflection suddenly took shape.

  Sayana joined them on their way back. In Pataliputra, he announced himself to the Maharajah and told him what he had heard.

  In the second half of the night, Ashoka entered the Maharajah’s quarters. The Maharajah said: ‘Sit down, my son, I wish to speak to you. I have decided that you will lead the campaign to Taxila.’

  Ashoka, deeply moved, bowed and touched his forehead to the hem of his Father’s robe.

  ‘You understand what this means. That I pass over my eldest son in favour of his younger brother. It is an important assignment, my Ashoka. Try to arrange matters in Taxila in the best way. The way in which you handle this may have consequences on your future as well as that of India. How many soldiers will you need?’

  ‘As few as possible, my Father.’

  ‘As few … as possible?’

  ‘Yes, a small force can move more quickly. Furthermore, the Iranians and those who conspire with them are probably the cause of the uprising. So, the residents of Taxila are, by and large, blameless. I would think it should not be difficult to come to some agreement with them.’

  ‘But you will have to mete out very heavy punishments.’

  ‘A wild elephant is easier calmed with a thumb-size piece of sugar than with ten large hooks.’

  ‘They will think we fear them.’

  ‘I expect, my Father, that they will think us the wisest. They know that the army of Bindusara, conqueror of enemies, can sweep over the entire West: Kashmira, Gandhara, Rajputana, Oudh, with Beluchistan and Bactria, and if he should thus choose, could subdue the region without any problem.’

  Bindusara, impressed by this practical and wise remark, concluded that Ashoka’s proposal was in total agreement with his wishes, as prompted by his apprehension. Ashoka awaited calmly his Father’s decision.

  ‘But as an army commander, a Maurya Prince cannot arrive without an army.’

  ‘Then, send as many soldiers as you deem necessary to uphold the honour of the Mauryas, my Father.’

  ‘Prepare everything yourself. Select those you want to take along. Tomorrow evening I wait for your decision, my son, and I will hear what measures you have taken. I am joining a large hunting party tomorrow. So, I will leave it to you. A reconnaissance contingent leaves today, to pave the way, and I shall judge Lamba.’

  Ashoka was startled: ‘My Father, I am sorry. How do you know about that …?’

  ‘He who rules an empire as large as mine must be aware of all that is happening. I will not be at the mercy of the whim of my people, my ministers, or my family. You, too, must stay alert in Taxila. It is said you are feared, and thus, not safe. Pay careful attention to your own safety. That is imperative for kings and Princes alike, especially if they are placed in a position of trust by the Maharajah. I want to tell you now, that I have been warned from seven sides, that I am not safe from the ‘Wild Prince’.’

  Startled, Ashoka stood up. ‘Who makes these threats, my Father?’

  ‘What does it matter if I tell you. The messengers were all subjects who were constantly kept under watch so I knew their motives immediately. I am expected to know what my enemies have in mind, and even more, what my friends wish. In Taxila you take over my task. Should you not act as I do, your life will be threatened, as is mine, but not protected.’

  ‘Who will threaten it, my Father?’

  ‘Your brother Sumana is a protégé of the Brahmins and has many friends in Pataliputra. They will not be the most charitable of people to my strongest son.’

  ‘Yes, my Father.’

  ‘Thus, select trustworthy troops. I know they revere you as a warrior and a Prince. Ensure your own safety first that is your solemn duty, you are taking my place. Think of the spells of Atharva Veda that guard you against assassination, poison, snakes, demons, and all that lie in wait for a king or his replacement. Keep your eyes and ears open to everything around you as the lotus does to the weather gods.’

  ‘Are there demons, my Father?’

  ‘Do you doubt that?’

  ‘Kullika is convinced of their presence, no doubt. But I have crossed the park at night, again and again, and nothing; the park by night is as the park by day, only Surya’s light is missing. I think that demons exist in the heads of ignorant priests and superstitious fools such as my brother Sumana. As a result of a discussion I had with Kullika, I have been thinking much about these things lately. And now I investigate thoroughly everything that does not appear credible to me. For all strange occurrences I have always been able to find a natural explanation. And against dangerous people and the dangers in nature one can always arm oneself.’

  ‘Form your own opinion about what life has to offer you. The Mauryas allow their people the freedom of their religious convictions, as long as they respect the laws of the country. If that were not the case, Kullika would never have been your guru.’

  Ashoka reflected on this for a moment.

  ‘You are right, my great Father. I have never thought of this. My heart is full of gratitude for all that you have given me, especially for the freedom to seek the path I have to go.’

  ‘I have always been convinced that you could bear that freedom. You were born under a lucky star, so an Ajivika told me at your birth. Evil spirits were kept away from your birthing bed by all the means at your Mother’s and my disposal. Since your first hour, she has watched and guided you faithfully. Kullika was her choice, after having first consulted with Sayana. So, thank her. I must go now.’

  Ashoka fell once again to his Father’s feet and once more touched the edge of his robe. Bindusara raised him up and led him to the door.

  5

  THE THROW OF THE CHAKRA

  shoka’s steps were slow and measured as he strolled through the hall of gilded pillars bordering the park. Still deep in thought, he continued walking till he came up to the chief palace guard who was very kindly disposed towards him. He still did not understand how his father could have been so careless: ‘Any throw of the chakra …’ Sumana was not only an impediment to him, but also to the Maharajah. Phuuu! Was the coward worth a fling of the chakra? He whispered to Nata: ‘When I go into the park with Prince Sumana, you walk ahead. Remember the white cloak and our plan.’

  He then briskly walked over to Sumana’s quarters. He would demand an explanation for the attempt on his life by Lamba and the magician, but even more he felt the need to unburden
himself of the restlessness caused by his father’s careless remark. He did not find the Prince. He took his sharpest chakra and waited in the hall. The air was hushed; a solitary maiden stood guard, occasionally shifting her feet; kokilas1 sang in crystal tones in the sultry spring night, whirring beetles and high-pitched sounds of bats revealed the awakening of life in the stillness of night. At this hour the Maharajah received his informants, who reported to him every happening of importance in his large empire, and charged with fresh orders, were silently led away. Nothing escaped his Father’s keen mind: the web of his all-encompassing administration, invisible and strong, extended everywhere, even to the farthest corners of the empire. He demanded observance of the law, and where there was no law, his word held sway. How a single man could govern such a great multitude of people. ‘Dandaniti2, the art of punishing!’ according to Chanakya.3 Capital punishment, if found to be fitting; yet there was security if one obeyed the will of the Emperor. Without that will, the entire edifice would crumble and Sumana lacked will. ‘A Raja, incapable of ruling his kingdom, will be shunned by his subjects like the marshy banks of rivers are by the elephants.’ Chandragupta, Bindusara … Sumana … midday sun and glow-worm … Thoughts about the chakra - throw disturbed him. He no longer wanted that! He would prove to himself he did not want that. Alone in the park with that coward! The sharp chakra in his hand, with the Maharajah’s sanction to kill whom he wished, and this: ‘Know when to kill and when to bestow life.’ Those were Sayana’s words.

  A great calm descended upon his soul like the white light of Chandra reflected in the lotus pond of the mysterious park. It was no ‘stealing of the throne’, the Mauryan right to the ivory throne! ‘Shiva will send him who takes upon himself onerous tasks.’ Kullika says: ‘Tat Tvam Asi’, That Thou Art: Sumana will be wiped out as Shiva’s lightning does the Vritra4.

  After waiting for a long time, he heard soft footsteps going towards Sumana’s quarters. He walked up to him calmly, almost soundlessly. Sumana halted, and warily turned around. Ashoka saw that he was taken by surprise.

  ‘You flinch like a scared antelope, Sumana.’

  ‘What do you want from me?’

  ‘Come, walk with me through the park. Chandra illuminates it as though it were day.’

  ‘I never go to the park at night. I prefer the day.’

  ‘And at night with Prakriti? You will come with me now!’

  Sumana regarded his younger brother suspiciously. ‘If you wish to speak to me you can come with me to my quarters.’ His fear growing, Sumana wanted to slip away quickly, but Ashoka firmly held him back.

  ‘That I do not want! Come, brave Prince. Or, shall I get Lamba to safeguard you from plaguing demons?’

  ‘Why seek out danger? This is the time for evil spirits,’ ventured Sumana.

  ‘For good spirits as well. I have to speak to you, it does not allow for delay, so come with me.’ At last, Sumana walked nervously with Ashoka to the park. His eye had fallen upon the glistening chakra in his brother’s hand.

  A white peacock, roosting on the branch of a small tala tree, startled him.

  ‘What are you looking for, here in the night?’

  ‘Myself. And you will help me. You look nervously at my chakra; indeed, it is dangerous! The Maharajah has allowed me a throw at any target I choose. And the Maharajah’s word is sacred. Shall I sever your confidant Lamba’s head from his torso, or another’s who stands in my way? Do not tremble so!’

  A piercing and almost unearthly shriek rang out close to them; it chilled Sumana to his bones.

  ‘You have little presence of mind, Sumana. It is merely a peacock that is startled by our footsteps!’ But Sumana looked with wild eyes at a white figure that rose before him as if out of the earth. With a cowardly scream, he sank to his knees and reached up imploringly to the ghostly vision. Ashoka grasped him tightly and pulled him up to the ghost: a white cloak, hanging from a tree branch.

  ‘Where is your courage, Crown Prince?’ he mocked. As they walked on, they heard a heavy splash in the pond and cries for help.

  ‘Save that drowning person! Should not a Crown Prince need undaunted will?’ When the splashing became frantic, Sumana sank to the ground, moaning like a wounded deer. Then, as he heard the hissing of a snake, he jumped up and set off at a run. Ashoka quickly reached out to his prey, grabbing him by the neck and forcing him to stand still.

  ‘What … do you want … from me?’ Sumana gasped.

  ‘I wanted to know who is worthy of being the target of my chakra. You are not! Just one more question: Who should lead the campaign to Taxila?’

  ‘He, whom the Maharajah chooses, you, vulture hovering over my Father’s throne!’

  Ashoka laughed. ‘Go and rest from your weariness and dream sweetly, grandson of the brave Chandragupta, son of Bindusara, conqueror of enemies. I am going West! That was my message.’

  Sumana looked at him, speechless; he then hurried on to the palace.

  Ashoka listened yet to the kokila whose calls from the trees echoed in the moonlit park. Glorious! Even more glorious was the feeling that he had been able to control himself. ‘Any throw of the chakra!’ … The coward! He put the weapon away.

  But Sumana, overcome with helpless rage, could only think of exacting pitiless revenge.

  At the first rays of the sun Ashoka walked to the park.

  ‘Revata, you are on time.’ The Shudra bowed deeply. ‘Why did you risk your life for me?’

  Revata looked inquiringly at the Prince.

  ‘May I speak the truth, cost what it may, O, Prince?’

  ‘I wish you would.’

  ‘I hear as sharply as an antelope and see keener than a vulture. I often wander through the town and I know much, and because I hold my tongue, only I know what I know. Thus have I come to know that the Brahmins are a threat to you, for they wish the frivolous Prince Sumana to succeed to the throne. But I hate the Brahmins, because they preach that the Shudra is only an animal in human form. I saw how the magician had planned your accident and suspected that the Brahmins had sent him or … Prince Sumana. I then jumped immediately to save you, O, Prince.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘It is said you are just, even to the Shudras.’

  ‘Who says this?’

  ‘All who do not believe in the haughty delusions of the sacrificial priests, O, Prince.’

  ‘You risk much to tell me this.’

  ‘I was permitted to speak the truth, My Lord.’

  ‘Revata, you will accompany me on my journey to the far West,’ said Ashoka. ‘But keep silent about this, and try to be of service to me.’

  ‘I shall bring an offering to Shiva, O, Prince!’

  With the discerning eye of an intelligent, strong and mentally capable young man, and his never failing interest and knowledge about everything concerning his father’s empire and army, Ashoka selected his small body of troops: he chose twenty war elephants and as many carts, all armed and manned by the most experienced soldiers, trained by himself; one hundred excellent horsemen with the best horses, and a few hundred strong and agile foot soldiers. For commanders and officers, he chose only men he personally knew and trusted. All felt honoured that Ashoka thought them worthy of this expedition. He was known to be merciless yet strictly fair. His influence over this army of brawny warriors was huge due to his unsurpassed bravery and keenness in all the details. His simplicity also endeared him to all. He spoke seldom, but when he gave his opinion, it was felt to be just. He was action itself, no effort was too much; no goal, once determined, was beyond reach. Thus began legend after legend about the Prince—nay, the Wild Prince—who could talk to elephants and horses and get them to obey him, and inspire their greatest efforts with just a few utterances which worked like magic words. He directed his arrows with his sharp eyes, his chakra struck where he wished it to cut. There was no match for his swordsmanship.

  The rumour about the attempt on the Prince’s life had spread like wildfire through the army cam
p; everyone had heard of it, yet no one was quite certain where the story originated: A magician had used his wand to cause the horse to stumble, but like a rishi5 the Prince had flown through the air and landed on a Shudra who suddenly became a Kshatriya. The horse was unhurt and his guru dropped to his knees in adoration of the Prince, and the Prince had struck down the magician with one look. With a commander like this, they would march towards victory, head on! According to Sela and Sagka, the horses whinnied with respect when they spied Ashoka, and the elephants bowed their heads and saluted in happiness, with raised trunks, when they heard his voice.

  Kullika galloped up just as Ashoka had finished the selection of his troops.

  ‘May I interrupt you, O, Prince?’ he whispered. ‘Sasarman has been taken prisoner this morning and sent to Pataliputra. He has been accused of disturbing a sacred offering, and has been condemned by the court to be put to death by a wild elephant. Jivaka has also just been brought to prison. Wishing to visit the wise Sayana, he has trespassed onto the imperial hunting grounds. This will cost him his life: the penalty is death.’

  ‘We must save them both, my Guru.’

  ‘Sasarman cannot be saved. Perhaps, we can save Jivaka, if the merciful Emperor can be appealed to.’

  ‘Come with me immediately, Kullika, to the execution arena!’

  They sped back on their horses to Pataliputra and arrived, flushed with heat, at the execution fields. An elephant, captured weeks ago, was held in a massive wooden stockade. This animal could not be tamed and was thus used to execute the condemned. Whoever entered the stockade would be attacked by the angry beast, gored and crushed under his feet. When the Prince and his guru approached, a hushed whisper rippled over the people who had come to see the execution. Ashoka walked to the front of the stockade. The spectators nervously parted to one side. He waited a moment and thought about simply freeing Sasarman, but just as quickly discarded this idea. A judgement of the court of Brahmins! To obstruct Brahmins in the execution of a judgement would be considered a great offence against the laws of the land. Ashoka thought it unwise to have this charge brought against him just now. A loud clamour was heard from the entrance: the Vaishya was resisting wildly. The rough guards tightened their hold on the condemned man, others opened the gateway, and Sasarman was thrown forcibly into the stockade, where his ‘executioner’ awaited him. The gate closed. The elephant trumpeted loudly, swinging its trunk high up, its small eyes glinting. With its trunk raised in self-protection, it charged towards its victim. Sasarman, pallid, stood trembling as he awaited his inevitable death. Ashoka grabbed the chakra and coolly measured the distance to the animal. The razor-sharp gleaming disc cut through the air and struck the elephant fatally behind its ear. The animal stood still, blood spurting down. A wild shriek. The mortally wounded beast staggered on its feet, took several steps back and collapsed. An extraordinary excitement came over the spectators. Many fled in fear as they felt Ashoka’s deed was an offence against the all-mighty Maharajah; others raised a deafening cheer. The Prince, followed by his guru, hurried to the stockade’s entrance.