‘Even if the Brahmin-court refuses … The army in Pataliputra …’
‘Aha! And then?’
‘If you then also control the whole west with its Rajputans, Bhils, Takkas and other warrior people, then you control Aryavarta, O, Raja.’
‘That, to me, borders on rather simple thinking, revered Sundara.’
‘The army in Pataliputra is at your command, after all.’
‘And then?’
‘And then, it is up to you. Aryavarta needs a powerful ruler.’
‘And the Brahmin-court?’
‘Given certain conditions …’
‘You mean that I, if necessary, could arrogate sovereignty!’
‘You say it, not me, high and wise Raja. It has happened before in India. I would not venture to advise you so, but …’
‘But?’
‘No one would offer resistance because you are a capable army chief and a wise ruler.’
‘Not even the Maharajah?’
‘Not even the Maharajah,’ the priest whispered.
‘But I do not wish to be dependant on the Brahmin-court.’
The priest continued carefully: ‘That will be a delicate point, high Raja. However, I am wholly convinced of your abilities. You could, if need be, do it without the priests. Sayana and Khallataka seem to be fully by your side.’ Ashoka glanced up at Kullika, who looked disconcerted.
‘Ajatashatru …’
‘Think not of that, high Raja. The mighty Chandragupta abdicated when he was still in the full bloom of his life.’
‘Yes, but what if Bindusara should refuse?’
‘The moment you are in control, everything depends on you.’
‘Yes, yes!’ Ashoka beat the heavy gong three times and three servants rushed in without making any sound.
‘Kansa and Salya, guard this priest. You, Darga, get Pala and twenty riders. Do not move, Sundara, my chakra never fails and is sharp.’
Sundara stood still, his cheeks ashen.
‘Pala, take this priest in an ox-cart to the Maharajah. Vasumitra, would you do me a great favour? Accompany him to Pataliputra. You were a witness. Inform the Maharajah what this priest suggested to me and will you assure my father again of my unwavering loyalty!’
The priest was carried off.
‘The Brahmin-court wished to lure you into a trap, my Raja. When Sundara said, ‘if need be, without the priests’, there he made his mistake.’
‘Or, a conspired mistake of … well, let us wait and see.’
‘Does my Raja long to join that dance of death?’
‘I do not wish to, Kullika, but I shall be there when the dance begins.’
‘Here, you have a beautiful country, a wife and children who make you happy. Here, you can work as well and nobody longs for your death. Pataliputra is a nasty wasps’ nest.’
‘There are powers at work within man which can be subdued by no force in the world because they are part of the Atman, and so, of all, my Kullika.’
‘Think of Buddha’s first precept, O, Raja.’
‘If I obey it, others will trample it. What difference does it make? It is better that I take the lead.’
Along with a caravan from Taxila, a representation of merchants arrived, led by Kampaka, a former minister of Ashoka.
‘Sir, Vimalamitra has died. Prince Kala stays with the Takkas. Gopa says the Viceroy there has hardly any idea what is happening. His council decides about all that goes on in Taxila. It is the cruelty of the army that still stays the hand of the people. The trade in Taxila dies like the jungle in Grishma1. The Iranians, Syrians and Egyptians, are treated as if they are leprous. Artisans, slaves, sarthavahas, roam around the streets without a purpose. The taxes are too heavy to bear. We are only permitted to erect wooden buildings, as in Madhyadesa. Every resistance is punished with severe torture and death. The country lives in mute resentment. Only one word and the West will be plunged into the fires of war. Complaints to the Maharajah do not help.’
‘What is that one word, Kampaka?’
‘Ashoka! Sir, all the people of the Punjab and Kashmir included, are poised to heed your call. Bactrians and Iranians will, if you wish or need, come to your help. I hear the south-west is very favourably disposed towards you. Do we have to continue to bear being governed by a Prince who is controlled by an assembly of enemies? No one, O, mighty Raja, can stand against you. Save us!’
‘There is just one insurmountable obstacle, Kampaka: your oath of loyalty, and mine, to the Maharajah. In the monsoon, when the nectar of heaven is feeding the world, it is easy for the banyan to grow. But in Jyeshtha, the hottest month, he proves his strength and endurance.
‘The oath of loyalty by a people means an oath of protection by the King, Sire. Your reign alone was like a shower of fresh rain over our barren farmlands. Our country is becoming impoverished; our people become criminals instead of useful workers.’
Ashoka contemplated Kampaka’s words with Kullika. He knew that Bindusara would not recall the Council because of the Brahmin-court. Neither would he declare Sumana’s incapability. Only a strong Sumana he would fear. Yet, Ashoka wanted to help. Both of them left for Bharuchkacha to talk to the merchants of the west. On their journey to the port city, when they had made their camp at a valley in the Vindhya-mountains, they came across a scraggly caravan of miserable, dismal-looking camels, which was on its way to Ujjain with a small quantity of sandalwood. The sarthavaha told the Viceroy that Dakshina2, in the Deccan, was ravaged by a drought, resulting in famine, because there had been no rains in the past years. Food was scarcely available and the demons of pestilence and famine were lurking. Only food grains could save them.
‘Would it not be better that we first take care of the situation in Dakshina, my Purohita?’
‘The land does not belong to the Maharajah, Sire. Taxila and your own interests ask for priority.’
‘Your Buddha’s first precept does not consider land or interest, my Kullika. But maybe, we can help in another way.’
Immediately a messenger was sent to Ujjain. Fifty ox-carts were loaded at Mahishmati on the Narmada with grain from the Maharajah’s granaries and dispatched as immediate relief. His own chief, Tshunda, would take care of the distribution so the grains could not be sold in the marketplace.
In Bharuchkacha, Achala assembled the foreign merchants and the Taxilans. Ashoka wanted to route the Iranian trade over Bharuchkacha and Ujjain. Ujjain was a holy city for the Brahmin council and its caravans had free entry into Taxila.
When Vasumitra arrived in Pataliputra with his prisoner, he was received that very night by the Maharajah.
‘What is it that the noble Vasumitra has to report to the Emperor of Aryavarta?’
‘Gracious and Most Revered Maharajah, the Viceroy of Ujjain sends along a prisoner to you, an inmate of the Brahmin-court of Pataliputra. This priest wanted to persuade the Raja to usurp supreme power in your empire.’
The Maharajah suddenly turned to the prisoner: ‘And was my son amenable to your treacherous speech, Girika?’
‘Gracious Maharajah, this prisoner called himself Sundara, a pilgrim.’
‘Well, Sundara, answer me.’
‘No, Sire. I made it plain to the Raja that he needed only to lift a finger and the whole of Aryavarta would be at his feet. But he imprisoned me as a traitor.’
‘Why did not my son listen to the evil tongue of Sundara, my Vasumitra?’
‘Well, gracious Maharajah, he felt bound by his oath of loyalty.’
‘And if he had not sworn that oath, would he then have been agreeable to Sundara’s proposition?’
‘No!’
‘You seem very convinced. Why not?’
‘He demands strict obedience and truthfulness from his servants and is never deficient in them himself, gracious Maharajah.’
‘So you think it is impossible the Raja would take action in Taxila?’
‘When you have ordered. But not otherwise. The unity of the country and the supreme
power of the Maharajah are as sacred to him as Shiva’s home on Kailash.’
The Maharajah sighed deeply and kept silent for a moment.
‘How large is his army, Mahamatra Vasumitra?’
‘A few hundred soldiers. But thousands of Rajputans and Bhils and Takkas would be only too eager to join the army.’
‘To track the caravans?’
‘For whatever the Raja chooses. But he does not want war. There is prosperity everywhere. Our happiness means more to him than an exhibition of power.’
‘You know my son well?’
‘I daily praise the gods and the Maharajah who sent him our way. ‘True as Ashoka’, ‘honest as Ashoka’, ‘just as Ashoka’, are expressions which are flowering in Ujjain, mighty Maharajah.’
‘Take Girika to his place, Sari. And you Vasumitra are my guest. I shall put Sundara on trial …’
Bindusara treated Vasumitra with great respect. The Emperor’s mind was put at rest … until the Brahmin ministers and priests would once again awaken the slumbering serpent of distrust inside his heart.
Vasumitra expressed amazement that the Emperor had shown so little interest in the crime of Sundara and so much more in the way the Viceroy had responded to it.
At nightfall, Ashoka asked: ‘And what does my Kullika now think of the Sundara case?’
‘The same that you think, my Raja …’
Ashoka had taken care that there were established a great number of horse-posts on the new road from Ujjain to Pataliputra and that fast travel speeded up the conveyance of information. Immediately after the return of Vasumitra, he began to receive information about new developments of every kind. Satyavat reported:
‘The Maharajah has ordered Prince Sumana to come to the capital. Bindusara wants him to marry soon and stay for some time at Sayana’s.’
From Sela: ‘The Maharajah knows what we talked about. I am under the keen observance of some heavily armed spies. I designated Radhagupta as the Chief commander in case I fall in battle.’
Some weeks later, word from Gopa: ‘The Maharajah has intervened. The Viceroy suddenly left for Pataliputra. The trade to Ujjain has improved a great deal and that to Iran has become easier. Representatives of the Council have been sent to Sangala to establish peace with the Takkas.’
‘If the Maharajah would leave the West to you, the problems would be solved and happiness gained for Malwa, Sindh and the Punjab.’
‘And Magadha, and Kosala, and the entire Madhyadesa?’
‘He who wants to carry the heavy priest on his back should not complain when he staggers under the load.’
‘That thought is not in accordance with Buddha’s first precept, my Kullika. Do you want to hand over Madhyadesa to the sacrificial priests?’
‘You are right, Sire, but a blood-strife between brothers could be worse.’
‘My brother is of no account. Devi goes to Vidisha to give birth to her third child. I will bring her there myself and stay for a while with Subhadra and wait for news from Pataliputra. Sumana’s presence in the capital makes me restless. Maybe, I may suddenly have to depart for Pataliputra. If a struggle is sparked off, I might fall as well. What would my Kullika do then?’
‘Sire, as loyally as I have served you and loved you, I will serve and love her and her children.’
‘Mind well that my death would mean immediate danger to my son.’
‘The Vindhyas are vast and many there worship Shiva, Lord.’
‘I thank you, my Kullika.’
‘The gods will not forsake you, Lord.’
‘We bow to the gods but keep the reins of the chariot in our own hands, Kullika.’
5
TWO SPIES
t the rear of the park, behind the Palace in Pataliputra, was the home of Satyavat, the overseer of the ponds and parks, his wife Rohini, and their two little sons. In front of the house was a small pond, in which a soft pink lotus spread out its petals. Between the dark-green leaves were the buds seeking light and the flowers blushed when Surya’s rays kissed them in the early morning. As dusk fell, and the inky black night rose from the earth, and moved into the thick shrubs and bushes before slowly climbing up to the crowns of the Areka palms that enclosed the park by the side of the River Son, Rohini awaited her husband while musing on her salvation and good fortune. She thought of her saviour, the ‘ugly Wild Prince’, but also, with fear, of Sumana. It so happened that once as Sumana walked through the park his eyes caught sight of her and followed her to her house. Luckily, Satyavat was in the house and requested him to leave her alone. Sumana, however, demanded that Satyavat should go. Her husband then warned that he would go straight to the Maharajah to ask whether Sumana was entitled to lay claims on his wife. Then the Prince left. Now he was on his way to Pataliputra. Why? Certainly, Prince Ashoka would like to know what was going on between the Maharajah and Sumana. Jala, the chief gatekeeper, would never let anybody get close to the audience hall. Never, not even Nata, the chief of the female palace guards; nor would the guards reveal a word of the happenings inside as that would undoubtedly cost them their lives if the Emperor came to know of it. They often visited Rohini but guarded their secrets jealously. Once Mutri, a palace guard who resembled Rohini like a sister, remarked:
‘You would be a comely guard in the uniform of a palace sentry, Rohini.’
Rohini laughed: ‘Let me try it on once, Mutri, people say we look a lot like each other.’
‘Alright, but take care that no one notices.’
Everyone agreed that none of the guards could vie with Rohini and that she could easily, without arousing anybody’s suspicions, be mistaken for Mutri. It was about this matter that she was musing as she sat on the bench near the lotus pond waiting for her husband. She heard hurried steps. It was Satyavat, who immediately sat down on the bench beside Rohini, obviously fatigued.
‘I see no way of observing the meeting,’ he whispered. ‘Jala remained adamant. Nata has no idea how. I even risked to ask Sela to go to Khallataka for this specific purpose. His only answer was, ‘Do not ask me to work as a spy’.’
‘What if I could attend the meeting of the Maharajah and his son?’
Satyavat looked at her, dismayed. ‘Foolishness …’
‘In the uniform of Mutri.’
‘Foolishness!’ He repeated, raising his voice this time.
‘Not as foolish as you think. According to the other guards I look exactly like Mutri.’
‘Everyone will notice the deception immediately and you would be sentenced right away.’
‘Prince Ashoka, my Satyavat!’
‘That sacrifice he will not accept!’
‘But we wish to do it! It is for him! Tomorrow, when Mutri comes by, I will ask her. If you recognise the deception straight away we will have to look for something else.’
‘Nata will not allow it. His job – nay, his life is at stake!’
‘I go along with it,’ Nata whispered, just behind them. Satyavat and Rohini jumped up, startled. ‘But be careful that you discuss all that concerns Ashoka with great caution inside your house. I perceived several times someone close by your house. Attempt it, Rohini, I really see no other way. And all of us are true to the Maharajah until death. Who will find out! I have noticed that Jala hardly looks at the guards.’
The next morning some of the guards visited Rohini. They played with her little sons.
‘Is it really true I resemble Mutri so much? Am I that pretty?’
‘Oh, even more, Rohini!’
‘Let us fool Satyavat!’ This suggestion was received with cheerful applause. They exchanged their clothes and called in Satyavat.
‘So, Mutri, you take a stance as though you have to guard the holy Maharajah here.’ Everyone laughed delightedly.
‘Why do you call me in, mother Rohini?’
‘We feel that today Rohini looks so much like Mutri. What do you think, Satyavat?’
‘She always does.’
‘Satyavat, mind you, make no mistake �
� That can lead to unwitting adultery.’ Rohini walked towards him and hugged him.
‘Ugh, Mutri!’
Rohini took Satyavat by his arm and whispered:
‘Do ask Nata if I could do sentry duty at the palace for one day.’
Satyavat was startled and only now he recognised his mistake.
‘Let me do duty tomorrow at the meeting of Sumana and the Maharajah, Mutri!’
‘Nata will kill us if he comes to know.’
‘He will not come to know. I will serve with dedication.’
‘And then I’ll be Rohini. How happy Satyavat will be! If we are uncovered we will simply deny we are the other then it remains as it is!’ joked Mutri. The appeal of the prank and the daring of it thrilled both.
‘Maybe, I will ask Nata. He is a loyal friend of Satyavat and the head of the guards.’
Fright intermingled with fun but they took the risk, because Rohini seemed to wish it so much. Yet, nobody felt at ease when a day later Rohini took over Mutri’s place. Mutri waited in Satyavat’s house, shivering. What if the Maharajah discovered! Rohini kept herself well and repressed her curiosity in the new surroundings. She was inclined to look at her friends and quite a few furtive glances were cast on her. She realised how dangerous it was to draw attention to herself. Even the Maharajah, who always looked at his guards for a short moment but for the rest never paid attention to them, seemed to stare at her a little longer.
Fortunately, Khallataka and Sayana entered. After they had seated themselves next to the Maharajah he ordered the Prince to come in.
What if Sumana recognised her! She had not thought of that. Rohini tried to bolster her confidence to hide a little more behind her friends but it was forbidden to move even one muscle. She beheld how Sumana knelt down before the Maharajah and remained on his knees. The Maharajah greeted him sternly and briefly.
‘How are events in the west?’
‘Very well, my Father.’
‘Very well! What did you do to conduct the people towards peace and obedience?’
‘I? Well, I am their king, my Father!’
‘Indeed! Because you are …’
‘My ministers make the rules and I approve of what they decide.’
Ashoka the Great Page 42