The Prince of Patliputra

by Shreyas Bhave

  “These non-Aryas have no sense of loyalty, Asoka,” Kanaka said. “They are under siege by us, but would sell weapons to us if we could give them the right price, which I did.”

  “What for, Kanaka? What was the need?” Asoka asked.

  “You won’t understand,” Kanaka looked to the side, avoiding Asoka’s gaze. “You are princes, both of you. Your life is made for you. People like us; we have to make it ourselves.”

  “What’s that have got to do with this?” Asoka asked.

  “I make good money selling these non-Arya weapons in our camps.” Kanaka said. “They are good quality and I tell the soldiers I get it from my brother who lives in Vidarbha.”

  “Oh you bastard!” Asoka said. “I’m going to have to tell them when we get back.”

  “Speaking of getting back,” Kanaka said, “now it’s your turn to tell me what you are doing here.”

  Asoka looked at Shiva who was still busy trying to restrain the other man. “The General sent us on a mission.” Asoka said. “We have to blow up the oil storage.”

  Kanaka couldn’t avoid laughing. “What?” He said. “Just the two of you?”

  “No,” Asoka said, unsheathing Kanaka’s sword and handing it to him. “Now, just the three of us.”

  “What should I do with this man?” Shiva asked, as they walked out of the forest.

  “You should kill him,” Asoka said, as he led at the front.

  “First let me take back the money that I gave him,” Kanaka said. He reached out in the man’s undershirt and took back the bag of coins. “Now kill him.” He said.

  Shiva cut open the man’s neck with one stroke and let him fall back. Asoka did not look back. He was looking at the oil storage. “Do other non-Aryas here know you too, Kanaka?” He asked. “Seeing as how you keep on coming and going from here.”

  “No, just a handful,” Kanaka said, “and you just killed one of them.”

  “Are any of the handful guards by any chance?” Asoka asked. Kanaka smiled. “I can get you in.” He said. “But in return, you will have to promise to keep my secret.”

  Asoka smiled. “How will you get us in?” He asked. Kanaka observed the wall around the oil storage. They could see some guards on it. “I’ll go in.” He said, “Then I’ll deal with the guards on the walls and open the gates for you.”

  “Oh, I’m disappointed,” Asoka said. “Here I was thinking you’ll ask someone to open the gates for us.”

  “Hey, I just buy weapons from them,” Kanaka said. “They are not my buddies.”

  Together the three of them crawled to a rock and hid behind it. There indeed were only two guards on the wall.

  ‘Watch me,” Kanaka said.

  “What is he doing?” Asoka wondered. He and Shiva were sitting on their knees in the grass.

  “I don’t know,” Shiva said

  They were watching Kanaka who was just alongside the wall

  “Why isn’t he moving?” Asoka said. Kanaka was indeed standing still. The guard above him, on the wall, was moving towards him. Once he was fully above, Kanaka brought him down in one swift motion and proceeded to strangulate him.

  “That was good,” Asoka said. He and Shiva moved out from the bushes and ran towards Kanaka who was now waving at them.

  “The oil storage is just beyond this,” Kanaka said. He was now holding a bow and a quiver of arrows taken from the dead guard.

  “You stand on the wall with the bow and keep a lookout,” Asoka said to him. The three of them climbed the walls together.

  “I’ll just be here,” Kanaka whispered once they were on top. “If anyone even moves, my arrow will pierce through him before he can blink.”

  “I don’t think anybody will come. It’s dark now,” Asoka whispered back. In their division, Kanaka was known as Shabda Bhedi, one who could launch an arrow even with his eyes closed just by listening to the sound of the target.

  He and Shiva climbed down from the wall while Kanaka stayed at the top. The building that looked like the oil storage was just ahead of them. They entered it together.

  The oil was kept in big metal cauldrons. There were marshals on the wall. The only problem was that the two of them couldn’t reach it. “We need Kanaka,” Asoka said and ran out of the oil storage to Kanaka. He explained the problem to him.

  “It’s easy,” Kanaka said. “I will set the tip of my arrow on fire and launch it into the cauldron.”

  “You go on in then,” Asoka said, “I’ll stand guard.”

  Asoka took his place on the wall; and Kanaka went inside into the oil storage.

  Soon Asoka watched as flames engulfed the oil storage. He could hear the screams of guards now, on the other side.

  Come out fast now. Asoka thought.

  But no one came out of the oil storage. Guards were approaching. But the doors of the oil storage were closed tightly.

  He had to run. Soon there would be guards all over the place, and it would be unsafe.

  Asoka jumped down from the wall towards the forest. He could see men near the cliff. It was his men. “Asoka.” They cried out to him. “The General sent us with a rope. So that you can get back down.”

  Asoka went to them and held the rope. He looked back, but no one was coming. They could hear the shouts of guards.

  “Come on now.” The men said. “Let’s get down.”

  Asoka was tempted. Tempted a lot. But he left the rope and turned.

  “Where are you going?” They asked.

  “Back to the storage.” He said.

  “Are you a fool?” They said.

  “Just leave the rope,” Asoka said and ran back towards the oil storage.

  “It all felt like a dream.” Asoka said. “I never thought that the three of us could make it. Shiva and Kanaka were stuck inside the storage by a wooden beam that had fallen down due to the fire. I managed to rescue them by forcing open the side of the oil storage.

  “And the guards?” Avarak asked.

  “I managed to kill all that came across us,” Asoka said. “It was dark, and the guards were confused. Fortunately Kanaka could walk. I had to carry Shiva on my shoulder though. It was as if some power was helping us. We managed to get to the rope and down safely.”

  “So it’s true,” Avarak said, “that my son would have been dead if you hadn’t been there.”

  “You can call it that way,” Asoka said, “I was just doing my duty.”

  Avarak sat up straight. “I am sorry if I have been harsh with you earlier.” Avarak said. “And I hope you won’t judge me based on the thing I am about to tell you now.”

  “You are far greater than me, Maharaja,” Asoka said, “It is not my place to judge you.”

  “Tell me, Prince,” Avarak said, “do you know anything about the Ancient Brahminical Order?”

  “Only what common men know about it.” Asoka said. “Not anything more.”

  “I was its leader once,” Avarak said. “Though not anymore. The Order still comes to me for advice sometimes, and help.”

  “What kind of help?” Asoka asked.

  “Six months ago,” Avarak said, “a member of the Order came to me.”

  “That was after the rebellion,” Asoka noted.

  “Indeed.” Avarak said. “The man who came to me was a longtime member of the Order. Acharya Hariharan.”

  “Acharya Hariharan is the Prime Minister of Taxila,” Asoka exclaimed, “The Prime Minister of my brother, Maharaja Sushem.”

  “Indeed.” Avarak said. “Hariharan asked me for help. He asked me to give him a man trained in the skills of assassination.”

  “And did he tell you why he needed such a man?” Asoka asked cautiously.

  ‘Yes.” Avarak said. “That is why I wanted Shiva to go out. He wouldn’t have liked it. I knew he wanted an assassin to kill you.”

  Asoka folded his arms. “I understand.” He said.

  “I knew you would.” Avarak said. “I didn’t know you then. You were just a Maurya Prince for me, who w
as sent with an army upon us. You were the enemy for me then. Your death would have meant nothing but advantage for me.”

  “So why tell me now?” Asoka asked.

  “Because I have just heard from Hariharan again,” Avarak said. “He is here in Vidishanagri. He is leading the pack of the Ashwamedha horse.”

  “So the Ashwamedha horse is in Vidishanagri too?” Asoka asked.

  “Maybe,” Avarak said.

  “Why tell me all this?” Asoka asked.

  “If I read you correctly, you want closure, young prince,” Avarak said. “You want to find out who sent the assassins after you.”

  “That can’t be all.” Asoka said. “Why does Hariharan inform you that he is in Vidishanagri? There has to be something more.”

  “Yes.” Avarak smiled. “He wants help again. He wants more assassins.”

  “For me?”

  “Not for you this time,” Avarak said, “for the Order.”

  “Who does the Order want to kill this time?”

  “I don’t know,” Avarak said, “but it is easy to guess, isn’t it?”

  Asoka bowed. “Thanks for telling me all this.” He said. “I must leave for Vidishanagri at once.”

  Avarak sighed. “I am too old now, son.” He said. “Maybe we shall not meet again. Maybe I shall die before that. So I want you to know this. I was wrong about judging you. You are a good man, Asoka. That ring you are wearing, I want you to become worthy of it.”

  Asoka touched Avarak’s feet. “Your blessing shall make me worthy.” He said. “And the rest shall be done by my own efforts.” Then, he left the room.

  “What did my father tell you that you are leaving so suddenly?” Shiva asked.

  “I know the man who sent assassins after me is in Vidishanagri,” Asoka said, “I must get to him.”

  “But we have so much to discuss,” Shiva said. “So many plans to make.”

  “I am sorry, my friend, “Asoka said, “but I have to go.”

  “Is it about the Ashwamedha stallion?” Shiva asked.

  “It’s about the stallion and the assassin,” Asoka said, “It’s about both.”

  “What of your army?” Shiva asked.

  ‘I am leaving it here,” Asoka said. “Just taking some of the cavalry with me as my bodyguards.”

  “And what shall I do next?” Shiva asked.

  “I shall send word,” Asoka said.

  “But we have planned nothing,” Shiva said with concern.

  “Think of it like the olden times,” Asoka said, “like when we would go into battles planning nothing, yet emerge victorious.”

  Shiva watched as Asoka got up on his horse. Asoka bent down to Shiva’s ear. “Next time we meet,” he said, “I hope you will be Maharaja Shiva.”

  “And I hope you shall be Samrat Asoka,” Shiva said.

  Chanakya

  Banks of the Beas river, 50 years earlier

  “A man looking like a young ascetic seeks your audience.” A soldier informed him, as Raja Puru later told me. He wondered who it could be. He ordered for the man to be brought to him.

  He stepped out of the tent and looked at the vast flowing Beas river. It had been some days since they had camped there. Alexander wanted to first cross, and then camp, but his generals had insisted that the men were tired. They must rest first.

  And so they had been stranded on this side of the river. Beyond it lay the boundaries of the vast Nanda Empire which stretched right up to the holy river Ganges itself.

  The soldiers brought me in saffron clothing to him. Puru took some time to recognize me due to my open hair.

  “Chanakya?” He gasped. “Oh Chanakya, where have you been?”

  I promptly bowed. Puru took me inside the tent. “I thought you were dead.” He said, “that Raja Ambhi captured you.”

  “It is not so easy to capture or kill me.” I smiled.

  “Things have been horrible since you’ve been gone.” Puru said.

  “Not for you, though.” I said sternly. “I’ve heard that you’ve taken up the position of Alexander’s favorite.”

  “Don’t blame me now,” Puru muttered. “It has all happened according to your plan. Alexander has appointed me as Satrap of the northwest.”

  I laughed,. “As long as Alexander is present in the northwest, he is the Satrap, and you are merely a name.”

  “I am aware of that.” Puru said.

  “What of your army?”

  “Alexander controls my army.” Puru said. “He has sent it to Gandhar to curb a rebellion there. My men have been so used to fighting with Gandhar that I’m told they are doing a wonderful job there.”

  “So now you see.” I said, “that all of this has happened due to the pride and non-unity of you Rajas.”

  Puru just looked down at his own feet. “The Greek army ravages my kingdom.” he said. “I have seen men tortured for information, temples looted, Brahmins insulted, women raped. And all I could do was look. I’m already being punished, Chanakya.”

  “Yet you do not stand against him.” I said, “but follow him here, in his camp.”

  “I am his puppet, Chanakya,” Puru exclaimed. “I only held on to the position of Satrap because I had hopes for the future. And I did it on your advice. It was you who told me that to run and hide is better than to die because a runaway can return, a corpse can’t.”

  “What was this hope of yours?” I asked.

  “I thought that once Alexander and his army cross the Beas River, I would restore order here. But Alexander is too shrewd. He is taking me on this campaign across the Beas with him.”

  “The situation is hopeless, isn’t it?” I said with sarcasm.

  “Yet there is hope, friend,” Puru whispered. “There is dissent between Alexander and his generals. The army is tired and they want to go home.”

  “First look at the dissent in your kingdom.” I said. “Everyone is blaming you for the atrocities that are happening. People are saying that you are not a Man. You should have died in battle like a Man.”

  “Yes, I have lost the respect of my people,” Puru said. “Everybody is speaking about a Chandragupta these days. He is a youth in Taxila who has started a rebellion. He mounted an attack on my wedding and it is said he almost got Alexander. People want him to liberate them.”

  “He was my student, and still is.” I said. “I stand behind him.”

  “If you know him, tell him he has my blessings,” Puru said.

  “Your blessings are of no use these days.” I said.

  “What do you want from me, old friend?” Puru said. “Or are you going to just sit here and chide me?”

  “I would love to do that all day long,” I said, “but then, I’ll just be wasting my time.”

  “Anything that is possible for me to do, I will.” Puru said, sincerely.

  “I want to meet Conqueror Alexander.” I said.

  “The conqueror has been in a foul mood recently due to the laziness of his generals.”

  “Let me finish.” I said. “I want to meet the Conqueror in presence of his generals. Is there a situation where this is possible?”

  “Yes.” Puru said. “He dines with his generals. I can take you there.”

  “And did you ever dine with your generals?” I asked, sarcastically.

  “What should I tell him about you?”

  “You, my friend, shall tell him the truth.” I said, and walked out of the tent without looking back.

  Alexander was sitting in the dining tent with his generals, when I followed Puru into it.

  “Ah, Porus.” Alexander said. “Come, come. My generals were just telling me of the new ways you Aryas have discovered to avoid fighting me.”

  “And what are they?” Puru asked.

  “Take the example of the kingdom of Soubhujya,” Alexander said, drinking from his cup. “I sent an ultimatum of surrender to it, three days ago. Can you think of what happened next?”

  “I can only dream of it,” Puru said.

 
“They did not want to fight, so the residents of the city just left the city, took all the belongings they could carry, and just disappeared.”

  “Did they?” Puru said.

  “Yes, when our envoys visited the city for an answer, they found it completely empty. Not a single being. Everyone gone. Frankly, it amazes me.” Alexander said.

  “Men would readily depart from their pride for their independence here in Bharath.” I said. Everybody looked at me, who had spoken out of turn.

  “And who are you?” Alexander asked.

  “He is called Arya Chanakya.” Puru introduced me. “He was one of the finest teachers in the academy of Taxila of which you no doubt have heard.”

  “I have heard you say ‘was’.” Alexander said, eating from his plate. “So ex-teacher, what are you, now?”

  “You can call me a rebel against you.” I said.

  Alexander smiled, “So rebel,” he said, “you said men value their independence over their pride here. But I have been seeing things differently since I’ve been here. I’ve seen Rajas offer surrender to me unconditionally. These Rajas are taking away their independence by their own hands and tying the metal ball of slavery to their own feet.”

  “No, Conqueror, I am not mistaken.” I said. “When I said men value their independence over everything here, I was speaking of Men. These Rajas who have surrendered before you are not Men.”

  Alexander laughed, “You have brought a witty man here, Porus.”

  “I brought him here because I know you enjoy the company of intelligent men.” Puru said.

  “Indeed I do.” Alexander said, “But I have met so many intelligent men in Bharath that I have lost count. Let me correct myself, it does not mean there are too many intelligent men in Bharath. It means that you people here have diluted checkpoints of intelligence. There is a complete caste of intelligent men here. So tell me, my guest, what makes you different from all of them?”

  “What makes me different, Conqueror,” I said, “is that I have been trying to unite the northwest against you before your arrival here.”

  There was a moment’s silence, and then everybody burst out laughing. Alexander was laughing the loudest. “You’re an interesting man.” He said, once the laughter had subsided. “What was your name again?”