1.The Royal decision
We know that kumara Chandragupta could become the emperor of not only the kingdom of Magadha but also the entire India. He is matchless in talent, strength and bravery and in the wealth of all virtues.’ replied the king in calm tone o to his main queen.
“Then why did you ditch my son who has all the credentials to become the king and enthroned the sons of my sister?” asked the queen Muradevi fiercely.
The king talked briefly in a deep voice “ Devi! That is the political secret beyond you. you are the reason for the disqualification of kumara Chandragupta for becoming a king!’ Mura got stunned. ‘ what do you say, my lord ? am I responsible for the disqualification of Chandragupta. It beats me, lord!”
I know it’s beyond your ken! Listen to me. Your father has become an outcast due to religious conversion. Neither the ministers nor the people would agree for making the son of such a daughter into a king.” The king relied in firm tone.
“Where are these ministers and people when you made me your main queen?
“That’s quite different. They accepted you in deference to my wishes.”
“Why can’t they accept the enthronement of my son now?”
The quarrel between the royal couple turned more fierce.
“We have never promised you to make your son as the king. That’s your sour grapes!
“ Yes, I am the guilty! I have no eligibility to become the mother of the king! Sunanda is the divine damsel to your eyes! You want me to serve her as the mother of the king.” spoke Mura devi in distressed voice. The king began to console her.
***
“We have never promised you to make your son as the king. That’s your sour grapes!
“ Yes, I am the guilty! I have no eligibility to become the mother of the king! Sunanda is the divine damsel to your eyes! You want me to serve her as the mother of the king.” spoke Mura devi in distressed voice. The king began to console her.
“Devi! Don’t feel regrets. We have done this in view of the welfare of the kingdom. your son is not a servant simply because the sons of Sunanda are the lords. We decided to appoint the brave Chandragupta as the commander-in- chief.”
“It’s no nobility! Is it great to turn one fit for being a king into a commander-in-chief?”
What is in hands of a king ? He’s in the hands of a commander. If he decides the throne will crumble.”
Mahapadmanada is trying to soothe Muradevi in vain.
“ the lord can’t undo the justice through his glib tongue. I would say that even the greatest commander-in- chief is merely a servant of the king . why words?”
We have taken this decision keeping in view the wellbeing of the kingdom, the people’s pulse , the mind of the ministers, the decision is irrevocable!”
Muradevi is like a cobra enraged.
Yes! your decision is irrevocable since you are the lord eminent. But in case god decides otherwise, everything can change by itself and dharma will triumph and justice ill be enthroned! Muradevi rose and entered her chamber of privacy. The king turned answerless and started walking towards the palace of Sunanda.
***
Muradevi whose hopes have been dashed felt distressed and went to her son to reveal the king’s heart. She suffered from agony unbearable due to her misfortune that deprived Chandragupta, the rightful heir to the king . Chandragupta listened to her sorrow in a mood of contemplation.
Yes, mom! I have been doubting that it would happen like this. But don’t suffer, mother! Your son will get you the honour of being called as the queen mother. It’s more delightful to acquire kingdom out of bravery and prowess rather than as the king’s gift! I promise you that Maurya Chandragupta will inevitably become the king of Magadha and the emperor and realize the dreams of mother!” Mura’s distressed heart felt a sort of relief.
She embraced her son and spoke in love.” Chandra! You are my darling! I believe in you and your prowess. You have to occupy the throne and redress the injustice and fulfill my
life’s ambition”. Her tears bathed his head while he spoke bravely.
“Be cool, mother! God , the protector of Dharma can come to our rescue.”
Chapter 2 : Commander in- chief
Mahapadmananda ,the king of Magadha has two wives- the eldest is Muradevi and the younger is Sunanda devi. Both of them hailed from the royal families. Muradevi was the daughter of the lord of Pippalavana of great dynasty who took to Buddhisn and fell out of favour with Brahmins o propagated that he was an outcast and not royal .But Mahapadmanada took Muradevi as his wife unmindful of that propaganda. Though the king was polygamous, he fell for the beauty of Sunanda and reserved his special affection for her. Thu Mura got the royal respect whereas Sunandsa grabbed royal affection.
Mahapadmanada had the vast and well-established kingdom, enormous wealth, numerous servants, brilliant ministers, powerful army, but he was not blessed with children. It caused him an unspeakable anguish that he had no heir to rule the kingdom invincible to the enemies. The queens did al they could- prayers, visits to the temples, religious rituals, bathing in the holy rivers. But all it came to nothing.
Mahapadmanada consulted his ministers. He talked to his ministers and closeted with Rakshsamatya, who was closest to him, talented, blessed with magical powers, man of character and action and the most loyal one. The chief minister advised the king to seek the blessings of rishis who could grant boons great and rare and who would oblige the king for the sake of the welfare of the world. This prompted the king to visit the rishi of divine and miraculous powers living in the ashram nearby Kailaseawara temple in the deep forest of Pataliputra.
***
The ashram region was quiet, full of trees bent with the weight of fruits and creepers that climbed the trees, fragrance of flowers wafted by the wind ,nectar in the beautiful and tender flowers, and the songs of Koels turned mad after eating fruits tender .The king entered and proceeded in the hermitage where the parrots and other birds were making merry, the Vedas were being chanted and the animals were glad to see the leaping of their offspring .
The rishi invited the king with affection and the later worshipped the rishi appropriately to satisfy his inner desire. Pleased with the king’s obedience, the rishi gave him a boon. He sprinkled the holy water drops on the heads of the king’s wives. One drop fell on the head of Muradevi and eight drops on the head of Sunanda. The rishi blessed that the king would beget nine sons and one of them would become the most powerful, brightest and the world-famous emperor of the vast country. The rishi said that Muradevi would beget one son and Sunanda would beget eight sons. the king became mightily pleased and bid farewell to the rishi.
Mahapadmananda’s long-standing wish came true and he begot nine sons. the eldest one was named Chandragupta and the rest of the eight came to known as “Nandas.” The news that the king was blessed with sons spread like full moon light, shower of scent, melodious song, and malayamarut and plunged the folks in festivities.
***
The princes grew into adults and learned the education , etiquette and knowledge befitting their status. They turned into masers of martial arts. Among all these, Chandragupta, turned into an intellectual, expert of all fields, man of humility and won the affection of the teachers he became a matchless figure in archery, swordsmanship, throwing of the javelin, in the use of various weapons , riding of the horses, elephants and chariots, planning , breaking and defending various strategies of war.
From the beginning the sons of Sunanda have developed jealously and hatred towards Chandragupta and turned into men of egoism, licentious and irresponsible.
Mahapadmanada decided to give up his kingship due to old age and to go to the forest to take rest like a man of detachment. Though Chandragupta had been the eldest and his real heir to the throne, he decided to favour the Nandas for the kingship. He was afraid that people and his ministers won’t approve of Chandragupta’s candidature and the possible rebellion due to the conversion of Chandraguta’s maternal grandfather into Buddhism and being called an outcast. He took the ministers into confidence and began the effort to coronate the dhanananda.
Sunanda became elated at the stroke of good luck that visited her sons. She saw the king face down like the flag affected by the wind coming towards her palace. She accosted with smiling face and mad him sit on a seat comfortable. The king was very impressed by her love and affection and her closeness soothed him like scented water. His heart bloomed and her services pleased him a lot.
Sunanda; the lord is indifferent! May I know the reason?
King: nothing, lady! Your presence has filled my heart with supreme peace like the beautiful moon
Sunanda ( In humility ): It’s grace of the lord! Your affection for this servant might have given peace to you.
The king (elated and in soliloquy) : “What a vast difference between Mura devi and this woman! she’s like the hurricane and this is like malayamarut1 It’s most befitting to give kingdom to Sunanda’s son. It’s apt to give chief commandership to Mura’s son.”
On one fine occasion, the eldest of the Nandas was crowned. The Nandas were elated and behaved as they moved as they pleased on that occasion. Chandragupta became the commander- in-chief. The old king made the chief minister pledge that he would take care of the kingdom went to the forest along with Sunanda. Muradevi stayed back in the hope of the rise of Chandragupta’s star.
Chapter 3: The fury of the king
The Nandas had neither any interest in running the kingdom nor an iota of efficiency . they behaved licentiously since they took the power. They were without morals befitting the running of the government. They knew no knowledge and discretion. They used to behave with bad temper and bereft of control and appropriateness. They used to while away day and night in slavishness to the looks of numerous women, drinking and houses of gambling, dances of the damsels and singing of the singers. They had no mind to carryout the acts for the welfare of the people.
In the course of time the Nandas’ atrocities went beyond the limits. There was no security to the life, property and honour of the people, especially women. So they lost the love and affection of the people. The servants of used to squeeze money from the people in many ways and amassed the wealth. The distressed and even the chief minister could approach the king. The ministers could not melt the hearts of the Nandas and felt helpless. In these conditions Chandragupta slowly began to take care of the royal activities. He used to enquire after the sufferings of the people, take the necessary actions, make the apt laws of governance and win the affection of the people. The Nandas remained the kings only in name.
On seeing this Rakshsamatya felt disturbed . He apprehended that Chandragupta would become the king replacing the Nandas and in that case his word to Mahapadmanada would be of no avail. He tried fruitlessly to meet the Dhanananda many times. But the latter surrounded always by the beautiful courtesans gave him no chance.
***
One day Rakshsamatya could meet the king after with the utmost difficulty and the king Nanda came out of the palace of pleasure in annoyance and asked the minister what had brought him there.
Minister ; the lord has to become alert, the kingdom is in danger.
King Nanda : What’s the danger? When you are there, how come the situation?
Minister: The lord himself must bearthe burden of the ruling the kingdom and the ministers are mere helpers! If you are unmindful of the royal duties, there would be danger for you and your kingdom.
Nanda: If the king himself had to look after the affairs of the kingdom , what would ministers do? To just eat and sleep? We want to remove such useless ministers.
Minister Rakshasa: The king has to become peaceful and in haste is warranted in the affairs of the kingdom.
Nanda: we don’t have patience. Tell me what you have to .
Minister: yes, me lord! The commander is taking the affairs of the kingdom and is not consulting even the ministers. If allowed this could lead to disorder in the kingdom.
Nanda: Oh, a genius! Why are you so afraid “ If Chandragupta took affairs in to his hands, it was because he was efficient . Perhaps, he didn’t have to consult with the ministers. why are you grief- stricken? Take your salary, go home and spend your time with your wife and children. No danger to either the king or kingdom. I brook no delay in going to shire in the forest!
The kind Nanda rose and went away . The minister was disappointed and went home.
***
By next morning, the Nanda King came to his senses. He began to understand the words of Rakshasamatya. He had been appending time in pleasure-seeking while Chandragupta was slowly improving his clout. If Chandragupta takes advantage of the situation what would happen to himself and his brothers? they would lose their kingdom and end up as paupers. Who would come to their rescue? Everyone would serve only the king. Their father gave them kingdom out of special affection and deceived Chadragutpa. Perhaps it might be true that Chandragupta has been trying to grab the power. In that case, what would happen to them? He trembles with this thought and prevent it from becoming true through expelling Chandargupta from the kingdom. He sent soldiers to fetch him
***
Chandrgupta anticipated danger when he heard the king’s command. Still, he came to the king fully prepared. The king looked at him and said in disrespect.
‘’ Chandragupta! The ministers are alleging that you are interfering excessively in running the administration. What do you say?”
Chandragupta (recklessly) :When the king is inefficient and indifferent, the commnder-in- chief had no other option except bearing the burden of governance?”
The king ( in anger): who asked you to bear the so called burden?
Chandra ( fearlessly) : I my self have done it for the sake of the people.
“ You are a betrayer1 for the crime of attempt to usurp power and dethrone us , we are banishing you from the kingdom.
“ Good riddance! It’s better not to remain as commander-in- chief in the absence of the king’s confidence.”
Chandragupta stood up.
“You are dismissed from your post since you defied the king. We re sending you to the prison in the interest of the king’s security. your case will be reviewed depending on your behavior.”
The king’s order was implemented. Chandragupta along with his mother Mura devi was imprisoned in a horrible dungeon.
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