Muradevi began feeling utterly sad due to the misfortune that visited her son. But for Chandragupta, the prison life facilitated to think about his future uninterruptedly. He began to think of many plans to destroy the dynasty of the Nandas and to occupy the throne of the Magadha.
“The incompetent and immoral Nanda must be dethroned. But it’s not to easy to conquer the kingdom protected by the genius of Rakshasamatya. He knew the formidable strength of the army of Magadha along with the prop of armies of the subordinate kings. Who could help him in this endeavour? Whose helping hand should he seek ? Which path should he court?’
A new hope arose in his heart.
“Could he approach Alexander, the Greek prince, full of ambition to conquer the world is waiting with a large army at Takshasila in the Western India. his task might become easier with his help! “
He was also struck by a doubt.
“How could he seek the help of the Greek price who wanted to invade India with evil intentions? It might be a mistake1 how could it be? He would not ask the military help from the prince. He would only familiarize himself with the knowledge of the Greek warfare which could help in his fight for Dharma. It could also stand him in good stead in defending the country in future.
India, the land of dharma has become disunited and facing the invasion fro the foreigners having lost its soul-power. He had to remove the inefficient Nanda rule and unite small kingdoms to save India from the foreign rule. That was his duty. He had to acquire the art of the Greek warfare along with the expertise of Indian warfare. Until then., his life goal could not be realized.
***
Chandragupta decided his impending duty and determined to escape from the prison. But Muradevi did not agree to his idea. She said that it could be more dangerous if he were caught in his attempt and if they waited for some more time, the heart of the Nada king could melt by the grace of god. They would find their freedom.”
Chandragupta had no faith in the change of heart of the Nanda king. He was not prepared to languish in the jail any longer. He was determined to break out of the prison and believed that god gave him the necessary strength. He closed his fist. Muradevi felt elated at her son’s will power and tears of joy fell from her eyes.
***
Suddenly the prison doors were open. Both the mother and son were amazed at the untimely opening of the doors. The soldier who came to fetch him to the court told him that minister Rakshasa wanted to free Chandragupta to watch the lion’s cage sent by the king of Ceylon. Chandraguta sent his mother home and went to the court of the king.
***
On that day, the court assembled for special purpose. All the courtiers were tense. The lion’s cage sent by the king of Ceylon is at the threshold of the fort. It was sent to test the cleverness of the intelligent people in various kingdoms. So far no one could find out its secret.
It was a strange test. The lion in the cage had to be brought out without touching the bars. Whoever could do it would be gifted the sword studded with nine gems! Whichever kingdom would fail in this test is bereft of clever people!
According to the dictates of the king Nada, many clever people of the kingdom observed the cage to no avail. Though the cage had been sent around the streets, folks came and went crazy over it but failed to find then secret. The Nandas were depressed that the prestige of the kingdom and themselves would go down the drain and pleades the chief minister to find a way out. Rakshasamatya who recollected the brilliance of Chandragupta got Chandragupta out of the prison into the court. He requested the prince. “ you have to win in this test through finding a key and uphold the prestige of the kingdom “
Chandrgupta watched the cage from top to the bottom.” Is the outsider making the lion play ? how come this lion moves as per the gestures of his hand? It looks like a real lion to the spectators!’ He thought for a while and guessed there is some gimmick in the machine, he pleased a lump of met before the lion. It didn’t move. This aroused the suspicion in Chandragupta. He asked for two hot iron bars and put one in lion’s mouth and the other on its back. The ferocious lion melted in no time and came out of the bars of the cage to the loud cries of the courtiers ‘lion of lac’.” The test acid test was over.
***
Chandragupta was gifted the great sword studded with nine gems. Though the Nandas felt relieved for the time being, soon they were jealous anticipating the spread of fame of Chandragupta. They felt that he would remain a spike in their bed and decided to expel him from the city. They announced that Chandraguprata’s prison sentence was changed to expulsion from the city for protecting the honour of the king. The court and ministers were stunned at the “amazing felicitation” of Chandragupta by the ungrateful Nanda kings.
“The incompetent and immoral Nanda must be dethroned. But it’s not to easy to conquer the kingdom protected by the genius of Rakshasamatya. He knew the formidable strength of the army of Magadha along with the prop of armies of the subordinate kings. Who could help him in this endeavour? Whose helping hand should he seek ? Which path should he court?’
A new hope arose in his heart.
“Could he approach Alexander, the Greek prince, full of ambition to conquer the world is waiting with a large army at Takshasila in the Western India. his task might become easier with his help! “
He was also struck by a doubt.
“How could he seek the help of the Greek price who wanted to invade India with evil intentions? It might be a mistake1 how could it be? He would not ask the military help from the prince. He would only familiarize himself with the knowledge of the Greek warfare which could help in his fight for Dharma. It could also stand him in good stead in defending the country in future.
India, the land of dharma has become disunited and facing the invasion fro the foreigners having lost its soul-power. He had to remove the inefficient Nanda rule and unite small kingdoms to save India from the foreign rule. That was his duty. He had to acquire the art of the Greek warfare along with the expertise of Indian warfare. Until then., his life goal could not be realized.
***
Chandragupta decided his impending duty and determined to escape from the prison. But Muradevi did not agree to his idea. She said that it could be more dangerous if he were caught in his attempt and if they waited for some more time, the heart of the Nada king could melt by the grace of god. They would find their freedom.”
Chandragupta had no faith in the change of heart of the Nanda king. He was not prepared to languish in the jail any longer. He was determined to break out of the prison and believed that god gave him the necessary strength. He closed his fist. Muradevi felt elated at her son’s will power and tears of joy fell from her eyes.
***
Suddenly the prison doors were open. Both the mother and son were amazed at the untimely opening of the doors. The soldier who came to fetch him to the court told him that minister Rakshasa wanted to free Chandragupta to watch the lion’s cage sent by the king of Ceylon. Chandraguta sent his mother home and went to the court of the king.
***
On that day, the court assembled for special purpose. All the courtiers were tense. The lion’s cage sent by the king of Ceylon is at the threshold of the fort. It was sent to test the cleverness of the intelligent people in various kingdoms. So far no one could find out its secret.
It was a strange test. The lion in the cage had to be brought out without touching the bars. Whoever could do it would be gifted the sword studded with nine gems! Whichever kingdom would fail in this test is bereft of clever people!
According to the dictates of the king Nada, many clever people of the kingdom observed the cage to no avail. Though the cage had been sent around the streets, folks came and went crazy over it but failed to find then secret. The Nandas were depressed that the prestige of the kingdom and themselves would go down the drain and pleades the chief minister to find a way out. Rakshasamatya who recollected the brilliance of Chandragupta got Chandragupta out of the prison into the court. He requested the prince. “ you have to win in this test through finding a key and uphold the prestige of the kingdom “
Chandrgupta watched the cage from top to the bottom.” Is the outsider making the lion play ? how come this lion moves as per the gestures of his hand? It looks like a real lion to the spectators!’ He thought for a while and guessed there is some gimmick in the machine, he pleased a lump of met before the lion. It didn’t move. This aroused the suspicion in Chandragupta. He asked for two hot iron bars and put one in lion’s mouth and the other on its back. The ferocious lion melted in no time and came out of the bars of the cage to the loud cries of the courtiers ‘lion of lac’.” The test acid test was over.
***
Chandragupta was gifted the great sword studded with nine gems. Though the Nandas felt relieved for the time being, soon they were jealous anticipating the spread of fame of Chandragupta. They felt that he would remain a spike in their bed and decided to expel him from the city. They announced that Chandraguprata’s prison sentence was changed to expulsion from the city for protecting the honour of the king. The court and ministers were stunned at the “amazing felicitation” of Chandragupta by the ungrateful Nanda kings.
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