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Introductory sequence of Chandragupta Vikramaditya (Excerpt from 'Yoddha: The Dynasty of Samudragupta')
On the third day, Samudra reached his destination, a village near Prayag called Varunapura. There were no cracked mud houses here or damaged thatched roofs. All the houses were made of burnt bricks with slab-covered roofs. The houses were neatly painted; streets were well laid out and clean with no garbage or drainage visible because of a highly efficient waste management system. The prosperous village was celebrating a good harvest, lush green trees swinging in the breeze as far as the eyes could see. A bullock race called Rekala had been arranged by the village council. After the harvest, the farms turned into large empty spaces with mud and no vegetation; multiple farms were combined to form a huge rectangular arena for the event. The contestants had selected, fed and trained their bullocks for the event. The sporting equipment was a pair of bullocks with a ‘T’ shaped plough in the middle. The rider sat on the wooden block at the centre. It had rained unexpectedly so the arena was full of slush and mud. One of the contestants was young Chandra. He was tall and muscular, his complexion wheatish, his hair long and wavy and his features sharp. His presence had attracted a lot of young women from Varunapura and nearby villages to the arena. The girl who was excitedly cheering for him was Madhavasena, his childhood friend, a beautiful, slightly dusky, young girl with curly black hair that reflected the sunshine with a gleam, dreamy eyes and a prominent nose like the people from Yavanadesha. The first time Samudra had seen Madhavasena, she was an eight-year-old destitute orphan who had come to Varunapura to stay with her aunt and uncle after her parents died of the ‘fever’ epidemic. From the very beginning, Samudra was mesmerized by the little girl’s talent for singing. Madhavasena grew up pursuing her singing talent; people would flock to the Vishnu temple at Varunapura on auspicious days to catch her performance. Today, clad in her dark red three-piece angavastra, Madhavasena was a picture of beauty blended with innocence and simplicity.
The contestants waited with bated breath. The village chief struck a metallic gong to signal the start of the race. Five laps to win. Every year, one or the other contestants returned with serious injuries or broken bones after the event. As soon as the gong sounded, the contestants started prodding their bullocks. The riders skillfully sprinted to reduce the burden on the animals and hit their animals from behind occasionally. Only when they were unable to catch up with the speed of the animal would they stand, temporarily, on the wooden block secured between the animals. Chandra climbed onto the wooden plank only when he blazed past the corners of the rectangular arena when the animals anyway had to slow down. There, he would pause to breathe and channelize his energy before sprinting again. While traversing the length and breadth of the arena, he would dash at an impressive speed on the slush behind the accelerating animals. His white dress was now dark brown with slush. The village crowd was euphoric, roaring lustily. At the end of the third lap, he had five riders ahead of him. Then suddenly, as if he had conserved his energy for the finish, Chandra started increasing his speed. He managed to overtake two riders and at the end of the fourth lap, he had only three riders ahead. Chandra ran with all his energy and his animals too ran very fast. He crossed one rider, then the next and then the rider who was leading the race. The crowd was ecstatic. Chandra had half a lap left and could see the finish line ahead of him. Madhavasena and Samudra were jumping with joy, yelling ‘Chandra! Chandra!’ Chandra was dashing across the arena in a flash. With victory in sight, Chandra hit his animals who responded with increased momentum, then abruptly Chandra’s leg slipped on the wooden block and he fell down still holding on to the leash. He tried to regain balance and stand up so as to run behind the animal but he fell. He was sliding through the slush and his bullocks were running but he did not let go of the leash. Two riders behind him managed to overtake him and Chandra finished third. A portion of the crowd including Madhavasena and Samudra still continued chanting Chandra’s name. Chandra walked towards the two victors and patted their shoulders in appreciation. ‘Tough luck! Otherwise you had almost won the race,’ said the winner. ‘Nothing like that! You both did really well, my compliments. I am fine with losing and bad luck. It’s too much good luck that ends up being the devil’s trap,’ remarked Chandra. Samudra was happy to see the young man’s positive spirit. Panting, covered in mud and slush, he recognized a relative in the crowd and walked towards, ‘Mama Som! You are here after such a long time.’ ‘Good show, my dear! Some bad luck otherwise you would have been the winner,’ Samudra said. Chandra smiled, ‘I did my best and so did everyone else. What is important is that the best men win at the end of the day, and they did. I will make no excuses.. Let’s go for a swim.’
The contestants waited with bated breath. The village chief struck a metallic gong to signal the start of the race. Five laps to win. Every year, one or the other contestants returned with serious injuries or broken bones after the event. As soon as the gong sounded, the contestants started prodding their bullocks. The riders skillfully sprinted to reduce the burden on the animals and hit their animals from behind occasionally. Only when they were unable to catch up with the speed of the animal would they stand, temporarily, on the wooden block secured between the animals. Chandra climbed onto the wooden plank only when he blazed past the corners of the rectangular arena when the animals anyway had to slow down. There, he would pause to breathe and channelize his energy before sprinting again. While traversing the length and breadth of the arena, he would dash at an impressive speed on the slush behind the accelerating animals. His white dress was now dark brown with slush. The village crowd was euphoric, roaring lustily. At the end of the third lap, he had five riders ahead of him. Then suddenly, as if he had conserved his energy for the finish, Chandra started increasing his speed. He managed to overtake two riders and at the end of the fourth lap, he had only three riders ahead. Chandra ran with all his energy and his animals too ran very fast. He crossed one rider, then the next and then the rider who was leading the race. The crowd was ecstatic. Chandra had half a lap left and could see the finish line ahead of him. Madhavasena and Samudra were jumping with joy, yelling ‘Chandra! Chandra!’ Chandra was dashing across the arena in a flash. With victory in sight, Chandra hit his animals who responded with increased momentum, then abruptly Chandra’s leg slipped on the wooden block and he fell down still holding on to the leash. He tried to regain balance and stand up so as to run behind the animal but he fell. He was sliding through the slush and his bullocks were running but he did not let go of the leash. Two riders behind him managed to overtake him and Chandra finished third. A portion of the crowd including Madhavasena and Samudra still continued chanting Chandra’s name. Chandra walked towards the two victors and patted their shoulders in appreciation. ‘Tough luck! Otherwise you had almost won the race,’ said the winner. ‘Nothing like that! You both did really well, my compliments. I am fine with losing and bad luck. It’s too much good luck that ends up being the devil’s trap,’ remarked Chandra. Samudra was happy to see the young man’s positive spirit. Panting, covered in mud and slush, he recognized a relative in the crowd and walked towards, ‘Mama Som! You are here after such a long time.’ ‘Good show, my dear! Some bad luck otherwise you would have been the winner,’ Samudra said. Chandra smiled, ‘I did my best and so did everyone else. What is important is that the best men win at the end of the day, and they did. I will make no excuses.. Let’s go for a swim.’
Yoddha: The Dynasty of Samurdagupta (Sample Chapter: THE SPY)
Chapter-10
THE SPY
Viraj was doing his regular rounds diligently across the perimeter of the palace complex. Tonight, he was inspecting the creepers trailing from the other side towards the inside of the inner walls. His shift was over and he was eager to leave, to be with his wife and his newborn baby girl in their small house near the Shiva temple. In the light of the full moon, something caught his attention. It stood apart from the regular. He pointed his fire torch at the creepers. This is really strange, he thought, unable to decide whether he should leave for the time being and report in the morning or pursue the matter right away. He could clearly make out a rope behind the green leafy creepers, made of hemp with knots which could be used very effectively by a trained intruder. Viraj decided to immediately inform the head of security on the inner wall, the veteran Raghuvar. As he dashed nervously across the palace garden towards Raghuvar’s room he heard a rustling sound behind him. He stopped and looked behind. No one. He hurried along on the royal path leading to the guard’s section and Raghuvar’s workplace. Hastily, he pushed open Raghuvar’s door; Raghuvar was seated on a wooden chair examining some documents on his desk in the light of a small oil lamp. Raghuvar was working till late; he had work to complete before leaving on a long pilgrimage of temples near Mathura and Vrindavan. It was his last year before retirement and Raghuvar was taking it easy at work with frequent long leaves. ‘Mahodaya! There is a situation and I thought I must immediately inform you about it,’ Viraj was panting as he spoke the words. Raghuvar sounded sleepy, ‘What is it that brings you to my desk at this time in the night when you should be patrolling the palace compound?’ ‘Someone has put a rope from across the other side of the inner wall concealed behind the creepers. It has equidistant knots to facilitate foothold and hand grip to the person using it,’ said Viraj. Raghuvar’s expression changed as he pounced up from his chair and went near Viraj, ‘That is worrisome. You mean someone is using this for trespassing into the inner palace complex.’ Viraj nodded and Raghuvar started to think aloud, ‘This kind of arrangement cannot be a one-time trespass; there’s more to it. It is a more regular activity. I think we must inform the seniors immediately, especially Dandanayaka Harishena. This is surely an insider and his intentions are sinister.’ ‘What are the orders for me?’ asked Viraj. ‘Did you hear that sound?’ Viraj replied, ‘No!’ Raghuvar said, ‘I felt as if I heard something on the roof of this room. Nonetheless, you hide behind the hedges of the palace garden in the dark and monitor vigilantly till midnight. If we are lucky, the intruder will use the rope tonight and we will have his identity. If he does not turn up tonight, we will repeat this surveillance tomorrow. Also, for god’s sake this should remain between you, me and Dandanayaka Harishena for the next few days.’ Viraj asked, ‘Why is that? Can’t we inform our palace guard team about this finding?’ ‘No! Firstly, I don’t trust people even within our internal team. Speaking to other people will mean that it will eventually reach the ears of our enemies. Also, we should track down any accomplices who work with the intruders. I want to catch all of them totally unaware and for that this has to remain a secret.’ Closing the door behind him, Viraj left for the palace garden. Raghuvar got ready to ask for an emergency meeting with Harishena. Viraj walked quietly in the cold moonlit night to the palace garden and took up position behind a hedge of tall shrubs. Even though his shift was over he did not refuse Raghuvar’s order to keep watch till midnight. His eyes were fixed on the creepers trailing the wall in front of him. He waited for a long time; it was quiet and peaceful around him. Slowly, his eyes closed and before he knew it, he was fast asleep behind the shrubs, on the frost covered grass. He was woken up by the sound of something rustling through the tall grass in front of him. He sprung up instantly but it was a stray mongoose. Viraj smiled and pressed a hand to his heart; his heart was still pounding. The wait was endless and his eyelids were heavy with sleep. Suddenly, Viraj saw a dark figure appear on top of the wall from the other side. His heart thudding, he watched the dark silhouette that had slid down the rope silently and skillfully till he landed on the ground. The flawless precision and speed would put a trained acrobat to shame. The dark figure stood right in front of the hedge behind which Viraj was hiding. Viraj tried to recognize the intruder’s facial features but his face was turned away from the moon. The dark figure turned around and for a moment the moon lit up his face. One look and Viraj felt as if his heart would break out of his chest. At once the dark figure disappeared into the shrubs behind the pond. Viraj could not breathe. His mouth wide open, he gathered courage and stood up. He sprinted on the royal path in front of the pond then took a sudden detour behind the palace residential block to reach Raghuvar’s room. When he barged in, Raghuvar was still seated at his desk. ‘I saw him Mahodaya. You won’t believe this. The intruder is Vyom, the guard of the outer wall!’ Raghuvar mumbled something which was not audible to Viraj. The room was only partially illuminated by a small lamp on the wooden desk and a fire torch attached to the wall. Viraj could not figure out what Raghuvar was trying to say. As he came nearer he saw Raghuvar’s eyes were red. ‘You look angry or disturbed about something.’ Raghuvar’s eyes were protruding. Confused, Viraj sat down on the wooden chair in front of him. A drop of blood dripped down Raghuvar’s lips and his body started to shudder. Blood drained out of Viraj’s face as he noticed that the cloth Raghuvar used to wrap around his neck due to the cold was now tightly fastened around his neck while the old man was gargling blood. Suddenly a dark figure sprung up from behind Raghuvar’s chair. Amber eyes looked at him and the lips curved into a sly smile. Vyom looked like the angel of the dark.
Viraj slid down on the floor and crawled towards the door. ‘Oh Lord Vishnu!’
THE SPY
Viraj was doing his regular rounds diligently across the perimeter of the palace complex. Tonight, he was inspecting the creepers trailing from the other side towards the inside of the inner walls. His shift was over and he was eager to leave, to be with his wife and his newborn baby girl in their small house near the Shiva temple. In the light of the full moon, something caught his attention. It stood apart from the regular. He pointed his fire torch at the creepers. This is really strange, he thought, unable to decide whether he should leave for the time being and report in the morning or pursue the matter right away. He could clearly make out a rope behind the green leafy creepers, made of hemp with knots which could be used very effectively by a trained intruder. Viraj decided to immediately inform the head of security on the inner wall, the veteran Raghuvar. As he dashed nervously across the palace garden towards Raghuvar’s room he heard a rustling sound behind him. He stopped and looked behind. No one. He hurried along on the royal path leading to the guard’s section and Raghuvar’s workplace. Hastily, he pushed open Raghuvar’s door; Raghuvar was seated on a wooden chair examining some documents on his desk in the light of a small oil lamp. Raghuvar was working till late; he had work to complete before leaving on a long pilgrimage of temples near Mathura and Vrindavan. It was his last year before retirement and Raghuvar was taking it easy at work with frequent long leaves. ‘Mahodaya! There is a situation and I thought I must immediately inform you about it,’ Viraj was panting as he spoke the words. Raghuvar sounded sleepy, ‘What is it that brings you to my desk at this time in the night when you should be patrolling the palace compound?’ ‘Someone has put a rope from across the other side of the inner wall concealed behind the creepers. It has equidistant knots to facilitate foothold and hand grip to the person using it,’ said Viraj. Raghuvar’s expression changed as he pounced up from his chair and went near Viraj, ‘That is worrisome. You mean someone is using this for trespassing into the inner palace complex.’ Viraj nodded and Raghuvar started to think aloud, ‘This kind of arrangement cannot be a one-time trespass; there’s more to it. It is a more regular activity. I think we must inform the seniors immediately, especially Dandanayaka Harishena. This is surely an insider and his intentions are sinister.’ ‘What are the orders for me?’ asked Viraj. ‘Did you hear that sound?’ Viraj replied, ‘No!’ Raghuvar said, ‘I felt as if I heard something on the roof of this room. Nonetheless, you hide behind the hedges of the palace garden in the dark and monitor vigilantly till midnight. If we are lucky, the intruder will use the rope tonight and we will have his identity. If he does not turn up tonight, we will repeat this surveillance tomorrow. Also, for god’s sake this should remain between you, me and Dandanayaka Harishena for the next few days.’ Viraj asked, ‘Why is that? Can’t we inform our palace guard team about this finding?’ ‘No! Firstly, I don’t trust people even within our internal team. Speaking to other people will mean that it will eventually reach the ears of our enemies. Also, we should track down any accomplices who work with the intruders. I want to catch all of them totally unaware and for that this has to remain a secret.’ Closing the door behind him, Viraj left for the palace garden. Raghuvar got ready to ask for an emergency meeting with Harishena. Viraj walked quietly in the cold moonlit night to the palace garden and took up position behind a hedge of tall shrubs. Even though his shift was over he did not refuse Raghuvar’s order to keep watch till midnight. His eyes were fixed on the creepers trailing the wall in front of him. He waited for a long time; it was quiet and peaceful around him. Slowly, his eyes closed and before he knew it, he was fast asleep behind the shrubs, on the frost covered grass. He was woken up by the sound of something rustling through the tall grass in front of him. He sprung up instantly but it was a stray mongoose. Viraj smiled and pressed a hand to his heart; his heart was still pounding. The wait was endless and his eyelids were heavy with sleep. Suddenly, Viraj saw a dark figure appear on top of the wall from the other side. His heart thudding, he watched the dark silhouette that had slid down the rope silently and skillfully till he landed on the ground. The flawless precision and speed would put a trained acrobat to shame. The dark figure stood right in front of the hedge behind which Viraj was hiding. Viraj tried to recognize the intruder’s facial features but his face was turned away from the moon. The dark figure turned around and for a moment the moon lit up his face. One look and Viraj felt as if his heart would break out of his chest. At once the dark figure disappeared into the shrubs behind the pond. Viraj could not breathe. His mouth wide open, he gathered courage and stood up. He sprinted on the royal path in front of the pond then took a sudden detour behind the palace residential block to reach Raghuvar’s room. When he barged in, Raghuvar was still seated at his desk. ‘I saw him Mahodaya. You won’t believe this. The intruder is Vyom, the guard of the outer wall!’ Raghuvar mumbled something which was not audible to Viraj. The room was only partially illuminated by a small lamp on the wooden desk and a fire torch attached to the wall. Viraj could not figure out what Raghuvar was trying to say. As he came nearer he saw Raghuvar’s eyes were red. ‘You look angry or disturbed about something.’ Raghuvar’s eyes were protruding. Confused, Viraj sat down on the wooden chair in front of him. A drop of blood dripped down Raghuvar’s lips and his body started to shudder. Blood drained out of Viraj’s face as he noticed that the cloth Raghuvar used to wrap around his neck due to the cold was now tightly fastened around his neck while the old man was gargling blood. Suddenly a dark figure sprung up from behind Raghuvar’s chair. Amber eyes looked at him and the lips curved into a sly smile. Vyom looked like the angel of the dark.
Viraj slid down on the floor and crawled towards the door. ‘Oh Lord Vishnu!’
