Friday, October 5, 2012

Fruit of Discord

It is said that an apple was the cause of discord between the Greek goddesses and this in turn led to the Trojan War. In Hindu Mythology, a mango caused the two sons of the god Siva to fight among themselves. The story of the Amshavatars too have fruit that played such a role. It wasn't intended to be so. But such things just happen.

After Bharatburi took the reigns of the kingdom into his hands, the kingdom continued to prosper. Bhartbuhari kept his word to his father and did not have any children. But he did marry. His wife was the jewel of his eye and he would do anything and everything to keep her happy. Bhartbuhari was a wise and just king but often he was blinded by his Queen's whims. Young Vikramadithyan began to observe is brother and then questioned the King's action. The King was ashamed and could not answer his brother.

"You the king.", said Vikramadithyan. "Your service to the people must be above everything else. You must not continue to serve your wife more than you serve the kingdom."

Vikramadithyan's words reached the Queen's ears and she was not amused. The Queen hardened Bhartbuhari's heart and compelled him to expel Vikramadithyan from the capital. The young prince moved to the lands on the outskirts of the city and began to live there.

As this drama unfolded within the palace walls, an old brahmin was consumed in unshakable meditation to the goddess Bhoomidevi. After a long while, the devi appeared to the brahmin and gave him a divine fruit as a gift for appeasing her.

"This is no ordinary fruit", explained the goddess. "Whosoever shall eat this fruit shall live a 100 years and his youth shall remain just as it was when he ate the fruit."

After the devi left, the old man pondered to himself. "What am I to do with such a fruit? I am an old man. What use it to me?"

The brahmin then thought it best to present the fruit to King Bhartbuhari. The King would then be able to live a 100 years with his current youth and vigor and thus serve the kingdom better. So the King obtained the fruit from the old brahmin.

The King had other plans. He gave the fruit to his beloved wife thinking she will have her beauty for a 100 years. The Queen secretly wooed a courtier at the palace. She thought that giving the fruit to him would make him like her more and so she gave him the fruit. The courtier in turn was in love with one of the palace dancers. And so the fruit reached the dancer. The dancer was again in love with a palace stable boy. The divine fruit reached the stable. The stable boy was again in love with the girl who cleaned the stables. And so she was presented the fruit. The girl put the fruit in the basket of dung that she carried and walked off.

The fruit being divine shone in the afternoon sun with all its radiance among the dung that laid in the basket. This curios sight caught the eye of King Bhartbuhari. He called the girl and asked her how she came to acquire the fruit. She told the king about the stable boy and how she got the fruit from him. The king then went to the stable boy and from there to the dancer and by-and-by pieced the puzzle together.

When he realized that his beloved wife betrayed him, his entire world broke down. He did not know what to do. After many painstakingly maddening days, he emerged from his quarters understanding one simple truth. Everything in this world is untrue. Everything is maya, a myth. He decided to leave all worldly pleasures and devote his life to appeasing the gods and being of service of man. He went out in search of his brother Vikramadithyan. Finally, Vikramadithyan got the fruit and was made the new king.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Amshavatars-5

                                                                    Chapter - 5

In time, King Chandragupta passed on the crown of Magadha to his son-in-law Samudragupta. With the reigns of the kingdom in his hands, Samudragupta began a conquest of expanding Magadha's territory. He conquered kingdoms to the far south reaching including the areas through which the Krishna and Gowdavari flowed. His expansion covered almost the whole of India and brought Palaghat, Assam, Nepal, Bengal and the lands of the Narmada under the Magadha flag. From king he moved on to become Emperor and was known by the title "Maharajadhiraja". He let the regional kings continue to rule but ordered them to pay due tributes to Magadha. Under his rule, trade flourished. He organized the society into a more efficient civilization. He introduced several reforms that revolutionized the land and brought prosperity to the people of the kingdom.

As the years passed, the sons of Emperor Samudragupta grew up into stately youths. Their father, by that time, fell ill and none of the physicians of the land were able to comprehend what was the illness was. One day, he called for his eldest son, Bharthuhari. Since the emperor was not in a position to take care of the official court duties, Bharthuhari was often consulted in matters concerning the empire. In a short span, he managed to learn well on conducting the affairs of the court and thus, proved to be a blessing to the people in the time when their emperor was ailing.

Bharthuhari entered his father's chambers quietly. The emperor had been frequently in and out of sleep and his son did not want to disturb him from his much required rest.

"Bharthu, my son", whispered Samudragupta as he attempted to pull himself up a bit more higher as he layed on his bed.

"Father", excalimed Bharthuhari as he moved towards the emperor. "Let me help you with that."

Samudragupta looked lovingly at his eldest son. He was indeed proud of him.

"What is that you require of me, father?", enquired Bharthuhari.

The emperor let out a sigh and remained silent for a while. He seemed lost at finding words to tell what he wished. "My son", said the emperor."My time draws near."

"Nonsense, father", Bharthuhari said. "You will live many more years."

"No, no.", exclaimed the ailing Samudragupta. "Listen to me. I know of it. My time to depart is nearing. And...and I must tell of...something."

"Yes, father. Please tell me."

Samudragupta looked towards the open window in his chamber. "I was dying before", he said. "Your mother brought me back to life. And for this, I owe her everything."

Bharthuhari listened intently as his father spoke. All of this were stories that he had known of. What is that his father was telling him.

"In return, your mother asked me to wed her", continued Samudragupta."At first, I opposed this request. I was brahmin. And she, a shudra. I was convinced that such a wedlock would incur the curse of the gods. But your grandfather, Chandragupta, and his priest persuaded me to agree to the marriage. They argued based on the Puranas and Vedas. At last, I married your mother and the mothers of your brothers. All these years, I believed I was right and that I had not wronged the commands of the gods. But now, as this illness strikes me I fear that I may have swayed from the path of righteousness and dishonored the very Vedas I preached."

The emperor's eyes were filled with pain. Bharthuhari could feel the intense anguish within his father's heart as his continue to pour out his sorrows. "I had nightmares", exclaimed the emperor."Horrible nightmares. And I fear. I fear for my soul."

"I must do penance for my wrong doings", said Samudragupta as he stared into the eyes of his son. "Else...else I will be punished severely in my next lives. But I fear that even then I would not go unpunished. I have caused the curse of the gods by fathering someone who is neither brahmin nor shudra. For this I can pay penance. But for your children and their generations ahead, no penance would be enough and my soul shall eternally be cursed."

Thus saying the emperor closed his sorrowful eyes. A single tear trickled down his bearded face. His son sat beside him as though he had been turned to stone. He could not believe what he had just heard. He, Bharthuhari, who loved his father so deeply would be the cause of his father's greatest sorrow? His insides seemed to burn like a furnance of blazing coal. He would not let this be.

"No, father", said Bharthuhari. "You shall not befall the curse of the gods. I swear, by holy Agni, I shall not have any generation beyond me and you shall be free from any paap."