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."