Vishwamitra Read online

  Kadhi and Ratna smiled at this expression of impatience.

  The king put his hand on Satyavati’s head and said, ‘My dear child, I know you are a master of horse riding but you need to hold your horses for now!’

  He ruffled her hair and said lovingly, ‘Most fathers think only of finding suitable grooms for their lovely daughters but your mother and I have never worried about that aspect. We have only dreamt of grooming you into a person perfectly capable of taking her own decisions as and when she feels right.’

  Satyavati looked at his face intently and tried to read the emotions coursing through his mind. Kadhi said, ‘Truth be told, I have been thinking on these lines for a while now and I only await the kulguru’s return from Kashi to discuss with him the propitious time for conducting a ceremony to this effect.’

  Satyavati’s big brown eyes shone with happiness though her words were more measured ‘Father, I am humbled that you think so highly of my capabilities. Your words have given me great encouragement and I promise to fulfil all expectations you and mother have of me!’

  She bowed down to touch the feet of her parents and Queen Ratna hugged her tightly with tears of joy in her eyes.

  ‘How fast you have grown, my child!’ the queen said. ‘I am proud of all the effort you have put into becoming the brave, strong and independent young woman that you are and I am sure you will achieve great milestones in your life ahead.

  ‘While other princesses have wasted their time flirting with the royal princes of our nation and beyond, you have single-mindedly focused on achieving your goal. I daresay this trait comes from my side of the family!’ she ended with a wink.

  Kadhi smiled and declared, ‘I agree with my dear queen in that respect. The time is not far when you will hold the reigns of this kingdom in your hands and I will sit by your side, watching you make wise decisions and fight wars. Together, we shall increase the glory of our kingdom and make our citizens the most prosperous in all of Nabhivarsh.’

  The sun was setting by the time they started walking back and the trio felt deeply content.

  It was rare for all members of a family, especially a royal one, to have the same goal in life and it was fortuitous that their desires intertwined. They would be lucky if they could bring their collective dream to fruition.

  Adhyaye 3

  The royal court of Kanyakubja was in session.

  Supported by massive pillars of green marble, the circular hall spread in a wide arc and resembled an amphitheatre more than a private assembly. All were allowed admission, since the kingdom trusted its citizens and the need to provide security from the populace was never even considered.

  The hall had a dome-shaped high roof which protected the occupants from the elements. It was painted midnight blue and decorated with the progressive phases of the moon, waxing and waning in endless succession.

  Kadhi belonged to the Chandravansh, the lunar dynasty, hence the moon motif was abundant in all royal buildings. The hall was Vastu compliant; on the south-western end was a raised pedestal for the royal throne—a huge kneeling elephant carved out of black onyx, its trunk raised in salutation to the gods, bearing a towering howdah made of white marble and encrusted with blue emeralds on its back. On this unique throne, wearing a tall silver crown and peacock-blue royal garments, sat Kadhi. He had come to the court in great spirits but was in a sour mood now.

  He had wanted to initiate the shift of power to his daughter after talking to the kulguru but the discussion had put a damper on his ambitions. The royal priest had suggested he wait for some time before announcing the coronation but had refused to explain why.

  To spoil his mood further, he had just had to declare harsh punishment for a man who had robbed a friend of his life’s savings. The court was applauding his decision for there was no place in a Chandravanshi kingdom for crime of any nature but Kadhi himself was disturbed.

  What had he not provided to his subjects that they resorted to such actions? Mahodayapur was perhaps one of the most prosperous kingdoms in Nabhivarsh, or Aryavarta as they called it colloquially.

  Kanyakubja was wealthy and its citizens prosperous. Temples, palaces, community halls, public baths, granaries, amphitheatres and fragrant gardens graced various parts of the city. He had built wide roads and avenues in all quarters of the kingdom and had had wells dug up and trees planted all along the highways. Taxes were fair, with every earning citizen paying ten per cent of their income in cash or kind to the royal treasury. The soil was fertile—a result of Mother Ganga’s blessings—and Lord Indra had been especially merciful with the rains for almost a decade now.

  Gurukuls existed in all four corners of the kingdom and children of all castes attended the ones falling in their quadrant. Since his mother was an Apsara, Kadhi had also encouraged scholarships towards the development of the arts. Musicians, dancers, sculptors, scribes and other artists were provided financial assistance and training to pursue their dreams so that people could enjoy their work and not just do it for the sake of earning money.

  He wondered how, even with all this positive energy in his kingdom, crime could still exist. Civilization could only thrive if people rose above their individual greed and thought about society as a whole. Yet, it was so easy for mankind to return to its barbaric roots and destroy in a day what was built over decades.

  His brooding was disturbed by an announcement. A rishi of impressive personality and indeterminate age was advancing towards the royal hall.

  Sages were greatly venerated in Aryavarta and the page boys had hurriedly conveyed the news of his arrival the moment he had crossed the palace threshold. By the time the rishi entered the hall, Kadhi was at the entrance waiting for him with folded hands.

  Rishi Ruchik was the son of the legendary Rishi Chyavan, who had distilled the essence of staying youthful and created a potion to that effect—the Chyavanprash. Rumour had it that the son was as talented as the father and would certainly perform great deeds in the future.

  Kadhi led the rishi to a seat beside the throne reserved for visiting dignitaries and washed his feet, calling for refreshments. Only after the sage had been properly attended to did he ask the purpose of his visit.

  Ruchik seemed embarrassed by all the attention and said, ‘Rajan, I am pleased with the courtesy you have shown even though we have not personally met before. All the good things I have heard about you and your glorious ancestors today stand proven true. I bless you and your family with eternal happiness.’

  Kadhi beamed with pleasure and bowed his head. ‘My lord, it is the duty of a king to protect and serve sages and ascetics, for how else can his kingdom progress materially and spiritually? By the blessings of rishis like you, my kingdom is prosperous and happy. How can I not regard you with devotion?’

  Ruchik nodded and smiled. ‘It is this magnanimity that I had heard about that has brought me here today. I wish to ask of the king a gift so precious that a lesser man would refuse it outright.’

  Kadhi was surprised. ‘My lord, what is so precious that a king would not honour the request of a sage as venerated as yourself? I would gift you my entire kingdom if you so desired.’

  The rishi shook his head. ‘No, my king, I do not wish to deprive the kingdom of your astute leadership. You have continued the good work of your ancestors and the citizens are happier than they have ever been before.

  ‘What I wish for requires a sacrifice that is more personal in nature and I would not have demanded it had my father not urged me to perform this task.’

  For the first time a creeping suspicion began to take shape in Kadhi’s mind. Ruchik noticed the furrowed brow and addressed Kadhi in a softer tone, ‘My king, I am not here to make you uncomfortable but to request a favour that can only benefit you and your family in the long run. Fate had ordained that I come here and put before you the proposal that will change the future of your clan forever.’

  Kadhi spoke cautiously, ‘My father has taught me never to fight the flow of fate. Whatever yo
u desire, O learned sage, I shall be glad to provide, irrespective of the personal cost involved.’

  The rishi nodded in approval and said, ‘Hear me then, Rajan. I, Ruchik, the son of Maharishi Chyavan and the grandson of Brahma’s son Bhrigu, ask for the hand of your daughter, Satyavati, in marriage.’

  The entire assembly was stunned into silence with this declaration for it was no secret that Princess Satyavati was to be crowned the king-in-waiting in a matter of days.

  Kadhi was shocked and didn’t know how to respond. Rishi Ruchik had been gentle in asking for the hand of his beloved daughter but had also conveyed his superior position by linking himself to the Creator. If he dared refuse him, Ruchik could very well reduce him to ashes right there or, worse still, put a curse on his daughter just like Vayu had put on his elder sisters!

  He couldn’t believe the sudden turn of events. Just a few moments ago he had been planning to retire and make his worthy daughter the sovereign of the kingdom and now all his dreams—rather, all their dreams—seemed to be crashing. How could he let his young and beautiful daughter marry this rishi and then send her off to the jungle?

  Trying to think of a way to get out of the current predicament, he hit upon an idea.

  Aloud he said, ‘I would be happy to oblige you, Rishivar, but your request has put me in a deep dilemma.’

  He sighed heavily before uttering the next words since they went against his deepest instincts.

  ‘Chandravanshis have an ancient custom that only a man who can provide a thousand horses as white as the moon, each with one black ear, can marry the eldest princess of the household. I cannot ask this of a sage like you, nor can I refuse you my daughter. Hence, my mind is in turmoil.’

  Ruchik’s brow creased in thought but he replied in a noncommittal tone, ‘My king, when the Ashwini Kumars blessed my father with eternal youth, he had to conduct a yagnya to help them obtain Som Ras against the wishes of Indra. I understand this is the way of the material world; if one wants to obtain something he has to pay a price. Rest assured, I shall find a way to circumvent this condition without causing you any more anguish.’

  Saying so, Ruchik got up from his seat and, with a curt nod to the king and the kulguru, marched out of the hall.

  Kadhi did not bother to go back to the throne; he slowly sat down on the steps with his head in his hands.

  Kulguru Dhanu walked closer to him and patted his shoulder. ‘Rajan, I understand the situation you have been put in is not an easy one but it is the duty of a king to look after the well-being of his subjects more than his own family. If you anger Ruchik now, not only you and your family but the entire kingdom may be subject to his wrath.’

  Kadhi bowed his head in submission. ‘I understand the gravity of the situation, Gurudev, so I did not refuse the rishi outright. But how can I give the hand of my only child to a man who stays in the jungle like a nomad! From her birth Satyavati has been groomed into becoming the leader of her people and now this ascetic wants to take her away and subject her to a life of ignominy, discomfort and pain!

  ‘I presented the only solution that came to my mind, an impossible condition, hoping that it would safeguard the future of not only my daughter but also of my subjects. Perhaps the love of one’s own family and people is motive enough for one to commit a crime, however petty it may seem to some. I resorted to a lie, committed a sin and still may not have achieved anything!’ he lamented.

  Acharya Dhanu held the king by his shoulders and pulled him to his feet. ‘Stand up, my king, and confront the challenge that stares you in the face. Do not lose hope for even though we humans do not have control over our destiny, the gods are merciful; surely, they have a plan for Satyavati and your kingdom.’

  Kadhi looked at the Acharya who, for some mysterious reason, had a smile on his face.

  ‘Let me assure you, Rajan, that the events that unfolded in the Raj Sabha today shall change the destiny of your kingdom for all time to come. Rishi Ruchik was sent here by his father and I suggest you consult your own father before taking any further action,’ he ended cryptically.

  Adhyaye 4

  Satyavati heard the news of what had transpired in the Raj Sabha as she came out of her morning martial practice.

  Her high cheekbones had a: touch of pink: more pronounced from her recent exertion but her ordinarily clear brow was furrowed because of what she had heard. She knew her father must be as devastated as she was with the demand of the rishi, however venerable he was.

  She immediately ran to her grandfather’s chambers where her father had been seen heading earlier. Her mind in turmoil, she burst into the large airy room where her grandparents lived, waving the guards aside and surprising the three elders gathered there.

  Grandfather Kushanabh was well advanced in age but retained a handsome visage. His upright body bore signs of the numerous wars he had waged to establish the kingdom of Mahodayapur after his father, the great king Kush, had urged his four sons to carve out their own territories to rule rather than break the kingdom into four.

  Grandmother Ghritachi, on the other hand, was an Apsara and so was unaffected by the mortal afflictions that bothered ordinary human beings. Her skin still radiated the beauty of a young woman and, looking at her, Satyavati often wondered how well she herself would age. In spite of their external differences, her grandparents were inseparable and everyone around had learnt to accept the incongruity in their appearance as a matter of fact.

  Her father had been in deep conversation with them and she requested their permission to join the discussion. He seemed to have regained some of his composure and Satyavati knew whatever advice he gave would be in the best interests of Mahodayapur. To her astonishment though, her grandparents seemed delighted with the way things had turned out!

  Kushanabh explained with a smile, ‘My dear, you are surprised because you do not know the events that occurred before the gods bestowed your father upon us. What transpired in court today is simply a culmination of the events that took place after your aunts were cursed to become hunchbacks and our city drowned in sorrow.’

  Now this sounded exciting, Satyavati thought.

  Kadhi looked perplexed but Ghritachi came to his rescue, ‘Dear boy, don’t get caught up in your father’s dramatics. Let me explain to you what had happened in the days that were like hell for our entire family.’

  She paused to collect her thoughts before she spoke. ‘As you both can imagine, Kushanabh and I were deeply troubled after Vayu dev cursed our daughters. Our once beautiful girls were disfigured and no one wanted to marry them any more. They were physically limited by their deformity and could not even help your father in the running of the kingdom.

  ‘In those gloomy days, we were visited by Rishi Chyavan.’ Kadhi listened to the story in rapt attention, like a schoolboy. He had thought he knew everything worth knowing about his ancestors but turned out he didn’t know enough about his own adoptive parents!

  Ghritachi continued, ‘Maharishi told your father that he had taken up a special vow for the welfare of the world and had come for help. Both of us were happy to serve such a revered personality and we thought perhaps his blessings would help us tide over the difficult time.

  ‘The first night itself, he lay down in our bed, asking us to press his feet while he fell asleep. While this in itself is not an unreasonable demand, what became preposterous was that the rishi did not wake up for twenty-one consecutive days and neither of us dared get up for fear of waking him!’

  Now that was something, Kadhi thought; the sage was surely testing his parents’ patience.

  Kushanabh took up the story, ‘While your mother managed to do it since she has superhuman tolerance, I needed to take a break and also look after my kingdom’s affairs! Yet, we both persevered since we had promised to help the Maharishi fulfil his vows.

  ‘At the end of twenty-one days, Rishi Chyavan abruptly woke up and started walking briskly out of the palace. We tried to keep pace with him but were in bad shape b
ecause of lack of food and sleep. When we managed to catch up to him, he turned around and said, “O king, get your chariot ready, I want to see the city. And I want you and your wife to take the position of the horses and take me around,”’ Kushanabh ended emotionally.

  Satyavati realized the pain of those days still tormented her grandfather. Ghritachi patted his back and continued the tale. ‘The royal council and of course both of us were stunned by this demand. But we had made a promise and were bound to fulfil the sage’s every wish. Your father made all the arrangements and we both took position at the head of the chariot while Rishi Chyavan became the charioteer.’

  She paused for a bit remembering the experience. ‘While we were pulling the chariot, he used a thorny whip to prod us but we did not protest and continued to the best of our abilities. The onlookers were shocked and rushed forward to help us but the rishi waved them all away. This was a task that only we were supposed to do.’

  Kadhi was shocked upon hearing of such mistreatment and his blood boiled with anger. Satyavati held her grandmother’s hand and comforted her, trying to imagine the tribulations she must have gone through. For her, bearing all these misfortunes must have been more difficult for she had lived a long life of luxury in Indra’s court before deciding to marry a human!

  It was a tribute to the greatness of their love that they had never let their family even glimpse the burden on their own souls.

  Kushanabh noticed their reactions and said, ‘Let bygones be bygones, my children. Do not be affected by the events of the past for each of them has left us more equipped to deal with the future. Don’t forget, it was only through these efforts that we could finally please the sage and he showed us the way to obtain an heir!’

  Ghritachi resumed the story. ‘The dreary part is over so cheer up, darlings,’ she said, smiling. ‘When we finally managed to drag the rishi back into the palace, he unyoked us from the chariot and both of us collapsed on the ground. He asked us to close our eyes and knelt beside us, placing a hand each on our heads.’