( 276 years had passed since Lord Mahavira's nirvana. King Vriddharaj had been ruling for only a year, and during his reign, a child was born in his kingdom. This child is the main character of our story - the future King Kharavela. He is also known as Bhikshuraj, Mahameghavahana, and Maharaja Kharaveladhipati.
Now that we've set the stage, let's delve into the story of his life. )
From the lush green hills of Kumargiri, a young prince mounted on a horse was swiftly descending like a storm. The horse was fully aware of the prince's temperament, and the prince was completely familiar with the horse's nature. Whenever this young prince was not in a good mood, he would ride this horse, and the horse would then try various tricks. It would gallop like a storm, fly, leap over massive forts in a single bound, and jump across small streams, among other feats, to make the prince happy. And if the horse ever felt despondent or sad? Then nothing more was needed.the prince had to mount the horse, the horse could not help but be filled with enthusiasm!
This boy of about fourteen or fifteen years, who looked like a youth if you called him a boy and like a young boy if you called him a youth, why would such a boy be sad? There was nothing in his house that could cause him to be lost in sorrow. The storehouses were full of food, and the treasure chests were filled with wealth, yet the boy would often become melancholic. It is difficult to fathom the human mind. Sometimes one sits down to cry in a joyous environment, and at other times, even in the dry autumn, one strikes up the notes of music. This is the nature of the mind, a peculiar thing indeed…
Bhante says - love the Mauryas. Is that possible?" A haze enveloped the boy's mind. And in response, it was as if the horse stomped on a pile of dust, causing the dust to rise. Everything became as blurry as the boy's mind. What should have been visible before his eyes was no longer visible, but what was running through his mind began to appear clearly.
"Khāravela! A calamity has befallen our religious brethren. You are a devout Jain, will you not help?" Bhante Aryabalissah was saying. These saints were remarkable! Sometimes, they would remain in seclusion for days and months in the shade of the Kumaragiri mountain, completely silent, ascetic, fasting without water, deeply immersed in meditation. And sometimes, suddenly they would set out with a blanket, a staff, and a religious flag tucked under their arm, to spread the influence of their faith. Their footsteps marked every village of Kalinga. Be it king or commoner, everyone was their devotee, their servant. And ever since Khāravela had gained understanding, he had seen the embodiment of God in these very bhantes. Bhante and God never seemed separate to him. But today, Bhante had put him to a severe test. The most difficult test. However, he did not know that from that day and from now, Bhante had begun his training. And without an examination, no one's education is ever complete.
"Why would I have any trouble helping a fellow believer - my Sadharmik ? But a Maurya? Someone whose name I despise, do I have to help such a Maurya?" The boy muttered indistinctly. And as if understanding him, the horse neighed. But then Khāravela snapped out of his thoughts.
"Prince Khāravela! The power accumulated and the wealth acquired are meaningful only when used to help others," said Aryabalissah.
"Bhante! Until today, I have never contradicted you. But today, for some reason, I am want to argue for the first time," said the prince.
"Argument!" Arya laughed, "An argument is not wrong if it aims at acceptance. An argument made for rejection is wrong. Acceptance brings happiness."
There was a moment of silence, then Khāravela spoke, "Arya! I have learned in policy that accumulated power and acquired wealth are successful if they defeat enemies and arouse envy among competitors."
"Victory and defeat, envy and jealousy," Arya said, "Child! These are all flaws of the mind. They do not benefit the soul." Saying this, he looked at Khāravela. But these words had little effect on him. Concepts like soul, karma, and religion had no place in his life yet. He had many tasks, many grand goals. He had to do a lot for them.
Aryabalissah remembered. Fifteen years ago,Khāravela was born. At that time, the conjunction of the Sun and Mars was in the Aries sign in the sky. Seeing this, Arya himself had predicted, "A Chakravarti emperor has been born in Kalinga." He thought that if he told this now to the one who was destined to become an emperor , it wouldn't make any impression on his mind. He smiled.
"...So the policy you have practiced tells you something different from what our policy says, speak! Which one will you accept?"
"I know this much, that my knowledge is far, far less than yours. But you know that I have a heart. A heart that has its own likes and dislikes, its own attachments and aversions, its own accounts. What you are saying is hurting my heart."
"One needs to control the mind with the heart and the heart with the mind, child! And this task is not as difficult as it seems to you. He who learns to make his heart generous is the true human being. You are a true devotee of the Arihant. You are expected to have exceptional generosity."
"Go once, even if your mind doesn't agree. You will learn a very important lesson in life."
"But why don't you teach me that lesson right now?"
"No! Now you have to learn from experience, not from the guru. When life teaches, it teaches completely; no guru can teach you as thoroughly."
From the city of Tosali, the horse named Utkala was carrying Prince Khāravela towards the shores of Kalinga, charging with the same stormy force with which a tempestuous sea rushes towards the shore. Where to? Towards Pataliputra...
"Curse it..." Khāravela muttered. "What fun is there in going to this Pataliputra in disguise and sneaking around?" He remembered his close friend, the son of the general, his fellow student and peer, Bappadeva. "If Bappadeva were with me, there would definitely be some commotion in Pataliputra today. How can Hanuman go to Lanka without causing some mischief?"
"Perhaps that's why Aryabhante told me that I, and only I, must go to Pataliputra, that too alone and in disguise." His parents had agreed immediately, but it took a lot of time to convince Bappadeva. In the end, he had to promise that if Kalinga attacked Pataliputra, he would lead the army and be at the forefront of the battle.
"Oh! The immense anger and hatred that burns in the hearts of every citizen of Kalinga towards Pataliputra and the Mauryas. And Arya Balissah... he spoke of making the heart more generous... I still don't understand it."
Flowing with his thoughts, Khāravela alone was entering the border of Magadha and had crossed the grand gate, entering within. At the same time, from the western direction of Magadha, Emperor Samprati entered the city through the western gate of the capital, Pataliputra, with his vast army. The entire Magadha seemed to have gone mad with joy. Every person in Pataliputra saw their true savior in their emperor. The joy was boundless. Every house was decorated as if a guest was about to arrive, with rangolis created and festoons hung.
Seeing this public jubilation, Brihadratha said, "The people of this city have never welcomed me like this."
"To receive welcome and honour, one must first become worthy of it, Your Majesty!" Who spoke these heavy and serious words? King Brihadratha turned his head completely to look back. The one who spoke sarcastically with his eyes lowered was Pushyamitra, Brihadratha’s chief general. Seeing him, Brihadratha laughed. Call that laughter sly, dirty, grotesque, indifferent, or selfish. Such laughter did not befit any great Mauryan emperor or prince.
Laughing, Brihadratha said, "Emperor Pushyamitra!" Then he laughed again! Suddenly, he slid over to the general and whispered in his ear, "You are a general, a Brahmin! A mere salaried servant of a king. Leave the thinking to the king. You insignificant one! Since when have you started thinking about what a king should and shouldn't do?"
Then, tapping Pushyamitra on the head, he said, "You think about so much, but all in vain and useless. Look ahead, cast your eyes there. Emperor Samprati is mounted on the royal elephant. See! Think like this, General! How wonderful it would be if your King Brihadratha were mounted on that royal elephant and became the ruler of the entire Mauryan empire. I would be the Mauryan emperor and you the general of the Mauryan regime. Benefit for both you and me, right?"
"Yes," Pushyamitra replied sarcastically. "This time I have made a firm decision, you can be assured, my lord!" What he had decided, however, would only become known 14 years later.
"The Mauryan Emperor, the capable successor of the sovereign of the Mauryan empire, Emperor Ashoka, Emperor Samprati, is arriving." This announcement was made in the royal court, and the entire assembly stood up to behold the emperor. Ah! After so many years, the youthfulness of this royal assembly was blossoming again. It was as if life had returned to it. The vacant Mauryan throne was today eagerly waiting to embrace the true successor of the Mauryas... to bear his glory, to enhance his magnificence...
And among the council members, having strived hard to come to the forefront and successfully stayed at the front for so long, Prince Khāravela caught sight of the emperor. At that moment, he experienced an indescribable, unimaginable joy and attraction. He didn't know why, but it seemed to him that no one could ever oppose this grand personality. This divine, invincible human being could only be revered. Spontaneously, Khāravela's hands joined together. Along with the assembly members, he bowed his head. That person was indeed extraordinary. In his presence, everyone seemed to be under a spell.The entire atmosphere would change in his presence.
Khāravela thought, "This is what an emperor is." The deep-seated hatred he had for the Mauryas melted away at his first sight of the emperor. He remembered. He had asked Arya Balissah, "Bhante! What do I need to learn that you are sending me there?" And Bhante had said, "An entire lineage is never bad; some people in the lineage may be bad. A person is also not always bad. Someone may be bad at times, in certain situations, or from the perspective of some individuals, but that same person may be good for many others in different circumstances. You must go there and learn all this, Kumar!" Bhante Aryabalissah had said.
King Vriddharaja, being a devout Jain, had his prince Bhikkhuraya educated in the famous educational institutions of Kalinga. But he had entrusted Khāravela to Aryabalissah for his moral and spiritual upbringing from a very young age. Arya had been caring for his soul's welfare since childhood. He ensured that while Khāravela might become a great victorious emperor and immensely successful, the human being within him would never die. He would never turn into a devil or a monster. He should become great... becoming an emperor was certain for him. He would surely become an emperor. But even then, he should remain unattached and dispassionate. And thus, justify his name 'Bhikkhuraya'.
( To be Continued… )
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