Mythology Moral Stories - The Dreaded Conspiracy - 17

“Biksham!” the King revealed his name. 

“Biksham!” the Queen exclaimed and then began to deliberate over the King’s proposal.  “Yes, my Queen!  Biksham is the disciple of the great sage, Aatmananda. 

In the field of warfare there is none equal to him in our kingdom.  Besides, he is also a noble person and therefore would be able to inculcate moral and upright values in our son.  According to me, he is the perfect choice!” 

Seeing the King having so much confidence in his able minister, Padmavati agreed to his wishes. 

Raghunathan went to Biksham’s chambers to see if he would take up this assignment.  The minister welcomed him warmly and after they were comfortably seated looked at the King who appeared very excited. 

“What’s the matter, O King?  Looking at you, I get the feeling that you are eager to tell me something!”  Biksham observed. 

“You are right, Biksham!  I have come here with a request and would be relieved if you adhere to it!” 

“Oh!  Name it, O King!  What is it?”  Biksham asked fervently.  The King acquainted him of his conversation with the Queen.  “…Will you be the guru of my son, Biksham?”  the King asked his minister looking straight into his eyes. 

The minister took a while to respond, “Oh, Maharaj!  I do not believe this!  Words fail me at this moment!  Therefore, I will only say that I am honoured!”  Biksham responded gratified.  

Raghunathan was elated to hear this positive response from Biksham.  He rose and held him close to his heart. 

Vijaya was in a buoyant mood after learning that he was to get education under Biksham ‘uncle’ whom he was fond of.  He enthusiastically awaited the day when he would don the role of a pupil and start learning from his guru.

On an auspicious day, Vijaya began to get education under the jurisdiction of Biksham.  For the next twelve years, the young Prince dressed and led the life like an ascetic.  He followed all that Biksham taught him with sincerity and devoutness. 

The King and the Queen watched their son grow from the palace terrace and puffed up with pride when he practiced archery and fought with sword and mace with his guru. 

Twelve years passed by.  A discerning event, which occurred during this period, was that Vikrant was burnt alive following a devastating fire in his cell!  From the facts, which were later made public by the King, it had so happened that one night, Vikrant expressed his desire to the guard, who was on vigil, to meet Raghunathan. 

When the guard insisted that Vikrant should tell him the reason as to why he sought an audience with the King, Vikrant informed him that he wanted to make a confession!  Sensing that the minister wanted to admit to his culpability in the twin conspiracies against the King, the guard went and acquainted the King about this. 

Thinking in the same terms like the guard, Raghunathan hurried to the prison.  To their utter shock and disbelief, they found the cell and the minister up in flames!  Vikrant was already badly burnt and lay on the ground.  The mashaal, which was kept in a hook that was attested to the wall of the cell, had fallen to the ground, which probably caused the fire. 

The King immediately asked the guard to open the cell and take the help of the other guards to extinguish the fire. By the time, the fire was doused, half of the cell was destroyed and Vikrant was burnt to ashes!  It was from his ornaments that the dead person was recognised as Vikrant. 

Biksham offered assistance to the King in finding out the circumstances which led to the fire in the cell.  However, the King himself took upon this task and asked Biksham to concentrate in his son’s studies.   Raghunathan interrogated the guard and ultimately came to the conclusion that Vikrant may have himself set the cell on fire with the torch, and then allowed the fire to burn him to death! 

The reason being that this incident occurred in the absence of the guard and also because Vikrant did not cry for help when he was being burnt.  The minister may have committed suicide out of frustration of being caught and to suppress the truth of how he learnt about the secret passage in the King’s chamber. 

The matter was put to rest after the King came out with this conclusion.

With his education complete, Vijaya who had now grown into a young and comely boy of seventeen was all set to return to the palace.  His parents came to meet him and he immediately fell at their feet.  Raghunathan, who still looked majestic with his well ruffled hairs, expressive eyes, and beard that had developed a shade of gray over the years, and the Queen who appeared like a newly-wed bride, blessed their son, helped him to his feet and hugged him with tears of joy flowing from their eyes. 

Biksham, who was standing nearby, and watching these proceedings with a smile now spoke to Vijaya, “O Prince, I want to put you to a test to prove a point to your parents.”  So saying, he called for two chariots to be brought.  Pointing to one of the chariots, Biksham explained the test, which Vijaya had to pass, “That is your chariot! The green flag, which is attached at the top of the umbrella of that chariot, is your everything –  subjects, wealth and pride. 

For this test, you will consider yourself as the King and me as your sworn enemy whose sole aim is to fell that flag to the ground. If you succeed in preventing me from my target till the last arrow in my quiver is exhausted, you will be declared the winner. 

Also, if you manage to break my bow in two during the fight, you would win!  Alright?” 

Vijaya agreed.  Biksham arranged for two thrones to be brought along for his pupil’s parents to be seated. 

As the King and the Queen watched curiously, both the guru and pupil mounted their respective chariots.  Thereby, Biksham cautioned aloud, “I will fire the first salvo, Vijaya!  Be on your toes!”  So saying, he removed an arrow from his quiver and fixed it to his bow. 

Taking aim at the green flag, he pulled the string of his bow and the arrow sped past in the air towards it’s target only to be broken in two mid-way by the arrow from the other end!  Vijaya smiled at his guru who shook his head in appreciation and let go another arrow, which also met with the same fate!  Soon, the intensity of the fight increased and the ground was strewn with broken arrows. 

Raghunathan and his wife were very pleased to see the manner in which their son was fighting with his guru.  He was calm, composed and appeared very confident.  On one occasion Vijaya broke the string of his guru’s bow.  Queen Padmavati felt that the battle would now end for she was sure that with his next arrow, Vijaya would break the bow of Biksham. 

However, Raghunathan was not so sure about this for he knew how great an archer was Biksham!  He knew in his heart that this battle was not over!