The caravan of Laxmipati merchant was moving on passing through the capitals of several kingdoms and commercial cities. The merchant was doing some business in the cities along the way which included both buying and selling. Taxila was in the kingdom of East Gandhar. Taxila University was an autonomous institution. The state of Gandhar did not interfere in its affairs. The university was a great centre of learning in arts, sciences, penal codes, theosophy, philosophy and political science. The teachers and students stayed away from the politics of the kingdoms. They never took sides. They only analysed the political situations in an impartial manner with no involvement. The royals, rich and mighty people sent their sons to Taxila for education. It was a huge complex, the remains of which amaze even educationists of modern times.
The caravan of the trader consisted of chariots, carts carriages, horses, mules and bullocks. For the sale and purchases he had a workforce of hundreds of people. Many travellers were independent traders who paid some fee to the merchant to be part of his caravan for security.
The merchants traded in some costly items, precious metals, stones and jewellery. The caravan also included the woman and the children of the workers. It was quite a long convoy. For security Laxmipati had a force of 500 hired soldiers. It had cavalry units also. Some cavalry units moved ahead of the caravan to make sure that the way was clear of obstacles and robbers who often laid ambushes to loot trading caravans. They would race back to the caravan to warn if there was some danger ahead. Thus, the caravan had a reasonable protection.
In the state capitals Laxmipati always made it a point to visit royal courts, pay respect to the ruler and present some costly gifts. It got him the royal patronage and state protection plus right to trade in those states. The merchant earned enough profits to afford costly gifts and taxes. Laxmipati had amassed a great fortune of cash and wealth.
The merchant Laxmipati did not mind spending any amount of money on his personal indulgences and presenting costly gifts to royals if he sensed it would bring him handsome returns. But he was a very stingy person in spending money on other overheads.
Near the border of Gandhar kingdom a big gang of robbers suddenly materialised from a dense forest and blocked the path of the caravan. The gang had very cleverly stayed out of the sight of the advance guards. The guards had declared the path clear failing to detect the camouflaged gang. This sudden development took the caravan by surprise. Everyone was shocked.
The guards who were with the caravan were caught unprepared. By the time they prepared for a battle the robbers had already struck and plunder had begun. Laxmipati suspected that some of the hired soldiers had betrayed him. They had been bought by the gang or were the members of gang.
Chandra suggested to Laxmipati that the robbers were too many in numbers and the valuables had been already plundered. The most sensible way would be to flee to save their lives. The merchant could earn the money again if he stayed alive.
But the merchant would not listen to him. He cried and lamented for his lost wealth. The robbers were converging on them. Chandra took out his dagger and tried to defend the merchant.
Chandra told the merchant again to save his life and stop grieving for his stupid wealth. But Laxmipati sat moaning and groaning and lamenting about how much he had lost. Young Chandra did his best to protect the blabbering merchant. Eventually the robbers got him.
Now there was nothing for Chandra to stay with the plundered caravan. He was there just for the sake of the merchant who was dead now. Chandra jumped on to a horse back that was riderless and spurred it. Before galloping away Chandra managed to bury his dagger into the chest of the robber who had sworded the merchant to death.
He knew the path that led to Taxila. On the previous night he had been briefed on the course of their travel by the merchant. He kept his horse racing on that path.
By the sunrise he reached Taxila campus. At the gate of the city he had to surrender the horse and the sword to the city guards. He was allowed to go inside. Eventually he reached the inner part of the campus where the classes sat under trees and the teachers were addressing them sitting on platforms of stones or in standing positions. He asked a free student about the guru of Taxila named Chanakya. The student reverently pointed towards a tree. Chandra saw a monk like figure speaking to his pupil. Shaven headed he was but a long tuft of hair hung down from his skull top like a pony tail. His class was on under a banyan tree.
Chandra walked to the class where the students sat in a circle on the ground facing Chanakya who sat cross legged on a platform.
He stopped near Chanakya. The teacher looked at him enquiringly.
“Sir,” Chandra spoke apologetically,” I seek your forgiveness for causing disruption to your teaching and disturbing the class. May I touch your feet?”
Chanakya liked the educated language of the young man. It was grammatically correct. “Alright, do it if you so wish.”
After touching feet Chandra introduced himself, “Sir, I am Chandragupta, the son of Suryagupta Maurya the king of Pippalivana.”
“Pippalivana has been merged into Magadha, youngman. How come you…?”
“You are correct sir,” Chandragupta said in a pained voice, “The tragedy happened before I was born. Had I been present then it would have been a different story.”
“Well…”, Chanakya was amused, “What would you have done?”
“My sword would have done the needful,” Chandra spoke grinding his teeth.
Guru Chanakya looked at the angry youngman. Too emotional and revengeful he was. He needed to be sobered up and some discipline instilled. It would come with proper education and maturity.
Chanakya said, “I had heard that the royalty of Pippalivana were taken prisoners by Magadha.”
“That is also true, sir.”
“So, I guess you were not born then. Both your parents were prisoners of Magadha. It means you were born in a prison.”
“You can say that, sir. The inner sanctum of the royal palace of Magadha was no better than a prison.”
“I see. Your mother was made to serve as a maid.” Chandragupta made no comment.
“Tell me how did you gain freedom from the palace and how you happen to be here?”
“Guru sir, after I completed my education in the palace school, my teacher Bhrigurayan advised me to come to Taxila and get further education from your goodself. He told me that you were his classmate long ago,” Chandragupta revealed.
“Now, that is another wonder! How can a son of a maid get education in a school for royals?”
“Sir, it is all works of fate. The truth is stranger than fiction. One of the queens became fond of me and became my patron sponsor.”
“Amazing! But how did fate work out your liberation from the palace prison?”
In reply Chandragupta narrated the entire tale of Laxmipati merchant and his role in his liberation from the inner sanctum and the travel to Gandhar in the merchant’s convoy.
The story of Chandragupta impressed Guru Chanakya and he decided the promising youngman deserved a break. He told Chandra he would be happy to have him as his pupil.
Chandragupta thanked Guru and said he would be ever grateful to his kindness.
Chanakya blessed the youngman and advised, “You need rest after such a long and arduous journey and the attack by robbers. You have sustained some injuries and need medication. Get yourself treated at once and rest. Then, we will talk when you are physically and mentally fit.”
Chandragupta obediently bowed his head. A student of Chanakya took charge of him and led him away for treatment and the rest. He was given a room for lodging.
Chandragupta felt at home at Taxila University. Here he felt himself an independent person. At Nanda palace inspite of getting special treatment his life was being arranged by others and he depended on the kindness of others. At university he could programme his own day except for the regulatory classes held each day by the teachers. Chandra felt his dreams were indeed coming true and he could hope for a better future.
In his room whenever he rested after studies he remembered his mother and wondered what kind of life she could be leading now. It was very hard for her. His disappearance from the palace could have put her in a lot of botheration. He could not send messages to her and she had no means to learn about his fate. It was a test of endurance and patience for both of them. He also thought of his father. The very imagination of a life in dark dungeon would made him shiver. He had never seen his father. Would he ever?
Whenever he thought of the tyrant ruler of the Magadha empire his fists would tighten up and ideas of terrible revenge took over his mind.
