Chandragupta had come to believe that Karbhika was like a lucky charm or an inspirational force that brought success to him. Through all the campaigns she was with him he felt an energy surging in him. His courage never flagged and the morale remained high as if she were his secret source of power.
Meanwhile Karbhika met her foster father Chanakya and expressed her wish to accompany Chandragupta on his mission against Yudhithamus. Chanakya saw no harm in it since she was herself a soldier and to be in the battle was her natural desire especially when her icon Chandragupta Maurya would be in action.
Inwardly he smiled at the ruses of young hearts.
That worried the old man a bit. May be, the two were already lovers. In that case Karbhika could prove a distraction. That could prove fatal against an alien enemy. After all love had ruined sages, lords, kings and common folk immunerable times. Thousands of years of penance had got wasted by just one weak moment.
So, Chanakya said, “My daughter, I know you are a brave girl and you are full of courage. But I think Chandragupta alone is sufficient for this campaign. Why should you bother to accompany him?”
“Father!” Karbhika’s eyes flashed. You know well how Greeks destroyed our capital Sankal! That horror whenever comes to my mind and I remember those dreadful scenes of the cruelty my blood boils to take revenge. Please understand my feelings. It is not a pleasure trip for me. Seeing Greek brutes die provides solace to me.”
“Alright, my Karbhika, “You may go if it pleases you. Come back in victory. But don’t be any distraction of our Commander Chandragupta.”
“I promise, father. It is purely my battle mission.”
Later, Chanakya spoke to Chandragupta, “Chandra! You are an able Commander. Now you don’t need any advice or tips. You can plan strategies. You will take care of yourself, army and Karbhika needs a bit of watching over. She is too full of revenge and may indulge in some foolhardy act. There is no need to take any risks.”
Chanakya smiled at Chandragupta. Now he knew their relationship. The very mention of Karbhika had made the youngman’s eyes twinkle.
With a big force of Sruhana army, Chandragupta reached the bank of Indus river travelling through Gandhara kingdoms. On the way army units of other Vaheek kingdoms joined the main force of Chandragupta. Even the armies of Kulsot and Kashmir provided men and material. Natives were no more disjointed and fragmented. The experience Alexander’s invasion had taught them many lessons. The idea of union or federation was catching up. Unity against alien invaders was already working. It pleased Chanakya. The hard work of years was bearing fruits.
Natives were better armed and better trained now. They had fair idea of battle plans Greeks would employ. Commander Yudhithamus was itching for a battle. He too had put together a massive force which consisted of 5 lac soldiers. The Greek army had been reinforced by native armies of the westside kingdoms of Bactria, Harauti and Pushkarawati.
Thus, two massive forces faced each other. The battle soon broke out. Chandragupta was leading his forces with deft planning, making counter moves to the strategies employed by the enemy. Karbhika stayed close to him as if she was bodyguard of the commander of native forces. She no more was lover of Chandragupta but a trusted lieutenant. From close quarter she was seeing the capable generalship of Chanakya’s disciple. But she was not letting go of any chance of giving the taste of her sword to any Greek soldier who dared to come closer.
The battle raged. The native armies were battling with great spirit. The Greeks were no more terrors to them. Over the years they had dealt defeats to the alien enemy several times. Very soon the forces of Chandragupta gained upper hand. The armies of Yudhithamus were at the receiving end.
The Greeks and allies wilted under pressure. They fell back, Natives under Chandragupta pressed the advantage. Yudhithamus had fallen in enemy trap. The soldiers of Chandragupta had surrounded him from all sides cutting him off his units. He fought bravely but Aryans did not let him get off the hook. Yudhithamus died fighting.
His death demoralised his forces and they began to flee or capitulate. Chandragupta had won the biggest battle of his life. It established him as the supermost military general of the land, a hero figure for all the natives. All prided over his victory.
Chandragupta returned to tumultuous welcomes being hailed by the native kings and subjects. Bards wrote verses on his valour and rhapsodists sang his praises to no end. The masses had already accepted him as the new legend.
But that was Vaheek region. Magadha empire was yet to be won. For Chanakya and Chandragupta it was an emotional issue. Their roots lay there. And their future plans were based on Magadha as their nucleus. All their victories gained so far were meaningless without Patliputra and the kingdom in their control. Because it was in Magadha where they would consolidate their victories to raise a great empire of their dreams. Thus, Patliputra was their next target.
This time, for the move against Magadha, Chandragupta and Kaikya king Parvataka joined forces and raised a huge army consisting of Sruhana and Vaheek armies under their joint command. They set out on their mission.
Meanwhile, Magadha was trapped in webs of power and court conspiracies. The conspiracies were hatched by royals, ministers and courtiers. In it some army commanders were also involved.
In one such plot minister Vakranasa got king Dhanananda assassinated by a girl spy. Vakranasa got Sumalyananda, the younger brother of the dead king coronated as the new ruler of Magadha. Sumalya was the pupil of Vakranasa. Thus, in that act their mutual interests were involved.
Newly crowned king Sumalyananda dutifully appointed Vakranasa as chief of ministers. Former chief Shaktar was the confidant of the dead king. Infact Dhanananda had been protege of Shaktar. Vakranasa put Shaktar in prison fearing conspiracies. With Shaktar out of his way Vakranasa ruled supreme in Magadha. After becoming king Sumalyananda lost himself in drinking and carnal indulgences. He was little interested in ruling the state.
Vakranasa was just a plotter. He was no administrator of any merit and had no noble intentions. Power was what he wanted. To stay in power he let loose a reign of terror and suppression. The state officials levied heavy taxes arbitrarily and tormented the subjects. The people were in rebellious mood as the administration was breaking down. In parts of the state total chaos and anarchy prevailed. The mood of rebellion needed some able leadership.
When the forces of Chandragupta invaded Magadha there was no one to challenge him. Vakranasa was keeping a watch on the situation and knew that the arrival of Chanakya and Chandragupta meant the end of Nanda dynasty and its faithfuls.
He hatched a plot to create bad blood in the enemy camp and let them fight amongst themselves. Plotting was what Vakranasa was expert in. He sent a poison girl spy into enemy camp. She was able to infiltrate into the camp of king Parvataka and poisoned him to death. A rumour was spread that Chanakya had got the Kaikya king killed to clear the way for his protege Chandragupta to gain total command of the forces. Kaikya soldiers did not like it, they appeared in rebellious mood against the commander Chandragupta and Chanakya.
Chanakya realised the danger of the bad blood hitting their camp and infighting breaking out. He, at once got Malayketu, the son of Parvataka coronated as the king of Kaikya and the commander of Kaikyan forces.
That mollified the Kaikya soldiers and peace returned. Under the command of Chandragupta the invasion force moved and laid siege around the fort of Patliputra. This time no force would come to the aid of the defenders. Chandragupta had already eliminated or won over all frontier guards and the provincial forces of Magadha.
The gates of the fort had been shut and the over bridges lifted off. Inside the fort Vakranasa and Sumalya thought they were safe. Chandragupta got a dam constructed over Shone river that fed water to the fort moat. Thus now water to the moat was cut off and the water level began to go down. Infront of the main gate of the fort soil was dumped upto the moat and a temporary cross way rose up. The army of Chandragupta walked across and the fort gate was smashed open. The invaders poured into the fort. They met little resistance.
Now Patliputra fort was under the possession of Chandragupta Maurya. Sumalyananda was taken prisoner. His supporters either got killed or thrown in dungeons or prisons.
Chandragupta rushed into the blind dungeon with his heart pounding. There was no one alive. A human carcass in shackles was discovered. Tears welled up into the eyes of Chandragupta. He knew it was the mortal remains of his father Suryagupta. The son made his obeisance to the remains of the father and got the last or posthumous rites performed in royal tradition.
When Sumalyananda was produced before Chandragupta Maurya, the latter beheaded him to settle all the scores. Then he went to the inner sanctum to see his mother.
Muradevi was overjoyed to see her Chandra in regal commander’s dress. She hugged him and showered a million blessings. Muradevi eagerly asked about her husband. When Chandragupta revealed the fate of Suryagupta she collapsed and never rose again.
Chandragupta cried over the dead body of his mother. Karbhika tried to console him. Then, she began to arrange for the funeral and the last rites of Muradevi in regal tradition to spare the trouble to grief-stricken Chandragupta.
Power had changed hands in Magadha. Peace had began to return. The citizens were eagerly awaiting to see ceremonial coronation of the new emperor who would be Chandragupta Maurya, a unanimous choice. He had earned it by his stellar deeds, victories and heroic achievements. For the masses he was a new legend and an icon the people would love to see on throne. The preparation for coronation had begun.
Then, news came that Alexander’s brave commander Selucus had come with a great Greek force to reclaim the Indian territories. Infact, Selucus had become an emperor of a large state of Greece. Greece had again broken up into various kingdoms. It was no more one empire. Selucus was an ambitious person who wanted to emulate his late master Alexander. So, India was the natural territory to conquer where Greek blood was prospering.
Chandragupta decided to deal with Selucus problem before his coronation. With the permission of Chanakya he set out with a massive force of six lac soldiers to confront the enemy on the bank of Indus river itself. Selucus was already camping there drawing up his battle plans. The two forces clashed and fought a bloody battle. The both sides suffered heavy losses of men and material. It claimed more lives than any previous battle had done.
Victory had come to Chandragupta Maurya. It was his biggest victory and stellar achievement. The native forces took Commander Selucus prisoner. The battle had ended.
In damages Greeks offered a huge amount, gold, silver, precious presents and material to the victor, Chandragupta Maurya.
Meanwhile, the Council of Elders held a meeting at Patliputra. It was attended by the elders of other states as well. The elders wanted the repeated invasions of Greeks to stop. The desire was for the permanent solution to the problem. To make progress the people and the kingdoms needed a long period of peace. Never ending wars with aliens was costing heavily. The people and the states were fed up with wars.
To achieve permanent peace with Greeks the elders decided that marital alliance between the Indians and Greeks at top level could end the hostilities between them for ever. Establishing family relationship was a good idea as the Greeks and Indians had already set a tradition of inter-race marriages initiated by Alexander before he left India.
The idea was that Chandragupta Maurya should marry Princess Helena, the daughter of Selucus who had accompanied with her father. Chanakya too saw a great merit in the suggestion. He too was for permanent peace to introduce new administrative systems in native land.
Chanakya apprised Karbhika of the situation. The girl bravely accepted to make sacrifice of her love for the sake of the people and the peace.
Emperor Selucus accepted the proposal gladly. In a glittering ceremony Chandragupta Maurya and Helena were married. Selucus gave loads of treasures to Chandragupta as marriage gifts.
Before this marriage Chandragupta Maurya was duly coronated as the Emperor of Magadha. Thus, the marriage took place between Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and Princess Helena. After marriage she became Queen Helena Maurya of Magadha.
With the help of Acharya Chanakya, Chandragupta unified the kingdoms to mould a great empire and new governing systems were introduced. Chanakya wrote the first constitution of a model state in proper book form. Some people consider it to be the first constitution of the world. The constitution detailed the new administrative system, duties of state, rulers and obligations of the citizens. Chanakya also wrote a book on economy with detail of taxation system. Thus, Chandragupta and Chanakya together founded the systematically governed state with rules and regulations in place at all levels. The procedures for various administrative acts were also defined. Thus, Chandragupta Maurya was truly the first legitimate Emperor in India.
