The summer had passed. Monsoon was looming large on the skies. One day on a dark night the commanders told their soldiers that Alexander wanted them to cross Vitasta (Jhelum) river younder which lay Kaikya kingdom. Greek army was to invade Puru’s land. Thousands of Greek soldiers crossed the river in thousands on horse backs and boats.
The Greeks had cleverly took the enemy by creating a diverscinary activity of putting together boats on the river bank. The Puru’s soldiers saw it and assumed that the Greeks planned to cross the river from that point. Infact, they crossed the river at a place far away from that point. The crossing took place where river flowed very wide shallowing the depth of water.
Kaikya army realised their mistake too late but didn’t panic. Puru was himself leading his soldiers from atop an elephant. The Greek played havoc with their long handled deadly spears. Kaikay soldiers had no answer to those spears. They were getting pierced to death before reaching anywhere near armoured Greeks.
Kaikya commander ordered induction of elephant brigades against Greeks. More than one thousand elephant were brought in and walked up infront of Greeks. Kaikya soldiers attacked Greeks from the flanks of the elephants. It forced Greek soldiers to all beck.
The Greek soldiers regrouped. Just than Ambi arrived with his army to the aid of Greeks. The united soldiers changed tactics and attacked the elephants from safe distance with arrows shot by Ambi’s soldiers and spears thrown by the Greeks. The spears and arrows injured the elephants who turned back in pain and ran over Kaikyan soldiers.
This development caught the soldiers of Puru by surprise. Hundreds got trampled upon by the elephants. The surviving soldiers were in disarray and in panic. In such a confusion Greeks and Ambi soldiers overpowered them easily.
Puru was under the siege of enemy soldiers. His elephant got killed and he was taken prisoner. With a smile on his lips Ambi cast a triumphat glance at Puru who was put in shackles. It was biggest satisfying moment of Ambi’s life. He hoped that Puru would be put to death.
Puru was produced before Alexander in shackles. Alexander secretly admired the bravey of Puru who had fought courageoulsy against the superior army. He was a true soldier and respected brave enemies.
Alexander remarked, “You were king of this land but now you stand before me in chains in your own land.”
Puru said, “Had you been defeated you would have stood before me in the similar way.”
Puru was defeated but his manner was still cockey. His spirit was not broken.
Alexander asked, “Tell me what treatment do you expect from me?”
“Same treatment that one king deals to another,” was the straight forward defiant reply of Puru.
“I am pleased.” Alexander nodded his head and announced, “Well done king. I appoint you ruler of your own Kaikya and the kingdom of Ursa and Abhisara.”
Puru said, “I pay my obeisance to your greatness and magnaniity. It will be my privilege to be associated with your endeavour.”
It was a damper for king Ambi. He was expecting Puru to be beheaded. But he had no power to criticize Alexander or courage to question his action.
After telling the story of Ambi, Chanakya told Shaktar how important it was for him to meet the Magadha king to tell him the entire game of Alexander. The king of eastern part must learn the lessons from the mistakes committed by the kings of the western part, he emphasised.
Shaktar sopke, “Friend, there should be no problem in arranging your meeting with the king. Tomorrow you may arrive in the court and will introduce you to the courtiess and the king.”
Next day, King Dhanananda was in his throne and holding his court. There was all the razzle and dazzle of a great royal court. The king wore bejeweled crown and shimmeing dress of great value only a king could afford. His golden throne was gleaming and sparkling with embedded precious stones.
The ministers, courtiers, commanders, chieftans, fiefs and prominent citizens were sitting in rows in their respective seats. The soldiers stood behind them on guard.
King Dhanananda was an old man. He had very impressive personality. In his youth years he was a man of great beauty. His son now in his forties had inherited his beauty.
The minister Shaktar was sitting next to the king.
At the appointed hour Acharya Chanakya made his entry to the court. Shaktar had told he sentries to let in Chanakya when he arrived. As already revealed Chanakya was a short statured and physically ugly man. His face also carried the marks of small pox. And his dress was rural.
All the people in the court were in their best attires and jewellery. Chanakya looked a misfit their. The courtiers stared at him in disapproval and began the snigger. King Dhanananda looked at the new arrival with marked distaste. He too couldn’t help langhing at Chanakya’s appearance as if he were a bad joke.
The sniggering changed into contemptious laugher.
Chanakya stood rooted in utter humiliation.
Shaktar was very embarrased. He tried to repair the damage and the honourable courtiers, ‘‘May I introduce you to great scholar of Taxila University who has come here to reveal to us a matter of great importance for our benefit.’’
The king looked sharply at his minister and remarked, “What can this ugly Brahmin tell us that we already don’t know? I don’t like his presence here. This uglinessis not fit to be in my beautiful court.”
The courtiers nodded their heads in approval.
Shaktar tried to explain, “Please your Majesty…” His explanation was drowned in the laughter of the jeering courtiers.
Chanakya could not keep quiet. He angirly shouted to get heard over the noise of laughter, “I came to this court believing that here man of learning are judged by their knowledge and not by physical appearance. I didn’t know this court was so shallow and stupid as not recognise a man of wisdom.”
The courtiers looked at Chanakya belligerently. The king looked annoyed. He hollered, “Mind your language, you ugly one. You are nobody. We don’t need any ugly wisdom.”
It infuriated Chanakya.
He hissed, “I take a vow to destroy this arrogant Nanda dynasty that not deserve to be tolerated. A king who has no sense to respect the man of learning should be destroyed. Such rulers are the curse on our land. I won’t lock my Veni untill my vow is not fulfilled.”
So saying, Chanakya united his veni (The lock of hair kept by upper caste man especially Brahmins.) After doing that Chanakya stormed out of the court funning. The royal court was stunned.
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