章 35: Ambitious prince
Mathura, the once-thriving kingdom nestled between the Yamuna River and the grassy plains, was a land of prosperity and peaceful coexistence under King Ugrasena's rule. The city's grand temples, built with white marble and adorned with intricate carvings, stood as monuments to the gods, while the bustling marketplace echoed with the sounds of trade. The fragrance of jasmine flowers from the royal gardens mixed with the earthy scent of clay pots, brass utensils and incense sticks. The skies above were often painted with the rich hues of sunrise and sunset, casting a serene glow over the peaceful kingdom.
The people of Mathura lived their lives with a sense of harmony. Farmers tilled the fertile lands that bordered the river; craftsmen shaped their art in the town's workshops, and the scholars debated in the open courtyards, seeking wisdom from the sacred texts. The land established by King Mathu was cherish and well maintained by his descendants who later took the throne. Around 200 generation have passed away before King Ugrasena took his turn to rule.
However, as beautiful and peaceful as Mathura was, there was always a quiet undercurrent of unrest. Beneath the city's golden exterior lay a deep political divide that Kansa, the son of King Ugrasena, would one day exploit for his personal gain.
Kansa, who had long watched his father rule with a gentle hand, believed that true power came from fear and force. While his father believed in diplomacy and peace, Kamsa's ambition pushed him towards darker methods of control. He felt that Mathura needed to be ruled with strength, for only through strength would the kingdom remain unchallenged by the rising powers of the world. His ambition would sure come true because soon his thoughts will resonate thoughts of somebody else.
The royal court of Mathura. King Ugrasena sits on his throne, his presence calm and wise, yet behind him, the flicker of unease. Kansa, his son, strides confidently into the hall, eyes filled with cold determination.
"My son, I hear troubling things. Whispers among the court that you seek the throne." spoke Ugrasena with concern.
"Whispers are sometimes rooted in truth, Father. Mathura is ripe for greatness, yet you hold it back with your… compassion." Kansa replied smiling, but with an edge.
"A king's strength lies not only in his hand, Kansa, but in his heart. The people trust a ruler who guides with love, not fear." sighed Ugrasena, deeply saddened with Kansa behaviour
"Father, kindness is a luxury for the weak. I am not weak." Kansa then pauses, his voice softening for a moment before continuing "You'll see in time. Mathura will understand what true power means."
Kansa then turns away, leaving his father's gaze heavy with sorrow. Jarasandh, the king of Magadha, was a ruler who shared Kansa's vision of power. He was a man of ambition, keen to extend his kingdom's dominion over the neighboring lands. As the head of a large, militarized kingdom, Jarasandh had the resources to make his vision a reality, but he lacked the strategic alliance that would bring him the strength he desired.
He had long heard of Kansa's cunningness and ruthlessness in Mathura and saw an opportunity to ally with the young prince. Jarasandh knew that Mathura, with its strategic location and wealth, could be the key to his ambitions. To cement their alliance, he would offer his daughters, Asti and Prapti, in marriage to Kamsa, seeing it as a way to strengthen their bond.
However, before he could approach Kansa with this offer, Jarasandh needed to test the young prince's resolve and strength. In a daring move, he sent a massive war elephant to Mathura, hoping to test Kamsa's ability to handle adversity and prove his worth.
The mighty four tusked elephant, a beast of enormous size with tusks like swords, was a terror to behold. Jarasandh believed that if Kansa could tame the beast or defeat it, he would be a man worthy of alliance. He sent the elephant with a band of his soldiers, hoping to challenge the young prince.
In the royal chambers,
"The King of Magadha, Jarasandh, has sent this elephant Rajkumar!!!. According to our network, beast shall wreak havoc in Mathura soon unless the king himself steps forth to stop it. If Maharaj doesn't stop and Mathura doesn't surrender will suffer the wrath of both Magadha and the elephant that is heading this way." revealed one of spys that have been planted by Kansa into the kingdom of Magadha.
Kansa, standing in the balcony, when heard of the arrival of the mad four tusked elephant. His face remained impassive, but his heart beat slightly faster. He understood that this was no mere challenge; it was a test of his leadership. Or so what he believed.
He marched into the market where the elephant had been unleashed. The air was thick with tension as the massive creature trumpeted and shook the ground beneath its feet. The people of Mathura gathered in fear, watching as Kansa walked forward, his eyes locked on the wild beast.
"Clear the way!" Shouted Kansa to his soldiers.
As the elephant charged, Kansa stood tall, not retreating. With quick reflexes, he leaped onto the beast's back and grasped its ears, forcing the massive creature into submission. The crowd cheered, astonished by Kansa's courage and strength. This was no ordinary ruler—this was a prince who understood power.
Jarasandh, who received the news from afar, was impressed by Kansa's bravery. He knew that Kansa had passed his test, and the two kings' fates (Kansa will be the future king) were now entwined in a shared pursuit of power.
The alliance between Kansa and Jarasandh grew stronger soon with time, but Kansa's ambitions stretched beyond mere political maneuvering. He knew that the throne of Mathura was not truly his. His father, King Ugrasena, still held the reins of power, and Kansa's vision for the future could never be realized as long as his father remained in control.
Behind closed doors, Kansa and Jarasandh began plotting the downfall of Ugrasena. The two men conspired to remove the old king from the throne and replace him with Kansa. Together, they would rule the entire region, with Mathura serving as the heart of their empire that will help in keeping Hastinapur in check.
"My father is too weak. His rule is based on kindness, and kindness cannot keep a kingdom strong. We must remove him before he undermines everything we've worked for." Spoke Kansa in hushed tone.
"I understand your concerns. Weakness must be purged for strength to reign. Once you are king, the entire region will bow to us. Soon we will monopolies the trading as much possible to gain more benifits and both block Hastinapur's growing ambitions." nodded Jarasandh.
Their plan was simple: they would use subterfuge to undermine Ugrasena's position, spreading rumors that he was unfit to rule, sowing discord among the nobles, and positioning Kansa as the only viable leader for Mathura.
The political climate in Mathura soon grew increasingly tense as Kansa and Jarasandh's conspiracy took root. Kansa, ever cunning, began to weaken his father's support. He secretly manipulated and bribed the greedy upper-class nobles, turning them against Ugrasena, making them believe that the king's kindness had made him incapable of ruling. With wide spread spy network, made contacts with different forces and ambitious rakshasa to work for him promising the uprootment of Dharma.
Whispers filled the halls of the royal palace. The noblemen began questioning Ugrasena's decisions, blaming him for various misfortunes in the kingdom. They began to see Kansa as a strong, decisive leader—a leader who could lead Mathura into a new era of power.
Finally, when the time was right, Kamsa struck. In the dead of night, he gathered a group of loyal soldiers and stormed the palace. The corridors of Mathura's palace felt colder than usual. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by Kansa's footsteps echoing against the stone floors. His heart pounded, filled with a mix of excitement and tension. Tonight was the night everything would change.
In the dim light, he thought back to his youth, to the days when he would sit at his father's side, watching Ugrasena's easy smile, his open generosity toward his people. Kansa used to admire him for that—until he saw how quickly kindness could be mistaken for weakness. He recalled the stories of kingdoms lost, brought down by rulers too soft-hearted to make difficult choices. The memories fueled his resolve.
With the nobles gathered around him in loyalty, Kansa entered the grand hall. The scene was swift, nearly bloodless. Ugrasena, despite his heartbreak, allowed himself to be taken, accepting his fate with the stoicism of a seasoned king. For a fleeting moment, Kansa felt a pang of regret—until he saw his own reflection in the throne's polished surface. The crown sat perfectly on his head, and he knew it was where it belonged.
That night, Kansa sat alone in the darkened throne room, wrestling with his emotions. "A strong king," he whispered to himself, "is a protector of his people. Even if they don't understand it." He felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders, transforming his doubts into a fierce determination.
"You were too weak to rule, Father. Mathura belongs to me now."
Month later, the air in Mathura buzzed with the news of Jarasandh's arrival. When Jarasandh proposed a marriage alliance, offering his daughters in marriage, Kansa agreed without hesitation. He knew that this was more than a marriage; it was an alliance that would solidify his reign and give Mathura allies further after the coup.
On the wedding day, Kansa wore a ceremonial robe adorned with red and gold, and the entire city was decorated to match. Flowers hung from every pillar and torchlight flickered along the streets. He looked at his brides, Asti and Prapti, and felt a strange satisfaction. Together, they were symbols of his alliance with a powerful king. He knew he had fortified his kingdom. And with the union, he felt more untouchable than ever.
But amid the celebration, Kansa felt a strange unease. Even with his power consolidated, he sensed something slipping out of his grasp—a whisper of unrest, as if fate had plans for him that he could not foresee.
To be continued...
(A/N: Hey guy please comment below and send me vote along with your love to keep continuing this fanfic 😁😁😁 Stay tuned)
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