Chương 17: Chapter 15 - Kāmpilyā City
On the next day, Adhirath and Vasuṣeṇ continued their journey. Adhirath pointed out and explained all the rivers, mountains, kingdoms, and cities they passed along the way.
After leaving Magadh, they traveled through Kaśi, eventually reaching Prayagrāj, where three of the seven great rivers converge: Gaṅgā, Yamunā, and Saraswati.
Only Yamunā and Gaṅgā were visible, but it is believed that Saraswati still flows underground, joining the other two at this sacred spot.
"If you follow the path of Mother Yamunā, you will find kingdoms like Uśīnar, Cedi, Śūraśen, and Vṛṣṇi. Now, remember to stay away from those kingdoms, especially Vṛṣṇi. A rākṣas named Kaṃsa rules there."
This piqued Vasuṣeṇ's interest, though he wouldn't admit it to his father. It would be better to ask someone else about this later.
He simply nodded and said, "Yes, father."
***
It was Monday.
On the path to Hastināpur, they stopped by one more major kingdom called Pāñcāl, which was the direct neighbor of Kuru Kingdom.
"This is Kāmpilyā city," Adhirath told Vasuṣeṇ, "The capital of the Pāñcāl kingdom. Come, let us enter the city."
Kāmpilyā city, set on the right bank of the river Gaṅgā, much like Hastināpur, was a grand city guarded by massive walls.
Just from the outside, one could tell this was a prosperous place. Even in the early morning, the city was full of hustle and bustle.
The city had three great gates, positioned in the west, south, and southeast.
There was no need for fortifications in the north due to the natural protection provided by the river Gaṅgā.
Here, the river Gaṅgā meanders or curves slightly southward as it flows from west to east, giving it a gentle downward slope in that direction.
Therefore, Adhirath and Vasuṣeṇ, who had been following the river upstream, decided to enter the city via the southeast gate.
It was very early morning, so there was little to no line at the gate, which had just opened.
The previous day, they had arrived a bit late, and the gates had already been closed. As a result, they had to spend the night in a nearby village.
As they approached, Adhirath dismounted from the horse, while Vasuṣeṇ remained seated.
As they reached the gate, the guards stopped them and asked, "State your name."
Before Adhirath could respond, the head guard, who had been observing from a distance, shouted, "Let them through."
The guards looked at each other in confusion, then turned their gaze to Vasuṣeṇ.
Even though Vasuṣeṇ was very young, his height made it difficult to guess his real age.
His golden armor and the heavy, intricately designed earrings gave him a divine, regal appearance.
The guards thought in unison, 'He must be a prince.'
The guards gave a deep bow of respect as Vasuṣeṇ and Adhirath entered the city. As they moved away, one of the guards asked their leader, "Sir, is he…?"
"Just observe his demeanor and attire," the head guard replied. "The man with him must be his guard. He dismounted, but the boy remained seated on his horse so arrogantly. That kind of arrogance can only come from the royal family."
Both guards nodded vigorously in agreement, impressed by their leader's prompt and astute observation.
***
Adhirath had a hunch about what might have occurred. This wasn't the initial instance of such an incident.
Hence, it was Adhirath who advised Vasuṣeṇ to remain on his horse.
Now that they had entered the city, Adhirath had mounted back on the horse. The reins remained in Vasuṣeṇ's hands, as he was more than capable of riding a horse.
The city of Kāmpilyā boasted five primary main roads, all culminating at the heart of the royal enclave.
The royal enclave boasted a majestic palace, noble residences, numerous gardens, and ponds, all contributing to the splendor of the central district.
Three of the main roads extended to the city gates, while the remaining two veered northward toward the river.
This arrangement bestowed upon the city a celestial, star-shaped design.
In between these five roads, lay five triangular districts of the city.
Adhirath explained these details to Vasuṣeṇ as they traversed through the eastern district of the city.
"In the western district, there's a place which is called Dharma-śala, where we can rest & spend the night," Adhirath outlined their plan for the day. "Additionally, if we go beyond the city's boundaries, further in the western forest, lies a sacred pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. Let's take a dip in Mother Gaṅgā before heading there."
Both of them moved through the eastern districts without stopping.
It was mainly a residential area for ordinary people.
"It seems like the residents are organized into communities," Vasuṣeṇ observed.
He noticed that people of similar social standing tended to live together, as evidenced by the clothes they wore.
As they reached the northern district, their pace slowed. This was where the market was located.
Of all the districts, the northern district had a distinct shape.
Because the river veers southeastward, the road on the right side terminates sooner.
This creates a shape reminiscent of an arrowhead pointing in the northwest direction.
The river brought merchants from afar, enriching the city with their wares. The prosperity of the market was evident at a glance even thought it was so early.
The market wasn't fully opened. Since this was early morning, there weren't many seller or buyers.
It would take some time before the market starts bustling with activity.
Vasuṣeṇ eyed around, he couldn't help but notice the curious glances directed his way.
It was undoubtedly his gleaming golden armor that drew their attention.
Typically, individuals only wore the sacred thread, a symbol of their initiation into education.
Certainly, a soldier of high rank might wear armor, but typically it would be crafted from iron. Only a wealthy and noble kṣatriya afford the extravagance of golden armor.
While it's true that a vaiśya can afford armor, why would they do it, to begin with? The temperature is quite hot, to begin with.
[Reminder: kṣatriya = warrior, Brāhmaṇ = priest/teacher, vaiśya = businessman/service provider, śūdra = labour]
Indeed, anyone who glanced at Vasuṣeṇ might assume he was a prince, at least until they got to know him better.
'At least people aren't bothering me,' Vasuṣeṇ mused.
As Vasuṣeṇ scanned the area, his gaze settled on a merchant arranging his group of horses.
His ears perked up just like an attentive horse, and he subconsciously steered the horse in that direction.
However, Adhirath intervened. "Vasuṣeṇ, let us hurry. Otherwise we may miss the prayer."
Vasuṣeṇ clicked his tongue silently in frustration.
***
Both bathed in the waters of the river Gaṅgā and completing their prayer rituals.
These prayer rituals are supposed to be done 3 times a day. At morning, noon & evening.
Along with this, there is another ritual involved, called Agnihotra. In this, offering is made into the sacred fire during sunset and sunrise. It is believed to purify the environment and the individual.
After completing the rituals, they proceeded to the western district.
There, they secured their horse at the Dharma-śala and made their way to the pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Security at the western gate was somewhat relaxed, particularly for the local residents.
Their passage was unimpeded, likely due to Vasuṣeṇ's distinguished appearance.
Outside the city, the landscape transitioned into a dense forest.
"Do you recall the kingdoms of the Yadu clans I mentioned, Vasuṣeṇ?" Adhirath asked.
"Yes, Father," Vasuṣeṇ replied. "Uśīnar, Cedi, Śūraśen, and Vṛṣṇi, correct?"
Adhirath nodded, pleased that Vasuṣeṇ had retained the names after hearing them just once.
Adhirath reiterated his warning to Vasuṣeṇ, his tone grave.
"If you venture directly west from here, you'll arrive at Mathurā, the capital of Vṛṣṇi. I cannot stress this enough: under no circumstances should you go there. It is plagued by rākśasas who roam around and terrorize the people."
As often happens, especially with children, being forbidden from something only intensifies the desire to explore it.
Vasuṣeṇ, the 'mature' kid, understood the gravity of his father's warning.
As they delved deeper into the forest, they stumbled upon a gathering of people in a clearing.
Pushing through the crowd, Vasuṣeṇ and his father discovered the entrance to a cave.
Though some figures were visible from the outside, guards stationed at the entrance prevented ordinary folk from entering.
"Father, can we not go inside?" Vasuṣeṇ inquired.
"Hmm… Usually, there are no restrictions on entering. Perhaps, since it's Monday, the day of God Shiva, a special prayer ceremony is underway. That's why they're preventing ordinary people from entering. There might not be enough space inside for everyone," Adhirath offered his explanation.
"Maybe they will let me go inside," Vasuṣeṇ quipped, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It's no longer our problem after we have entered."
"Hmm. Maybe. But…" Vasuṣeṇ saw concern flickering in Adhirath's gaze.
[It may create trouble if things go wrong. Maybe we shouldn't do it.]
A fleeting thought crossed Vasuṣeṇ's mind, but he dismissed it promptly.
He wasn't one to passively wait. Determined, he resolved to take action himself.
With confidence, Vasuṣeṇ strode towards the cave, Adhirath following reluctantly after a moment's hesitation.
The guards glanced at Vasuṣeṇ, unable to place him, yet unwilling to challenge him.
Looking at him, they thought, 'He must be the prince.'
Inside, a priest beckoned, "Prince! Please come forward."
The priest had worn a white dhoti as the lower garment, while his atop rested a neat topknot. On the upper body, he only had the sacred thread worn diagonally. His forehead bore three horizontal lines of sacred ash. The rudrāx prayer beads in his hand and the visible quality of the cloth used for dhoti indicated him as an important priest.
Addressed as the prince, Vasuṣeṇ felt a sense of unfamiliarity, yet he maintained his composure.
'I shouldn't go against what the priest is saying.'
Thinking of this as an excuse, Vasuṣeṇ walked to the priest, and followed the instructions given.
"Come, sit," he respectfully gave instructions.
Taking his seat before the Śiva Ling, a sacred symbol representing God, he prepared for the ritual to begin.
"Let us start."
***
After concluding the prayer, Vasuṣeṇ and Adhirath emerged from the cave, only to be met with spears aimed at them and a young teenage boy standing confidently in the center.
Alert and cautious, Adhirath positioned himself in front of Vasuṣeṇ, ready to shield him from any potential threat.
The boy, the real prince of Pāñcāl, demanded, "Who are you?"
******************
[A/n: So, what do you think?
Even I am quite surprised that the story took this turn😅this was not supposed to happen.
Originally, the plan was to go Hastināpur directly. But fate seemed to have some other plan.
Also, I took creative liberties imagining the the city layout. Hope you liked it.
Tell me what do you think will happen next?
P.S. Had to rewrite some parts of the chapter due to timing technicalities. It's so annoying.]
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