Part 16: Quarrel with Tāraka

A spy, who saw their transgression of commands, invincibility, and strength of arm, et cetera, went and told Tāraka explicitly: “Your Majesty, the two sons of Dvāravatī’s lord, excessively proud, do not regard your command, united like Vāyu and Agni.^[1] Expertness in all the śāstras and attainment of the vidyās existed spontaneously. Strength of arm is their ornament. They should not shine brilliantly compared with you, Your Majesty. Do whatever is fitting. I am a spy.”

Tāraka, trembling with anger, the pupils of his eyes twitching, instructed his general, whose strength was unequaled: “First make preparations with your whole heart, soldier, and this very day have the marching-drum, a messenger for summoning vassals, beaten. This crooked-minded King Brahmā must be killed together with his sons. An enemy disregarded produces poison like a disease.”

Then a minister said: “Consider carefully, Your Majesty, since King Brahmā is now your vassal or foot-soldier. A sudden march against him without an excuse is not fitting. In this way there would be reason for anxiety on the part of other associates (prakṛti). A person who is afraid feels no confidence. Without confidence there is no advice, command, et cetera. Without them what lordship is there? Invent some offence on his part by some trick. That will be easy to find for him proud of the strength of his two sons. Send a messenger to ask him for his elephants and horses dearer than life, and other jewels. If he will not give, then he can be killed on that pretext. The people will not censure your punishing a criminal. If he does give what is asked, then some other pretext must be looked for. Every one is a criminal, when an excuse is looked for.”

Tāraka agreed with the minister and at once sent a messenger to Brahmā with secret instructions. He went quickly to Dvāravatī and approached Brahmā who was at home attended by Vijaya and Dvipṛṣṭha. The king invited him to sit down with great cordiality, talked to him for a long time affectionately, and asked him why he came.

He said: “O Lord of Dvārakā, our master Tāraka, destroyer of his enemies’ pride of arm, now commands you as follows: ‘Whatever choice elephants, horses, and other jewels you have in your kingdom, send them to us. For in the southern half of Bharata whatever choice object there may be belongs to me, the overlord of half of Bharata, and to no one else.’”

Angered at once by this speech, like a lion by an owl, Dvipṛṣṭha replied, as if wishing to consume him with his eye: “He is not an elder relative, nor our protector, nor patron. How has he become our master when we are ruling our own kingdom? Ṇow he seeks horses, elephants, et cetera, from us by strength of arm. We shall certainly seek them from him by strength of arm. Go right now, messenger! Know that we have arrived there to take horses, elephants, et cetera, together with his head, from your master.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Cf. below, 4. 4. 131.