The Maharaja and his Machines

The Maharaja and his Machines(venkateshan) Long ago there lived a Maharaja who ruled the kingdom of Vignanpura. This was a period in the beginning of the Iron Age in India. This brought many changes in the way people worked and lived. The people of Vignanpura were very inquisitive in nature. They always explored the natural resources and came up with some unusual invention. However they chose to call them as mere discoveries which were shaped according to the needs of the people. Since they remained humble, nature also was quite generous to them. It revealed all the hidden resources to them which no else had even imagined during that period.

Vignanpura had invented a magical ploughing machine that needed no oxen. The plough was tied to a small chariot fit for a single person. The top of the chariot had a fine metal sheet topped with a thin black sheet. an iron thread connected the sheet with the chariot wheels. The man’s job was just to stand on the plough and direct the chariot. as soon he uncovered the black sheet and exposed it to the Sun, the chariot moved and the ploughing was done in hours rather than in days. Besides, they had invented a whole lot of other equipment for irrigation, seeding, deweeding and a whole lot more. Hence the output was enough to feed every single household and they even sold their agricultural produce to other kingdoms. The vignanpura people were very rich and prosperous.

This naturally created discomfort to other kings around vignanpura. Prominent among them was the king of Murakhpur. His people were very lazy and hardly put on any effort. Their king was the laziest and the stupidest. The only strength was their army. The army was made of 1000 elelephant force, 10,000 strong cavalry and 50,000 foot soldiers. One fine day Murakhpur army attacked Vignanpur with its full might. The customary practice at that time was to inform the enemy about an attack well before hand. It was considered bad to attack any kingdom without notice. But Murakhpur purposely violated the Norms. Raja Murakh camped with his army in the outskirts of Vignanpura, preparing to strike during the night, hoping to catch the enemy off guard when they expected no danger and hence were carefree.

The shepherds who were grazing their cattle in the nearby forest happened to see the vast army camp and informed their king. The maharajah was surprised and shocked. 'we have done no harm to anyone and why would raja Murakh want to have enemity with us?' he wondered. Anyway, since the war was looming over the skies, the maharaja decided to have a meeting with Raja Murakh and settle the matter amicably. But his ministers advised him against doing so. Raja Murakh is arrogant and he may harm you if you go for a talk with him...especially alone they warned. Then in that case also it is better that i risk my life rather than putting my people in danger and he went for a talk with Raja Murakh, alone.

However, the talks failed and Raja Murakh also humiliated the Maharaja, calling him a weak coward. The Maharaja finally said to raja Murakh, "look here, our aim is peace. If you insist on war so be it. But you alone shall be resposible for the debacle of your army“. Raja Murakh laughed aloud. He looked quite amused. "i know about your army, just a thousand numbers! And still you dare challenge me? now get lost and be prepared to die“ he screamed at the maharaja. Now the maharaja was left with no choice. As soon as he came out of Raja Murakh’s tent, he took out a strange looking equipment and spoke "Let the defence begin“ and went back into the fort. The doors were shut behin him.

The Murakhpur army attacked at the stroke of midnight. "we just have to send one shower of arrows from our mighty army and the city shall be ours" assured the army chief and Raja Murakh was jubilant.

The first assault began. 61,000 arrows were to be shot over the city. the three foot arrows were tipped with poison to kill instantly. As the soldiers took the first aim, Raja Murakh was in seventh heaven. "Fire!!“ cried the army chief and the entire army now changed their aim at their commander in chief. "oh you fools!! not at me, you are supposed to fire at Vignanpur, you bunch of donkeys!!" he could no longer control his anger at the stupidity of his own army. "You should have told us before“. Said the second commander calmly. Anyway the aim was now directed towards Vignanpur and the first volley of arrows was shot.

Raja Murakh was relaxing in his tent as he heard thousands of cries. "oh we have won!!" he was very happy that he could win without losing a single soldier. He finished his drink and came out with his ministers to watch the grand scene of his victory.

He could see a vast pile of dead soldiers scattered around. The horses and the elephants were seen running helter skelter towards the jungle and soon the battle field was left only with dead soldiers. "Oh god“ cried his minister! it is better to run away now and save our lives at least!" he begged Raja Murakh. It was only then Raja Murakh realzied that the dead were his own soldiers!!

An army of 61,000 soldiers was crushed in one shot. That too with their own poisoned arrows!! "how is it possible?" cried Raja Murakh. All of a sudden he could see the fort doors open and before he could realize what was happenening, he was swept off his feet and dumped in a chariot. A powerful blow knocked him off.

When he woke up he found himself in the court of the Maharaja. The Maharaja was seated on his throne and the Durbar was jam packed. "You shall be tried for war crimes“ declared the Maharaja. But Raja Murak was surprised. "Oh Maharaja" he addressed, "it is no doubt that you have won the war smartly. But i have two doubts which i want to get clarified before you punish me“ he pleaded. Upon being asked to speak he said, "First of all tell me how did you manage to kill all my soldiers with their own arrows. secondly tell me, how is it that you have not lost a single soldier. All the dead are my own army men. Then why should i be held for war crime?“

The maharaja took him around the fort walls and Raja Murakh could see a huge mirror like layer on the fort top that covered the entire length and the width of the fort wall.

"This is a special mirror“ explained the Maharaja. "It reflects any weapon exactly in the opposite direction with double the speed and that's what happened!“. Raja Murakh was taken aback. "Your science is much superior to ours and others“ he accepted. The Maharaja continued. You are being tried for the war crimes because you brought death to 61,000 soldiers and orphaned their children and families. Even though they are your own soldiers, you have committed a crime against humanity by putting them to death“, and Raja Murakh was punished as per the laws of Vignanpura.