: : Part 3 : :
Gandhara Buddha
Prince Aambhik was very displeased with his father.His father's meek surrender to Puru angered him.For him, Puru was not a person to be trusted.
Seething with revenge he took a resolve to avenge the insult and humiliation meted out to Gandhara, and settle scores with Puru as and when the time came.
Time passed by.As it is said Time and Tide wait for none.They are the vassals of none.Destiny had its own plans, which were above the ablility of mortals to comprehend them, or analyse them.
The subjugation of Gandhara, and its becoming a vassal state to Kaikya,did not make any difference to the Takshila University.The academic activities of the institution continued without any disturbance or interference.The teachers and students also carried on with their courses, without letting political event affect their pursuit of knowledge; teachers in imparting knowledge, and students in receiving it.
Infact the life of the common people also remained virtually unchanged.So was the nature and functioning of the administration.The only noticeable difference was that Ambiraj was now ruling Gandhara, on the behalf of Puru, the king of Kaikya.
Aambhik was the only one deeply affected.The defeat of Gandhara, was a great humiliation to him; which he would vow to avenge.
At that time Aambhik was studying in Takshila.The defeat of his father and his becoming a vassal to Puru, deeply affected the semblance of his mind.His mind, intensely hurt by the defeat, lost all interest in studies.H e would brood over all the time, over what happened to Gandhara.The vivid memories of the proud face of Puru, and his father seeking his mercy, haunted him.
He would dream of plans to destroy Puru and his kingdom.His adolescent mind, already hellbent on taking revenge,readily provided impetus to his devilish plans.His dreams would faithfully fulfill his plans.As the days passed,he was becoming more and more obsessed of taking revenge.
Aambhik was praying for some God sent opportunity to show itself, to enable him to take revenge on Puru.His father, and the ministers were completely sold out to Puru,to lend him any help or listen to his plans.His plotting this,would have evoked no reaction from them.He could only pray to God.
And God was perhaps going to answer his prayers.