The rough guy in town...Chandragupta - Page 15

Blessed by Acharya

Chanakya was delighted after his admission and he gratefully touched the feet of Acharya Pundarikaksha when they returned. He said "Acharya! Im really grateful to you. I have some gold coins with me, kindly accept them".

Acharya replied "you want to repay gratitude with money, remember that gratitude is the memory of heart and it is never measure by gold or silver. If I have helped you you should help some other needy person. That's how you repay gratitude. I was helped by some one and I helped you and repaid a part of it. The whole of our Aryavartha id divided because of these considerations. You are a brilliant boy and I see a great future for you. Now you prepare to go to the hostel and keep the gold coins with you as you may need them to buy some things for personal use."

Swetha

Life as a student

Chanakya's breeding ground of acquiring knowledge in the practical and theoretical aspect. So prominent was the place where Chanakya received his education that it goes to show the making of the genius.

The first year was really very tiring for Chanakya. His rather ugly appearance, dark complexion, financial hardships and the language problem, took a heavy toll of his mental peace there. But he never lost his heart for he had a firm aim engraved in his mind.

He was ridiculed by his fellow-rich and princely-students because of his cheap clothes and unattractive looks. But right since he took the dip in Ganga, he had realized that patience was also a very effective weapon which could blunt the edge of many provoking comment. He continued to live purposefully, unwavering like a flame in a windless room.

His only distraction was the thought of his mother and his father's hacked off head.

His favorite dream was returning to Pataliputra supported by a huge army to pulverize the murderer Nanda!

Life eased after first year for young Chanakya. He topped the merit list. His fellow students began to realize that in a university what mattered most were not one's riches, looks or their attributes, but only intelligence, hardwork and the grades in the examination.

After the declaration of the results, Chanakya won instant regard of his fellow students. They were stunned by Chanakya's clarity of understanding and capacity to unravel difficult issues to them.

His teachers were also impressed with the boy's quick grasp and analytical power. He not only won the scholarship but also relieved Acharya Pundarikaksha of the drain on his earnings but also earned the title of 'Upacharya' (a student teacher), which ensured a regular though tiny income. Chanakya was especially deft in the subject of statecraft and economics.

After acquiring vast knowledge in various branches of study he wanted everybody to get benefited. He believed in the broadcasting of knowledge and not in the storage of it. So famous was Chanakya in the vicinity of the university that he had many nicknames. He was called variously by different people, namely Vishnugupta, Kautilya and Chanakya. The whole nation was bewildered by the cleverness and wit of this seemingly small boy who went on to single handedly unify the country with the sheer power of his character. He lived his life working to his capacity in pursuit of his vision of a happy strong and prosperous India.

Swetha