Fleeing to danger

Sakka’s might was beyond borders. He was a true monarch with quite an empire under his thumb. But his power was not scary. He tried his best to maintain virtues that he believed in. He had Loving-kindness towards all his subordinates.

Any ruler, however powerful he may be, cannot last long. It’s an eternal phenomenon.

And Sakka was no exception. He had numerous challenges from rivals. Most of them were jealous of Sakka’s might. Most of them wanted to seize Sakka’s might. And most of them - unbeknown to Sakka - were equipping themselves to march against this powerful monarch.

In the forefront was a tribe called Asura. Asuras equipped themselves against Sakka for a long time. So they had a well organized army. It was quite massive, Sakka realized too late, compared with his own army. He was too certain of his power to prepare against such attacks. But now, he thought, it’s too late to do anything.

“Tell me, Mathali, what is it?” Sakka asked a horrified driver. Of all his retinue, Mathali was the only confidante. He has been there in both times of trouble and happiness.

“They have invaded our palace, sir.”
“Invaded?”
“Yes,” Mathali was a little hesitant to finish his line, “invaded.”

All under his rule have no knowledge of this. Asuras look only for Sakka. They have no intention of harming others in the palace. Sakka had to take a speedy decision.

“We must leave, Mathali.”
Mathali looked at Sakka. He could not understand his master.

“We must escape, Mathali. We must escape.” Though slightly, fear was growing inside him - Sakka sensed it in himself.

Mathali took his small plane. It was called Dandumonara.

The Dandumonara was so noisy. The invaders knew when it flew away. But those in the palace did not take notice of that. Sakka taking a flight now and then is a familiar sight. As Sakka rightly guessed, the invaders knew it was him fleeing away. They wished they had a different army to capture the monarch fleeing in a plane.

The route was not familiar. Technology too was not familiar. But the invaders did not give up. They captured the palace. Although they would not harm those inside it, they could rule them from now onwards.

Sakka heard a creepy sound. He could not bear to hear it any longer.
“What is that sound, Mathali?”
Mathali knew where it originated. But he pretended not to have heard it.
“It’s Gurula birds’ sound, sir.”
“Why are they crying?”
“Our ride damages their nests. Some of them are killed too.”
Sakka fell into a thought, a deep one.
“You should have told me that before. Are there any further Gurula nests?”
“Yes. They have infested the whole area.”
Sakka looked down. He looked horrified.
“Turn the vehicle back.”
“What?”

“You heard me, Mathali. Turn the vehicle back. For my sake turn the vehicle back.” Sakka was stern in his order, but he was trembling within. Mathali turned the vehicle at once.

He remained silent, but Sakka knew he had an unvoiced question.
“I forgot this whole area belongs to Gurulas.”
“But sir, we are fleeing back to danger.”

“That’s right Mathali. But I cannot compare Gurulas’ lives to mine. No, I can’t let them sacrifice for me. Bring me to my palace. They won’t harm you. They need me. Only me.”

Mathali was on the fence. Sakka has not only been his master, but they also had a long-time friendship. Willingly or not, now he has to take his master back to danger. He has never disobeyed his master. This time too won’t be an exception. Even a minute before his death, he would obey his master.

The Asuras heard the plane approaching the palace. This made the Asura chief worried. Why would Sakka come back, he wondered. He must have seen the army of his invaders. Definitely he is equipped far more than the Asura army now, and now makes a comeback with confidence. That sends a smoke signal: staying any longer at the palace is not safe for Asuras. The chief summoned everyone, and left the palace soon.

It was Sakka’s turn to be surprised to see the palace sans his invaders. All Asuras have left it. Mathali learnt the silent lesson. He contemplated how precious it is to uphold virtue even in times of danger. [email protected]