The Stallion and the Standard Bearer

In the beginning of the end, the kings, princes and the five brothers laid their blood soaked arms to rest. Eighteen long days and eighteen dark nights the battle had raged. Finally, they had prevailed over the enemy. They were victorious. Therefore they were the righteous lot. The vanquished were evil. Since in the end good always prevails over evil. So they had to be good. Their hands would write history. And they could choose to write it as they wished.

The eldest one - he who was the lord of them all, the keeper of their truth, and the leader of their righteous path - sat in his lofty chamber within the palace. Surrounding him were the princes, kings and his brothers. Also present was He who was more than mortal, first among equals, source of all things in this world, the thousand-named, black-skinned one.

At length the thousand-named one spoke. "The kingdoms of the north still resist us. They chose to wait and watch the results of the battle. They did not join nor oppose us. Now they choose to ignore us and refuse allegiance. If they shall not come to the truth - the truth shall be brought unto them. O great king, vanquisher of the hundred brothers, eldest among the elders, rightful heir to the throne of this land, tis time you performed the ashwamedha"

At this the chamber of lords and princes became abuzz with murmurs of surprise and astonishment. Mindful of the position of he who had spoken, none dared raise an objection aloud, yet many objected silently. The great king, however, rose from his seat, and kneeling before the mighty one spoke,

"O lord of the universe, our source of power and glory, forgive me for this. But my armies are depleted after the battle. My men are tired and my resources are gone. I cannot afford the ashwamedha - for if any king should oppose me, I have not the strength to meet him in open battle. I beg for time my lord."

"King, do not be afraid. When you say I am the lord of the universe and the source of all power, do you not mean it? And if you do, then do you mock me by telling me that you do not have the strength to fight? Have faith in me and do as I say. It is the will of God. Act and leave the consequences of your action for me."

On the third day after this, the ashwamedha yagna - the horse sacrifice - was performed. A white stallion - flawless, magnificent and powerful - was brought forth from the royal stables. For five days the yagna went on. The yagna fire burnt - assimilating the sacrificial offerings. The gods were invoked - Indra, Agni, vayu, and all others - and all came for none other than the black-skinned one had summoned them.

And then the great king set the stallion free - with a long red tilak marking its white forehead. And behind it followed the standard of his house - borne by none other than the Almighty One himself.

On his many horsed chariot - that none other than he could ride, he followed the stallion - a knowing smile on his face, a glitter in his eyes and the standard in his hands.

The horse set forth to the northern lands. With it went the standard of the house of five brothers. It went over hills and vales, across rivers and around lakes, Onwards into the northern mountains. It crossed kingdom after kingdom - and all kings, seeing who bore that standard, swore allegiance to the five brothers, and let the horse pass. For who could stand up to the Almighty himself? Who would dare to challenge the very source of all power? And would that not be a futile effort?

Thus the white stallion conquered realm after realm and rode farther and farther ahead. And thus the mighty one - with a knowing smile and glimmer in his eyes - made kings and sovereigns accept fealty to the one he had chosen.

Then one day, they arrived at a realm in the mountains. One so remote that none had heard of it. Tucked between the Himalayas - in a fairytale world of its own. And when they reached there - the stallion and the standard - the king of the realm rode out to meet them.

But behold! What scene was this? This was not the march of a monarch out to welcome a royal guest. This king rode in military order - and behind him rode his army. They stopped the stallion on the border of their land. And waited for the standard bearer to appear on the horizon.

Soon the many-horsed chariot - with the standard high above - and the thousand-named mighty one standing across it - rode up to them. Face impassive, the king dismounted his horse, walked to the chariot and touched the feet of the standard bearer.

"O king. What folly is this? You come and touch my feet while your army holds my stallion captive? Obviously you know who I am? And knowing this you stop me - committing two follies. Do you not know that your army means naught to me? I am the source of your army. I am the source of all power you have. Oppose me not for you cannot stand a chance. Let my stallion roam thy land. And accept fealty to the standard that I hold."

"O lord almighty", spoke the monarch of the mountains, “it is true that you own every bit of everything that forms this universe. It is true that from you not only my men and I, but even the sun and moon draw energy and exist. But it is also true that, the land whose borders you now stand on is my motherland. Being named monarch, it is my dharma to defend it against all aggressors. O almighty, when you chose to enter it as an aggressor, it becomes my bounden duty to oppose you. Knowing fully well that you can destroy me with a mere wish. "

"Lord of the universe, he who touches your feet is a mere mortal who worships and has faith in you. Who knows not how to exist but because of you. But he who holds the stallion back, and challenges your right to enter, is a son of the land and the guardian of her sovereignty. Lord, leave your stallion and your standard at my gates and you are welcome on this land. This servant of yours shall willfully do any bidding thee ask me for"

Visibly angered by this, the standard bearer shouted back "king, big words you speak. You claim to be my servant yet you dare to insult me. If I wish I can kill you this very moment, and also annihilate each one of your kind. But that is not my way. You claim to be my servant do you? And you claim to be a true monarch? Then I ask thee to give a test and prove thyself. If you pass that test, my stallion and I shall retrace our steps - and your land shall remain sovereign unto eternity."

The mighty monarch trembled at these words, yet stood his ground. Silently he waited for the terrible words - for he knew that when it came, it will be no simple test.

"Long years ago I blessed your queen with two fine sons. The two have grown into fine princes as I have heard. Now I claim them back as mine. On the morrow, bring me their heads on a platter at the first hour of dawn. You and yours shall then be spared. Go now."

Late in the night, from within the palace came a high pitched wail. It rose high into the sky and tore apart the hearts of even the gods in heaven. It was joined by many others - women who joined the queen mother - as she lamented the cold blooded murder of her two young sons.

In the palace courtyard, in the last hour of the night, the two princes stood. Bare bodied, with a white loincloth and a tilak on their foreheads. Faces impassive yet resolute and proud. Brave martyrs, true sons of he land. Sentries, ministers, courtiers and people - all watched - tears streaming down their eyes. Then came into view the king himself. Dressed similarly as his sons. Expressionless face, hollowed eyes, martial bearing.


The sons knelt at the altar. And their father stood over them. And then his sword was brought to him. That mighty length of steel that had shed the blood of enemies countless number of times. Little had he known that one day it would taste his own blood and be the destroyer of his own line. A deathly hush fell over the courtyard, and then the palace and then all over the land. And in that moment, with single stroke of his blade, the two princely heads were severed from the body.

On the morrow, at the light of dawn, the monarch appeared before the standard bearer - two heads on a plate and his heart in his mouth. Tears were streaming down his proud regal face.

" A sacrifice so grudgingly made, makes it useless o king. Do you not know this?" said the thousand-named one, anger written all over his face.


"Yes my lord I verily know that", murmured the king.

"Then why do you cry over the death of your sons? Why do you grudge me what is truly mine? Why should I accept this sacrifice? Explain?"

"My lord, I cry not because you asked from me my sons. I do not shed my tears at having to make this sacrifice. You can read my heart and you will know that I have gladly given unto thee what is rightfully thine. And I am happy for my sons for I know that they shall now reside with thee - a place much better than what their earthly father could give them. No my lord. I cry because you did not deem it fit to accept my own head as sacrifice. That I am still not a good enough servant to appease thee and find union with thee."

And then the chariot rider broke into an easy smile - a smile that seemed to spread light into the world around. And he came down from the chariot and embraced the kneeling monarch.

"Rise o great king. You have passed your test and I have done what was to be done. I restore what I took from thee. And I return to where I came from. The age of truth has now truly come and this story is its first lesson."