Destination Desert
This happened during the time of Kaniska. Kaniska then ruled a large territory in Northern India. His capital was Purushpur. He was so generous that his subjects looked upon him as a god. Undoubtedly Kaniska was the greatest hero of his time. He could defeat any king with whom he fought a battle. Many a king who had never faced him in a battle owed allegiance to him out of fear. They sent a token tax or git to him every year. One such king was the ruler of Kanyakubja. Once, on the occasion of Kaniska's birthday, he sent him the gift of a piece of silk. Kaniska liked the silk very much. He called his tailor and asked him to make a shirt out of the cloth. The tailor promised to do it in a week. But the tailor failed to report even after a fortnight. Had he fallen sick? The king, upon inquiry, learned that he had been moving about as hale and hearty as ever. The king got annoyed. The tailor was summoned and asked how he dared to neglect his duty. "My lord, it is out of sheer fear that I have not reported to you. The piece of silk you gave me bears the mark of a pair of shoes. However carefully I try, I cannot avoid the mark appearing on the back of the shirt. How can I show such a shirt to you, my lord?" asked the tailor. Kaniska grew furious. He realized that it is with a mind to insult him that the King of Kanyakubja had sent him the cloth.
He resolved to conquer Kanyakubja and punish the king. He ordered his ministers and generals to get ready for an expedition. The king of Kanyakubja had a spy at Purushpur. Upon learning about the intended invasion of his country, the spy ran to his king and gave him the news. The king of Kanyakubja grew extremely worried. He knew that it will be impossible for his army to resist Kaniska's force. He called his prime minister and sought his advice. "My lord, I had warned you against sending the gift, hadn't I?" asked the prime minister. "You had. It was foolish of me to disregard your warning. It is true that I intended insulting the proud Kaniska. But I never thought that the consequence will be so severe!" explained the king. The prime minister stood pensive for long. He then said gravely, "Please do as I say. Don't ask me any questions about the action I propose. Please cut off one of my arms. It is only that way that we can protect our land." Despite his unwillingness, the king had to do as the prime minister wanted. He had to ask his executioner to cut off an arm of the old man. In a fortnight Kaniska reached the frontier of Kanyakubja. The prime minister advanced to meet him. Kaniska who had already been informed of the minister's approach came out of his camp. "Hello, old man, how did you lose your arm?" asked Kaniska. "O Mighty King, you are the cause of my suffering. My king awarded this punishment to me because I protested against the humiliating gift he sent you," said the prime minister of Kanyakubja.
"I see. Your king must pay the price for insulting me and harming you. I am going to conquer his land and take him, prisoner. I shall then punish the audacious king in consultation with you," said Kaniska. "Thanks, But it is not going to be easy for you to locate my king. He has fled the country, scared at your approach," informed the prime minister. "Don't you know where he is hiding?" asked Kaniska. "I know," replied the prime minister lowering his voice. "In that case can you not show us the way to his hiding place?" asked Kaniska. "I can. There are two ways leading to that place. One is long but safe. We have to spend one and a half months to reach our destination. The other way is shorter, but it passes through a desert. In ten days we can reach our destination. But we won't get a drop of water to drink during that period," said the prime minister. "Is there no chance of your king returning early?" asked Kaniska. "How can he return knowing fully well that the step will ruin him?" observed the prime minister. "Hm!" Kaniska remained thoughtful for a moment. "We cannot afford to spend one and a half months in going to get hold of him. Better we take the shorter route," he said. He then ordered his people to collect food and drinking water enough to last twelve days. They marched through the desert. Ten days passed. But they saw no sign of the end of the desert. Kaniska and his army were growing impatient. They used the little food and the water that they carried as miserly as possible.
But, by the sixteenth day, no water was left with them. They looked miserable. "What is the matter, old man? Why don't we reach our destination?" Kaniska demanded of the prime minister. The old man laughed. "My lord, this desert is your destination! You made the greatest blunder of your life by vesting your confidence in me. You and your army are now destined to be destroyed. Even if you continue to advance, you will not see any human habitation before a fortnight. The same length of time will be required to return to the other end of the desert. I need hardly say that you won't be able to live for more than two or three days in the present condition! It is to save my king and my land from your fury that I played treachery with you. You may now behead me." Kaniska remained speechless for some time. Then he smiled and said, "Old man, I could have become a much greater emperor had I a minister as faithful, as self-denying and as courageous as yourself. However, your plan is not going to succeed."
Kaniska brought out a magic trident. He roamed about for an hour and then stopped at a certain place. He felt that once there was a lake there. He made a thrust with the trident. Water sprang out instantly. His soldiers gave out shouts of joy. Soon a small lake was formed all quenched their thirst. "We have still some hidden stock of dry food. I can bring forth water once a day in this process: So, you see, we are not going to perish. We shall return to Kanyakubja and wreak our vengeance on your land. However, I am impressed with you. I am willing to bestow upon you any reward you desire to have," said Kaniska. "My lord, you are adored by all for your goodness and greatness. Let me put these qualities of yours to test. You have offered me a reward. Now, this is what I beg of you: pardon the impudence of my king and spare our land," said the old minister. Kaniska nodded assent. Soon he ordered his soldiers to head towards Purushpur. He sent the old minister home with escorts.
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