It was a time when India was lacking a strong leadership– ‘One nation. One ruler.’ The land was split into many smaller kingdoms. There was chaos. There were constant aggressions on neighbouring kingdoms. The land was suffering
He was the youngest. His father had gained dominance over the neighbouring feudatory kingdoms. When his father met his death, the reign was passed on to his brother.
They had a sister. She was married to a prince. But soon the prince was attacked and was killed in the battle. This meant his sister had to go to prison.
Infuriated by this, the brother– newly made king– marched with his army to free his sister. He succeeded. He returned. Only to be betrayed by another ally of the enemy who misled him in the name of friendship. The brother was assassinated in a treachery.
This left the state in distress. The only successor was a boy of 16. A boy of 16, who has lost his brother and father. He was never raised to rule. He was supposed to be the strength of his brother while the brother led the kingdom.
This didn't deter the boy. He racked up the troops. He marched and obliterated the enemy. He did it. A boy of 16 did it. He did what his brother failed to do. He ascended the throne.
He was the ray of hope for a unified rule. He was the future of, then Hindustan. He was Harshavardhana, the blood of the Pushyabhuti family, the successor of the Vardhana dynasty.
Harsha was born in 590 CE and raised to the throne at 606 CE. He ruled until 647 CE. That’s 40 years of reign. He was the conqueror. He had seen the worse at a young age. But it only made him stronger. He added kingdoms to his empire. He added more.
His empire covered much of the North and Northwestern part of India. Extended till Kamarupa in the East and Narmada river in the South.
He had it all. He was the ruler of North India. A boy of 16, who went on to achieve what was not achieved for many centuries since the golden age of the Guptas.
Xuanzang (Hsuan-Tsang) was a Chinese traveller who would go on to tell the glories of Harsha to the outside world.
Well! You can write a book on this man! Banabhatta did it before I thought it was cool. It’s Harshacharitha. His achievements can make a good story for a movie too. He is one of the most celebrated rulers who has been graced to rule the land below the river Indus.
Do you know why this emperor couldn’t cross river Narmada?
He was defeated. His ambitions, his hardships, his heroics, his attitude and his fearlessness failed to light up the fear in the enemy’s heart. He was defeated by a (relatively) lesser known king– Immadi Pulikeshi (also Pulakeshin II)
As written[1] by Xuanzang,
"Shiladityaraja (i.e., Harsha), filled with confidence, himself marched at the head of his troops to contend with this prince (i.e., Pulakeshin); but he was unable to prevail upon or subjugate him".
What did it teach me?
Life is not easy for anyone. How often do we think– “That’s your problem? (rolls over eyes)”– when our friends confess their problems!
Often, we end up letting our success climb atop our head. We become arrogant. We know it’s wrong. But we are humans. We become slaves to our emotions. At some point in time, we know it for sure that we are the best in the business.
Admit it. I have been there. You have been there.
Harsha had it all right. He was the prodigy. He was strong (at least, his life made him so). He was sung in the foreign lands. He had the whole of North India under his command; lords to serve at his will.
Yet, he was defeated.
There was a no-one who made sure he doesn’t cross the river. There was a no-one who defeated the almighty lord.
Remember, there is always that no-one.
Remember, you’re not the end of the world.
Remember, you’re not the best in the business.
Remember not to let your pride get over your head. You never know when that no-one will appear and restrain you.
Be humble. Be modest. For there is nothing more beautiful than a cover of modesty on your achievements. Let the world speak about you. You stay shut.
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