Virshika’s quest for revenge

History is shaped by the brilliant and the whimsical. The brilliant, chisel their ideas, meticulously and persistently, till they sculpt a world for us to live in admiration. The whimsical, fixated with an idea steeped in irrationality, powered by unbridled delusion, unleash a tornado that sweeps all, leaving behind wreckage that generations struggle to recover from.

It is told that Yayati, son of Nahusa, was forced to marry Devayani, the imperious daughter of the dreaded seer Kavya Usanas. Kayva Usanas also insisted that after her marriage, Devayani be accompanied by the beautiful princess Sarmishta, who, having once offended Devayani, is now her slave.

Now human nature has its own way. So while Yayati had two legitimate sons with Devayani – Yadu and Turuvasa, he secretly fathered three sons by Saramishta – Druhyu, Anu and Puru. When Devayani and Kavya Usanas discovered the secret, the latter cursed Yayati to old age instantly. 

Yayati begged for forgiveness and finally Usanas relented not to reduce the punishment but for Yayati to transfer it to someone who would willingly accept it. Yayati summoned each of his sons and entreated them to give him their youth, but each refused except Puru, the youngest.

A shocked and insulted father cursed his older sons. Turvasa is cursed to be king over people who will never abide by order, but live in the manner of animals. To Druhyu, he announced that he will be king only in name and that he will live with his companions in a land without roads where no horses, elephants, no animals or vehicles can pass, where one can move only by raft. Anu is cursed that his sons will die before they have attained the flower of age and that Anu himself will not be qualified to assure the services of the fire altar.

To Yadu, he cursed that his descendants will always be “arajyabhaj” – without the enjoyment of royalty. The eldest, he is further heaped scorn by denial of using the titles and claim lineage of Nahusa.

Finally, and most important of all, each is banished from the kingdom, which is reserved for the respectful Puru.

It was several hundred years later that young Virshika, born into the Vrcivan clan, of the Yadu tribe, first heard about his ancestry from his father. It incensed him then and continued to do all his adult life. As he was made head of his clan, he swore to reclaim what he felt was rightfully his. He would teach those bastards a lesson.

Granted that the Purus and Anus had great power, they had powerful Gods and equally powerful seers. But Virshika had no fear, no fear for humans or animals, not even of the Gods. He and his clan would turn savages and unleash a terror that the world had not seen, indeed he would take it to the very heavens.

A messenger had just returned with good news from the border. The Vrcivans had crushed a settlement at the outpost of the Panchalas. Virshika quaffed at the soma drink in satisfaction. The time had come to put the next phase of his plan into action.

Notes & References

Some readers will no doubt find an echo of Virshika in Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince. Indeed when Duryodhana questions his father Dhrtarashtra on why Yudhishtra and not he should be the rightful heir to the throne, Dhrtarashtra narrates Yayati’s example of passing Yadu over in favour of Puru.

In other texts, Kavya Usanas is also referred to as Sukracharya.

The Vrcivans or Vricivat are to be identified with Vraich/Varaich clan of the Jats/Yadu tribe.  Their descandants are still found in modern day Pakistan and India.

Modern day Vrcivans

The Kampilya council meets

The news of the Vrcivan attack had reached Kampilya, the capital of South Panchala. Srnjaya and son Prastoka had several meetings with the Kampilya council since then. As if on cue, a messenger from Bharadvaja’s ashram (hermitage) arrived within a few days of the attack. Bharadvaja had arranged to send messages to Srnjaya and Abhyavartin immediately after his meeting with Vadhryasva and Dabhiti.

The message was simple and direct. The only way the Vrcivans could be countered was if the three rajans came together as allies. Bharadvaja would play an active role in the campaign if they came together. Bharadvaja would decide on the role and contribution by each janapada. If these basic terms were agreeable, then a meeting to work out the exact details would be convened at a secret location on the following full moon day.

Srnjaya conveyed the message to his council. The decision was swift and unanimous. Kampilya would abide by the conditions set forth by Bharadvaja. The decision was conveyed to Bharadvaja’s messenger who then relayed a set of instructions to be executed immediately. The army was to be placed on alert and to prepare for war at once. Every settlement was to be fortified the able amongst the inhabitants to keep vigil instead of looking after their herd. Production of weapons and coats was to be stepped up as was the construction of chariots.

Messengers spawned all over South Panchala and preparations for war began in earnest. Purohits in every settlement were instructed to conduct yagna’s to invoke Agni and seek the well being and protection of one and all.

South Panchala was now in war mode…

Author's note: There are several hymns in Mandala VI that invoke Agni and Indra. There is one hymn that particularly seeks for the well being and protection of the invokers. I reproduce the entire hymn RV 6.002 in its exact form as translated by Griffith.

THOU, Agni, even as Mitra, hast a princely glory of thine own.
Thou, active Vasu, makest fame increase like full prosperity.

For, verily, men pray to thee with sacrifices and with songs.
To thee the Friendly Courser, seen of all, comes speeding through the air.

Of one accord men kindle thee Heaven's signal of the sacrifice,
When, craving bliss, this race of man invites thee to the solemn rite.

Let the man thrive who travails sore, in prayer, far thee the Bountiful.
He with the help of lofty Dyaus comes safe through straits of enmity.

The mortal who with fuel lights thy flame and offers unto thee,
Supports a house with many a branch, Agni, to live a hundred years.

Thy bright smoke lifts itself aloft, and far-extended shines in heaven.
For, Purifier! like the Sun thou beamest with thy radiant glow.

For in men's houses thou must be glorified as a well-loved guest,
Gay like an elder in a fort, claiming protection like a son.

Thou, Agni, like an able steed, art urged by wisdom in the wood.
Thou art like wind; food, home art thou, like a young horse that runs astray.

E'en things imperishable, thou, O Agni, like a gazing ox,
Eatest, when hosts, Eternal One! of thee the Mighty rend the woods.

Agni, thou enterest as Priest the home of men who sacrifice.
Lord of the people, prosper them. Accept the ofrering, Angiras!

O Agni, God with Mitra's might, call hither the favour of the Gods from earth and heaven.
Bring weal from heaven, that men may dwell securely. May we o'ercome the foe's malign oppressions, may we o'ercome them, through thy help o'ercome them.

Map with references to locations mentioned in the story 

Vrcivans at the outpost - Part II

Four of the horsemen, two on either side, lit the torches they were carrying. Then the ten, galloped towards the settlement, picking more speed as they neared the outer perimeter made of dried wood and rope. The four horsemen in the centre, began to break free raising their spears and stone hammers. As they burst in through the open gate of the settlement, they swooped on anything that moved or was alive – men, cattle, dogs, fowl. They were followed by two horsemen, expert marksman, their arrows picking anyone that made an attempt to reach out for implements that could be used to retaliate or defend.

The ensuing chaos cleared the path for the torch bearing horsemen to pick those houses that could easily catch fire and they plunged the torches mercilessly, without any heed to the fact that the houses had women, children or even infants. Cattle fodder and the heat, just abetted the fire and soon the houses were in flames, with its occupants rushing out but only to fall to hammers, spears or arrows.

In a matter of minutes, the settlement was razed, its inhabitants either killed or maimed badly, unable to move or defend. For good measure, animals were not spared either, not even cattle. In a land where cattle was wealth and skirmishes took place all the time over them, this utter disregard and ruthlessness was deliberate. The Vrcivans were sending a strong message – cattle was not at stake any more. The bar had been raised, supremacy over the tribes was the ultimate and only goal, rules and ethics be dammed.

The horsemen surveyed the destruction with much satisfaction. Yes, there were a few of the wretched Panchalas still alive and they would live to recount the horror. They then turned and left the settlement, knowing well they would come back this way in a few days time.

Vrcivans at the outpost - Part I

It was barely a few hours since daybreak, but the summer sun had begun to beat down on the vast grazing lands. The lone cowherd, decided to take cover under a tree. At first, he stood under the shade and watched over the herd. But with passing time, boredom and the heat broke his resolve – he yielded to temptation to lie down, resting his back against the bark of the tree, but only for a bit he assured himself. He uttered a small prayer to Pusan, his family deity, asking for protection of his herd, should he fall asleep. As he struggled to fight off sleep, his eyes became heavy and his vision a blur.

At some point in time, the blur changed shape. He started to focus, wondering what it could be. Was it his brother sitting on top of a cow? Why would he do such a thing? It turned out to be a man on a horse, a rather strange sight. He stood up in order to greet the horseman, perhaps, a traveller who had lost his way. As he began to speak, he noticed the horseman raise a bow and point an arrow at him. What was happening here? Had he fallen asleep? Was this a bad dream or was this for real? The last thing he registered was an arrow leaving the horseman’s bow hurtling in his direction.

The arrow pierced through the cowherd’s chest, the sheer force pushing him back and nailing him to the bark of the tree. The horseman watched the impaled body with satisfaction and then, turned and cantered towards the herd to join the rest of his band.

There were ten of them and they were part of an elite group within the Vrcivan army. They were feared because of the sheer savagery and brutality they inflicted on their opponents. It was part of an extremely successful strategy adopted by Virshika, head of the Vrcivan clan and now the unquestioned ruler of the Yadu tribe.

A ferocious band would be sent to plunder and rape and finally raze a small settlement. A few men would be spared, so they would spread the news amongst larger neighbouring villages. Fear alone would account for more than half of the conquest. Then after a few days, a contingent of no more than hundred men on foot and horses would sweep in and take over, with little or no resistance.

The ten horsemen regrouped and their leader started going through instructions one final time, before they would begin their assault. What lay ahead of them was a settlement with no more than three hundred inhabitants. It was not the size of the conquest that would be relevant to this band. The settlement was an outpost of the South Panchala janapadha.

The Vrcivans were now within striking distance of Panchala territory...