Reward for Bravery
The Celebrated Warrior
Anangapal, the Prince of Assam, was a renowned warrior. He and his elite guards always travelled together, holding daily competitions to test one another’s skills with various kinds of weaponry. Sometimes, these tournaments were followed by lavish feasts.
A Query for a Bride
One night, while resting on his forearm, Anangapal looked around at his company and asked, “Tell me, is there a princess worthy of becoming my bride? She must be beautiful and possess qualities of heart and mind. Does anyone know of such a maiden?”
The courtiers glanced at one another, scratching their heads in uncertainty. Finally, Parakrama, a young man, spoke up. “Sir, the King of Manipur has two daughters. The elder, named Lilavathi, is well-versed in the martial arts. She rides, shoots, and hunts exceptionally well. The younger daughter, Mohana, is a lovely girl who excels in dance and song. I believe she is worthy of becoming your bride.”
The Plan to Invade
Anangapal clapped his hands in joy and declared, “Good, let us invade Manipur and bring back Princess Mohana.”
Parakrama replied, “Sire, for this task, you don’t need an army. Let me go with one other warrior, and I’ll accomplish this easily. I was a courtier there once!”
Recognizing Parakrama’s skill as a fighter, Anangapal entrusted him with the task and sent one of his bodyguards along. Parakrama went straight to the king’s court and boldly stated, “Sire, I have come on behalf of my sovereign lord, Anangapal. He wishes to marry your daughter, Mohana.”
The King’s Defiance
Upon hearing these words, the King of Manipur leapt from his throne, shouting, “What crazy talk is this? How dare you ask for the hand of my younger daughter while Lilavathi remains unwed? Guards, arrest this impudent fellow!”
In an instant, Parakrama sprang onto the throne, gripping the king by the throat with his poniard drawn. “Call your guards off, or you die.” The king, who was indeed a coward, cowered in fear and pleaded for his life. After securing an assurance that Mohana would marry Anangapal, Parakrama released him. Relieved, the king bid farewell to his daughter as she left with Parakrama’s retinue.
A Sudden Encounter
After travelling swiftly, Parakrama reached the outskirts of Manipur and decided to rest at an inn along the roadside. Just then, he heard the sound of fast-galloping horses and sensed danger. He drew his sword, ready for a confrontation.
A horseman emerged from the dusk and charged at Parakrama with a flashing sword. However, Parakrama sidestepped nimbly, and as the attacker stumbled past, he swung his sword and struck the assailant’s headgear, revealing long tresses bound loosely. To his astonishment, the attacker was a maiden.
The Royal Proposal
“Parakrama, will you war against women?” she asked.
He replied, “And why has Princess Lilavathi come in pursuit of us?”
“How can my sister marry when I am not wed? Therefore, you must marry me,” she asserted.
Parakrama hadn’t expected this turn of events and humbly asked, “Am I that fortunate?” With pleasure, the Princess agreed to the marriage, and they planned to wed upon reaching Assam.
Challenges of Acceptance
However, Anangapal did not approve of the match between Lilavathi and one of his guards. He felt it was beneath his dignity to acknowledge Parakrama as a relative. When he expressed his disapproval, Parakrama defended himself, “I did nothing; she offered to marry me.” Vexed, Lilavathi proclaimed, “Very well. I will marry the one who proves himself a better warrior than Parakrama. Let us hold a tournament.”
The Tournament
A test was arranged. In the palace courtyard, a sword was stuck in the ground with its tip pointing upward. Parakrama took his bow and expertly cleaved the sword in two. Holding up the pieces, Lilavathi challenged, “Can anyone do better?” All the warriors tried and failed.
Reluctantly, Anangapal had to concede to the marriage between Lilavathi and Parakrama. Sensing Anangapal’s resentment, however, Parakrama decided to leave for Manipur, where he was eventually crowned king in due time.