The Novel Trick
There was a time when wrestling was practiced in many towns in India, and Champapur was one of them. The chief wrestler of the town, Parvat Malla, ran a regular school where he taught his art to young aspirants. Among his disciples were two promising wrestlers, Bhargava and Shuraverma.
The Dedicated Teacher
Parvat Malla was a sincere teacher, providing equal attention to all his trainees. However, Bhargava and Shuraverma, being more dedicated, learned the art more effectively than their peers.
An Unexpected Encounter
One day, a stranger burst into the gymnasium and harshly exclaimed, “Parvat Malla! I have met some of your ex-students. They do not know much about wrestling, yet they claim to have completed their training!”
Upon hearing the stranger’s comment, Bhargava became furious. He quickly grabbed the stranger and threw him flat on the ground. The stranger lay sprawled for a moment before getting up and leaving the place quietly.
Seeking Opportunities
As time passed, the incident was forgotten. Bhargava and Shuraverma completed their training and set out in search of jobs. Upon reaching Pataliputra, they learned that, according to local tradition, a wrestler who could defeat the court wrestler would automatically be appointed to the position.
A Test of Strength
Both Shuraverma and Bhargava were equally skilled in wrestling. However, since only one could be appointed, Shuraverma encouraged Bhargava to challenge the court wrestler.
The contest continued for a long time, with no wrestler able to withstand the court wrestler for more than a few minutes. The king and his courtiers praised Bhargava for his efforts, but despite trying every trick in his arsenal, Bhargava could not defeat the court wrestler, who seemed prepared for every move he made.
The Ultimate Showdown
The contest ended without a clear victor. The following day, Shuraverma decided to challenge the court wrestler himself. As soon as they faced off, Shuraverma swiftly took hold of the court wrestler and threw him down flat. The court wrestler lay still for some time, and the king declared him defeated, appointing Shuraverma as the new court wrestler.
Questions of Fairness
Later that night, Bhargava complained to his friend, “I never imagined that our teacher, Parvat Malla, would show partiality and teach you secrets he withheld from me!”
“It is unkind of you to make such accusations about our teacher. The technique I used to defeat the court wrestler was not taught by him but learned from another wrestler,” replied Shuraverma.
A Quest for Knowledge
Intrigued, Bhargava sought out the address of the wrestler and visited him. The wrestler explained, “The principle I taught your friend was developed by another wrestler who earns his living as a butcher in Suvalnagar.”
Determined to learn from the source, Bhargava journeyed to Suvalnagar and finally traced the butcher.
A Surprising Revelation
When they met, both were astonished to find how familiar they looked to one another. Upon hearing about Bhargava’s purpose, the butcher burst into laughter and said, “Isn’t it amusing that you came to learn a trick from me, which I learned from you?”
Confused, Bhargava listened as the butcher continued, “Years ago, I entered your teacher’s gymnasium to challenge his students, and you threw me down. I pondered that experience and devised a principle of my own. It’s not a new trick; it’s simply about throwing your opponent down just a second before they are ready to face it. If you attack too early, you’ll be caught, but if you time it just right, you will be victorious!”
Understanding the Strategy
After a pause, the butcher added, “Your friend, Shuraverma, is clever. He let you wrestle first to observe the Court-wrestler’s abilities. Knowing it would be impossible to defeat him in a conventional way, he used the trick I had taught him when it was his turn.”
Conclusion
Bhargava left the place filled with astonishment, now understanding the true nature of the strategy he had sought to learn.