Perspective: The Legend of Kunala

The Great Emperor Ashoka

The Legend of Kunala

The Legend of Kunala is very less-known story of Indian Culture. In fact, very few people are aware of the person Kunala.

Birth and Childhood:

Well, let’s start our story. Kunala was son of Emperor Ashoka the Great. Ashoka’s dearest son, is believed to be born after Ashoka’s transformation. Queen Padmavati, third queen of Emperor Ashoka gave birth to a beautiful son with even beautiful eyes, but unfortunately she died of labour pain. After her death, Ashoka’s first wife, Empress Asadhimitra took responsibilities of Kunala and raised him like his own son. To Empress he was dearer than his own son. And for Kunala too, she was her mother. Asadhimitra’s teachings made him dutiful son, who obeyed his father’s every word.

Emperor Ashoka the great

When he was born, Emperor Ashoka was very happy. He was named Kunala, because of his eyes. Kunala means the one with beautiful eyes. That’s why Ashoka named him Kunala. Emperor Ashoka and his second queen Devi’s two children Mahendra, their son and Sanghamitra, their daughter were eldest in Maurya Dynasty. Prince Mahendra was made crown prince just after his father’s coronation. But after few years, at the time of Kunala’s birth, Mahedra and Sanghmitra asked to leave Magadh as they wanted to spread peace message across the world. They both left Magadh went to Sri Lanka and then in the East, spreading Buddhism. After Crown Prince Mahendra’s departure, Prince Kunala was declared Crown Prince. He would ascend the throne after his father Ashoka.

Maurya Empire of Ashoka

But, the youngest wife of Ashoka, Tishyaraksha envied him. She was insecure about her own son and she wanted her son to succeed Ashoka. Due to bond with Empress Asadhimitra and Emperor Ashoka, Kunala grew as a loyal and ideal son. He always respected and obeyed his own father, just like Lord Ram.

Issue with Kunala:

When Prince Kunala reached at certain age, Ashoka decided to send him Ujjain so that he could get proper education there. He wrote a letter to Head Master of Ujjain School to train Kunala appropriately as he would be the emperor of Mauryan Empire one day. The widely spread Mauryan Empire was too big for weak ruler to handle. It would take ruler like Ashoka to rule such a big empire. Ashoka expanded boundaries beyond Taxila in the North-west and till the Tamilnadu in Deccan. He ruled almost entire Indian Subcontinent. Greek and Syrian rulers who had lately maintained good economic relations with Ashoka, also gave up ideas of attacking Magadh, just because of fear of Ashoka. Though Ashoka had given up wars many years ago, no one could dare to even think of attacking the Maurya Empire. It was fear which covered their courage.

Before sending that letter to Ujjain, Trishyaraksha secretly replaced one word “Adheeyu” with “Andheeyu”. Ashoka, un-aware of this, sealed and sent the letter and Kunala to Ujjain. When Kunala reached Ujjain, the teachers were too afraid to read that letter out loud before him. They couldn’t believe that Emperor would write such cruel thing for his dearest son. Then Kunala himself read the letter. It said that he must be blinded and then trained. It was a shock for everyone why the emperor would blind his own son and crown prince. But Kunala was dutiful son like Lord Rama. He would never disobey his father’s desire. He took the iron rod and ripped out his eyes. The eyes which gave him his name Kunala, he ripped out those eyes. But he didn’t say anything to the emperor.

He completed his training in Ujjain and married Kanchanmala. Then she gave birth to a son. And Kunala knew this was the time to reclaim the throne which was officially his. He went to the Imperial Court dressed as a musician with his wife. He pleased the emperor with his music, and pleased emperor wanted him to reward. When Kunala revealed his identity before Ashoka, Ashoka cried in grief. He couldn’t see his beloved son was blind, and somewhere in his heart he believed that he was the culprit. Trishyaraksha was sentenced to death by Radhagupta (Prime Minister of Magadh and Chief Advisor to Ashoka). Ashoka had become weak physically and mentally.

Kunala asked him to give him his throne. Ashoka would have given the throne, because it was Kunala’s right. But Ministers opposed that a blind prince couldn’t become the emperor. They were right too. And Kunala also agreed. So, Kunala proposed to make his new-born son, crown prince. Ashoka agreed. Emperor Ashoka cried, “So be it. This descendant of Maurya Dynasty, son of my dear Kunala, would be my successor. Hereby, I name my grandson, Samprati.”

Ashoka named Kunala’s son as Samprati and made him crown prince of Maurya Empire. However, Emperor Ashoka the great had become weak. He couldn’t forgive himself for what happened with his beloved son. Kunala had to lose his birth rights, because Ashoka couldn’t save him. He grieved day and night.

Emperor Ashoka in his old life:

When old Ashoka fell ill, he used donate gold to saints. When Ministers realized that donating so much would be harmful for empire, they stopped Ashoka saying that it was not his own property. Then Ashoka started donating food which was given to him. He even donated the gold plates in which he used to eat. Then Minsiters even replaced plates with silver and Ashoka donated them too.

In the end, Ashoka was only given plates made of leaves, but he wouldn’t eat anything. He donated all food he received. Thus, the great emperor of all time, the greatest of Maurya, the prestigious emperor who used rule the entire Indian Subcontinent, the emperor whose name was fear to all, the emperor who spread peace across the world, the emperor who was glory and dignity of Indian Subcontinent, the emperor who secured this empire from foreigners; that man was left with plates of leaves. Chakravartin Samrat of Indian Subcontinent grieved like a poor. The man who gave his empire wealth and strength, was himself weak and poor (Only he personally. Magadh was still rich).

Death of the Emperor Ashoka The Great:

With this grief, Ashoka finally died. The greatest emperor of all time left this world. And the question arose. Crown Prince Samprati was just a little boy, he couldn’t ascend the throne at this age. Who should be crowned? Ministers decided to make Dashrath (Younger son of Ashoka) to make working emperor until Prince Samprati reaches at certain age. Prince Kunala established his own empire at Mithila (Nepal).

Final activities of Ashoka were completed at Varanasi. It is said that his pyre burnt for seven days and seven nights. In Hinduism, that’s a sign of pure soul leaving the earth. And with this, the universal emperor rested in peace.

People believe that he endured pain in his later life, as a result of his brutality. He had killed million people, and in spite of having pure transformation, he endured every pain in his old age. Ashoka’s death was quite similar to that of Dashrath from Ramayana, who also died in grief when his son Rama had to go into exile to obey his father’s words. And Dashrath couldn’t stop him. Ashoka also died in grief that he couldn’t give his beloved son his birth rights, while Kunala ripped his eyes off only to obey his father’s words.

Such a dutiful son of such great father!

Later when, Samparti was ready, he was crowned as the Emperor of Magadh Empire.