Once again the herald blew a fanfare. The festive music ceased and the kettledrums began to roll. The dance and music events were to be preceded by a contest in martial arts for young men who had returned from Taxila and Magadh, after completing their education in the scriptures and in the art of warfare. It was on the basis of their performance in this contest that young men from noble families were to be selected for posts in the army of the Republic.

The names of the contestants were announced:

‘Vinay Sharma, grandson of Mahapandit Dev Sharma, Chief Justice of the Republic; Indradeep, son of Sarvarth, the feudatory chief; Vasudhir, son of Acharya Pravardhan, Chairman of the Republican Council; Sakrid, son of Kartavir, Election Officer to the Council; Vrishnesh, son of Samarthak, the merchant; and Prithusen, son of Prestha, the business magnate.’

The six young men stepped on to the platform with quivers filled with arrows on their shoulders, swords hanging from their waistbands and lances held upright in their hands. They wore breastplates and helmets.

One by one, they went up to the aged Mithrodus, saluted him, with bowed heads and swords held before the face, proclaiming, ‘I, resident of the town of Sagal in the Republic of Madra, having completed my education in the scriptures and the arts of warfare do hereby offer my services to the Republic. May the Republic test my ability and grant me whatever military rank I may be considered suitable for.’

The President commanded the young men to prepare for a contest of marksmanship. Arrows were drawn in the taut bows. At being signalled a soldier standing nearby began to toss balls of various colours high in the air. The spectators held their breath in suspense, as they watched the arrows strike the targets or stray off into the darkness. The balls had to be hit while in the air. The President and the judges watched intently keeping a tally of the balls each young man hit. Thereafter, the President raised his hand to indicate the end of the archery contest.

The President then ordered the young men to take off their breastplates and arm themselves with a weapon of their choice. Indradeep and Vinay Sharma picked lances while the others chose swords.

‘Each warrior,’ declared the President, ‘shall regard the others as aggressors, and while defending himself against them attack them too. Care should be taken to ensure that the person attacked is not seriously injured. No one should play foul or be partial to anyone. Both these practices are culpable offences under the law of the Republic.’

The President then waved the uttariya¹ covering his shoulder to signal the beginning of the contest. Weapons flashed like lightning. The six young men, standing apart from one another, were ready to attack. Their bodies poised, taut like bows, they clenched their fists and bared their teeth like tigers. Each kept his gaze trained on the others. Their weapons for a moment emitted flashes of light under the awning and, like the trembling flame of a lamp came to rest again in their hands. With bated breath and eyes riveted on the young men, the vast multitude of people eagerly watched every move in the combat. Time and again the warriors would charge at their adversaries, sending a chill through the audience. Positions would change and the contestants would stand trembling like blades of grass under a soft breeze. Perspiration ran down their taut necks, bare arms, hairy chests and broad backs. Here and there, streaks of blood mingled with sweat appeared on their bodies. It seemed as though their bodies had been painted with ochre.