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The Conquest of Mathura by Shatrughna
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“Does he have the shul with him ?” “No. It is in the arsenal.”
"Very good. We are now free from one great danger. Now, whatever we have to do, we should do within this night. This night's battle will decide whether we are going to be successful or not.” Shatrughna sent away the spies and began to attend to the military operations. He sent for the commander, Kritantavadan. The commander came at once.
"Dear commander ! Please order our armies to enter the city at once, and on the eastern side of the city let there be adequate battle-formations. Please keep this a secret. All these things should be done with such great secrecy that the enemy should not get any news of our activities. Remember this night we are going to fight a decisive battle.”
Shatrughna planned to achieve his objective by means of deceptive strategy and skilful manocuvres. The situation was such that he could easily defeat King Madhu because at that time he did not have the Shul with him. In accordance with their strategy, they took the armies across the river to the other bank. The commander, Kritantavadan was asked to take a position with a large army on the western side of the city. Leaving the commander there Shatrughna, entered the city by the eastern gate with his army. His plan was to fight against Madhu at this gate. The guards at the gate were taken captive and the soldiers of Ayodhya occupied the city and assumed control over it in such a way that the peace of the city remained undisturbed; and then Shatrughna and his army stood waiting for the return of king Madhu. The first phase of the night ended. There was silence everywhere. Nothing was visible in the dense darkness of the night. The whole city was sound asleep. According to the information brought by the spies King Madhu would return to the city at midnight.
Within a short while a commotion seemed to have arisen on the way from the garden. They could hear the sound of chariots rattling through the road. One magnificently decorated chariot was speeding towards the city surrounded by a number of
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