Chapter 1

The royal chariot is moving forward in the dense forest to reach Hasthinapur quickly.

As they relaxed on the comfortable chariot seats, Angaraj Karn and his wife Vrushali were absorbed in watching the breathtaking scenery of towering tree groves and colorful flower gardens that made their ride magical!

The abundance of fruit-bearing trees hugged by floral creepers in the near vicinity, along with the numerous mango orchard amidst the lush bushes and plants, captivated their attention.

"Why did Maharaj Duryodhan suddenly invite you, Swami Nadh? What particular reason was behind this royal summons?"

“Yadav Krishna's upcoming visit as a messenger with a peace proposal is significant for us. Pandavas' cruel fate saved them from all sorts of natural and man-made calamities in all these thirteen years! Now they are back and asking for their kingdom, which they lost in the dice game. However, how could we comply with their demands? In that game, they lost their rights over their kingdom. They are now claiming it unethically. It goes against royal tradition, and we consider it as immoral. My friend Duryodhan wants me to be with him while meeting Krishna to discuss the so-called peace proposal.

After a long thoughtful glance, Vrushali said,

"All the learned men revered Sri Krishna as a divinity, a celestial being that supported the Pandavas. . Maharani Draupadi's insult was... "

Karna interrupted her with a stern voice. "She is an ordinary maid now, not a queen! King Duryodhan won the dice game in which her husband had staked her. When my friend visited Maya Sabha Mandap, she made fun of him. Due to my lower caste, she declined to marry me and asked me not to participate in her Swayamvar. She deserved this punishment."

With a sigh, Vrushali ruefully nodded her head. She's regarded as a wise woman with immense fortitude and compassion. But, she is unable to understand her husband's despise!

She was concerned about an impending war and the possible annihilation of humanity. She saw the regal haughtiness and arrogance on his face at that moment. That made her shudder with fear.

When Karna noticed her quiver, he thought that the cool breeze from the nearby river was the culprit. To shield her from the cool breeze, he placed his hand on her shoulder and adjusted the shawl.

As the wind stirred leaves and twigs to tune dulcimers, they continued their journey.

Karna lost himself in his thoughts as the chariot moved closer to the towering palaces of Hasthinapur. Vrushali wanted to meet Maharani Bhanumati to share her fears with her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone in the royal palace looked at Karna's wife with awe as they entered the palace together.

Karna looked at his wife with a proud smile while observing a few maidens chanting his wife's name!

Bhanumati rushed to the door to welcome them. After greeting each other, they took their seats in the inner chamber.

Bhanumati informed them that prior to Sri Krishna's crucial peace negotiations the next day, Mahamantri Vidur called Duryodhan to share a few words with him. He will be back anytime now, she said.

She instructed maids to bring some sweet beverages, such as juices made from different fruits and berries mixed with honey.

"Oh! There's a war going on here between the future king and princess!" Karna was excited.

She saw Karna staring at Prince Lakshman Kumar and Princess Lakshmana, who were occupied in war games using wooden toys set up on the board made of sandalwood.

"Bhai Laxman, it is impossible to win in any war! The war game takes place in a circle that starts and ends with a single purpose: death. The burden of the loss will fall on future generations. But for kings as the prime players, all those victories are an important part of their dynasty's histories," Princess said.

"In other words, would you like to say that quitting war is the best course of action, Rajkumari? No, that is not in my blood. I want to fight hard to win... only to win!" Prince Lakshaman Kumar answered. Though there are still some traces of his childlike speech, it's reflecting his valour.

Karna's face lit up with pride as he noticed a red streak in Raj Kumar's eyes. He eventually started talking with kids about military strategies.

While this was going on, Vrushali accepted Bhanumati's invitation to visit Raj Mata Gandhari's quarters.

While walking through the royal palace's hallways, Bhanumati asked Vrushali what Karna was thinking about Krishna's efforts to mediate between the rival cousins. Vrushali remained still for a while, and then she leaned against the wall for support to disclose her husband's hatred and contempt towards Pandavas and Draupadi.

Bhanumati unburdened her heart to Vrushali, fears she could not share with anyone else in the palace.

“Vrushali,” she said softly, “by insulting Maharani Draupadi, the Kuru Vansh has committed a grave sin. For that, we must endure the consequences. The only way to prevent that fury from erupting is to return their kingdom to them. Yet, as you know, Aryaputra Duryodhana refuses to yield even a fragment of land. His reasoning may seem justified, but is it right to risk the lives of so many....for the sake of pride? Our families, our kin, our entire kingdom stand on the brink.”

She paused, her voice trembling with concern. “And Krishna… I fear he stands firmly with Yudhishthira and his brothers. As long as he supports them, victory over them seems impossible. I am deeply worried about the safety and future of all our loved ones.”

As these heavy thoughts lingered between them, the two women slowly made their way toward the chambers of Gandhari. Along the path, their conversation softened, drifting from looming fears to their children, their innocence, their courage, and the small yet heroic acts that brought fleeting comfort to their anxious hearts.

When Vrushali met Gandhari, the elderly matriarch wanted to spend some time with her. Bhanumati left her there and returned to her chambers.

*************

Karna was sitting in front of the war game table alone, looking intently into the well-laid board in front of him.

A maid informed Bhanumati that the prince had gone out to practice archery with Guruputra Ashwatthama, while the princess, accompanied by her other maidens, had gone for a leisurely walk in the floral garden near the lotus pond.

She sat there, observing Karna's moves on the board.

All of a sudden, she grinned and gave Karna a disapproving tilt of her head when she saw him moving the army chief and the cavalry in two different directions on the game board.

He noticed her smile and questioned her with a surprise, "Do you think I made the wrong move on the game board, Maharani?"

She sat down on the opposite side of the board and started playing with him. Both players lost a few elephants; their armies surrounded the other player's kings, but their tactical manoeuvres helped them escape every time. Then Karna's infantry moved forward to corner Bhanumati's king after a few moments of hesitation and planning!

Bhanumati lost herself in her thoughts even as she fought fiercely to keep her king alive. Skilled and composed, she was known to be an exceptional player in various war games, her strategic mind often matching the finest warriors.

Once, in the past, Duryodhana had even remarked upon her abilities to Karna, acknowledging with quiet pride the sharp intellect and strength his queen possessed.

When Karna realised that he was in a winning position, he was elated.

All of a sudden, Bhanumati noticed Duryodhan swaggering into the hall, and she hastened to receive him at the doorway. Seeing this, Karna assumed she was about to abandon the game midway, knowing she was on the verge of losing. Acting on impulse, he reached out and seized her anchal....the ornate end of her sari, to stop her from leaving.

At the sudden tug, the delicate string of pearl beads scattered across the floor. In that very instant, as he met her eyes filled with shock and dismay, Karna froze. A wave of realization struck him; his action had crossed an unforgivable line. He stood there, numb and motionless, overwhelmed by remorse.

“What a sinner I am!” the thought thundered within him. Unable to bear the weight of his own deed, he wished he could vanish into the earth rather than face his friend.

She is the queen of Hasthinapur, wife of Duryodhan, who is not only his friend but also a strong sovereign in the Aryavarth. Touching her and ripping her anchal is an unforgivable offence.

"Maharani, is it good enough to collect all the beads from the floor, or do you want me to re-needle those to your anchal now itself?" Duryodhan questioned his wife as he calmly stepped forward and began collecting the beads from the floor.

She gave him a beaming smile, took the beads from his hands, and calmly proceeded towards her private chambers.

Unable to raise his head to meet his friend's gaze, Karna stood there, looking like a sinner with a contrite expression on his face.

"Karna, my dear friend, I know you very well. You are an important part of my soul. Whether it's a game or an actual battle, you are an excellent warrior with an addiction to win." Duryodhan pulled Karna towards him, hugged him and said,

"I respect you as much as I value my pride," he said, adding, "more than that, I have immense faith in my wife; she will never misunderstand you. She knows our bond. Anyone can observe how fiercely the game is being played on the war game board. Maintain your cool, my dear friend."

The maids soon returned with another tray of honey-mixed grape juice and served them quietly. As they sipped the sweet drink, the conversation turned serious. They began discussing the impending visit of Krishna and the strategies they must adopt in response.

They spoke of how to guard themselves against the mild yet persistent counsel of the elders, whose advice often leaned toward compromise. Determined and unyielding, they resolved to maintain control of the situation at all costs—carefully planning their words and actions so as not to concede even the smallest piece of land to the Pandavas.

If God descends as a mediator, then all the kings and warriors prostrate themselves before him.

However, a few haughty fighters desired conflict and violence! God made the effort, but humans made a different decision.

Time stands as a witness to chronicle all the great conflicts and their aftermaths.

**********

The End

Viswasruti2024-01-16 14:06:35