Read Online The Aryavarta Chronicles Kaurava: Book 2 by Krishna Udayasankar - Free Book Online
Authors: Krishna Udayasankar
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justice.’
Panchali nodded at his graceful win. She asked, ‘Does that make me your enemy now?’
‘Because you defied Govinda? Because you think you thwarted his plans?’
‘Aren’t these sufficient reasons?’
‘They are good reasons, yes. But not sufficient.’
Panchali laughed at the wordplay. It felt good to share what lay on her mind frankly and with a touch of humour. She found herself opening up. ‘The Emperor refuses to remove the taxes on goods produced by the Nagas… I’d thought that I could get Dharma to agree… Not only did he oppose it, but he also did so most vehemently. He still associates science with Wright-work.’
‘Hmm.’
‘Hmm?’
‘Give him time, Panchali. Now that Devala has been found and arrested, the Firstborn will slowly begin to see that there is no one to fear. Soon Dharma will realize this too, and not too long after many will begin thinking the same way. They will reach out and aspire to greatness and glory, and that will require science to fuel it. When that happens, Aryavarta will rise beyond its former splendour to heights we’ve never dreamt of. There is,’ he added philosophically, ‘immense virtue in fearlessness.’
Panchali considered the scholar’s quiet confidence even as old words echoed in her mind: You think power and might lies only in armies and brute force? Prosperity can be power too. Out loud she said, ‘You expected this, didn’t you?’
‘I did. Or rather, I should say…’
‘Govinda did,’ Panchali finished. ‘I feel like a fool, Dhaumya. I still don’t know whether I did right or wrong. Govinda said he dreamt of an empire built on the might of the Firstborn and the Firewrights, both. But is that not treachery or, at the least, foolishness? Tell me, please, what have I been so blind to? What have I failed to understand?’
‘I normally wouldn’t dare respond to that question, especially when it’s posed by a monarch,’ Dhaumya jovially began, ‘but in your case, I’ll trust in our long acquaintance and share my thoughts with you.’ He paused, thinking, and then continued, ‘Panchali, all of our scriptures can be condensed into one simple principle… One above all.’
‘The notion of a supreme maker, the power that was there even before existence came into being…’
‘Precisely. Now, I have no complaints about the statement; in fact, I shall accept it for what it is. But when you think of the body of philosophy that stems from this one principle, there are issues we can’t ignore. The scriptures it has spawned are all creations of mankind – earthly creations, if you will. They weren’t set down by this supreme power, but by the seers of old. I suppose one could call them hymns of information and adoration. We sing in praise of the Supreme, and we also speak of the greatest act of this Supreme Being – the act of creation, a creation that encompasses Swarga, the celestial realm, Earth, and Patala, the netherworld. From this principle, we derive the notion of Divine Order, of life on Earth mirroring the dance of all Creation. And there lies the problem. The moment we are ready to accept the notion that existence is divided into inferior and superior beings, a hierarchical system that is divinely orchestrated as the pinnacle of perfection, we start believing in domination and hierarchy as being moral and righteous. We submit to the gods and to those chosen by the gods. Rather than question this system, we use the notion of divine predestination to explain things – which is precisely what the Firstborn do. They believe in a world based on this Divine Order, and their role in it as ensuring it remains such. Even if it means believing in things that not everyone agrees is just and fair…’
‘The world as we know it wouldn’t make sense unless Ahalya were turned to stone…’ Panchali said, speaking to herself.
Dhaumya regarded her with kindness, guessing rightly where she had heard those words. ‘Yes. You
Panchali nodded at his graceful win. She asked, ‘Does that make me your enemy now?’
‘Because you defied Govinda? Because you think you thwarted his plans?’
‘Aren’t these sufficient reasons?’
‘They are good reasons, yes. But not sufficient.’
Panchali laughed at the wordplay. It felt good to share what lay on her mind frankly and with a touch of humour. She found herself opening up. ‘The Emperor refuses to remove the taxes on goods produced by the Nagas… I’d thought that I could get Dharma to agree… Not only did he oppose it, but he also did so most vehemently. He still associates science with Wright-work.’
‘Hmm.’
‘Hmm?’
‘Give him time, Panchali. Now that Devala has been found and arrested, the Firstborn will slowly begin to see that there is no one to fear. Soon Dharma will realize this too, and not too long after many will begin thinking the same way. They will reach out and aspire to greatness and glory, and that will require science to fuel it. When that happens, Aryavarta will rise beyond its former splendour to heights we’ve never dreamt of. There is,’ he added philosophically, ‘immense virtue in fearlessness.’
Panchali considered the scholar’s quiet confidence even as old words echoed in her mind: You think power and might lies only in armies and brute force? Prosperity can be power too. Out loud she said, ‘You expected this, didn’t you?’
‘I did. Or rather, I should say…’
‘Govinda did,’ Panchali finished. ‘I feel like a fool, Dhaumya. I still don’t know whether I did right or wrong. Govinda said he dreamt of an empire built on the might of the Firstborn and the Firewrights, both. But is that not treachery or, at the least, foolishness? Tell me, please, what have I been so blind to? What have I failed to understand?’
‘I normally wouldn’t dare respond to that question, especially when it’s posed by a monarch,’ Dhaumya jovially began, ‘but in your case, I’ll trust in our long acquaintance and share my thoughts with you.’ He paused, thinking, and then continued, ‘Panchali, all of our scriptures can be condensed into one simple principle… One above all.’
‘The notion of a supreme maker, the power that was there even before existence came into being…’
‘Precisely. Now, I have no complaints about the statement; in fact, I shall accept it for what it is. But when you think of the body of philosophy that stems from this one principle, there are issues we can’t ignore. The scriptures it has spawned are all creations of mankind – earthly creations, if you will. They weren’t set down by this supreme power, but by the seers of old. I suppose one could call them hymns of information and adoration. We sing in praise of the Supreme, and we also speak of the greatest act of this Supreme Being – the act of creation, a creation that encompasses Swarga, the celestial realm, Earth, and Patala, the netherworld. From this principle, we derive the notion of Divine Order, of life on Earth mirroring the dance of all Creation. And there lies the problem. The moment we are ready to accept the notion that existence is divided into inferior and superior beings, a hierarchical system that is divinely orchestrated as the pinnacle of perfection, we start believing in domination and hierarchy as being moral and righteous. We submit to the gods and to those chosen by the gods. Rather than question this system, we use the notion of divine predestination to explain things – which is precisely what the Firstborn do. They believe in a world based on this Divine Order, and their role in it as ensuring it remains such. Even if it means believing in things that not everyone agrees is just and fair…’
‘The world as we know it wouldn’t make sense unless Ahalya were turned to stone…’ Panchali said, speaking to herself.
Dhaumya regarded her with kindness, guessing rightly where she had heard those words. ‘Yes. You
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