Read Online The Aryavarta Chronicles Kurukshetra: Book 3 by Krishna Udayasankar - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Krishna Udayasankar
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distinctly uncomfortable. What needs be done must be done. It matters not who stands with me and who stands against me. It doesn’t matter whether I succeed or fail. All that matters now…
He pushed all thought aside as he arrived at Dharma’s chambers. The solitary attendant let him in without a word, the act indicating that he was expected. Govinda entered.
Dharma Yudhisthir looked as an emperor ought to. Even in solitude, he sat proud and erect on a cushioned chair as though it were a throne. He had a clean, sharp face that was more refined than rugged, and the wrinkles that time had etched in were thoughtfully placed, as though to suggest wisdom and kindness rather than age and exhaustion. He was reasonably tall, but lacked the broad shoulders and thick chest common to the Kurus and clearly visible in his cousin, Syoddhan, and where Syoddhan radiated energy and vigour, Dharma was the epitome of quiet certitude. One is the perfect emperor for war, the other just what we needed in times of peace , Govinda noted, wondering at the same time whether he had made the wrong choice decades ago. It had seemed to be the best option then, but now…
Don’t , he chastised himself. This is not about you, your decisions, your actions any more. This is far bigger than any of us. Syoddhan and Dharma are but two halves of a whole. It is that whole you question, not its parts .
As Govinda neared the seated Dharma, the former emperor sighed and looked up. ‘So…’ he said. ‘It appears that Syoddhan was not easily convinced, was he? And now you have no choice but to make do with me, as you did years ago when you made me Emperor.’
Govinda walked over to where a wrought iron jar filled with spiced wine was set out, along with matching goblets carved in the same intricate patterns. He poured himself some wine before sitting down in a chair made of the same metal. He took a sip from the goblet, enjoying the way the liquid slid down his throat and into his veins, warm and soothing, and said, ‘Your empire was supposed to be the foundation of peace and prosperity.’
‘Hah! Peace! Prosperity! You say those words like they have some magical power, the ability to set everything right. But they didn’t. How could a weak empire be a peaceful empire? It was nothing more than an empire of consensus, Govinda. An empire led by a weak emperor. That is why you chose me, is it not?’
‘Is that what you thought? You thought yourself weak?’
‘Didn’t everyone?’
‘Not I, Dharma. In retrospect, I should have been more forthcoming about it. I saw strength, the power of people bound by reason, the only kind of strength that matters. I saw an emperor who would place righteousness and the interests of the people before himself.’
‘Then…’ Dharma let his confusion show. ‘What happened to you, Govinda? All these years? And now? Things are not the same between us. You are not the same. I know what I did was… Well, that Govinda Shauri had no thirst for blood.’
‘I haven’t changed, Dharma. I wanted peace then, why would I not want it now?’
‘That is not what you declared at Hastina. What you said there is no rumour.’
‘Then you know war was declared in your name. That implies your assent.’
‘What made you think I’d go to war?’ Dharma asked.
Govinda settled back against some cushions and reached out to take another long sip of his wine before saying, ‘What makes you think I’d go to war, Dharma?’
‘A feint then?’
‘A feint. Syoddhan doesn’t want war any more than we do; no one does. We just need to play this along till such time as we get what we want: an admission that…’ he trailed off.
Dharma smiled. ‘An admission that denies me the authority that I believe was rightfully mine; mine by destiny and divine will. That I may not have used it in a manner you approve of cannot change the fact that I had the right and the power to do what I did. But you would have me deny it, and you would have
He pushed all thought aside as he arrived at Dharma’s chambers. The solitary attendant let him in without a word, the act indicating that he was expected. Govinda entered.
Dharma Yudhisthir looked as an emperor ought to. Even in solitude, he sat proud and erect on a cushioned chair as though it were a throne. He had a clean, sharp face that was more refined than rugged, and the wrinkles that time had etched in were thoughtfully placed, as though to suggest wisdom and kindness rather than age and exhaustion. He was reasonably tall, but lacked the broad shoulders and thick chest common to the Kurus and clearly visible in his cousin, Syoddhan, and where Syoddhan radiated energy and vigour, Dharma was the epitome of quiet certitude. One is the perfect emperor for war, the other just what we needed in times of peace , Govinda noted, wondering at the same time whether he had made the wrong choice decades ago. It had seemed to be the best option then, but now…
Don’t , he chastised himself. This is not about you, your decisions, your actions any more. This is far bigger than any of us. Syoddhan and Dharma are but two halves of a whole. It is that whole you question, not its parts .
As Govinda neared the seated Dharma, the former emperor sighed and looked up. ‘So…’ he said. ‘It appears that Syoddhan was not easily convinced, was he? And now you have no choice but to make do with me, as you did years ago when you made me Emperor.’
Govinda walked over to where a wrought iron jar filled with spiced wine was set out, along with matching goblets carved in the same intricate patterns. He poured himself some wine before sitting down in a chair made of the same metal. He took a sip from the goblet, enjoying the way the liquid slid down his throat and into his veins, warm and soothing, and said, ‘Your empire was supposed to be the foundation of peace and prosperity.’
‘Hah! Peace! Prosperity! You say those words like they have some magical power, the ability to set everything right. But they didn’t. How could a weak empire be a peaceful empire? It was nothing more than an empire of consensus, Govinda. An empire led by a weak emperor. That is why you chose me, is it not?’
‘Is that what you thought? You thought yourself weak?’
‘Didn’t everyone?’
‘Not I, Dharma. In retrospect, I should have been more forthcoming about it. I saw strength, the power of people bound by reason, the only kind of strength that matters. I saw an emperor who would place righteousness and the interests of the people before himself.’
‘Then…’ Dharma let his confusion show. ‘What happened to you, Govinda? All these years? And now? Things are not the same between us. You are not the same. I know what I did was… Well, that Govinda Shauri had no thirst for blood.’
‘I haven’t changed, Dharma. I wanted peace then, why would I not want it now?’
‘That is not what you declared at Hastina. What you said there is no rumour.’
‘Then you know war was declared in your name. That implies your assent.’
‘What made you think I’d go to war?’ Dharma asked.
Govinda settled back against some cushions and reached out to take another long sip of his wine before saying, ‘What makes you think I’d go to war, Dharma?’
‘A feint then?’
‘A feint. Syoddhan doesn’t want war any more than we do; no one does. We just need to play this along till such time as we get what we want: an admission that…’ he trailed off.
Dharma smiled. ‘An admission that denies me the authority that I believe was rightfully mine; mine by destiny and divine will. That I may not have used it in a manner you approve of cannot change the fact that I had the right and the power to do what I did. But you would have me deny it, and you would have
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