Read The Aryavarta Chronicles Kurukshetra: Book 3 for Free Online Page B

nobility, but I have never shared their opinion…till this moment. Now I must wonder, do you really not understand a thing about our way of life?’
    ‘You misunderstand me, Syoddhan,’ Govinda said. ‘It was not my intent to ask you to surrender. Rather, I ask you to exercise your power as the ruler of the Kuru kingdom and declare unlawful and untenable the dice game that took place here. Speak the words that you asked Panchali and Dharma’s brothers to say: that Dharma Yudhisthir had no right to wager what he did…his brothers, his wife, his people, his empire. Say that Dharma was in error and declare the gamble invalid.’
    Syoddhan chuckled. ‘Dharma was in error; there is no doubt about that. But you’re a clever one, Govinda. Would not going further to declare the gamble void require that all that was lost revert to the one who played it as stake? And would that not further imply that Dharma Yudhisthir is still Emperor of Aryavarta?
    ‘At its furthest extent, it would.’
    ‘And I cannot bear the thought of a man who could treat his people, his family, as he did being in command of all our destinies.’
    ‘But he would not be in command. Reinstating him only proves the limits of his power, of any Emperor’s power.’
    ‘One cannot protect an ideal by destroying it, and that is what you’re suggesting I do, Govinda.’
    Govinda smiled. ‘The ideal is upheld not by the specific instance, but by the larger truth. Help me make the larger truth apparent. Declare that neither you nor he had the authority to make those wagers. We shall consider the Empire relinquished to you. Let Dharma remain King of Indr-prastha, as he once was.’
    ‘That is impossible.’
    ‘It is necessary. You see, it is not the moral outcome of one dice game, but two, that must be reversed. There was one last throw, where you both wagered your kingdoms. His loss was what forced him into exile. Five villages, then? Five villages would make Dharma a vassal – your vassal. It should suffice.’
    ‘How often must I explain, Govinda?’ Syoddhan hissed through clenched teeth. ‘That man has no moral authority to command another person, ever again. You want him to be made King? I would not make him chief of a single village; why, I think he doesn’t deserve to command those of his own household. No. I will give Dharma nothing.’
    Govinda sighed and took a while to consider his next words. He then addressed the entire assembly. ‘Is there anyone here who has never made a mistake? Does not every person deserve forgiveness for their errors?’
    ‘They do,’ Syoddhan answered. ‘But not when their penitence is wrought by their self-interest, and the admission of error is to their benefit. I too have made mistakes, Govinda. For one, I believe I have stood by in silence far too often while wrong was done. And for that I know I will go down in our history as an ambitious, evil man, and now here I am rejecting your so-called offer of peace as well. But such is justice. Such is Divine Order. Nothing matters more.’
    ‘Then it is war.’
    ‘Unless, you accept my offer of peace. Peace on my terms; fair and reasonable terms.’
    ‘And what are those terms?’
    It was Syoddhan’s turn to smile, though what showed on his face was more of a sneer. He said, ‘Sit down, Govinda. It would not do to keep an emissary of your eminence standing.’

5
    FOR MANY YEARS, SYODDHAN HAD RECOGNIZED THE EMOTION he felt at the thought of Govinda Shauri to be curiosity. Govinda had been an unknown entity, a man cloaked in questions, but that had always stirred Syoddhan’s interest rather than disturbed him. Now, watching Govinda as he allowed himself to be led to a well-decked seat of honour and plied with signs of welcome and hospitality, Syoddhan realized that it was not curiosity; rather, it was a contradicting mix to which he could give no appropriate name.
    Syoddhan envied Govinda his conviction and despised his lack of moral allegiance. He admired