Three days later, the great hall of Hastinapur was transformed for the anointing of its new Crown Prince.
The ceremony began before sunrise.
The royal priests purified the entire ceremonial hall with sacred water, incense, and mantras, while servants prepared vessels of gold and silver filled with water gathered from sacred rivers and holy places.
Ghee lamps were lit around the central altar, fresh flowers were scattered across the floor, and auspicious symbols were drawn at the entrance with rice flour and sandalwood paste.
Representatives of the kingdom, ministers, commanders, nobles, and members of the royal household gathered according to their positions, while musicians waited outside the hall for the signal to begin the public portion of the ceremony.
At the appointed hour, Duryodhana entered.
He was dressed in ceremonial white and gold, his weapons removed for the ritual and his hair arranged according to royal custom. The armor and mace that had accompanied him on his return from Bhagirathi Pradesh were absent, replaced by the ornaments appropriate for the heir of Hastinapur.
He approached the sacred fire and bowed.
The priests began the invocation.
Sacred mantras were recited to invoke the blessings of the Devas, the ancestors of the Kuru dynasty and the guardians of the kingdom.
Duryodhana first performed the prescribed purification rites, washing his hands and feet before being seated before the fire.
Offerings of ghee, grains, herbs, and fragrant woods were placed into the flames while the priests invoked prosperity, strength, wisdom, justice, and protection for the future ruler.
Dhritarashtra sat nearby.
Although he could not see his son, his face carried unmistakable pride.
At the proper moment, representatives of the principal sacred rivers brought vessels of holy water. Water from the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Godavari, Sindhu and other sacred rivers was combined with water brought from holy lakes and pilgrimage sites.
Duryodhana knelt.
The priests poured the sacred water over his head.
One after another, the ritual vessels were emptied, the water flowing over his hair and shoulders while the mantras continued without interruption. The ceremony was not merely a celebration of his father's decision. It was the formal acceptance of responsibility before the kingdom, the Gods and the ancestors.
When the final ablution was completed, Duryodhana was dressed again in fresh royal garments.
Dhritarashtra then placed his hand upon his son's head.
"May you protect Hastinapur."
Duryodhana bowed.
"With all my strength."
The royal priest raised his voice.
"From this day, Prince Duryodhana, son of Maharaj Dhritarashtra, is recognized as the Crown Prince of Hastinapur."
Trumpets sounded.
Drums thundered outside the hall.
The gathered nobles rose and offered their respects.
Yet two absences were impossible to overlook.
Shakuni was not there.
His punishment still stood, and the Gandhara king remained away from the royal court.
Karna was absent as well.
His absence had a completely different reason. He was in Dakshina Panchala, preparing for the approaching Swayamvara of his ritual sister Draupadi.
Duryodhana noticed both absences.
But he did not allow either to disturb the moment.
For the first time, he stood before the court as Crown Prince of Hastinapur.
Two days later, Duryodhana departed for Kampilya.
Dushasana accompanied him, along with the royal escort assigned to the Crown Prince. Their procession travelled southward toward Dakshina Panchala, the banners of Hastinapur moving steadily in the wind.
Duryodhana was in a good mood.
He had spent the last two days receiving congratulations from nobles and officials, hearing the formal recognition of his new position repeated again and again.
Then, somewhere along the road, something caught his attention.
A camp stood ahead.
The banners flying above it were unmistakable.
Gandhara.
Duryodhana immediately ordered the procession to stop.
"Wait here."
He dismounted and walked toward the largest tent.
He already knew who was inside.
When he entered, he found Shakuni waiting for him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Shakuni's face broke into a broad smile.
"My nephew."
He walked forward and embraced Duryodhana.
Duryodhana returned the embrace.
"I am sorry you could not be there for my anointment ceremony, Uncle."
Shakuni waved away the apology.
"It is all right, my nephew. I only wanted to see you on the throne."
He stepped back and looked at him proudly.
"And now look at you."
His eyes gleamed.
"The Pandavas are no more. You have already become the Crown Prince, and Bhishma himself has given you his recognition. Your path is clear now."
Duryodhana smiled.
"Much of this happened because of Karna."
Shakuni's expression became more attentive.
Duryodhana continued, "Karna specifically arranged the condition for the Swayamvara. Panchala announced that only a King or Crown Prince could participate."
He paused.
"If Hastinapur wanted to send someone as a groom, I had to become Crown Prince."
Shakuni said nothing.
Duryodhana's thoughts moved toward Kampilya.
"Uncle..."
He looked at Shakuni.
"Does this also mean Karna wants me to marry Draupadi?"
Shakuni's expression changed.
The smile disappeared from his face, replaced by a thoughtful frown as he considered Duryodhana's question. He walked slowly toward the side of the tent, his fingers resting against his chin.
"If the words delivered in the Kuru court were exactly as you have described them," he finally said, "then yes, my nephew. Karna clearly looks upon you favorably. At the very least, he considers you a suitable choice for Princess Draupadi."
Duryodhana nodded slowly.
"But there is something I still do not understand." Shakuni turned toward him. "Why did Karna make Draupadi his sister?"
Dushasana, who had been listening quietly, looked toward his uncle.
Shakuni continued, "No matter how I examine it, the decision does not make sense from a political perspective. Dakshina Panchala is a powerful kingdom. It is prosperous, wealthy, and strategically important. It has now pledged itself to Dakshina Kalinga. And according to every report reaching us, Princess Draupadi is extraordinary."
He paused.
"She was born from the Yajna Kund with the blessings of Agni Dev. People throughout Bharatvarsha are already speaking about her beauty. Some even call her divine, just as they call Karna divine."
Shakuni's frown deepened. "Karna could have married her himself."
Duryodhana looked at him.
"He already has seven wives. Taking another would hardly have been unusual for him."
Dushasana suddenly offered, "Perhaps it is because Karna performed the Yajna?"
Shakuni immediately shook his head.
"No, my nephew. Drupada performed the Yajna. Karna was there to support him and guide the ritual, but the children were Drupada's children. Karna held no responsibility to consider himself as her brother..."
He folded his arms.
"There must be something more behind Karna making Draupadi his sister."
Duryodhana remained thoughtful. "If we want to know, perhaps I should simply ask him."
Shakuni looked at him.
"Karna cannot lie." Duryodhana continued, "If he tells me the truth, then we know his intentions. If he avoids the question or hides something, then we know there is something behind his actions."
For a moment, Shakuni simply stared at his nephew.
Then realization appeared on his face.
He laughed.
He walked over and caught Duryodhana by the shoulders.
"My nephew!"
Duryodhana smiled.
"What?"
"What a wonderful idea." Shakuni gave him an approving pat. "Yes. Ask him yourself. Do not accuse him. Do not demand an explanation. Simply ask him what he intended when he made Princess Draupadi his sister."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Karna will either answer directly or reveal that there is something he does not wish you to know."
Duryodhana nodded.
"Then I will ask him at Kampilya."
He paused before remembering something.
"By the way, Uncle, are you coming with us?"
"To Kampilya?"