Meanwhile, Karna made his way toward the King's Chambers, his mind still occupied by the conversation with Draupadi.
He had left her with a promise, but the promise had immediately created another problem.
It was one thing to tell a young woman that she had the right to choose the person she loved. But it was another thing to actually create a path for that person to stand before her when the entire kingdom had already prepared a Swayamvara around a very specific challenge.
Karna knew that changing the challenge itself would be unfair to the kings and princes who had travelled to Kampilya after receiving the invitation, and he had no intention of doing that.
But perhaps the difficulty was not the challenge.
Perhaps the difficulty was who was being allowed to attempt it. By the time he reached the chambers, he had already formed the suggestion in his mind. He only needed Drupada to accept it.
Drupada was inside with Dhrishtadyumna, discussing the remaining preparations when Karna entered.
The room carried the faint smell of incense and oil lamps, and several scrolls had been spread across a table where the final arrangements for the Swayamvara were being reviewed.
Dhrishtadyumna looked up first, while Drupada turned toward Karna with a welcoming expression.
Karna waited until the attendants withdrew and the doors were closed behind them. He did not want this conversation to become something that could reach the ears of others before the decision was made.
Once they were alone, he said, "Maharaj, I want to discuss the rules of the test."
Drupada's expression immediately became attentive. "The rules?"
Karna nodded. "I think we should change them slightly."
The king's eyebrows rose. "What?"
Karna took a slow breath before explaining. "The competition we have prepared is very difficult. I feel it is possible that none of the suitors may be able to fulfill the challenge."
Dhrishtadyumna looked at him with surprise. Karna continued before either of them could interrupt. "We cannot change the competition itself now. The kings and princes have already been invited, and they have come here expecting a particular challenge. But we can change who is allowed to enter it."
Dhrishtadyumna frowned. "What do you mean?"
Karna looked at him. "Why not allow extraordinary archers of Brahmin origin to enter the Swayamvara as well?"
"Brahmins?"
The surprise in Drupada's voice was unmistakable. Karna understood why. Panchala had prepared the event as a gathering of rulers and princes, and the thought of allowing Brahmins to stand among them was not something the king had considered.
Karna, however, was not suggesting that every Brahmin in Kampilya should suddenly be permitted to walk into the arena. He was thinking of something much narrower. Something that would give one particular kind of man a chance without openly creating chaos.
"Take my Guru Parashurama," Karna said. "Or your Guru Dronacharya." He turned toward Dhrishtadyumna as he mentioned the second name. "If a Brahmin like either of them appeared here and wished to participate, would he truly be inferior to the princes and kings of Aryavarta?"
Dhrishtadyumna's answer came after only a brief hesitation.
"No. If anything, they will be superior..."
Karna's eyes shifted toward Drupada.
The king did not immediately answer.
Karna could almost see the conflict in his mind.
Drupada was a Kshatriya king, and this Swayamvara had been designed to display the finest warriors of the realm. The idea that a Brahmin could possess martial ability equal to or greater than those rulers was not impossible, but accepting such a possibility publicly was another matter. Karna waited without pressing him. He had not come to insult the king's traditions. He simply wanted him to consider the logic of his suggestion.
Finally Karna said, "What are you thinking, Maharaj? Please state your thoughts."
Drupada leaned back slightly and thought for a few moments. "I do not have a problem with that in principle," he said at last. "What can happen at worst? I may gain a matrilocal son-in-law instead, someone who lives with us and helps us administer the kingdom."
There was a faint practicality in his voice.
Drupada had always been a king before he was anything else.
He could look at an unexpected situation and immediately consider how it might benefit Panchala. But then his expression hardened. "The problem is that we cannot simply allow every Brahmin who wishes to participate. If countless Brahmins from Kampilya hear that they are permitted to enter, they may flood the arena. Some may come out of genuine ability, but others may come because they see an opportunity for wealth or status. We cannot allow that."
Karna nodded.
"That is what I thought as well."
Drupada watched him.
"I have a solution for that too," Karna said. "Before any Brahmin is allowed to enter the arena, he must prove his skill somewhere else. We can place a difficult target outside the main competition area. It should be something that only an extraordinarily skilled archer can strike. If someone succeeds, then we allow him into the arena. He can then stand before the kings and princes and prove that his ability is genuine."
Dhrishtadyumna's expression changed. The problem had been simple, but the solution was equally simple. There was no need to allow hundreds of people into the Swayamvara. Only those who could demonstrate exceptional skill would ever reach the main arena.
"That is a good idea, Father," Dhrishtadyumna said.
Drupada nodded slowly.
"Yes. That may as well be done."
Karna watched the king carefully.
He could sense that Drupada was still wondering why he had suggested this now, so close to the ceremony, but the king did not question him yet.
Karna was grateful for that. He did not want to lie to Drupada. He had never liked lying, and especially not to someone who had entrusted him with the life of his daughter.
But there were things that could not yet be spoken aloud. If he told Drupada that Draupadi had fallen in love with a young Brahmin she had met in the city, the king's first response might not be understanding.
It might be anger. Dhrishtadyumna's reaction could be even worse. Karna knew that. He had seen the fear in Draupadi's eyes when she spoke of her brother.
He therefore kept silent.
Drupada looked at him for a long moment before speaking. "Karna, you brought Draupadi into existence. You were present when she was born from the sacred fire, and you performed the rites that completed her birth. You have the right to decide about her marriage as much as we do." His voice became quieter. "If you think this is good for her, then I will accept your suggestion."
Karna's expression softened slightly.
"Thank you, Maharaj."
He bowed his head, then turned and left the chamber.
The doors closed behind him.
Drupada continued looking at them.
For a while he said nothing. The sounds of the palace outside reached them faintly through the walls, footsteps, distant voices, the movement of servants preparing for an event that had already become the centre of Kampilya's attention. Dhrishtadyumna remained beside his father, waiting.
Finally, Drupada spoke.
"I was wondering why he thought of making such a change at the last moment."
Dhrishtadyumna looked at him.
Drupada's gaze remained fixed on the doorway. "He was the one who said two warriors who are participating have a great chance of fulfilling this challenge. Even ordinary warriors may have some chance if they possess sufficient skill. Yet he now suddenly says there may be no one capable of completing it."
Dhrishtadyumna's expression became thoughtful.
"Do you think he is hiding something, Father?"
Drupada nodded.
"Yes."
There was no anger in his answer. He simply accepted the possibility. Karna was not a man who acted without reason.
But Drupada did not believe that Karna would use Draupadi for something harmful.
"As far as I know him," he said, "he would not want any ill for Draupadi or Panchala."
Dhrishtadyumna remained silent.
"And you know what Dakshina Kalinga means to us," Drupada continued. "Karna is our strongest ally. As long as he stands on our side, no other large kingdom will easily try to wage war against Panchala. Whatever his reason is, if he believes this is good for Draupadi, we should do what he says."
Dhrishtadyumna nodded slowly.
Then Drupada's expression changed again.
"However, make sure no Brahmin can simply be seen in the arena. Make the preliminary challenge extremely difficult for them to achieve."
Dhrishtadyumna looked at him.
"If someone truly possesses the ability of Drona, then he can prove it and enter," Drupada said. "But otherwise, I do not want Brahmins entering the arena simply because we have opened the rules to them. This is a prestigious event. I do not want it spoiled by some poor Brahmin who has no place among the kings and princes. Unless he is a Maharathi-level warrior, use everything in your power to send them away."
Dhrishtadyumna understood.
"Understood, Father. I will prepare for this."
Drupada nodded.
The matter was settled.
Yet even after Dhrishtadyumna turned away to begin making the arrangements, Drupada's mind remained occupied by one question.
'Why now, Karna?'
He could not answer it.
Not yet.