Kunti followed his gesture. Yudhisthira, Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva looked in the same direction.
Karna remained seated.
He had already sensed their arrival, but he did not open his eyes immediately. He continued meditating until the six had approached close enough that there was no longer any need to pretend he had not noticed them.
Yudhisthira stopped before him.
"Dakshina Kalinga Naresh..."
Karna opened his eyes.
He looked at the five Pandavas and then at Kunti.
Slowly, he rose to his feet. He joined his palms.
"Greetings, Queen Mother Kunti. Panduputra."
The five brothers returned his greeting. Kunti lifted her palm and gave him her blessing.
"May auspiciousness fill your life."
Karna lowered his hands.
"There is more than one reason why I called you here today to speak with all of you."
Before he could continue, Bhima gave a short snort.
"It is actually surprising that you did not tell Duryodhana about us. After all, you are the son-in-law of Uncle Dhritarashtra."
Yudhisthira immediately looked toward him.
"Dushala is also our sister, Bhima. Do not speak in such a tone with your brother-in-law."
The words made Kunti uncomfortable.
She lowered her eyes.
There was something deeply painful about hearing it spoken so casually. The man whom her eldest son now called their brother-in-law was, in another truth she could not speak aloud, the eldest of her children. The relationship had been turned upside down by years of secrecy, and every time someone unknowingly touched that truth, it felt like another reminder of everything she had lost.
Karna noticed the discomfort on her face but did not comment.
Yudhisthira looked back at him.
"Please go ahead."
Karna nodded.
"First things first. Let me inform you all that the fact that you are alive has been known to Mahamahim Bhishma and me for two years. To some extent, Mahamantri Vidura knew as well. But that information never reached another person. Not even my wives. Not even Maharaj Dhritarashtra."
The five brothers reacted immediately.
Their expressions changed almost together.
Arjuna stared at him.
"Grandsire knew about us?"
Karna nodded.
"I am certain that he did."
"Then I am sure he would have sent scouts to search for us."
Karna considered the statement.
"I do not know about that."
Arjuna fell silent.
Karna then looked at Yudhisthira.
"But let me come to the matter directly. Do you and your brothers wish to remain in hiding?"
The question was simple.
Its consequences were not.
"If you wish to do so," Karna continued, "I will continue to keep this secret from the world. But in return, I would like a message from you all, which I will pass to Mahamahim. Whatever happens afterward will be of no concern to me."
The brothers looked toward Yudhisthira.
There was no need for discussion between them. They had lived together long enough to understand one another through small movements and brief glances. Yudhisthira finally answered.
"We did not plan to remain in hiding forever."
Karna listened.
"We were waiting for the right time," Yudhisthira continued. "But only when our mother wills us to return will we do so. Until then, we will continue wandering from place to place."
Karna's gaze shifted toward Kunti.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he spoke calmly.
"So, Maharani Kunti, it appears that I need to get that answer from you rather than Yudhisthira."
Kunti looked at him.
Karna held her gaze.
"Until when do you wish to stay in hiding? How long do you wish to keep your existence a secret from the world, other than Mahamahim?"
Kunti remained silent for a while after Karna's question. Her five sons stood around her, waiting. None of them interrupted her. Kunti finally lowered her gaze and took a slow breath.
"I have not made a decision yet," she said. "Originally, I was hoping to approach Maharaj Drupada and form an alliance with Panchala. My intention was to increase my sons' political backing before returning to Hastinapur. If we returned without any strong kingdom standing behind us, I do not know what would happen."
She paused and looked toward the temple courtyard. "But only recently did I hear that Dakshina Panchala is no longer hostile toward Hastinapur. They have even invited Duryodhana to the Swayamvara. So now..." Her voice became uncertain. "I suppose it depends on who wins the Swayamvara."
Karna nodded.
He did not question her reasoning. It was sensible. If the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur without support, they would be placing themselves directly into a political struggle where Duryodhana already had considerable influence. An alliance with Panchala could change that balance.
But the political situation had changed considerably since Kunti had first imagined such a plan. Drupada's relationship with Hastinapur had improved, Duryodhana had become Crown Prince, and the Swayamvara itself had become an event in which the future alliances of several kingdoms might be determined.
"All right," Karna said. "Take your time, then. After the Swayamvara is over, I will come to you and ask the same question again."
Kunti nodded slowly.
Karna then looked toward the five brothers.
"Now, since we are talking about the Swayamvara itself, did you hear about the recent announcement?"
Kunti looked at him with slight confusion.
"Recent announcement?"
Yudhisthira answered before Karna could.
"Yes. They announced that the Swayamvara is open to Brahmins as well, provided they are extremely skilled in archery. If they can prove their ability, they will become eligible to participate."
Karna's eyes moved toward Arjuna.
"Arjuna."
Arjuna straightened slightly.
"Even while disguising yourself as a Brahmin, you will still be able to participate. If you can win the Swayamvara, you can gain the political backing your mother wished for you, Panduputra." Karna's voice remained completely matter-of-fact. "But don't be mistaken. I am not asking whether you are interested or not. I am merely informing you. The rest depends on your choice."
Arjuna looked at him.
For a moment, he did not know what to say.
The words had struck him harder than he expected. Karna had not told him that he should participate. He had not ordered him to do it, nor had he tried to persuade him. He had simply pointed out a possibility that Arjuna himself had not been certain existed.
And suddenly the path before him looked different.
The Swayamvara had been something they had originally planned to attend merely because circumstances had brought them to Kampilya.
Now it could potentially become the very opportunity Kunti had been waiting for.
A marriage with Draupadi would give them Panchala's support. If Arjuna won, the Pandavas would not simply return to Hastinapur as five princes who had somehow survived. They would return with a powerful kingdom standing beside them.
Yet Arjuna's thoughts immediately became tangled in another matter.
Draupadi.
He had met her several times as Arindhama. He had tried not to think too much about those encounters, though he had failed miserably at that. Now Karna was telling him that he could actually enter the Swayamvara.
Arjuna only nodded.
Karna then looked at the others.
"It is not only Arjuna. Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Yudhisthira, all four of you can also participate in the Swayamvara using your Brahmin identities, as long as you believe you are skilled enough in archery."
Bhima raised his eyebrows slightly, while Nakula and Sahadeva exchanged a quick glance.
Karna continued, "And of course, there are still a few days. If you are willing to reveal your identity, Yudhisthira, an exception can be made for you. You can directly participate in the Swayamvara as a royal candidate."
Yudhisthira looked thoughtful.
He had spent two years living without the identity that had once defined him. King Yudhishthira, heir of Pandu, had disappeared from the world, while Dharmadatta, a poor Brahmin, had quietly walked through villages and forests with his brothers. The thought of simply stepping forward and declaring himself alive felt almost unreal.
Before any of them could respond, Karna continued.
"There is one last thing I want to tell you all."
His tone changed slightly.
"The trial concerning your case has already happened in Hastinapur."
The brothers became attentive.