Three full days had already passed since his arrival at Hastinapura. Back in Kanipura, his queens, children, ministers and kingdom awaited his return, and although the palace here treated him with utmost respect, he never truly felt comfortable within these ancient Kuru walls.
There was something heavy about Hastinapura.
Something restrained.
Something buried beneath layers of politics, pride, duty and silent resentment.
Unlike Kanipura, where people openly laughed, argued and lived freely before him, here every smile carried caution, every conversation carried hidden meanings, and every corridor felt as though it was listening.
Just as Karna prepared to inform the palace of his departure, a soldier arrived outside his chamber and bowed deeply.
"Maharaj."
Karna turned toward him. The soldier kept his head lowered respectfully.
"Maharaj Dhritarashtra wishes to meet you privately in the throne hall."
Karna's brows faintly narrowed.
"At this hour?"
"Yes, Maharaj."
For a brief second Karna silently thought. Then he nodded.
"Very well."
A short while later, Karna entered the private royal hall of Hastinapura. The massive chamber stood quieter than usual today. Tall stone pillars stretched toward the high ceiling while incense smoke drifted faintly through golden rays of daylight entering from the side windows. The atmosphere carried a strange heaviness, like the stillness before rainfall.
As expected, Duryodhana and Shakuni were already present beside the blind king. But Karna's eyes slightly shifted afterward. Because two more figures were also there.
Vidura.
And Bhishma.
The moment Karna saw them, he immediately understood one thing. Whatever this meeting was about… it was important.
Karna first walked toward Bhishma and respectfully bowed.
"Mahamahim."
Bhishma nodded slowly. Then Karna greeted Vidura and finally Dhritarashtra before taking his seat calmly across from them.
For a few moments, silence remained. Karna quietly observed everyone. Bhishma looked displeased. Vidura looked tense. Shakuni appeared unusually composed. And Duryodhana… he looked slightly restless, though he was trying hard to hide it.
Then Dhritarashtra finally spoke.
"Maharaj Karna…" His aged voice echoed softly through the chamber. "For the past year… perhaps longer… I have spent much time thinking about the future relations between our kingdoms."
Karna listened silently. Dhritarashtra continued.
"Hastinapura and Dakshina Kalinga are both mighty powers in Aryavarta. Conflict between such kingdoms weakens the land, while friendship strengthens it." His blind eyes remained fixed ahead while his fingers rested lightly upon the royal throne. "Shakuni and I have discussed this matter repeatedly. Yet only after your return to Hastinapura did we finally decide to speak to you openly."
Karna calmly nodded.
"Please continue, Maharaj. I am listening."
Dhritarashtra slowly turned his head.
"Shakuni… explain the proposal."
Immediately all eyes shifted toward the Gandhara king. Shakuni smiled faintly, folded his hands, and leaned slightly forward.
"Maharaj Karna," he began smoothly, "we wish to present a proposal that benefits both Hastinapura and Dakshina Kalinga greatly."
Karna's expression remained unreadable.
"Go ahead."
Shakuni's eyes slightly glimmered.
"What Hastinapura offers first…" He paused deliberately. "…is a permanent autonomous enclave that belonged to the Kuru kingdom."
Even before he fully finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the hall subtly changed. Bhishma's brows tightened immediately. Vidura silently closed his eyes for a moment. Shakuni continued calmly as though nothing had happened.
"The land that has almost two krosa breadth and one yojana length of area, located upon the eastern banks of the sacred Ganga in Bhagirathi Pradesh, shall be gifted directly to Dakshina Kalinga."
Now even Karna's expression changed slightly.
Gifted?
Shakuni spoke further.
"The region shall remain under full administrative authority of Dakshina Kalinga—your officials, your guards, your laws." He spread his hands lightly. "It will effectively function as Kalinga's territory within Kuru lands themselves."
The silence afterward became noticeably heavier. Because everyone present understood the weight of such an offer. This was not a simple trade agreement. This was nearly equivalent to surrendering a small vassal territory.
Bhishma's jaw visibly tightened. Vidura looked deeply troubled. Even Karna himself had not expected something of this scale. Still, he remained silent.
Shakuni smoothly continued before anyone could interrupt.
"Secondly…" His smile widened faintly. "Hastinapura grants complete tax-free and priority passage rights upon the entire Ganga trade route under Kuru control."
Now even Duryodhana carefully watched Karna's face.
"All Dakshina Kalinga merchant vessels shall receive priority docking access, guaranteed security, and exemption from river taxes throughout our controlled territories." Shakuni's tone became slightly more persuasive. "The Ganga is the spine of northern trade, Maharaj. Whoever controls its flow controls prosperity itself."
Karna remained quiet. But inwardly he understood the enormous value already being offered.
Then came the third offer.
"And since Mathura is both your ally and our neighbouring kingdom…" Shakuni slowly folded his hands behind his back. "The same privileges shall extend to Mathura merchants as well."
Vidura's expression darkened slightly further. Shakuni continued.
"Not only that… Hastinapura formally guarantees Mathura's protection and independence should succession disputes or internal crises arise after King Ugrasena."
Karna's eyes sharpened now. Shakuni carefully spoke each word afterward.
"We understand Mathura falls under Dakshina Kalinga's sphere of protection. But reality remains reality. Kanipura is far. And Hastinapura is near to Mathura. If danger suddenly rises there, your armies cannot always arrive in time." Then with a faint smile he added, "And even a divine chariot cannot carry you everywhere at every moment."
Duryodhana silently nodded in agreement. The logic itself was difficult to deny.
Finally Shakuni presented the last offer.
"And lastly…" His voice grew deeper. "Hastinapura wishes to become a long-term military buyer of Dakshina Kalinga's weapons and armour."
Karna's eyes narrowed slightly.
Shakuni continued.
"Everyone who has used Kalinga's equipment praises its quality. Your blacksmiths create some of the finest weapons in Bharatavarsha, and unlike other kingdoms, you do not exploit buyers with excessive prices." He paused briefly. "Therefore, for an initial period of twelve years…" He slowly raised three fingers. "Hastinapura commits to purchasing no fewer than twenty thousand pieces of military equipment according to our requirements."
The room became completely silent afterward. The sheer scale of the proposal echoed heavily within the hall.
A territory.
Trade dominance.
Protection agreements.
Massive military agreement.
It was too good to be true.
Karna slowly leaned back into his seat. His golden eyes moved calmly from Shakuni… to Duryodhana… to Dhritarashtra… then finally toward Bhishma and Vidura.
He then finally asked, "If you are offering that much, then I believe what you want from me is something of even greater value. What is it that you seek, Maharaj Dhritarashtra?"
Shakuni answered.
"Nothing materialistic, Maharaj Karna. First, our Maharaj wants a military alliance treaty with Dakshina Kalinga. When we need your assistance against external forces that are attacking the Kuru kingdom, you and your army will come to our aid. Secondly, should any future King of Hastinapura seek to establish imperial sovereignty, Dakshina Kalinga shall lend its full support to that endeavour. Third, non-interference. Under no circumstances shall either Dakshina Kalinga or its King—you, Karna—interfere in the affairs of Kuru. And last but not least, should Kuru ever be in conquest against other states, Dakshina Kalinga will not lend its hand to them and shall maintain neutrality. Mathura, Kashi and Uttara Kalinga are not involved in this agreement, as they are close allies of Dakshina Kalinga."
"No. I cannot accept an unconditional military alliance treaty."
Karna rejected their proposal straight away. He immediately added afterward,
"I believe I already made that clear two years ago. Because for me, righteousness comes first. If the Kuru Kingdom is the one in the wrong, you cannot expect me to ally with you or even send a single soldier from my kingdom."
His golden eyes sharpened slightly.
"I can become a friend.
I can become family.
I can become an ally.
But I will never become someone's weapon against dharma."