The royal ministers were talking about the different provinces in the kingdom, and soon, they began praising the beauty of a city named Varnavat.
“Varnavat is truly a paradise on earth, Your Majesty,” one minister said, bowing deeply to King Dhritarashtra.
“Its scenery is unmatched.
The landscapes are so beautiful that anyone who visits wants to stay there forever.”
”Yes,” another minister agreed.
“The temple architecture is spectacular, and the citizens are incredibly kind.
It is one of the brightest jewels in our kingdom.”
Suddenly, another minister stood up in the center of the court.
“Your Majesty, the Grand Festival of Pashupati Mahotsava is going to begin in Varnavat in six months.
It will be a massive celebration.
We should send a worthy royal representative to bless the people.”
Dhritarashtra leaned forward on his throne, pretending he hadn’t planned this all along.
He turned to the court and asked, “A grand festival deserves a grand presence.
Tell me, ministers, who should we send?”
Shakuni immediately stood up with a smooth, confident smile.
“Your Majesty, if I may speak,” Shakuni said, bowing elegantly.
“Prince Duryodhana is the best choice.
He has handled many official duties here.
Sending him will show the people of Varnavat how much the king cares about them.”
For a second, even Duryodhana’s heart skipped a beat.
He looked at his uncle in pure shock, his eyes widening.
What is Uncle doing?
he thought in a sudden panic.
The plan was to send the Pandavas there, not me!
But Shakuni caught his nephew’s gaze out of the corner of his eye and gave a reassuring smirk.
This was all a clever mind game.
Shakuni knew that if he suggested Yudhishthira, the court might get suspicious.
He needed someone else to suggest the Pandavas—and he knew exactly who would take the bait.
Before Duryodhana’s panic could show, a powerful, booming voice echoed through the court, stopping Shakuni’s idea instantly.
“I disagree,” Grandfather Bhishma said firmly, standing up.
His tall, powerful figure commanded absolute respect.
Shakuni’s smile twitched perfectly on cue, hiding how happy he actually was.
“Respected Grandfather, may we know why you object?”
Bhishma looked directly at Shakuni and then at Duryodhana.
“Our kingdom now has an officially declared Yuvaraj.
Yudhishthira is the next king of Hastinapur.
According to our laws and traditions, after the King himself, only the Yuvaraj has the right to represent the royal family at major festivals.
To send anyone else while Yudhishthira is here would be an insult to his position.”
Vidura nodded in agreement from his seat, leaving no room for argument.
The ministers quickly whispered among themselves, entirely agreeing with Bhishma.
Duryodhana finally understood his uncle’s plan.
He let out a quiet breath, and his racing heart calmed down.
Dhritarashtra cleared his throat, making the final decision just as he had promised his son in private.
“The Grandfather is right.
Yuvaraj Yudhishthira will go to Varnavat as our official royal representative.”
The king then turned toward the Pandavas, using a gentle, warm tone to make the trap sound like a grand reward.
“Yudhishthira, you and your brothers have worked tirelessly for the kingdom these past months.
Do not go there just for work.
Take all your brothers and your mother, Queen Kunti, with you.
Enjoy the festival, see the sights, and rest well before you return to your duties.”
Yudhishthira stepped forward, bowing gracefully with absolute respect.
He was completely unaware of the dark plot against his family.
“As you command, Uncle.
We shall leave for Varnavat.”
Another minister spoke up, “If all the Pandava princes and Queen Kunti are traveling, we must build a brand new palace for them to stay in.
This will show the people of Varnavat how much we value them.”
A second minister agreed.
“We also do not know how long Yudhishthira will stay to help improve that land, so building a dedicated palace is a great idea.”
With that, the court finalized the plan the new palace would be built over the next four months, and the Pandavas would travel to Varnavat once it was ready.
Meanwhile, a month had passed since Karna began his deep meditation (tapasya) on Mahendragiri mountain.
During the first week, he struggled to clear his mind.
He tried many times, but everyday thoughts kept distracting him.
But after that first week, he slipped into a deep, peaceful trance without even realizing it.
He forgot about the world, his past, and his future.
His only thoughts were of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati, and he repeated their names over and over in his mind.
A divine, spiritual light began to shine from his body, deeply changing his surroundings.
Wild animals naturally stayed away from the sacred ground where he meditated.
Sage Parashurama watched this from far away and felt incredibly proud of his student.
He knew that very few people had the discipline for such hard meditation, and even fewer could reach such a peaceful state so quickly.
As two months passed, the Kingdom of Anga continued to run smoothly while Karna was away.
Back in Hastinapur, the Pandavas remained completely unaware that they were walking straight into a deadly trap.
By the time Karna had been meditating for three months, his physical body had changed completely.
He was terribly thin, and his clothes looked like the rags of a street beggar.
Long, messy hair covered his entire face.
But while his physical body was weak, his spirit had risen to an incredible, divine height.