THE CURSE OF BRAHMA Read Online Free

(commander-in-chief) of their army. He was about five years older than Vasudev and had been trained by the same guru in the art of warfare. But where Vasudev showed more interest in the philosophy of war, Sini was a natural warrior. He could kill without compunction as long as he knew he was fighting for the right side. Yet Sini would be the first person to concede that if and when Vasudev decided to enter the battlefield, the young prince of Bateshwar would prove to be a formidable warrior; because there is no one more fearsome than one who fights only when he has to fight, and then too only for the right cause. Such a man never breaks down in battle, and knows no fear once the decision to fight has been made in his mind. Sini Yadav knew Vasudev was one such man.
    ‘Thanks for coming at once, Sini,’ Vasudev said in his characteristic gentle voice. He knew Sini had been busy taking the entire army of Bateshwar through daily maneuvers, getting them prepared for the upcoming battle with Somdatta and the army of Bahlika. Even though Vasudev had not yet confirmed to Somdatta that he had agreed to the battle, Sini wasn’t one to take any chances. Like the thorough senapati that he was, he had begun preparing the army as if the battle was already on.
    ‘You called for me prince,’ Sini said quietly. ‘That was enough for me to come right away. Have you decided what you want to do?’
    ‘I am still not sure,’ Vasudev said softly. I love Devki as no man would love a woman but I don’t want our marriage to be based on the slaughtering of thousands of soldiers from two different nations.’
    Sini waited patiently. He knew Vasudev was talking more to himself, than to him; trying to come to a decision that he could live with, after everything was said and done.
    ‘I wish there was some way of handling this without staking the lives of so many innocent people,’ Vasudev sighed in frustration.
    ‘What do you have in mind, Vasudev?’
    ‘I want you to go to Bahlika and convince Somdatta to fight me in single combat, instead of engaging the two armies. That way no innocent lives need to be sacrificed.’
    Sini sighed. He had expected Vasudev to come up with something like this. Surasena had also anticipated this and had discussed it with Sini. The senapati knew what he had to do and say. His voice was firm now as he spoke to Vasudev. It was no longer the friend and confidante speaking. It was the voice of the commander-in-chief of the army of Bateshwar; the second most powerful man in the kingdom after the king.
    ‘Prince, I cannot allow you to fight Somdatta in single combat.’ He lifted his hand to stop Vasudev from interrupting and continued. ‘Your intentions are noble and I respect you for this, but this will set the wrong precedent for the future. What happens if tomorrow a powerful king covets the wife of another king? Will he not invite the weaker king in single combat? And once he defeats him, what happens to the hapless wife? Or for that matter, if a king envies the prosperity of another and invites him to single combat and wins over his kingdom? Are we to let one man decide the fate of an entire kingdom, Vasudev? This is not possible. Nations have armies so that they can protect the sanctity and sovereignty of the people from lustful kings and invaders. Today, even if a king is mightier than another, he thinks twice before he attacks a nation, because he knows his people will have to face an entire army. Even if they win the war, there will be massive casualties. And this prevents wicked rulers from waging unnecessary wars. If you agree to fight Somdatta in single combat today, you may defeat him, but what if other kings or princes elsewhere don’t have your valour or your prowess? Can we afford to set up a precedent that will become a curse for other kings and their nations?’
    Sini paused to catch his breath. Vasudev looked closely at his friend. He realized why his father had appointed Sini as the senapati of