Krishna told Karna the direction in which Ashwatthama and his family would be. Karna and Avantika thanked Krishna, they went in guided direction of sabha though it was filled with Maya but it was not something that would confuse or surprise them. They easily crossed all the illusion as it was nothing and saw Ashwatthama was standing with his family and guests of Hastinapur there. Seeing them coming towards them the son of Ashwatthama hurriedly came near them and touched their feet.

Shambhu : Pranipat Mamashree and Mamishree.

Both : Aayushman bhava Putra.

Ashwatthama along with everyone too came there, they were surprised to see them here as they knew Pandavas didn't or couldn't defeat suryaprast neither they have alliance so how did Karna and Avantika was here. Ashwatthama came and hugged his friends while Dushala did same for Avantika.

Ashwatthama : How are you Mitra? And why are you here?

It was question in minds of Hastinapur's occupant too which includes, Bheeshma, Vidhur, Duryodhana and dhussan.

Karna (smiled) : I am fine, we will talk later first let me greet everyone. Pranipat Pitamah, mahamantri Vidhur, Yuvraj Duryodhana and prince Dhussan.

Elders : Kalyan ho.

Rest : Pranipat.

Dushala was bored of such conversation so she has already pulled Avantika with her out of sabha most probably meeting the women in Indraprastha.

Bheeshma : Do tell Putra, I am also curious.

Karna : Nothing Pitamah, I have promised Rajkumar Arjun that he can ask one thing from me on his wedding,he asked this so I am here.

Duryodhana : Does that mean suryaprast would accept hegemony of Indraprastha.

Karna : That I am not sure about, I will talk to Maharaj Yudhishthir first about the kind of relationship our kingdom would have, if we came to agreement then may be if not than it won't be possible.

Ashwatthama : But you gave words to Arjun Mitra, would you go back on it.

Karna : Mitra, I am mere mortal not god, my words is nothing if it results in harm for society, i am not some who in his ego of completing a vow let harm come to common and innocent citizens of my nation. I am also not breaking my words, Arjun wished me to come so I came but he never asked to willingly participate in rajsuya yagna.

Bheeshma was listening to words of karna closely, thanks to talk he had with Karna which opened his eyes and stirred him towards Dharm otherwise he was sure doom was written in future of Kuruvansh. Again listening to him he realised may be it is his ego not dharm that he was adherent to his vow. He know everything about Karna through Mata Ganga and in his opinion it should be karna who should be doing rajsuya yagna though he may not need it as he was unofficial Samrat. He decided he would support Karna in negotiations because Karna put well being of society before everything if yudhishthir can't came to agreement with him then he was not worthy of title.

Vidhur (frowned) : But Sam...

Vidhur eyes opened wide as he realise what he was going to say, other were astonished too. Due to their better relationships they are used to meeting Karna but it was also truth that he was uncrowned samrat of Aaryavrat and there couldn't be two Samrat.

Karna (smiled) : For me being samrat or not is of no consequences mahamantri but I don't want a Samrat who is underserving to have hegemony over suryaprast. I would talk to Maharaj Yudhishthir if we came into agreement then i would accept it because I don't want unnecessary bloodshed otherwise I am sorry to say there would be no Samrat in Aaryavrat.

Though it could be considered as rude and arrogant what Karna said but everyone present there know it was not arrogance but truth whatever he said. Pandavas would have to conquer Suryaprast and even they acknowledged it was near about impossible may be if yudhishthir became samrat then Vasudev has to fight on their behalf and Karna wouldn't fight him but since he was not it wasn't possible because karna too had alliance with major power of Aaryavrat which includes dwarka northern panchal and various other kingdoms who would happy to be neutral then to face Suryaprast. Well wisher of Pandavas became slightly scared, Duryodhana, Dhussan and Ashwatthama saw view point of Karna.

Karna was talking with everyone but soon an soldier came and told him that Yudhishthir want to meet him to discuss something in his chamber where rest Pandavas and Krishna were present. Karna nodded and decided to go with him but others present there too tagged along to see how meeting between them would end.

They all went with soldier and soon came before chamber, soldier knocked and told of his arrival with guests, upon receiving the message to enter they entered the room. Pandavas were shocked to see not only Karna but others were with him too. Karna and others who entered the room saw Pandavas along with Krishna was there, seeing Krishna Vidhur and Bheeshma was relaxed though for different reasons. Vidhur thought Krishna would pursude Karna while Bheeshma was sure Krishna would help Pandavas see points of Karna though they both know negotiation would successful, the thought was shared with every occupants of the room.

Pandavas : Pranipat Maharaj Karna, Pitamah, Kakashree, Ashwatthama, Duryodhana and Dhussan.

Guest too greeted as appropriate.

Yudhishthir : I didn't knew you all would be coming with Maharaj Karna.

Bheeshma : We tagged along to see what would be conclusion Putra.

Yudhishthir : As you say Pitamah. Maharaj Karna I heard from keshav that you wish to discuss something before agreeing to participate in rajsuya yagna we hope to reach a coordinal relationship.

Karna : Why not Maharaj, i wish the same.

Yudhishthir : Then let's all sit down and discuss.

They all sat down.

Yudhishthir : Maharaj Karna, what are your conditions to willingly participate in this yagna.

Karna : I have few conditions Maharaj Yudhishthir,

First, Indraprastha would have no right whatsoever regarding ruling of Suryaprast.

Second suryaprast would not do any offering to Indraprastha.

Yudhishthir : We don't want rights Maharaj we just want blessings, I assure you we won't interfere with working of Suryaprast and we don't want offering from suryaprast.

Karna : Fine then to avoid bloodshed I agree to participate in this yagna but Maharaj if I ever saw you or you kingdom steering from dharm then I will no longer acknowledge you as samrat and would do Digvijaya and rajsuya yagna myself.

Bheem : How dare you to threaten us, Sutputra? My jyeshtha is dharmraj everyone know that there would no way he or our kingdom be any part of Adharm. What Dhram are you talking about? is it like yours? You yourself is an adharmi which went against all norms of society? True dharm would itself establish when rajsuya yagna would happen because like in Vedas a true Kshatriye would rule over arryavrat not a suta.

Other Pandavas too agreeing with Bheem, others were frowning. Krishna and Bheeshma because of insult of Karna. Duryodhana and Dhussan because they too think highly of Karna. Vidhur though didn't like comment of Karna but still disagree with Bheem's words.

Ashwatthama (angrily) : Be in your limits Bheemsen. How dare you to call my friend adharmi?

Nakul : What wrong did he say? Is he not Sutputra or did he not break norms of society. No matter how much he tried it is fact lower cast people are impure.

Ashwatthama was getting so angry that his mani was shining dangerously alarming everyone, karna who was quietly listing to everything held hand of his enraged friend to calm him down.

Karna : Do you think so also Maharaj Yudhishthir.

Yudhishthir : Yes, it's written in Vedas that shoodra and vaisya took birth to repent misdeed of their previous birth and brahman are epitome of Dharma. What ever written in Vedas is absolute truth and true Dharma.

Karna laughed hard at that though Krishna and Bheeshma coul hear pain behind it, other thoughts he was laughing at Yudhishthir.

Karna : Then Maharaj are you saying whatever Ravan did was dharm? He was as brahman too.

Yudhishthir (eyes widened) : No, i am not saying that. Ravan may be brahman but he was asur too.

Karna : Then are you saying vibhishan was asur too, he was blood brother of Ravan. Are you saying what he did was wrong.

Yudhishthir : No, ........

Yudhishthir was left speechless, he wasn't able to answer.

Karna : Then Maharaj, can you tell me why maryadha purushottam Sri Ram killed one and gave boon of cheeranjivi to another. As for lower caste people being impure Maharaj don't forget Sri Ram ate bitten jujube from Mata Sabri who was shoodra too. Ponder over my words Maharaj, since I agreed previously I would partake in yagna but never think my words are empty and if I want to become Samrat none of you can prevent it.

Saying that Karna left the chamber, he was use to such hostility from Pandavas. Ashwatthama too left with him he was very angry if karna had not stopped him he would have cursed the Pandavas and left the yagna but he knew his friend want to avoid bloodshed not that he was scared of anyone. Duryodhana and Dhussan too left so did Bheeshma but not without giving disappointing look at Pandavas even Duryodhana was better than them and he considered him evil for most of his life. Vidhur too left he too was disappointed because deep in his heart he knew he was dasiputra too so this was thought of his beloved nephew towards him too, ones who he loved and adored as his children has such thoughts. Krishna though didn't show he was angry but he was furious, he knew karmfal of Pandavas would soon come to haunt them but he was astonished by Karna even being humiliated and insulted suryaputra did his duty as big brother and tried to guide his younger brothers where he could leave and this yagna would be in vain. The laugh of Karna was resounding in his ears only he could discern how much pain his devotee have felt at that time. Lone tear nearly flew from his eyes but he controlled it. He like Karna has decided to guide Pandavas but their arrogance crossed all the boundaries today, he knew they would pay and it would be their fault not of anybody else.