Servants moved silently among the royal rows, pouring cool water into goblets while guards resumed their disciplined positions beside the pillars.
Yet beneath the surface calm, tension only deepened further. Because by now most people already felt that the swayamvara was slipping toward only one inevitable conclusion.
Duryodhana slowly rose from his seat once more. The prince's voice echoed proudly across the massive gathering.
"We have all witnessed your excellence in the tests of your prowess as a warrior." His gaze swept across the assembled rulers before pausing briefly toward Karna. "You have displayed skill in archery, strength in combat, and mastery over weapons. And now, it is time to test your wisdom and knowledge."
Several elders in the court nodded slightly at those words. Duryodhana then extended his arm respectfully toward the royal platform.
"Now comes the final test… the test of wisdom and understanding. However, for this, my sister, Princess Dushala, will be the one to test you."
The arena quieted completely.
All eyes slowly turned upward.
For the first time since the swayamvara began, Dushala rose fully from her seat behind the curtains.
Several younger princes unconsciously straightened their posture. Others lowered their eyes respectfully. Even seasoned kings became quieter. Because until now she had only been the unseen prize of the competition. But at this moment she became the centre of it.
Dushala folded her hands gracefully toward the assembly. Her voice when she finally spoke was soft and gentle, yet carried clearly across the arena with surprising steadiness.
"I greet all the noble kings and princes gathered here today." There was no arrogance in her tone. No nervous trembling either. Only quiet dignity. Then, after a small pause, she lifted her gaze slightly. "I have only one question for all of you. What… is the greatest wonder in the world?"
Immediately, confusion spread visibly through the arena.
Several rulers exchanged startled looks.
Even some ministers sitting behind Dhritarashtra frowned slightly in surprise.
Because it was not the kind of question anyone expected.
There was no mention of governance, no question regarding marriage, family duty, loyalty, warfare or household responsibilities.
Instead, it was a question that seemed strangely simple and impossibly deep at the same time.
Duryodhana blinked in visible surprise before slowly glancing sideways toward Shakuni.
Shakuni's smile had frozen slightly.
Both uncle and nephew clearly looked caught off guard. They had expected Dushala to ask something easier to judge—something practical. Not this.
Meanwhile, seated above them, Bhishma slowly raised one eyebrow. Interest flickered openly in the grandsire's eyes now. Because unlike many others present, he immediately understood the depth hidden inside such a question.
The arena remained quiet for several moments before the first contestant finally stepped forward. A prince from Kosala bowed respectfully toward Dushala before speaking.
"Princess, in my opinion, the greatest wonder in this world is the rising of the sun every morning." He pointed slightly upward toward the sky. "Each night, darkness consumes the world completely. Yet without fail, Surya Deva rises again and brings warmth, life, and light to all beings equally. Kings and beggars alike depend upon it. Such a thing is truly wondrous."
There were polite nods from many listeners. The answer was respectable. But Dushala merely listened quietly without visible reaction.
Soon after, the king of Chedi stepped forward.
"The greatest wonder," he declared firmly, "is motherhood." His deep voice softened slightly afterward. "A woman carries life within her own body, suffers pain, gives birth, and raises another soul while asking for nothing in return. There is no miracle greater than that sacrifice."
Several older kings nodded in visible approval. Some queens seated within the royal viewing sections exchanged faint smiles. But once again Dushala remained silent.
Then a young prince from Avanti answered next, confidence visible upon his face.
"The greatest wonder is love." A few amused smiles spread immediately across parts of the court. The prince, however, continued sincerely. "Two strangers born in different homes, raised by different people, carrying different dreams… can suddenly become more important to one another than their own lives. Love can turn enemies into allies and ordinary people into heroes willing to sacrifice everything."
A few younger kings applauded lightly. Yet Dushala still did not react.
Afterward, Shalya stepped forward slowly. Unlike the younger contestants, his expression carried the calm seriousness of age and experience.
"I think the greatest wonder," he said deeply, "is time itself." The entire arena quieted again. "It moves endlessly forward like a river. No king can command it to stop. No warrior can defeat it. Time heals wounds, creates kingdoms, destroys empires, and eventually takes away everything we possess. We all live inside its flow while understanding almost nothing about it."
This answer drew stronger reactions. Even Bhishma nodded faintly. But Dushala still remained unreadable beneath her veil.
Then Satyaki of Dvarika answered next.
"Princess, the greatest wonder is human courage." His voice carried rough sincerity. "When danger comes, ordinary people often become capable of extraordinary acts. A father will stand before fire for his child. A soldier will protect his kingdom even while knowing he may die. Fear exists in every heart, yet people still choose bravery. To me, that is humanity's greatest wonder."
Loud applause spread through the court after his answer. Several warriors struck their palms together in approval. Duryodhana himself nodded appreciatively. Yet above them, Dushala still remained silent.
Then finally Karna rose.
At once the arena became completely quiet again.
Karna stepped forward calmly. Unlike many others, he did not immediately answer. Instead, he remained silent for several moments—thinking, reflecting. The stillness itself drew everyone deeper into attention.
Then finally he spoke.
"Princess…" His voice was calm and steady. "I listened carefully to every answer given here today." He glanced slowly across the assembly. "And truthfully… all of them are indeed wonders of life." Several rulers nodded slightly.
Karna continued. "Human existence itself is filled with countless wonders. The rising sun, motherhood, love, courage, time… these are all sacred parts of life."
Then his expression deepened slightly. "However… in my opinion, the greatest wonder in this world is something else."
The arena grew even quieter. Karna's eyes slowly lifted toward the gathered rulers.
"Every single day… we see death around us."
His words spread across the arena heavily.
"We see the elderly pass away. We see warriors fall in battle. We see disease, accidents, disasters and suffering. Every day, human beings watch others die with their own eyes." The wind moved softly across the silent gathering.
"And yet…" Karna paused briefly.
"We continue living as though death will never come for us."
Several expressions changed subtly now—some became thoughtful, others uncomfortable.
"We build plans for tomorrow. We chase desires. We dream of future victories, wealth, kingdoms, and happiness while completely forgetting that death can arrive at any moment without warning." His voice remained neither fearful nor dramatic—only truthful.
"Even after witnessing countless funerals… the human heart continues believing that it still has endless time remaining."
A long silence followed. Then Karna spoke the final words softly.
"This strange blindness… this hope that refuses to disappear even before certain death… in my view, is the greatest wonder in the world."
Complete silence descended afterward.
No applause came immediately.
Because the answer did not merely entertain.
It entered people's hearts quietly.
Several older kings lowered their eyes into thought. Warriors who had survived battlefields looked visibly affected. Even some servants standing near the pillars appeared unsettled.
And Karna's answer somehow made several other contestants think so many thoughts that they didn't come forward to express their opinions on the question either. Those who had yet to answer didn't open their mouth and stayed silent.
Above the arena, Dushala smiled softly beneath her veil—not because Karna gave the cleverest answer, but because he answered exactly like the man she had seen inside her heart all this time: a warrior who understood life deeply because he had suffered through it.
Nearby, Bhishma slowly nodded.
This time there was no hesitation within his expression—only clear respect.
Even Duryodhana and Shakuni exchanged glances afterward. Though impressed, both also looked faintly disturbed.
Because Karna's answer felt less like a swayamvara response and more like the words of someone who constantly walked beside thoughts of fate, mortality, and dharma.
Especially Shakuni.
For a brief moment, the Gandhara king felt strangely uncomfortable.
It was like listening to Yudhisthira's wisdom… if Yudhisthira had possessed Karna's terrifying strength and fearlessness.
Then suddenly Dhritarashtra laughed softly.
"Sadhu… sadhu…" The old king shook his head slowly in admiration. "What a profound answer indeed."
The atmosphere relaxed slightly afterward. Then Dhritarashtra raised his hand toward the royal platform.
"Now, Princess Dushala…" His voice carried gently across the arena. "All the tests have been completed. The final choice… is now yours."