Prestha, the magnate, did not remain indifferent to the situation. He contributed to the mobilization of the state army by securing from neighbouring areas hundreds of horses and chariots which he sold to the state, and thereby made a profit of thousands of gold pieces. Knowing that both the Chief Justice and the President were anxious about the war, the magnate voluntarily contributed a thousand gold pieces to the treasury. This gesture earned him not only the confidence and respect of both dignitaries, but also the right to participate in the secret councils of the state. The magnate was of the view that control of the army should be entrusted to well-known and tried senior officers and such army commanders as had lately proved themselves worthy of confidence. The Council met again to examine the question of military organization, but because of the intrigues of Acharya Pravardhan, the distribution of senior posts and the selection of commanders could not proceed smoothly. On the insistence of Kartavir, the feudatory chief, Arya Indradeep and Arya Vrishnesh were appointed the new commanders of the cavalry, while Arya Vinay Sharma was appointed commander of the chariot-borne army.

Little attention had as yet been paid in the Council to Prithusen’s petition for justice, and for a commission in the army. His father would often try to encourage and reassure him, saying, ‘Son, an opportunity is soon to come your way. Be ready and alert to take advantage of it. The wise men of Greece have a saying: “The god of opportunity has his face hidden behind his forelock. It is difficult to recognize him, but you can overpower him only by catching him by the forelock. The back part of his head is bald. It is easy to recognize the god after he had passed you by, but you cannot grab him by his bald pate.” Therefore, it is necessary to be prepared and alert in recognizing your opportunity. Son, if you have courage, valour and intelligence; if you have money, then your worth will be recognized in this very crisis. Have courage and gain the confidence of the people who matter. Go and wait on the aged Chief Justice and the President; establish personal contact with the feudatory chiefs, Okris and Indrasen …’

Despite his father’s advice, the thought of going to beg for acceptance and favour was unpalatable to Prithusen. He felt the cold silence of indifference and disdain towards him and found no satisfaction or sympathy anywhere, be it in the company of friends or in drinking booths or gambling dens. He no longer had any interest in high living or dancing. When time hung heavy, he would sit under a tree in the garden of his palace and shoot arrows at the fluttering leaves of trees, or play chess with the slave Shwang, who was his personal attendant.

In the evenings, Prithusen would sometimes go to the mansion of Mallika or of Vasumitra, but it would be mainly in the hope of meeting Divya there. It gave him great consolation to be near her because she shared his despondency—the one person who befriended him, looking upon him as an equal, who offered her heart to him despite the numerous obstacles in her way, who was his only support, and whom he could truly call his own. He yearned to take Divya away to some unknown place, to some secret hideout, and there, make a new home for himself with new friends; a new world, in which he would not be penalized for his birth; where he would not be a helpless victim of unknown deeds from his past lives; where he would have the freedom to act as he liked; where his energy and his talent would not be futile because of his being the son of a low-born father.