Hi everyone 👋

I know, I know... you're probably thinking:

"Why does the author always update this A/N instead of updating the next chapter!?"

Even if you're NOT thinking that... well, I'm still going to tell you my reasons anyway!

Why This A/N Exists?

1️⃣ This A/N has the most reads and votes.

And honestly? I DO NOT want to accidentally delete it while editing the chapters. That would break my heart 💔

2️⃣ It gives readers a place to share feedback, suggestions, and doubts about the story. (AKA a mini discussion zone!)

💡Have a suggestion?

No need to ask, "I have a suggestion..."

Just drop it here in the A/N! I'll read them all, and if I like an idea, I'll add it to the story (Of course with my own twist!)

3️⃣ It gives me, the author, a place to just ramble.

Whether it's about the story, my random thoughts, or life in general... this is my little corner to connect with you all...

4️⃣ To convey important messages to everyone regarding the updates.

---------------------------------------------------------

I can see that everyone loved the last chapter.

I know the chapter was overwhelming... the entire concept of Karma and Leela, understanding their depth, and how they intertwine can feel like a lot.

But I felt it was necessary.

Why? Because this idea is the foundation that makes the entire story's logic work.

I wanted to make sure that everything in this story follows a deeper logic, not just in terms of events but also in philosophy. The Mahabharata is not just a war story, it's a journey of Dharma, Karma, and destiny, and I wanted to do justice to that.

So yes, the chapter might feel intense, but it's what ties everything together.

---------------------------------------------------------

And I wanted to share something with you all.

How did I come up with the idea of Krishna and Shani Dev discussing Karma and Leela?

To explain that, we need to go back about 7-8 months, around the time I wrote the scene where Jarasandha dragged Gandhari in front of the people of Hastinapur.

Since the beginning of this story, the Kala Chakra plot twist was always part of my plan. But I made you all believe that Karna was seeing the future when, in reality, his visions were of the past.

The Kala Chakra turned, giving Karna a chance to change everything. But this is the same timeline repeating itself. The events will happen in the same way unless Karna and Vritrasura make changes. And if they do change something, it will trigger other changes. It's the cause-and-effect structure.

So while writing, I had to carefully think, What would stay the same? What would change?

While working on this, I also wanted to show Karna's bond with his celestial family in the story. To do that, I had to research them properly. That's when I started reading about Shani Dev. And once I started researching Shani, I naturally ended up reading about Karma.

What is Karma? How does it work? How does it affect people, and how does it play out in our lives?

Karma is also cause and effect, actions and consequences, and my story's main plot of Kala Chakra follows the same concept. So I had to understand Karma deeply if I wanted to write my story in a cause-and-effect structure.

If it is the same timeline and is repeating, what happens to Karma?

So, I didn't just stop at one source. I read from different websites, watched videos, serials, philosophical discussions, and took notes on anything that helped me understand Karma better.

By the time I revealed the Kala Chakra plot twist, where Karna says...

"If I am given a chance, then it should only be given after Draupadi gets her justice."

This means Duryodhana's death is the moment the Kala Chakra would turn. Everything that happened after his death in the original timeline never actually happened.

(How Draupadi died then before the Kala Chakra turned? It's another plot twist so don't ask me, I will not reveal...)

So:

- Gandhari never cursed Krishna.

- The Yadavs never fought and destroyed each other.

- Krishna never had to witness his people dying.

That made me think... If Gandhari never cursed Krishna, does that mean Krishna's suffering also never happened?

So, I started thinking... what happens to Karma in this case?

At first, I came up with a simple idea... Krishna's Karma would take a new form. Since Gandhari's curse never happened, Krishna's suffering never came in that way. But Karma never disappears, it always finds another path.

So I thought, What if Krishna's Karma now comes through his daughter, Aaradhya, in this repeated timeline? Maybe, in this timeline, she would be the one to suffer in some way.

I was sure this was the direction I wanted to go.

But then, just a few days after I decided on this plot, I randomly came across a video.

The video said:

"Gandhari's curse is not Krishna's Karma. Who said Krishna has Karma? Krishna is beyond Karma. He is Parabrahma, and his avatars do not have Karma."

I was shocked. My first reaction was, Wait... what?

Because think about it... everything in the war happened because of Krishna. He knew everything. He could have stopped it, but he didn't, or he tried, but the war had to happen for Dharmasthapana. And Gandhari's curse to Krishna came from her grief over losing her sons.

So how could Krishna not have Karma? Doesn't Gandhari's curse prove that even he had to suffer for his actions?

Then I learned that

- Karma applies to jivas (individual souls) who act with desires, attachments, and ego. But Krishna, being Sarvajna (all-knowing) and Satyasankalpa (one whose will is absolute), does not act out of personal desire or ignorance. So Karma cannot bind him.

- Krishna allowed the events to unfold as part of his divine leela for Dharmasthapana. Just because Krishna accepted the curse does not mean he was bound by it. It was a part of his leela he orchestrated, not something he "deserved" due to past Karma.

Still I wanted to know more.

That's when I came across another video about Barbarik.

Barbarik was the grandson of Bhima and the son of Ghatotkacha. He was a great warrior who possessed three divine arrows (Teen Baan) granted to him by Lord Shiva. These arrows were so powerful that...

1. The first arrow would mark all enemies.

2. The second arrow would mark all allies.

3. The third arrow, when shot, would destroy all enemies and return to the quiver.

Because of this immense power, Barbarik was known as the "One Who Could End the War in a Moment."

Before the Kurukshetra war, Krishna approached Barbarik in disguise and asked which side he would support. Barbarik, being a true Kshatriya, said he would fight for the weaker side. Krishna then pointed out that whichever side he fought against would automatically become weaker, forcing him to switch sides continuously, eventually destroying both armies.

Realizing this paradox, Krishna decided that Barbarik could not be allowed to participate in the war. To prevent him from fighting, Krishna asked for his head as a donation (daan).

Being a great devotee of Krishna, Barbarik agreed but requested that he be allowed to witness the war. Krishna granted him the boon that his severed head would be placed on a hill where he could watch the entire battle unfold.

While the Mahabharata does not mention this episode, many later retellings and folk traditions, says that Barbarik witnessed the war.

There was one part in it that really stood out to me.

After the war, when the Pandavas celebrated their victory, they asked Barbarik,

"Who fought the best in the war?"

Barbarik's replied,

"I saw only Krishna fighting. Everyone else was merely an instrument in his hands."

This statement also aligns with Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, that he is the ultimate doer, and everything happens through his divine will (Leela).

It made me realize...

Krishna doesn't have Karma because everything he does is his Leela.

He is not bound by cause and effect like normal people. He creates the circumstances where Karma plays out for others. But he himself is beyond it.

This also perfectly aligns with the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna says:

"Actions do not taint Me, nor do I desire the fruits of actions." (Bhagavad Gita 4.14)

Krishna is saying that he is not affected by any action he performs. Unlike humans, who perform actions expecting results (good or bad), Krishna acts only for the Dharmasthapana, not for personal gain. His actions are part of his divine play (Leela) and do not create Karma for him.

That's when I got the idea for the conversation between Krishna and Shani Dev.

A lot of people see Karma and Leela as two separate things. But after everything I learned, I started seeing them as deeply connected.

Krishna's Leela sets the stage for Karma to unfold. And Shani Dev ensures that Karma plays out as it should.

That's why, in my story, I wrote this dialogue from Shani Dev to Krishna:

"You set things in motion, and I see them through. You give choice, and I give consequence. You walk ahead, and I follow... or it's the other way around. Or perhaps we walk together."

This also connects to what I read about Ishvara (the Supreme God) being the one who gives Karma Phala (the results of Karma).

Since Ishvara can be either Shiva or Vishnu, this means Narayana himself is Karma.

That's why I wrote the Karma-Leela conversation the way I did.

---------------------------------------------------------

A Confession to My Readers...

If you've been with me from the start of this journey, you probably already know this. But for those who don't, I want to be honest.

I use AI tools to help with my writing. Especially when writing deep philosophical passages like the potter and clay metaphor or the river metaphor or any cryptic or deep wisdom talks in the chapters. AI helps me structure them better.

But the story, the emotions, and every character's journey? They are completely mine. AI only refines and structures specific parts.

Some people might ask... "If AI helps, does that mean you're not the real author?"

My answer is simple...

✅ I create the story - Every plot twist, emotional moment, and character interaction comes from my imagination. AI doesn't decide what happens... I do.

✅ I shape every scene - The flow, logic, and even the smallest details are written from my vision.

✅ I edit and refine everything - Even if AI helps with phrasing, I go through it, simplify it, and adjust it to fit my storytelling style.

---------------------------------------------------------

Why This Story Means So Much to Me

I didn't grow up obsessed with the Mahabharata. I only got interested in it after I heard about Karna.

At first, it wasn't even Krishna. It was always Karna who stood out to me the most. But as I read more, both Krishna and Karna became my favorites. I also realized that every character has a story to tell and a lesson to teach.

I read a lot of different Mahabharata stories and fanfictions from different authors. And then I thought, Why not try writing my own version?

I wanted to show the Mahabharata through my perspective.

And I know how much effort and time I have put into researching and writing this story. Every little detail, every emotional moment, I have worked hard to make it feel real.

So some may see the story as AI-assisted writing like "Oh, this story is well-written because of AI and that's why it's good and all..."

And that's okay. Because to me, this story, its heart and soul is mine. Because I put my time and effort into writing every chapter, bringing it to life with emotions that AI cannot create.

I just wanted to share this with you all because while you're praising my writing, I felt it was important to be honest before accepting that praise...

Now that you know my secret, am I still worthy of the praise?

---------------------------------------------------------

If you truly love this story, please show your support by being patient, voting, commenting, and sharing your thoughts. It means the world to me!

See you in the next update!!! Stay tuned... ❤️