Summary:

"Never play a game that has been rigged against you, Meri Bhaanje. And if there is no way you could decline playing the game... find a way to rig the board to your favor."

-The King of Gandhar to the Prince of Hasthinapur.





"Never play a game that has been rigged against you, Meri Bhaanje. And if there is no way you could decline playing the game... find a way to rig the board to your favour."



His mamashree was a wise man who tried to teach him several lessons in his previous life. But if there is one lesson that struck Suyodhana it is those words.

Is that not what he and his uncle did when they played with Kaunteyas on that cursed Dyut Sabha? Is that not what Shree Krishna did to Karna on behalf of Partha? With those tactics did they not win Kurukshetra despite having a lesser army count? Even now in this great political game, aren't Mahaamahim Bhishma and Prime Minister Vidhur rigging the game so it would be favourable to the Devaputras?

Suyodhana was called a blind fool in his previous life... but he never knew he was this blind. He hated politics in his previous life, not knowing the cost of his obstinacy. How on earth did he ever survive until the end of the Great War in his previous life?

He was a sacrifice, he understood now. He survived because the Great Keshav decided that he and all who supported him should be wiped off the face of the earth in one stroke.

Anyway, the issue is that the board as of now is not in his favor. And with the arrival of Govind, the board will be so rigged against him that it will take Mahadev himself to save his family. And he very well knew where his standing with Gods was. Even praying to them is useless because whatever boons he and his brothers might be granted, they will put loopholes for those demigods to exploit.

Now Suyodhana has a dilemma. He could refuse to play this game against the Kaunteyas. But the issue here is that this is the game he cannot afford to decline. Because it would be an affront to Kshatriya Dharma, and he would be labelled as a coward. But if he goes against Devaputras, he will die and his entire family will follow him to the grave. The first choice will make him a mockery in the eyes of Aryavartha and it will make his and his siblings' life into a living hell. The second choice will cause the death of his family. His situation is like he cannot stay in the frying pan, and cannot jump into the fire.

Now... he might have told his brothers that he wanted to distribute the lands between Kaunteyas and Kauravas equally. But there are three main issues if the Kingdom was divided equally.

The first issue is with the bifurcation of Hasthinapur itself. Many people assume that it's because of his arrogance, that he refused to give the five villages to the Kaunteyas. Yes... he does agree that his arrogance played an important role along with the way the peace treaty was presented. But there is also a third factor for his refusal. It is in the villages, the Devaputras asked for.

Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Vanavartha and the final area of Suyodhana's choosing is asked by Sree Krishna on behalf of his maternal cousins. These four villages with any village in the Kingdom would cause encirclement of Kaunteyas within Hasthinapur. This will limit trade, resources and army movement, which would weaken Kauravas immensely. Hasthinapur has villages which are either very well-developed or not developed at all. Outside the encirclement, the Devaputras will have most of the developed areas and without trade to the outside the entire economy of Kaurava-occupied Hasthinapur will suffer.

The Kingdom cannot be divided equally because if one side gets the developed part of Hasthinpaur, the other side will be insulted. And whatever side the Kaunteyas get... people will always side with them.

The second issue is with the members of the court and yes he's even including his parents in it.

When Hasthinapur was bifurcated and Indraprastha was formed, the only reason most of the people in the kingdom didn't leave for Indraprastha immediately was mainly due to two reasons. The first reason is that the common people have properties in Hasthinapur and the second reason is the trust that the sheep had in Mahaamaahim Bhishma and Prime Minister Vidhur. It took a great amount of time for people to gain trust in his administration in his previous life.

If those elders are not with Kauravas, then there will be no people for them to rule within ten years of his rule if he is made the ruler of Hasthinapur. And even that's a stretch, to say the least. If he sent away the elders of Hasthinapur, there would be riots all over the Kingdom. And as soon as they could leave the citizens will leave and he'll be left with a skeleton kingdom. If he forced the people to stay he'll be called adharmi and well it's enough for those demigods to snatch the kingdom away.

Even though he sat on the throne of Hasthinapur in his previous life, Mahaaamahim Bhishma and Prime Minister Vidhur hated him and prayed fervently that Yudhistir would take the throne. A Kingdom in which a King cannot trust his ministers will fall to ruin. And expecting any help from the elders of Hasthinapur is beyond foolish. His father is blind to all the political mechanisms and has a tunnel vision of making him the Crown Prince. He is an able administrator but he has no mind for politics. If he wanted his son to take the throne, he or his wife should have trained his children in politics. His father is a puppet king in the face of Mahaamahim Bhishma and Prime Minister Vidhur. For all both moaned that Dhritarashtra never listened to them, the advice he discarded was always biased towards those Kaunteyas. No father will ever strengthen the sons of his enemy. That is basic common sense. The rest of the time he always bowed to their wisdom.

If Kauravas get Khandavprastha after bifurcation, then no citizen will ever come to that kingdom. Because none of the citizens of Hasthinapur trusted him and he could not build a kingdom without any citizens. It's not like he could depend on the Gods to help him build a city, unlike those demigods.

The third and the most dangerous issue he has for now... Propaganda.

Suyodhana never knew how powerful propaganda is till he lost his friend and was reborn. Karna is right... He lost love and even the throne before he was born.

Queen Pritha is a political shark whom he overlooked in his previous life. An orator who could give a masterclass in white-washing.

When that wild buffalo Bhimasen, in his previous life, kicked him down from a tree he was plucking mangoes from just because of his sadism, his actions are covered up by saying Suyodhana was stealing the fruits. Just for one second, think again. Why the bloody hell would a Prince of a Kingdom need to steal from the garden? The garden was provided to the widow of the previous King by his father and it was the property of the Kingdom. A Prince has the bloody right to take anything that is produced in the property of the throne of the Kingdom. His hands got fractured and despite being the owner, he was insulted as a thief and Bhimasen was heralded as the Protector. All of that just from a single tear from that woman.

People say he poisoned Bhimasen. Yes... yes, he did. Bhimasen was almost a foot and a half taller than him and his brothers and was stronger than most of the adults. Any child would be scared of such a person. When his brothers refused to play with him, the bastard turned into a mad elephant and beat all of them black and blue. The strength in his arms could break the bones of an adult. So imagine what it would do to a child.

His brothers were all he had at that time. His father was blind and his mother chose to be blind, so neither of them could see the injuries inflicted by that rakshasha. And those so-called dharmis saw the injuries and in clear prejudice towards the sons of Kunti, dismissed those injuries. A strong child with a heart of gold, they said about that rakshasa. More like a mad elephant with no impulse control who tramples down anyone or anything if it does not go his way.

Broken ribs, fractured arms, broken teeth and other injuries are dismissed just like that. Instead of scolding him and telling him to control his cruelty, he was praised for his strength. And people wonder why he hated that fat buffalo. Emboldened by their silent blessing, that mad elephant continued inflicting injuries on his siblings. Suyodhana started to lose respect for his elders at that time. Seeing his brothers' suffering, he decided to take matters into his own hands and put down that mad dog.

That's the reason why he poisoned him. The same elders who turned a blind eye towards the suffering of Kauravas grew enraged when one of the Kauteyas got hurt. Even his mother hated him without knowing the reason behind his act. Did he do the right thing? Most certainly not. But what other choice did he have? No one ever heeded his words. Between the tears of a widow and an ill-omen child, even his own mother chose the widow. All the beatings, all the injuries and all the insults hurled towards the hundred sons of King Dhritarastra were white-washed by a few tears of a manipulative shark who decided that her son should ascend the throne.

People said he tried to kill Bhima by throwing him in the river. But they forgot his ten brothers who were water-boarded by that rakshasha. The whitewashing and propaganda were so effective that people really believed that Kaunteyas could do no wrong. And instead of getting punished for his deeds, the fat pig gained the strength of ten thousand elephants to torment his brothers even more.

Lakshagraha is entirely his fault though. Despite being the eldest son of the King, Suyodhana was denied his birthright and Yudhistir was made the Crown prince of Hasthinapur. Many could argue that Yudhistir was born before him. But a basic question they forgot to ask themselves. If you adopt a child, would you give him a higher status than the person born in your family? Most certainly not. The children of blood must come first. Only then will the adopted children have a share in any property.

But that was not what happened. King Pandu adopted those Devaputras through Niyoga. The keyword is adopted. And yet Yudhistir was made the Crown Prince because Bhishma, Vidhur and the Brahmins of society said so. Didn't his father listen to their words then? So Suyodhana, in his wrath and jealousy hatched a plot to kill off all the Kaunteyas. It was not the right thing to do, but he knew even if a single one of those demigods were alive, the elders would make them the Crown Prince.

Many people cursed him by stating that he organized that cursed Dyut Sabha to snatch the kingdom from Kaunteyas. But no one will ever curse Yudhistir.

In the beginning, Both sides lost and gained equally in Dyut Sabha. Then Yudhistir started winning several dice games in a row. The Kauravas lost their treasury, crops of the land for several years and even taxes gained by the Kingdom. And yet Yudhistir did not stop the game despite winning all of that. No, he continued his game till the Hasthinapur throne was placed at stake. Then and only then Mama Shakuni made Suyodhana win. The son of Dharma Deva once said that his acceptance of the invitation to Dyut Sabha is because 'Denial of an invitation to Dice, and a summon for war is an impropriety for a Kshatriya.'

You accepted the invitation to the game as per propriety and you won more than enough to increase your wealth to two-fold so you should have left. Suyodhana was called the epitome of greed but can anyone honestly say Yudhistir is any better? At least he as the eldest Kaurava, never staked his brothers and his wife on a dice game in his lust to gain the throne. Yes, he was greedy at seeing the wealth his cousins managed to amass, he will never deny it. But can anyone say Yudhistir is not lustful for the throne? Both he and Yudhistir are of Kshatriya blood. The lust for the throne is embedded in every cell of their body.

The advantage was given to him on a golden platter and Suyodhan, with his foolish actions, jealousy and wrath, wasted the best chance he ever got in his life. His chance to prove that those demigods are as fallible just like humans. Yudhistir made one of the worst mistakes in his life, and showed off how much he is controlled by vices. He staked his brothers like chattel. The worst thing Yudhistir did was that he objectified his wife as the most beautiful woman on earth and said she would be a Kauravas slave if he lost. That day showed his nature and it would be enough for the entire kingdom to turn against the Jyestakaunteya. But just because of his foolishness and jealousy, he ordered the Paanchaal Princess to be stripped in the assembly.

Draupadi did not deserve that. The venom of his jealousy should never have touched her. Suyodhan knew he had made the greatest mistake in his life on that day. If he left her alone, Yudhistir and the rest of Kaunteyas would be humiliated before the entirety of Aryavartha. Just because of his lust, ego and jealousy, he made the worst mistake of his life by ordering the fire-born princess to be stripped in open court. The greyness was washed away and the situation became black and white by the white-washing done by the ministers of Hasthinapur. Duryodhana humiliated a woman, so he is an adharmi. Kaunteyas promised to avenge their wife's honour. So they are dharmi. They say Kurukshetra was fought to avenge the insult to Paanchaal Princess.

Then why are Yudhistir and the rest of those demigods not killed alongside himself, Sushasana and Karna? Why were the rest of his ninety-eight brothers killed when they did no wrong? Hell most of them are not even present during Dyut Sabha. What sin they have committed other than having Suyodhana as their brother?

Even the peace treaty was a sham. The first demand to restore Indraprastha to its former glory cannot be done by Hasthinapur. Indraprastha was in complete ruins after the Kaunteyas completed their exile.

Sage Vishwakarma has designed and built the city. Just to build the city back to its former glory will empty the treasury of Hasthinapur. And that was just for the city itself. The Palaces built by Mayasura are masterpieces in both architecture and illusions. The first demand will financially cripple Kaurava-occupied Hasthinapura. Few of the materials used in the construction of that city are not even found on the earth. It was a demand that Hasthinapur could not bear.

The second peace treaty term was for all his brothers to fall on Draupadi's feet and gain the forgiveness of Yajnaseni. He really should have taken this deal. But in his ego he refused. But the fact is that Draupadi would never have forgiven him. Hell, his own wife Bhanu never forgave him for what he did to Paanchali. How could they think that Draupadi would ever forgive him, he never knew. Hell, she had her hair unbound for thirteen years just to wash it in the blood of Sushasana. Expecting forgiveness even if he agreed to those terms is idiocy. If she did not forgive them, well the war would have started nonetheless. And most of his brothers were not even part of the humiliation done to the fire-born Princess.

The third peace term was to give one village for each of the Pandavas. But the villages asked by those Devaputras through Govind would cause the kingdom to be divided concentrically. It would eliminate trade, water and soldier movements for the Kauravsena. This option will cripple Hasthinapur financially and economically. So in his wrath, he declared that he would not even give a land worth the tip of a needle to those demigods. People say that Yudhistir did not want war. If that's the case, he should not have started it or should have bought better terms during the peace treaty.

And even if he gave them a single village what are the chances that won't conduct a Yaga and confront him and his brothers again? It's not the first time they did this after all. They were given Khandavprasta and they performed Rajasuyagna that crowned him as the Samrat. Last time they didn't attack Hasthinapur. But will it be the same this time?

But no one ever cared about his reasons. His refusal portrayed him as a stubborn jackass who refused to listen to his elders and spit on the peace treaty sent to him by the Kaunteyas.

'Bhala Sri Krishna... Bhala. You wished for war to kill everyone on my side and you succeeded with your skills and planning.' He thought. 'You made even my mother abandon me. You might be my enemy but I really should applaud your wit.'

'Purvsoochit hona saksam banata hai.' Forewarned is forearmed they say. And yet even with all the foreknowledge he has, Suyodhana and his brothers are caught in Chakravuyh which he has no hope of breaching.

He has roughly five years left before Govind enters the political playground and fifteen years when the Narayana avatar will start helping the Kaunteyas. Twelve years of his life will be spent in Guru Dronacharya's ashram. Partha and Keshav will meet together in Paanchaal Princess' swayamvaram and from that moment they will be unstoppable. He has to spend every moment planning on how to save his family from being annihilation. he has no other choice.

"Parameshwaraaa!" he prayed in his heart to his mother's favourite deity. "Please give me wisdom enough to pass this trail of fire."

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Two Months Later.

Nestled within the verdant embrace of ancient woodlands near Hastinapura, Dronacharya looked over the place constructed by the Crown of Hasthinapur as his Gurukul. He swore to himself that in future this Gurukul would be a place that would be renowned for wisdom and martial prowess. Enchanting flora, resplendent in hues of emerald and gold, encircle the hallowed institution, weaving a tapestry of tranquillity that fosters an environment conducive to both intellectual and physical pursuits.

The gurukul's architectural magnificence unveils itself through intricately carved structures adorned with symbols of knowledge and martial valour. Stately spires pierced the heavens. As sunlight filtered through the foliage, it bathed the courtyards in a warm, ethereal glow, casting a radiant aura upon the sanctum of learning. Training grounds sprawled expansively, their earthen expanse punctuated by meticulously arranged weaponry.

This Gurukul's facilities mirror opulence without ostentation, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetic grace. Lecture halls are adorned with tapestries depicting tales of valour and virtue. There was a common dormitory in the place where all the Princes would sleep together. This is made to their foster bonds as Guru Bhratas so that they might form a life-long bond. The kitchens are still not stocked as the soldiers are awaiting his instructions about the food to be given to the Princes. The only food present in the kitchens are tumblers filled with cow milk.

Dronacharya smiled softly. Aswatthama wanted to taste cow milk because his friends teased him. But because of his poverty, his wife Kripi was unable to provide milk for her son and had to mix rice flour in water to deceive him. It scarred his child's heart. Now because of the Crown of Hastginapur, he does not lack for anything. He swore that he would serve this place with all his heart.

Hasthinapur didn't spare any expense not only on building this Gurukul but also on the house he was provided with.

The abode he was provided with is an area draped in vines and embraced by ancient banyan trees, its architecture is also a seamless fusion of modesty and grandeur. The entrance, adorned with intricately carved wooden panels depicting scenes from epics, opens into a courtyard where fragrant blossoms bloom in riotous colours. The air is redolent with the scent of jasmine and sandalwood, weaving a tapestry of olfactory delights that greets visitors with a sensory embrace. The rhythmic murmur of nearby rivulets and the gentle rustle of leaves provide a natural symphony, orchestrating a serene ambience.

He was told that the place was chosen by his wife. The garden he is seeing used to be a barren wasteland and Kripi converted it into a beautiful garden. The house itself is a symphony of simplicity and sophistication. Low, tiled roofs crown the structure, offering respite from the sun's embrace. The interior walls are adorned with paintings narrating tales of valour and virtue. Muted hues of saffron and ochre dominate the living spaces, imparting a sense of calm and introspection. All of this tranquillity is marred when he saw the Suta who dared to insult his guru.

After the milk incident, despite lacking materialistic desires, Drona sought to secure their well-being. Upon learning of Parashurama's generosity, Drona approached him for aid and left to search for the Vishnu Avatar. He heard that Guru Parashuram was going to visit his old student Devarata Bhishma of Hasthinapur. Before Guru Parashuram reached Hasthinapur, Drona found him but it was already too late. Parashurama has given away all his wealth and land he had. Not wanting to send a Brahmin empty-handed, he offered Drona a choice between his body and divine weapons. Opting for the weapons and accompanying mantras, Drona felt blessed, yet his financial struggles persisted.

So he went to his childhood friend but was insulted by him in the open court. Parameshwar ki krupa... he got an offer from the throne of Hathinapur to be the teacher of the Kuru clan Princes as his brother-in-law referred him.

He heard all about the rambunctious Kaurava Princes from his brother-in-law. He heard that the court of Hasthinapur was at its wit's end on what to do with the hundred rebellious, lazy and ill-omen children. Mahaamahim Bhishma suggested that if the children are to be sent to Gurukul their behavior might be tamed.

So when the search for a Guru for the Princes of Hasthinapur started, his wife's brother, Kripa nominated him as a teacher. He only managed to pass the severe tests given to him on Shaastra and Astra-Shaastra by Bhishma only due to the knowledge he received from Guru Parashuram. He left the construction of his house in the capable hands of his wife and overlooked the construction of the training grounds and Gurukul.

It was during this time he heard about that arrogant suta. His wife Kripi was a tough woman to please. She doesn't give out praise unless the person in question does an excellent job. So when his wife praised the young commander of the Samudra division on his dedication to his duty, he was curious about the person who with his dedication to duty, managed to impress his wife.

The suta has a reputation for being a cruel, obstinate but extremely cunning person. Those three natures which should never be present in one person. And to add even more complications, Prince Suyodhana was said to listen to only two people in the palace. His mother and that bastard. And the hundred Princes will never cross the line drawn by the eldest Kaurava. And that suta was the reason why the Suyodhana willingly gave up his right to be the Hasthinapur's Crown Prince. So removing a person who has such sway over the eldest son of the King is quite difficult.

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Six weeks ago, King Dhritarashtra called a summons for elders and the ministers of Hasthinapur. Then after getting permission from his father, Prince Suyodhana stepped up and declared.



"I, Prince Suyodhana the eldest son of King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari, hereby declare my voluntary decision to renounce and give up my right to the position of Crown Prince of Hasthinapur. After careful consideration and reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of the country and its people for me to relinquish my claim to the title and responsibilities of Crown Prince. I have the utmost respect for the traditions and institutions of our country, and I believe that this decision will contribute to the stability and harmony of the nation." He stated in a strong voice.



The entirety of the court looked at each other in confusion. They never thought that the stiff-necked prince would ever give up his right to the throne. Mahaamahim Bhishma, Prime Minister Vidhur and Kulguru Kripa looked at the King whose face was clear of emotion. The Queen's blindfold turned wet with tears. Undeterred by the proceedings in the court, Suyodhana continued.



"I hereby renounce all privileges, titles, and responsibilities associated with the position of Crown Prince, and I release any claims to the throne, both now and in the future. I pledge my continued loyalty to the royal family and the country. I affirm that this decision was made of my own free will and without any coercion or undue influence. I understand the implications of this declaration and accept the consequences of my decision." Taking a deep breath, he turned to his father. "Pitashree, please accept my statement officially."



With tears in his eyes, the blind King has affirmed "We, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari as the placeholder monarchs of Hasthinapur, hereby acknowledge and accept the decision of our beloved son, Prince Suyodhana, to renounce his rights to the position of Crown Prince voluntarily. We have received and considered his formal declaration of abdication of the rights and responsibilities associated with the position of Crown Prince. We express our unwavering support for our son's decision and commend his sense of duty and responsibility in making this choice. We understand and respect his reasons for relinquishing the title and affirm our commitment to upholding the dignity and honour of his decision."



Everybody expected that the King would reject his son's declaration. His ambition to see his son on the throne was well known to the ministers of the court. What has happened?



"As the placeholder monarch, we hereby declare our acceptance of the abdication of Prince Suyodhana from the position of Crown Prince and assure him of our continued love and support. We recognize the importance of ensuring a smooth and orderly transition within the royal family and pledge to uphold the traditions and principles of our monarchy. This declaration is made in accordance with the laws and customs of our nation, and we affirm our commitment to the stability and continuity of our royal lineage and the welfare of our people. For that reason, I declare Prince Yudhistir, the son of my brother King Pandu and Queen Kunti, as the Crown Prince of Hasthinapur. When Prince Yudhistir comes of age, after completing the traditions and examinations, he will become the King of Hasthinapur."



The joy in the eyes of Mahaamahim Bhishma and Prime Minister Vidhur seeped to the bones of the rest of the court and the atmosphere became joyous. The King and the queen along with their family left the celebrations. Bhishma looked as if a large load had been lifted from his shoulders and a wide smile adorned his face. No one except him saw the disappointment on the faces of the monarchs. The stories portrayed the Prince very differently from what he is seeing. So to quench his curiosity, he followed the Prince secretly to one of the training grounds in the Palace where he saw the Prince with a soldier who didn't attend the festivities.



"Are you not going to attend the festivities, Vasusena?"



"I have a feeling that you need someone with you at this time, Little Prince." The Head Charioteer of a division, judging by his uniform, replied."So here I am." The Prince sat down and smiled at the older child with tears in his eyes.



"Do you want to know why I did what I did today?"



"Seeing as it's partially my fault. Yes..." The suta replied in a soft tone bowing his head in shame. "I'm really sorry for that, Little Prince. I should never have spoken those bitter words and hurt you."



"Why are you sorry, Vasusena?" The Prince questioned. "You didn't tell a single lie. Truth is sometimes bitter. It's not your fault Vasusena. At least by your words, I managed to understand the situation I am in before it's too late. My father was adamant on refusing my words you see. So I repeated the words you spoke to me to my father and mother. It took a long time for me to convince them but I managed to make them see my point."



"So why did you do this? I understand only one part." Vasusena asked the Prince.



"Never play a rigged game. This is one of the lessons I have learnt from watching you, Mitr Karna." Vasusena's eyes suddenly sharpened to an alarming degree and he looked at the Prince intensely. Why he did that Drona never knew but the expression changed in less than a second. "You always rig the game to your favour. That's the reason why no one has ever managed to beat you in any debate. Now the Game of Politics is heavily rigged against me. In this game, if I lose it means the death of me and all of my brothers. So I'm changing the rules of the game."



"Who is this Karna, Little Prince?" Vasusena asked tilting his head. "Is he a new friend of yours? "



Suyodhana was silent for a few moments. "Never mind that, Vasusena. Anyway, my parents want to meet you in the near future. But for now, I'm in the mood to let out some steam. Fight with me. "

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Drona then asked around about the boy and heard about the altercation between Vasusena and Guru Parashuram. Despite his wrath against the suta, he controlled himself. It was mostly due to a few reasons.

Both these boys are contradictions. Their infamy and their actions do not match up. A week after Suyodhana gave up his rights to the throne, he heard from his brother-in-law that he, Prime Minister Vidhur and Mahaamahim Bhishma were barred from the King's quarters and the quarters of Kaurava Princes, except for the matters of state.

The arguments placed by the Prince managed to drive a wedge between the King and the ministers of Hasthinapur. The Prince himself admitted that he put front the arguments of that suta. King Dhritarastra respected the Pitamah of Hasthinapur very much. To turn that level of respect into hate requires a special kind of intellect. The intellect of a dangerous kind.

Going against this suta unprepared is very dangerous. The boy is a master manipulator and a great strategist. So Drona decided that he would control himself and try to rig the board against the suta and would have him punished for what he did to his teacher. He will not let anger control him and take rash actions as Pitamah Bhishma did. He will avenge the insult dealt to his teacher.