Borne by Varuna

Chapter 1: The Runaway Rajkumari

Glossary

Acharya - A highly learned teacher (male)
Acharyā - A highly learned teacher (female)
Akshashila - A fictional Indian kingdom, which is an arch rival of the kingdom of Jālaka
Aranya forest - A fictional forest bordering the kingdoms of Jālaka and Akshashila
Arati - A ritual commonly done to worship God. Also done when welcoming a guest or a friend
Astra - Weapon
Balika gurukul - A gurukul for girls
Bhāratvarsha - The ancient name of India
Brahmastra - An extremely powerful ancient Indian weapon
Dhoti - A type of trousers worn by draping a single piece of cloth.
Dhanurveda - A treatise on archery and other methods of warfare
Dhanurvidya - Archery
Dvaita - An ancient Indian forest mentioned in Indian epics
Dvandva Yuddha - Battle between two warriors
Gada - Mace
Guru - Teacher
Gurudev - Teacher. In this context, Gurudev is considered to be more learned than a Guru
Gurukul - An Indian academy where students stay for years to obtain education and undergo training under a guru or Acharya
Gurumā - Wife of the Gurudev
Hastinapura - A powerful ancient Indian kingdom located in Uttar Pradesh of modern India, where the conflict within the ruling family led to the Mahabharata war
Jālaka - A fictional Indian kingdom
Jarasandha - An ancient king of Magadha
Jhumki -A type of earring
Kamyaka forest - An ancient Indian forest mentioned in Indian epics. It was situated just north of the Dvaita forest
Kusha - A type of grass
Mahārāja - King
Maharani - Queen
Mahodaya - Sir
Mahodayā - Madam
Mata - Mother
Mātāmahah - Maternal Grandfather
Matulā - Maternal aunt
Mudras - Hand gestures used in Indian dancing
Panchabhuta - The five elements according to Hindu mythology (Water, Fire, Earth, Wind and Ether)
Pāndavas - The five sons of Pandu who are the heroes in the ancient epic, the Mahabharata
Paricharika - A female companion or attendant
Poha - Flattened rice flakes
Puja - A ritual done while praying
Rajkumar - Prince
Rajkumari - Princess
Sevika - A female servant or carer
Swayamvara - A gathering of eligible men from which a Rajkumari chooses her husband
Tilaka - A mark applied on the forehead
Uttariya - A long piece of cloth like a shawl, that is wrapped around the body
Virata - An ancient Indian kingdom, most likely spanning the Jaipur district of Rajasthan in modern Indian
Vedas - Hindu texts from several thousand years ago
Vedangas - Disciplines associated with the study of Vedas
Veena - An Indian musical instrument
Yuddha -- War

Salutations/ Expressions

Pranam - Greetings
Suprabhātam - Good morning
Shubharatri - Goodnight

The outskirts of Jālaka, 3142 BCE

Rajkumari Chitra paused by the door of the run-down hut. Her eyes darted to her sides and she adjusted the strip of cloth masking the lower half of her face. The street remained reassuringly deserted, save for the two boys kicking a ball to each other at the far corner.

Chitra's shoulders loosened. She took a deep breath and strode towards her horse, Pankti. The noonday sun was severe on her back as she patted the horse and mounted it. Just then, a woman appeared by the door of the hut.

"Can I not persuade you to stay a while longer, Mahodayā? Lunch is almost ready."

Earlier, Chitra had seen the steaming pot of rice gruel cooking on the brick stove in the hut. There was barely enough in there to feed the woman, her bedridden husband and her toddler who now appeared behind her, peering shyly from between the folds of her skirt. And yet, she was insisting on feeding her guest.

Jālakan hospitality never ceased to amaze Chitra. Their willingness to share what little they had, even with a masked stranger like her, showed that they truly embodied the spirit of the mantra 'Athithi devo bhava' - the guest is equivalent to God.