Embassy to Hastinapura: Peace Before Steel
Rumors swirled that Hastinapura's court, influenced by those uneasy with Dvaraka's rise, weighed whether to join the coalition forming in shadows. Krishna chose diplomacy before armor. He sent Uddhava with Daruka as envoy, carrying gifts not as bribes but as statements: grain from Dvaraka's stores, medicines from its healers, maps of sea routes that could enrich both realms.
In the Kuru court, elders listened while younger princes whispered skepticism. Uddhava spoke plainly: "Strength invites respect, but partnership multiplies it. Trade feeds more mouths than siege ever will." He proposed mutual guarantees—aid during famine, safe passage for merchants, an exchange of scholars and craftsmen.
Bhishma, old and anchored, asked the question beneath the question: "Why seek our friendship if you can stand alone?" Uddhava answered with a line that traveled back to Dvaraka: "Because standing together is cheaper than rebuilding alone." The court noted the practicality; Daruka's quiet demeanor underscored sincerity.
Hastinapura agreed to neutrality at minimum and cooperation at best. A caravan left soon after carrying Dvaraka's gifts and returning with Kuru artisans. The coalition's hoped-for ally had become at least a fence and perhaps a bridge.
The embassy returned to Dvaraka with news that diplomacy, when offered with respect and backed by credible strength, can bend outcomes. Krishna received them with a smile that said armor remains ready, but peace is the preferred currency.