Many thousands of years ago in India, there lived a king. The king was very old and he knew that he was soon going to die. Before a meeting of all his people, the king declared, "My son, Yudhish, shall be king after me." But when the king died, his wishes were ignored. His son did not become king. Instead the king's blind brother seized the throne and made his son, Ditar, the new king.

The new king was weak and cruel. In his heart, he knew that he was sitting in the throne which rightly belonged to his cousin. Once when he was visiting his cousin's house, the king slipped and fell on a marble floor. His cousin and his cousin's family all laughed.

'The new king is as blind as his father!' they said.

The king was furious and, from that moment on, set out to destroy Yudhish and all the members of his family.

He invited them to visit him at the palace at a time when a gambling festival was taking place. Ditar cheated so that Yudhish lost all of his money and his land. Unable to pay his debts, Yudhish and his family was forced to leave India for thirteen years.

On his return, Yudhish tried to regain his land. Lord Krishna went on his behalf to Ditar. But Ditar would not listen. Instead, he tried to take Krishna hostage. The god only had to draw his sword to send the king and his men scuttling away into a corner to hide.

War was the only solution to the problem.

As the two armies lined up to face each other, Arunja, Yudhish's brother and the greatest archer in India, began to have doubts. The people he was going to fight included his family and friends, his old neighbours and teachers. Sitting in his chariot, Arunja let his famous bow fall from his hand.

'What's the matter with you?' asked the driver of the chariot.

Arunja explained his doubts.

'I don't see why I should have to fight,' said Arunja. 'I'm confused. Please tell me what do to.'

Arunja had asked for advice from the right person because the charioteer was none other than Lord Krishna.

Krishna reassured Arunja that he had justice on his side. Ditar wasn't the rightful king and his stubborness has brought about this war. The god reminded Arunja that it was his duty to fight, to use his skills as an archer to save lives. As for the lives he was about to end, Arunja was to remember that no arrow could destroy the spark of Brahman that was in every living thing. Krishna went on to tell Arunja all about wisdom and how to gain it. And the easiest way for a person to gain wisdom, according to Krishna, was by loving him.

While Krishna delivered this long speech, the armies waited patiently for the battle to begin. At last, Arunja was persuaded that he should fight, and raising his bow, he rained arrows down upon Ditar's army. The battle lasted eighteen days. Millions of men, and hundreds of thousands of horses and elephants died. But, in the end, good triumph over evil and Ditar's army was destroyed.

Yudhish crowned his young son, Pari, as the new king.