9 The reception
‘Modesty carries very little weight in one who can boast no other recommendation.’
Kripa was walking along a grand corridor towards his quarters at the royal palace of King Dhrita-rashtra. With him was Sanjaya, the king’s ceremonial chariot driver.
‘Nevertheless,’ continued Kripa, ‘Charvaka would not have sent this boy to us without some reason. I should therefore be obliged if you would put him through his paces. But really I cannot imagine why Charvaka has gone to such trouble to introduce a young suta to our establishment. We have never been short of good drivers. The boy will need to prove exceptional or we shall simply have to return him to Anga.’
Kripa and Sanjaya turned into Kripa’s ante-room. Waiting for them there was the young suta he had been talking about.
