The Poison Immunity Tragedy

Dadi: "Guddu, tonight's story is both amazing and tragic. It's about the great Chanakya and an emperor named Chandragupta Maurya."

Guddu: "Chanakya was the clever teacher, right?"

Dadi: "The cleverest in all of Indian history. He was Prime Minister to Emperor Chandragupta, and he protected the emperor in every possible way - even ways the emperor didn't know about."

Guddu: "What do you mean, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Chanakya was so worried about assassination attempts that he started adding tiny amounts of poison to the emperor's food every day."

Guddu: "*gasping* He poisoned his own king?!"

Dadi: "Just tiny amounts, beta. So tiny that instead of harming him, it made his body immune. If any enemy tried to poison Chandragupta, it wouldn't work - his body had become used to it."

Guddu: "That's actually genius!"

Dadi: "But Chandragupta didn't know this was happening. One day, his pregnant queen Durdhara was having dinner with him. She was seven days away from giving birth. And Chandragupta... shared his food with her."

Guddu: "*eyes widening* Oh no..."

Dadi: "Chanakya arrived just as she ate the poisoned morsel. He immediately saw what had happened. The queen was going to die - there was no saving her."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "*voice heavy* He made a terrible choice. He couldn't save the mother, but he could save the baby. He cut her belly open and took out the child."

Guddu: "That's horrible, Dadi!"

Dadi: "It was desperate and brutal, but he saved the prince. The baby was premature - seven days before he should have been born. To keep him alive, Chanakya placed him in the bellies of freshly killed goats for the next seven days, one goat each day."

Guddu: "The baby survived that?"

Dadi: "He did. But a single drop of poison had touched the baby's forehead, leaving a blue mark. Chanakya named him Bindusara - "Bindu" meaning "drop.""

Guddu: "Like the drop of poison?"

Dadi: "Exactly. Bindusara grew up to be a great king, and his son became the greatest of all - Emperor Ashoka."

Guddu: "But didn't Bindusara know about his mother?"

Dadi: "He grew up hearing different stories. But there was a jealous minister named Subandhu who wanted to destroy Chanakya. He told Bindusara the truth: "Chanakya killed your mother.""

Guddu: "Was Bindusara angry?"

Dadi: "Furious! He asked his nurses, and they confirmed that Chanakya had cut open his mother. He didn't hear the full story - only the part that made Chanakya look like a murderer."

Guddu: "But Chanakya was trying to save the baby!"

Dadi: "We often judge people without knowing the full truth, beta. When Chanakya heard that the emperor hated him, he decided his life was over anyway. He was old. He gave all his wealth to the poor and widows, and sat down to fast unto death."

Guddu: "He just gave up?"

Dadi: "Bindusara eventually heard the full story from the nurses - how Chanakya had been protecting his father, how the food-sharing was an accident, how he had saved the baby's life. The emperor rushed to beg forgiveness."

Guddu: "Did Chanakya forgive him?"

Dadi: "*sadly* He was too hurt. He refused to break his fast. Bindusara sent Subandhu to convince him. But Subandhu, that evil man, secretly put burning charcoal inside Chanakya's seat and killed him."

Guddu: "That's so unfair! Chanakya died for no reason!"

Dadi: "For misunderstanding, beta. For half-truths told with evil intent. This story teaches us many things."

Guddu: "Like what?"

Dadi: "First, even the most brilliant plans can go wrong. Chanakya's poison immunity plan was clever, but he didn't consider every possibility."

Guddu: "Like the queen eating with the king."

Dadi: "Second, we should never judge someone without knowing the full truth. Bindusara hated Chanakya based on incomplete information."

Guddu: "He should have asked Chanakya directly."

Dadi: "Third, jealousy destroys. Subandhu's jealousy led him to commit murder. And finally, even the greatest people can be brought down not by enemies, but by those they trusted."

Guddu: "It's such a sad story, Dadi."

Dadi: "History has many sad stories, beta. That's why we learn from them. Always seek the full truth. Never make decisions in anger. And be careful of those who tell you only what serves their purpose."

Guddu: "I'll remember, Dadi. Poor Chanakya..."

Dadi: "His wisdom lives on, mera bachcha. That's his true legacy. Now sleep, and may you always seek truth before judgment."