Emperor Vikramaditya

Adity Kay

Can a king choose between duty and justice? India, 250 BCE. Peace reigns in the kingdom of Magadha, under the reign of Emperor Samudragupta. New alliances are made every day, trade and the arts flourish, and Chandra – the emperor’s second son – leads his father’s horse across the length of Bharatvarsha, cementing the king’s influence by performing the Ashwamedha yagna. But there is trouble brewing in Chandra’s mind. Duty-bound as he is to follow the wishes of Samudragupta’s successor, Ramagupta, his elder brother, who is well-trained in the shastras and has the unmitigated support of the Pataliputra court, Chandra wrestles constantly with his brother’s decisions – decisions that he believes are inimical to the stability of the empire. As Chandra struggles to obey, he must find answers that will decide the future of his kingdom – especially as an enemy unlike any the Guptas have ever known begins to challenge their might. This is the story of a youth who must fight the gravest battles both within and without if he is to become one of the greatest emperors ever known. This is the story of Vikramaditya.