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Conflict resolution
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and themselves for the happiness of others. The prince was stunned by such a demand on the part of his brother, the King. Realizing that the palace was unsafe for him after refusing such a demand, he stealthily left his brother's kingdom and went to Vaiśālī which was under the rule of his maternal grandfather, Cetaka.
Kūņika sent a messenger to king Cetaka, asking for the prince to be returned to him along with the elephant and the necklace. Cetaka responded fearlessly to such an unjust demand saying, “Is your greed not fulfilled even with such an enormous kingdom that you are now attempting to snatch away your brother's rights? This is injustice of the highest order. The republic of Vaiśālī has always supported justice and protected those who have sought refuge within its walls.”
Well, the obvious outcome of this was war. Kūņika plunged into the battlefield with his army. On the other side, Cetaka prepared for war with the eighteen democratic states of Kāśī Kausala.
King Cetaka was a follower of non-violence, and abhorred bloodshed. But if the call of duty led him to battle, he was ready for that as well. He believed that to tolerate injustice is an injustice in itself. He adhered to the rules of right and lawful battle. He had vowed that he would attack only in defense or to vanquish injustice and never to wage war on the innocent. When such humane values are incorporated in war it makes it a religious battle, that which is done for the sake of duty.
The land of Vaiśālī became drenched in gory bloodshed. Within ten days Cetaka's arrows became the death sentence of the ten princes. The battlefield became a burial ground.
Kūņika began to lose heart. His friends from his previous incarnation, sakrendra and Camarendra, gave him sound advice, "It is difficult for you to win this battle with Cetaka; particularly when right is not on your side. Please refrain from this stubborn attitude”, they implored.
But Kūņika was not prepared to listen to anyone. When the
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