Gautamiputra Satakarni

Satakarni vows to his mother Gautami Balasri and commits to uniting the 32 kingdoms. He begins his mission at the age of 18, aiming to end internal strife and establish a peaceful reign. He outlines the guiding principle: peace by surrender or war for those who resist.

Across the subcontinent, he offers rulers a stark choice: surrender and peace or face war. This policy is meant to win kingdoms through courage and diplomacy while creating a unified frontier. His message travels with him as he campaigns through southern India.

After 18 long years, Satakarni consolidates control over the entire South. He defeats rivals and brings vast regions under one banner through a blend of strategy and strength. The unification lays the groundwork for a larger imperial dream.

Satakarni marries Vasishti Devi and begins a family that will anchor his legacy. The couple have a son named Pulumavi, strengthening dynastic continuity. The marriage also ties important regional alliances to his rule.

Nahapana, ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, suppresses royal princes to secure his domain. Satakarni weighs the odds and resolves to confront him, taking his son Pulumavi along on the campaign. The move signals a high-stakes push to extend the empire's reach.

Vasishti objects to the military expedition, fearing Satakarni's dictatorial tendencies. However, he remains determined to pursue unity. She eventually decides to accompany him, balancing personal concerns with the larger goal.

Greek emperor Demetrius waits at the border, ready to seize an opportunity as the Indian campaigns unfold. Satakarni presses on toward Nahapana's fort, focused on consolidating the southern kingdoms. The pressure from a powerful rival underscores the imperial stakes.

Satakarni reaches Nahapana's fort, defeats him, and rescues the imprisoned princes. He brings the feudatories under a single banner, signaling a new era of unity. The victory strengthens his claim to rule over the southern lands and beyond.

He returns to Amaravathi with 32 swords taken from the rival rulers. Gautami Balasri orders melting these blades to forge a mighty symbol of unity. The act symbolizes transforming conquest into a unifying national myth and earns wide acclaim.

Vasishti, frustrated by Satakarni's rigid rule, contemplates leaving him. By her mother-in-law's entreaty, she agrees to stay until the Rajasuya Yaaga is completed. The couple's tension highlights the evolving dynamics of power and partnership.

During the grand ritual, Satakarni performs the Agra Puja to his mother, extolling the virtue of women and the motherly role. This moment catalyzes the transformation into Gautamiputra Satakarni and prompts the naming of Pulumavi as Vasishtiputra. The rite cements a new era for the realm.

Satakarni proclaims a new era, the Salivahana Sakha, and declares Ugadi as its starting day. The renaming signals a fresh political and cultural resurgence for the united India. The proclamation is celebrated across the realm as the new era begins.

Kanjira betrays the alliance by aiding Demetrius and enabling a nighttime assault on the fort. Gautami Balasri protects her son by thwarting the plot and maintaining the fortress. Her intervention preserves Satakarni's position and the unity of the realm.

Demetrius invades the Sindhu front with a vastly larger army. Athena, sent as a messenger, poisons Satakarni with a ring-pin, causing him to foam and faint. Balasri consults a Bhikkhu who provides the antidote, saving him to continue the fight.

While Satakarni heals, allied kings realize his true mission and join the fight. He recovers, returns to the battlefield, and defeats Demetrius. The victory affirms the unity of India and secures Satakarni's enduring legacy.