Circle Round Encore: The Scholar’s Reward
Sep 30, 2025
In this captivating tale, Summer Bishil, known for her roles in The Magicians and Four Samosas, plays a brilliant scholar who introduces the war-hungry Raja to the game of Chaturanga. As they play, the scholar reveals the surprising ripple effects of her unusual request for grains of rice, demonstrating the power of exponential growth. This enchanting story weaves together themes of strategy, kindness, and the transformative potential of peaceful alternatives, leading the Raja to reconsider his obsession with conquest.
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Arrival Of The Scholar
- A scholar arrives at the Raja's palace carrying a leather case and a drawstring purse and claims she can end his obsession with war.
- She asks to meet privately and presents a mysterious gift to the Raja: a checkered board and carved pieces.
Game As A Peaceful Battlefield
- The scholar explains the board and pieces symbolize a battlefield and the Raja's four-armed army.
- The Raja realizes he can experience war's strategy without real violence by playing the new game.
The First Game And Offer
- The Raja and the scholar play the very first game of chess, originally called Chaturanga, and he becomes hooked by nightfall.
- The Raja offers to reward the scholar with anything for teaching him the game.