Two days after the thunderous end of the Mahayudh, the vast plains of Kurukshetra held a mournful silence. The surviving soldiers of the Dharma Alliance, exhausted but alive, tended to their wounds and, with solemn respect, conducted the cremation rituals for the fallen on both sides. The air was thick with smoke and quiet grief.
In his tent, Bahubali slept—a sleep so deep it resembled a coma, the inevitable collapse after the superhuman exertion of facing Krodhakala. For two days, the man who had saved the continent was completely unconscious.
When he finally awoke, it was to a world purged of immediate terror. After eating his fill to recover his strength, Bahubali proceeded to the main command tent, where the surviving kings and Maharathis were holding a meeting.
As he entered, every head turned. A spontaneous, thunderous wave of applause erupted, a roar of genuine respect and gratitude that eclipsed the sound of any battle drum. He had faced the impossible and won.
Bahubali simply nodded, acknowledging their tribute, before the heavy silence of deliberation settled once more.
Lord Krishna broke the silence, his eyes fixed on Bahubali. His tone was one of absolute certainty, reflecting the consensus of the divine and the mortal.
"Maharaja Bahubali," Krishna began, "You have not simply won a war; you have single-handedly established a new Dharma for this age. You faced an impossible threat and, through your sacrifice, preserved the balance of Aryavarta. The time of fragmented kingdoms and self-serving monarchs must end. I propose that Bahubali be crowned the Emperor of Aryavarta."
The proposal, though grand, met with immediate, unanimous support.
Duryodhana, the Crown Prince of Hastinapur, stood first, his voice firm. "Bahubali is my friend, but more importantly, he is the shield of this world. The Kauravas are ready to join his banner. We accept him as our sovereign Emperor."
Dharmaraj Yudhishthir, the eldest Pandava, spoke next, his voice echoing Duryodhana's sincerity. "We stand in awe of his courage. The Pandavas, too, pledge our loyalty and our strength to the Emperor Bahubali."
One by one, every king and leader of the Dharma Alliance agreed. Furthermore, all the major enemy kingdoms that had fought—Sindhu, Pragjyotisha, Paundra—were already without leadership, their kings having been slain in battle. Their armies were defeated, and their lands now fell under the protectorate of Magadha.
Thus, by acclamation and divine will, the decision was sealed.
Within weeks, a grand ceremony was held, though simple by imperial standards, reflecting the character of its new ruler. Bahubali was crowned the Emperor of Aryavarta, ruling from his capital in Magadha.
Immediately, invitations were dispatched to all other kings and kingdoms that had remained neutral during the war. Having learned the terrifying tale of Krodhakala and Bahubali's heroics—the simple man who sacrificed his own Karmaphal to save the world—the independent kingdoms quickly and willingly agreed to join his empire.
The entire continent of Aryavarta had now declared the King of Magadha their sovereign Emperor.
Bahubali wasted no time. He immediately began the massive undertaking of implementing reforms across the entire empire, mirroring the successful policies he had pioneered in Magadha.
He solidified the Nyay Rakshaks as the continent-wide apparatus for justice, eliminating corruption, ensuring fair trade, and establishing governance that focused on the welfare of the common people rather than the whims of the nobility.
This era of reform, marked by stability and righteousness, healed the wounds of the Great War and ushered in a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity.
The years passed smoothly under the just and firm hand of the Emperor. Once Bahubali had completed his monumental task—when the reforms were fully implemented, the infrastructure was stable, and the entire continent was unified under a system of true Dharma—he felt his karmic duty had been fulfilled.
He called his family and the great Maharathis to his court. Without fanfare or hesitation, the great Emperor abdicated the throne.
He crowned his son, Rudra, as the new Emperor of Aryavarta.
His purpose achieved, Bahubali withdrew from the burdens of governance, choosing to enjoy the quiet, simple life he had long sought. He lived out his days peacefully with his beloved wife, Dushala, his daughter-in-law, Avantika, and his grandson, Amarendra Bahubali, enjoying the fruits of his monumental service to the world.
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A/n: Thanks for reading this fic.