001 CE. A 30-year-old Maḥmūd takes over the reins of the Ghaznavid Empire & turns his eye East. Persuaded by religious zealotry, he starts a cycle of mayhem & massacre in Bhāratavarṣa—the land of infidels & black magic, and of riches & glory—the likes of which the world had never seen before.
1025 CE. Rājendra Chola—the vanquisher of the Cherā-s & Pāndyā-s, the conqueror of River Gangā, and the overlord of Vengai—is ready to embark on a naval expedition to Ṣrivijaya Kingdom when the news of Somanātha Temple’s destruction reaches him.
Meanwhile, an ancient book in an unknown script calls out to its keeper, waiting for its secrets to be revealed.
An enraged son, yearning for battle—with a destiny yet unfulfilled—leaves a trail of destruction in his wake.
A lethal female warrior from a primitive tradition uses her skills to fulfil the rapacious ambitions of her Sultan & ingratiate him.


In this alternative timeline, the Chola king, enraged by the destruction of Somanātha Temple, impulsively changes his plans and decides to take Maḥmūd head-on.
Will this one decision of Rājendra Chola change the future and deter the future Ghauris, Khiljis, Bābars & prevent the recurrent massacres? Or will there be no Bhāratavarṣa anymore?
This is the story of Pūrva Pakṣa, Swayambodh, & Śatrubodha, the tale of a war between Dharma & adharma—a war that never happened but had the potential to change the course of history.