In Shivdattgarh, Maharaj Shivdatt does not sit idly, feasting on sweets without a care. In truth, the worries of the entire world have beset him. Day and night, he is lost in thought, and the days of his spies and aiyyars are spent in constant running about. He knows every detail of Chunar, Gayaji, and Rajgriha, for he has made thorough arrangements to receive news from these three places. Today, upon hearing that the kingdom of Gayaji had fallen into Raja Virendra Singh's hands, that Madhavi had fled, abandoning her realm, and that Kishori had been captured by Diwan Agnidutt, Shivdatt was thrown into turmoil and became so absorbed in his thoughts that he lost all sense of himself. He was so enraged at Kishori that, had she been present, he would have torn her to pieces with his own hands. Even now, he rose with the resolve: "Until…"

"I shall not eat a morsel of food until I hear news of Kishori's death," he declared, and went straight to the palace, ordering as he went, "Send Bhimsen to me at once."

King Shivdutt entered the palace and sat beside his queen, Kalavati. Kalavati tried her utmost to discover the cause of the sadness and anxiety on his face, but Shivdutt did not answer a single one of her questions until his son Bhimsen arrived in the palace. As soon as Bhimsen reached his parents, he bowed respectfully and asked, "What are your orders?"

Shivdutt: "You must have heard the news that has come today about Kishori?"

Bhimsen: "Yes, I have."

Shivdutt: "It is a pity, and yet you are not ashamed to show your face! Who knows when your bravery will ever be of use, or when you will prove yourself worthy of being called my son!"

Bhimsen: "I am ready for whatever command you give me."

Shivdutt: "I do not expect that you will obey me!"

Bhimsen: "I swear, holding my sacred thread in my hand, that as long as I live, I will do everything in my power to accomplish whatever task you assign to me!"

Shivdutt: "My first command is this: bring me Kishori's severed head."

Bhimsen: (after thinking for a moment and sighing deeply) "Very well, it shall be done. What other orders do you have?"

Shivdutt: "After that, do not return here until you have killed Virendra Singh or one of his sons. Do not think that I am entrusting this task to you alone. No, I myself will leave this Shivduttgarh today and will do everything in my power to cool the fire in my heart. Seeing the rising glory of Virendra Singh, I am convinced that I cannot defeat him in open battle, so from today I abandon all thoughts of fighting him directly and will instead follow the path favored by tricksters, thieves, and dacoits."

Bhimsen: "You have the authority, do as you wish. If you permit, I shall leave at once and do my utmost to carry out your commands!"