Galava

Who Galava is

Galava was a pupil of Vishvamitra who, when his studies ended, kept insisting on offering a teacher's fee until Vishvamitra, exasperated, demanded eight hundred white horses each with one black ear. Unable to find them, Galava was helped by his friend Garuda, and King Yayati gave him his daughter Madhavi, who could bring him horses from kings in exchange for sons. After three kings gave two hundred horses each, Galava offered the horses and Madhavi to Vishvamitra himself, who accepted and released him. The story is told in the Udyoga Parva as a lesson against obstinacy.

“I have a plan and I will see it through, whatever it costs.”

How Galava plays chess

Stubborn persistence: insists on his plan long after it should have been changed.

The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.

Opening repertoire: King's Gambit, Kieseritzky (Main) · Dutch, Staunton Gambit (Main) · Sicilian, Wing Gambit (Persistent)

Defeat Galava in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement The Cost of Obstinacy and open the way to the next guardian.

Sources

• Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva

Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.