Rantideva

Who Rantideva is

Rantideva was a king of the lunar line so generous that he gave away all his wealth and lived on what chance brought him. Once, after forty-eight days without food or water, he and his family were at last given a meal. Before he could eat, a brahmin came hungry, then a shudra, then an outcaste with his dogs; Rantideva gave away all the food, and finally even the water to a thirsty man. The gods who had come in those forms revealed themselves, and he asked of them only that he might share the sorrows of all beings.

“Take whatever you need. I have learned to give everything away.”

How Rantideva plays chess

Gives everything away: offers material freely and wins through the goodwill of his position.

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

Opening repertoire: King's Gambit, Allgaier · Danish Gambit, Accepted (Main) · Evans Gambit, Accepted (Main)

Defeat Rantideva in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement The Last Meal and open the way to the next guardian.

Sources

• Bhagavata Purana, Book 9, Chapter 21
• Mahabharata, Drona Parva

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