Somadatta

Who Somadatta is

Somadatta, son of Bahlika, ruled the Bahlika branch of the Kuru house and was the father of Bhurishravas. The Drona Parva tells that long before the war, at the svayamvara of Devaki, Shini of the Vrishnis overthrew him in single combat, and that Somadatta then won from Shiva, through austerity, the boon of a son who would humble Shini's line in battle. He was present at Draupadi's svayamvara (Adi Parva), fought for the Kauravas at Kurukshetra, and after the death of his son fell to Satyaki in the night battle of the fourteenth day.

“An old wrong done to my house waited long for its answer. I learned patience in the waiting.”

How Somadatta plays chess

A long-memoried king who builds solidly and waits through long manoeuvres for the moment to settle an old account.

The Strategist: Plays the long game: pawn structure, good squares and slow pressure.

Opening repertoire: Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Defence · Stonewall Attack

Somadatta's trial lies beyond the Level 30 gate, but you can play Somadatta any time in free play.

Sources

• Mahabharata, Adi Parva
• Mahabharata, Drona Parva

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