Scene 1
Shakuni, the representative of Dwapara, is worried about the delay in the delivery of Gandhari, though she has completed the full term. He sends for Kanika, the counsellor well versed in political affairs. Kanika suggests that he should conduct a mid-night pooja on amavasya day, chanting mantras from atharvana veda and give the offerings to Gandhari. This would ensure that she gets a strong son.
Shkuni convinces Gandhari to take part in the worship. Though reluctant, Gandhari is easily manipulated by Shakuni. At the end of the ritual, she partakes the offerings. The evil spirits in the nether world laugh uproariously.
Awakened from sleep, Bhishma enters the scene just then and chides Gandhari for following Shakuni blindly. But Gandhari retorts gently that nobody cared enough to find out what ailed her, and even though Shakuni was probably wrong, she can only see brotherly love in his action.
End of Vyasa's narration.
Vaishampayana
: Does it mean the people have to suffer the evil grips of Kali Purusha?
Vyasa
: Can you attain knowledge/liberation without exertion? Coal that is beyond the reach of air becomes a diamond. The earth that bathes in the hot flames becomes gold. One who swims through the sea of misery becomes God. Though people will have to tread the path of adharma, the destination is dharma. Just like there is one Kali Purusha for sowing the seeds of adharma, Lord will incarnate to sow the seeds of dharma. Dharma cannot be destroyed by anybody. That is because dharma alone is complete, permanent, the beginning, the end, the universe and the god.Vaishampayana
: Then where is the need for Kali Purusha?Vyasa
: Only in the desert, you will know the value of water. Only when the world is in the sway of adharma, will you realize the importance of dharma. That is why Kali Puruhsa has taken birth. But you don't need to worry. To establish dharma, Lord Krishna has taken birth.
Scene 2
Each of the Pandavas run in their minds the beauty of Draupadi as described by Vyasa. And each of them are submerged in their own thoughts, oblivious to their mother calling them. Kunti wonders what has happened to her lads. At night, she finds them sitting and brooding, and wonders why they behave like an unwed maiden.
Scene 3
In the Madra kingdom, King Shalya, brother of Madri, is getting ready to leave for Panchala. He has received the invitation for Draupadi's self-choice wedding. His wife is surprised when Shalya tells her he is going to Panchala to participate in Draupadi's wedding. He tells his wife he isn't going to Panchala to seek a wife for himself but to wreak vengeance against the Kauravas for killing the Pandavas including his own nephews Nakula and Sahadeva. It was possible for the Pandavas to come there too because, like Drupada, he too believes that Pandavas might be safe somewhere and attend the wedding. And if Arjuna won the contest and claims Draupadi's hands, there would be a combat between Arjuna and the Kauravas, and he would seize that opportunity to kill Duryodhana.
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