Kunti Takes Charge of Hastinapur Affairs : Episode 69

Bhishma, Kunti, Gandhari, Draupadi, Vidura and others offer prayers

Bhishma, Vidura, Gandhari and Kunti bless Draupadi and ask her to light the lamp to drive away the darkness in their lives and illuminate it with divine light. Kunti prays that her sons who have known no happiness till now should start living happily with Draupadi and start their marital life now.

Duryodhana stops Shakuni angrily from entering his room, calling him deceitful and opportunist for having participated in the welcome ceremony extended to the Pandavas. As usual, Shakuni remains calm and explains that he chose to befriend them so that he could destroy them at an opportune time. Being close to the Pandavas would help him to keep an eye on their thoughts and movements. He also wanted to emulate Vidura who had built the reputation of being impartial and common to all. He had also learned from Vidura how to defer reacting to events and keeping emotions under control. Duryodhana and Dushasana are pacified by Shakuni's explanations.

Gandhari returns to her room and hears a disembodied voice that says Draupadi whom she had blessed a while ago would bring about the destruction of her sons. Dhritarashtra finds Gandhari quite shaken. Gandhari expresses her worries. Dhritarashtra wonders if he could seek counsel from Bhishma or Vidura but Gandhari doesn't want it, lest they mistake them as having a hatred for Draupadi. All that she would do is to see that her sons do not cross path with Draupadi and leave the rest to fate.

Kunti lights a 'deepa' in front of Pandu's portrait and prays fervently. All of a sudden, Pandu manifests before him. Kunti says how she and her children had to suffer in his absence. Pandu says he gave up the throne because of the love for his brother, but he now realizes that the sacrifice has gone unrecognized and unappreciated and has even put the life of his children in jeopardy. Now he wishes the kingdom to go to their first born Yudhishtra. To make this possible, Kunti has to act courageously and resolutely. Kunti expresses her helplessness, but Pandu reminds her that she is indeed the queen and others are bound to obey her command. She has to cut the strings of deception that have bound her sons. Pandu admits to feeling guilty of having neglected their son's interests. Then he makes Kunti sit on the throne and commands her to guide their sons appropriately so they get what is their due.

A sudden transformation comes over Kunti. She orders the servants to restore Pandu's palace to the opulence and glory it had when Pandu was alive. She orders the chief maid to assign other maids to take care of Draupadi's needs. She then calls for the Finance minister to apprise her of the current situation. When the minister is somewhat reluctant to disclose royal secrets, she reminds him that she is the queen.

Kunti then calls for Vidura and speaks to him in commanding tones, making sure that he understands that she is speaking with the authority of the queen. She orders Vidura to arrange for Yudhishtra's coronation. When Vidura suggests discussing the matter with King Dhritarashtra, Kunti is furious and reminds him that this has already been finalized and announced before they left for Varanavata. Vidura's duty was to act as per her command and remind Dhritarashtra about it.

Pandavas and Draupadi, who have been watching the proceeding with awe, ask her if it was indeed not a dream that they had just witnessed. Kunti says life in the jungle has taught her many lessons. A lion who wants to establish his territorial sovereignty would indicate it with his roar and majestic stride. An elephant who wants to lead the herd would march ahead of everyone. As a queen mother she did just that. Pandu had been declared Hastinapur's emperor and he had given it up only temporarily. She was completely aware, just as her children were, that Dhritarashtra wouldn't agree easily, but she has to make the first political move and send the right message.

Dhritarshtra and Gandhari are sitting, whereas Duryodhana is pacing up and down angrily, trouncing Dhritarashtra's action in tearfully embracing the Pandavas. Though Dhritarashtra expresses his undying love for Duryodhana, his actions belie it.

Just then, Vidura enters the scene and asks for a private audience with the king. Duryodhana demands that Vidura speak in their presence. Vidura conveys the news from Queen Kunti, but Shankuni derisively asks which kingdom was Kunti queen of. As usual, Duryodhana mocks and taunts Vidura. Vidura is unfazed by Duryodhana's vicious comments about his partiality to Pandavas and says Duryodhana could mock him as much as he could, and like Shakuni, call him a dasi's son. Finally, Dritarashtra agrees to call for a meeting of the elder statesmen the next day.

The next day, Dritarashtra, Bhishma, Vidura, Kripacharya and Drona discuss who should be crowned the king. Everybody concurs that Yudhishtra is the eldest and also that he is the son of the 'chakravarthi' or monarch. Dritarshtra is a little peeved that he isn't considered a monarch, after all. Kripacharya explains that he was the ruling monarch but Pandu was crowned the monarch. Duryodhana and others are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the deliberations and vacillate between hope and despair.