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| Dhritarastra visits Vyasa |
Dritarashtra goes to Vyasa's ashram. He tells the sage that he is unable to make decisions because of the predicament he is in. Vyasa asks him whether he is merely unable to take decisions or whether he does not want to take decision; after all he has already made his decision known (about crowning Yudhistra before the Pandavas left for Varanavata). Dritarashtra says Duryodhana refuses to accept that decision. Sage Vyasa points out Dritarashtra failed to tell Duyodhana in his young age itself that his elder brother Yudhishtra living in the forest is the undisputed heir to the throne. Instead he has filled his son with his own greedy thoughts of becoming the future king. Dritarashtra could never follow his righteous advice; after all, he was already aware of the justice but wanted to use the sage's name to further his own cause. Finally Vyasa advises him to remove the garb of father from himself and instead think and act like the king of Hastinapura and then all his confusions would vanish.
Krishna is playing the game of dice with Rukmini and his sister Subhadra. Balarama wants to go to Hastinapur to seek the alliance of Duryodhana for their sister Subhadra. Krishna cleverly avoids making the move, suggesting the time to be inauspicious and this could impact her future. Subhadra wonders how long this kind of dilly-dallying could go on, and at best they have succeeded in postponing the date by four days. Krishna says in mysterious tone that many things could change within those four days.
Kanika,Vidura's confidante and spy, tells Vidura that the people of Hastinapura want, by and large, Yudhishtra as their king, but even Duryodhana had his own supporters too. Yet the Hastinapura's citizens nursed the fear that the division between the Pandavas and Kauravas could lead to unrest and confusion in the kingdom and ruin their own future.
Gandhari is awaiting the return of Dritarashtra. The king tells her that Sage Vyasa holds him responsible for sowing seeds of greed in Duryodhana's mind. He then tells Gandhari to accompany him and tell Duryodhana that Pandavas have to be given their rightful due.
Kunti and the Pandavas are having their lunch. Yudhishtra admonishes Arjuna and Bhima for being rude and using insulting words about King Dritarashtra's birth. Arjuna and Bhima defend their action by pointing out how Duryodhana has insulted their mother by pointing insinuating fingers at their own birth. Kunti intervenes with the words that the poisonous arrow Duryodhana aimed at her turned towards his own father Dritarashtra who had remained a mute witness to Kunti's disgrace.
Draupadi who is listening to the conversation feels that her presence has added to the enmity between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. She says she doesn't want brothers to be fighting for a kingdom, and she suggests that they go back to Panchala. Kunti admonishes her and reminds her about her birth in the fire, and with such a background she should behave like a true kshatriya woman. She explains to Draupadi it is not merely a fight for throne; the wellbeing and the future of 56 countries that comprises Hastinapura depends on them. The Pandava brothers tell her the past injustices meted out to them, like being driven out of the kingdom to lead a tramp's life. Dritarashtra and Gandhari meet Duryodhana. Dritarashtra reminds Duryodhana of the sacrifice that Pandu has made, which makes it possible for Dritarashtra to become the king. For a second, Duryodhana is touched by the helplessness and love of his father and is prepared to rethink, when he sees Bhima taking majestic steps across the corridor and is once again filled with rage. He screams retribution as his only motive. Kanika, observing the goings-on, reports everything to Vidura.
Bhishma is seen praying. He tells Vidura the reason for his moroseness – love for Hastinapura. At the same time, Drona, Ashwathama and Kripa are also discussing the fight between the Pandavas and the Kauravas in which Kunti and Dritarashtra are disgraced. Drona expresses surprise over Arjuna's outburst. Vidura tells Bhishma that he would visit Vyasa who, he is sure, would offer him some way out of the tight situation.
Dritarashtra asks Gandhari what he should do. Gandhari asks the king to observe silence and offer no solution. She tells him to go to the battle field unarmed. She further explains that the king should relegate the decision-making work to someone he trusts and then follow whatever advice he gives. Before entrusting the decision making to someone, the king should think deeply, but suspend his thinking once it is done, and follow the directive as if it were God's command. Dritarashtra is happy with Gandhari's suggestion.
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