18. Pandu Returns After Digvijaya – Satyavati Worried About Dhritarashtra's Greed

Recap

In the previous episode, Kamsa received the prophecy that Devaki’s eighth child would bring his end. Distrust and fear begin to take root, even as the political landscape in Hastinapura shifts with Pandu’s rising reputation and Dhritarashtra’s insecurity.

Kamsa Learns the Truth of His Birth

Kamsa sits alone in his chamber when a bat screeches and flies out into the night. He follows it to a desolate cave where a grotesque spirit appears.

Ghost:

I am your true father. It was me who warned you of Devaki’s child.

He reveals that he is Thirumilan, once a demon who assumed Ugrasena’s form to seduce Padmavathi. When she discovered the deception, she cursed that the child born of that union would perish at the hands of a Yadava prince.

Stunned and shaken, Kamsa returns to the palace. Overcome by fear, he seizes Devaki’s newborn child and kills it himself. He then orders Devaki and Vasudeva to be imprisoned.

Devaki :

(pleading): He is just a child...

Kamsa :

Let destiny come to me. I want to see the one born to kill me.

Pandu Returns After His Conquests

Pandu returns to Hastinapura after his successful digvijaya. Citizens and courtiers celebrate him, praising his victories and wealth.

This deeply unsettles Dhritarashtra, who must now relinquish authority.

Shakuni fuels his resentment. "People already call him Chakravarthi. They want him as king—not you."

Bhishma and Satyavati sense the tension rising, aware of Dhritarashtra's growing insecurity.

Pandu, meanwhile, quietly resolves not to assume the throne, hoping to preserve peace between brothers.

Satyavati Honors Vidura

During a family meal, Vidura’s mother, Sivai, assists as usual. Satyavati acknowledges her guilt for not supporting Vidura equally.

She announces arrangements for Vidura’s marriage through proper customs, despite his earlier gandharva marriage to Sulabha. Vidura agrees on the condition that the ceremony remain simple.

Satyavati then makes Sivai sit at the dining table and serves her personally. Sivai is moved; Bhishma watches with approval.

This moment restores dignity to the family’s most overlooked member.

Vishnu Reveals His Divine Plan

Sridevi and Bhoodevi confront Narada, blaming him for provoking Kamsa and worsening Devaki’s fate.

Sridevi :

Your words have planted vengeance in his heart.

Bhoodevi:

How many deaths will it lead to?

Vishnu intervenes calmly.

He reveals that everything is unfolding according to a higher design — the slain infants are divine beings participating willingly, and he himself will be born as Krishna. The two goddesses, too, will incarnate on earth and eventually unite with him.

The cosmic plan continues.

epilogue : Note on Kamsa’s Parentage (Serial Version)

The Tamil TV adaptation (Sun TV Mahabharatham) presents Kamsa not as the biological son of Ugrasena, but as an asura named Thirumilan (also rendered as Dramila or Dhrumila), who uses magic or trickery to assume the form of King Ugrasena and impregnate his wife, leading to Kamsa's birth. This dramatization aims to emphasize Kamsa’s demonic lineage. This differs from mainstream Sanskrit traditions, where Kamsa is the son of Ugrasena and linked to his demonic nature through his previous birth as Kalanemi rather than literal asura parentage.