Scene 1
Bhishma, Satyavati and Vidura are talking together when a messenger informs them of Pandu's death in the forest. Satyavati swoons on hearing the shocking news.Pandu is laid on the pyre and the Rishis in the forest are sitting ready for the cremation, while Kunti, Madri and their five children are crying in uncontrollable anguish. Urged by the sages, the women go around the pyre.
Kunti
: As the senior wife of Pandu, I will burn with our beloved husband and you take care of all the children.Madri
: Sister, Pandu expressed his passion to me, but he left this abode without my fulfilling it. How can I rest in peace with that knowledge? I know you can look after my children as your own: you are indeed magnanimous. But I lack that kind of magnanimous soul. Please permit me to ascend the pyre.Rishi
: Both of you have sons and none of you need to undergo this. Dhritarashtra is power hungry and is not going to take very kindly to the children. But Kunti has the support of Yadavas and Kuntibhoja. Similarly, Madri has the support of her brother Shalya. You can bring up the children without undue difficulties.Madri
: I cannot live with guilty conscience. Kindly permit me to go to the heaven along with our husband. Yudhishtra, please take care of the children as your sons.The women in the forest, assumedly wives of the sages, pour turmeric water over Madri and apply vermillion. The mortal bodies of the couple are consumed by fire. The family returns back.
Scene 2
Nanda,the chief of Vrindavan, his wife Yashoda and Krishna and Balarama are sitting in front of the sacrificial fire, with Brahmins and Sages making offerings to the Govardhan mountain.Indra is enjoying the music and dance at Indraloka. Narada appears there and draws his attention to the fact that the Yadavas, who used to make offerings to Indra so far, had forgotten him and worshipping a mountain instead. Indra is incensed and he calls Vayu and Varuna to disrupt the Yagna. A great storm breaks out at Vrindavan and is followed by a heavy downpour. Krishna lifts the Govardhan giri and balances it on his little finger. Under this umbrella, all the people assemble and are protected from the ferocity of the rain.
Indra asks Narayana to take care of Arjuna who was his offspring. Narayana replies that not only was Arjuna Indra's son, but also shared a special relation of Nara and Narayana with him since several births. Therefore he would be the guardian of Arjuna and his brothers.
Nanda and Yashoda realize that the Lord had Himself come to the as their son. They ask Him forgiveness for having unknowingly punished Him. But Krishna says he wanted to live as an ordinary Yadava and live amidst them and would not like to be treated with any special reverence.
Scene 3
The court of Dhritarashtra. All the courtiers, Bhishma, Satyavati, Vyasa, Ambika, Ambalika, Gandhari, Shakuni and Duryodhana are present. Kunti appears there with the five children and the sages. With tears, Satyavati and Ambalika hug Kunti and the children.Dhritarashtra receives the urn (containing Pandu's ashes). Bhishma promises to be a guardian to the fatherless children. He then introduces Yudhihtra to Duryodhana as his elder brother. Yudhishtra comes forward to embrace Duryodhana, but Duryodhana pushes him away and leaves with contempt on his face.
Scene 4
Shakuni is pensively pacing up and down. Duryodhana approaches him and Shakuni tells him that he is worried over Pandu's death.Duryodhana
: Why are worrying unnecessarily over this, instead of dismissing it happily as the death of an adversary?Queen Satyavati appears there and listens to their conversation.
Shakuni
: You are young and inexperienced. That is why you talk like this. It is true that our enemy is dead but he has sent five enemies to our palace. If Pandu had not died, all of them would have remained and perhaps died in the forest.Duryodhana
: Can't we drive them once again to the forest?Shakuni
: It's not that easy. They have earned everybody's sympathy. Since they will have everyone's support, our attempts to drive them away would only go against us. The best option would be to keep quiet for now.Duryodhana
: At any cost, I will never rest till I drive them away! But I will never do anything without listening to your suggestion.Satyavati who overhears all this is grief-stricken.
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