Scene 1
This is a continuation of Drupada's flashback regarding Shikhandin. After Narada tells King Hiranyavarman to produce proof of the lack of masculinity in Shikhandin, Hiranyavarman is forced to leave. Drupada and Prishata heave a sigh of relief.End of flashback. Drupada says he did try to look for Shikhandin, but couldn't trace her. Prishata says if Drupada had paid even a fraction of the efforts he had put in taking revenge on Drona, he would have found Shikhandin. Dhritadyumna, who had been listening to the conversation, tells Prishata not to be so hard on Drupada; all that had transpired way the divine play of Shiva alone. It was their duty to give solace to Drupada who is mired in dejection and confusion.
Their attention is now caught by commotion in the adjoining room. Draupadi is dancing as if possessed. As she falls down exhausted, she tells Drupada she came from fire; she is the incarnation of goddess Durga and a part of Krishna. How could he doubt the objective of her birth? She would definitely carry out his goal. She vows that she would fulfill Drupada's ambition.
Drupada is delighted. He said he didn't have total trust in Sage Yaja's words; but on hearing Draupadi's words now, he's no more in doubt or confusion.
Scene 2
Kunti tells Yudhishtra about Bakasur's demand, how it was the Brahmana's turn to send someone from his house as Bakasura's food, and the heart-rending scene that had transpired at the Brahmana's house, with each person vying with one another to be sent to Bakasura.Yudhishtra is upset that his mother Kunti, whose words he had never disobeyed, volunteered to send Bheema to Bakasura. Kunti tells him about the enormous strength of Bheema. Then she tells them of what had happened during their childhood when Duryodhana and his brother had poisoned Bheema, tied him and pushed him into Ganges. Bheema went sinking in untild he reached the river bed and lay unconscious in the Naga kingdom of Vasuki. Serpents surround him and bite him, and surprisingly, instead of dying as they would have expected, Bheema opens his eyes, unties himself and fights with the surrounding serpents. Their fight brings King Vasuki and his son Nagaraja. King Vasuki asks who he was, and Bheema introduces himself as the son of Pandu, the emperor of Hastinapur. King Vasuki is thrilled and he introduces himself as the grandfather of the father of Kunti, his mother. Nagaraja offers to give him 'Nagras', the essence of the serpents, drinking which Bhima would acquire enormous strength. Bheema happily consumes several pitchers of the this essence, and finally gets the strength of a thousand elephants.
Kunti reveals the reason she didn't share this earlier because Nagararaja had requested it to be kept a secret. Yudhihtra and other brothers feel immensely pleased to know how immensely powerful Bheema is, and they express happiness and confidence in Bheema's taking on Bakasura alone.
Bheema rides on the bullock cart and he is followed by the king's soldiers, after which they point to a rocky hill at a distance where the rakshasa lives, and take leave of him. Bheema reaches the land that is close to the rakshasa'a abode and calls out Bakasura's name.
Scene 3
Bheeshma goes to Dhritarashtra's chamber. Dhritarshtra happily informs him of Duryodhana's coronation. Bheeshma doesn't approve of coronation before at least one year of mourning has passed after Pandavas death. The age-old tradition is to wait till three death anniversaries had passed; so they should wait at least for a year. Gandhari and Dhritarashtra approve of this; but they are worried about facing Duryodhana's ire. Bheeshma says it was Dhritarashtra's duty to guide Duryodhana. Moreover, if he doesn't stop Duryodhana, people's suspicion about Dhritarshtra would stand vindicated. Bheeshma, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari decide to speak to Duryodhana about this.
Scene 4
Karna gets a new throne made for the coronation as per Duryodhana's instructions to the sculptor(s). He presents the dazzling gift to Duryodhana and makes him sit on it.
Just then, Bhishma, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari enter. Bhishma asks Duryodhana about the throne and Karna proudly states that it was his gift for his friend on which he would sit and rule the country. Bheeshma objects that the throne on which Kuru kings sit has an ancient heritage and tradition and they cannot just sit on any throne. Dhritarashtra asks Duryodhana why is there a necessity or a hurry about acquiring a new throne. Duryodhana replies that he arranged for the coronation thinking that his father would not object to this, and his best friend presented ahead the throne for the occasion. Since the Pandavas were dead, there is nothing wrong in doing it. Dhritarashtra is unable to say anything and Bhishma prods him on. Duryodhana tells Bhishma sweetly that he is the guardian of Hastinapura and he has always been very affectionate to him. So Bhishma should intercede on his behalf and encourage his father to approve.
Bhishma doesn't know how to proceed when Shakuni tells Duryodhana that they need to wait for a minimum period of one year after Pandavas death. Duryodhana is furious, but Shakuni tells him that though these words were spoken by him, Bhishma had already expressed them to Dhritarashtra, and his assistant Nilava had conveyed it to him.
Karna declares that so long as he's alive, Hastinapur throne is Duryodhana's. Bhishma chides Karna that he has no right to interfere in Hastinapur's affairs and his wrong advice is the reason why Duryodhana acts on his own accord.
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