Karna to Accompany Duryodhana to Panchala to Participate in Draupadi Swayamvara : Episode 53 (09-Mar-14)

Scene 1

Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna are supervising the arrangements for the stay of guests and the artistes. They notice Draupadi quite worried. They soothe her fears about Arjuna being not alive, and remind her she was the one with unwavering fortitude and unshakable confidence about their life's mission getting fulfilled.

Scene 2

Pandavas and Kunti once again begin their journey. On the way they see a old potter stamping a pool of mud. Seeing him tottering, the Pandavas offer to help him. The potter is thankful and offers them a place to rest and spend the night.

Scene 3

Shishupala sits meditating in a spot surrounded by fire. A messenger conveys this news to Jarasandha, who forces him to give up the penance he has undertaken because of failing to get Rukmini as wife. Jarasandha tells him of the invitation to attend Draupadi's swayamvaram, where he could win the hands and heart of the most beautiful woman on earth. He assures that Krishna would attend the swayamvaram of Draupadi

Scene 4

Balarama and Revathi come to Krishna's chamber where Krishna is reclining on the bed. He asks why he hasn't made any preparations to leave for Panchala to attend Draupadi's wedding. Krishna smiles mischievously and says he doesn't have his wife's permission to go. On Revathi's query, Rukmini says her husband isn't the 'ekapatni vrata' (one who has vowed to take a single wife) that her husband is, and she is nervous about setting him loose in Panchala. Balarama laughs and says Panchali (Draupadi) is sister to them both, as Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu and Draupadi is an incarnation of Durga, which makes him Draupadi's brother. Rukmini grins and bids farewell to Krishna and Balarama.

Scene 5

Shakuni is speaking to Duryodhana, and Karna enters. Shakuni welcomes him and tells him to get ready to go in the same chariot to Panchala and others would follow them soon. Karna declines, saying it would be improper of him to participate and compete in the swayamvaram where his best friend is going to participate. Shakuni says Karna's participation is necessary in the event Duryodhana is unable to win, to prevent Draupadi being won by any vassal king which would lower the prestige of Kauravas. Shakuni also tells Karna that his own prestige will get enhanced by marriage with the Panchala princess, because Panchala's stature as grand as that of Hastinapura. Duryodhana also insists on Karna's accompanying him, else he too would drop the idea of going to Panchala.

Shakuni tells (slyly) Duryodhana not to compel Karna, even if it meant Duryodhana losing once again to Drupada as he had once done when asked by Drona to capture Drupada. Duryodhana was a great wrestler who could win against any combatant, but Arjuna's skill in archery was better. He also drops the gossip going around that Drupada had devised the swayamvaram contest to be tough enough to filter out others except Arjuna. Though Arjuna was generally thought to be dead, Drupada believed him to be alive. The word 'Arjuna' acts like a magnet that draws Karna, and he agrees to accompany Duryodhana.

Scene 6

Vaishampayana tells Vyasa as they walk along that his explanation to Kunti has raised a question in his mind. Why is that Pandavas are inherently good and Kauravas inherently bad? Vyasa clarifies that the dwapara yuga presided by Dwapara is about to end and the Kali Yuga presided by Kali Purusha is about to be born. And just as Krishna represents the goodness, Kali Purusha is symbolic of the evil. The Kali Purusha has already taken birth, Vyasa tells Vaishampayana.

As per the command of Dwapara and Kali Purusha, good people who have never done any evil are getting whipped and incarcerated and their wails are heard everywhere.

Dwapara tells Kali Purusha that he has already taken birth as Shakuni and Kali Purusha needs to be born soon. The seed for that needs to be sown and time is ripe now. Kali Purusha tells Dwapara that he needs his assistance to take root on earth. 'I reside in gold, in thieves who steal this gold, in gambling dens where thieves gather and in prostitutes who add flavor to the gambling dens,' says Kali Purusha to Dwapara. Dwarpara guffaws and says he will make the necessary arrangements for Kali Purusha to be born.

Narrating the above to Vaishampayana, Vyasa says that at the time Kali Purusha was getting ready to be born, Gandhari had completed full term of pregnancy and was ready to deliver. Shakuni was worrying about it when Kanika approaches him and suggests him to worship Kali Purusha on amavasya day by chanting mantras from atharvana veda and give the offerings to Gandhari to eat, she would deliver a strong boy.