Scene 1
As narrated in the previous episode, the Pandavas find the cottage tidied up. Hidimbi appears and says she did it out of her love for Bhishma and the desire to help them. Bheema accuses her of deceit; Hidimba entreats Kunti to trust her. She says she comes from salakadangadi lineage and is not a rakshasi by birth. She further says Sage Vyasa would come shortly and confirm her statement.In a few moment, Sage Vyasa lands there and speaks highly of Hidimbi. When Bhima says how he could marry when his elder brother is yet to be married, Sage Vyasa says those rules are applicable only when parents decide the marriage of their offsprings as per the tradition. He explains to them the eight types of marriage and assures them that Bhima and Hidimbi could get married by the Gandharva tradition of marriage. He tells the Pandavas and Kunti that the marriage of Bhima with Hidimbi has divine reasons which they would understand this only in the future, and it was best not to probe further.
Scene 2
Drupada emerges out of the room where he had locked himself up. He drags Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna out of the palace, with strict orders that nobody should follow them. He reaches the snowy mountains where Sage Yaja is offering worship to Shivalinga. Drupada tells the sage that he had wanted to have a son and daughter with a singular objective of forging alliance with Arjuna and taking revenge on Drona. Now that Pandavas were dead, Drupada said, the sage's sacrifice came to a nought, and so he should take back their lives. The sage says with his hands over the fire that he would never speak an untruth. He also says the three of them will definitely pay the penalty for having doubted his words.Scene 3
Krishna and Balarama arrive at Hastinapur and stay at Vidura's place, a factor that displeases Dhritarashtra somewhat. Referring to Pandava's death, Krishna goes back and forth neither confirming nor rejecting the news of Pandava's death. He quotes Vidura's advice to Yudhishtra when the six of them leave for Varanavata "That which destroys the forests and protects one from cold does not hurt the mountain rat. A wild porcupine can dig tunnel and escape raging fire". Vidura appears relieved but others don't understand. On one hand Krishna tells Bhishma that death is only an illusion, and on the other hand he tells Karna that fire (Agni) is powerful enough to evaporate all the water in the sea. When pointedly asked by Shakuni, he shoots back,"Can we ever forget warriors like Pandavas? We remember them as a loving relative, as a brave warrior or as a vengeful enemy. So they are alive in our mind in some way or the other. Can any one deny this? So we can say they are alive." Everybody, particularly the Kauravas, look very shocked. Krishna continues to confuse, "But there are conclusive evidence about Pandavas death. Belief depends on the particular individual, but proof is common and basic to all. And since all the jurisdiction is based on evidence, why have a doubt?"In their private conference room, Shakuni looks worried. Dushshasana infers from Krishna's talks that Pandavas are dead since Krishna had announced the conduct of death rites to be performed the next day. But Shakuni is cautious because he believes Krishna to be king of deceit and cunningness. He says he would believe the death of Pandavas only after he witnesses the final rites of Pandavas are performed by Krishna.
The next day, Krishna repeats the words the priest utters. He invokes the name of Pandavas one by one, and when he invokes Kunti's name, he repeats it adding the words 'kuntidevi pati pandu tarpayami', thereby performing the rites of Pandu. Only Vidura notices this and is relieved over Pandavas escape from death, and others believe that Pandavas are dead. Dhritarashtra and Gandhari are sad.
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