Scene 1
[Continued from the previous episode]Dhritarashtra asks about the outcome of the contest at Panchala and Vidura replies that Kauravas have won and that Draupadi is now their daughter-in-law. Bhishma too confirms the news but is confused and wonders why Vidura is hiding the truth. Dhritarashtra is happy and asks Vidura to make all arrangements for a grand welcome for the royal couple.In private, Bhishma asks Vidura how long the news of Kauravas' defeat could be kept away from the King. Vidura says he told only the truth. He explains the word Kaurava is normally taken to be the sons of Dhritarashtra, but actually refers to the descendents of the Kuru vamsa or dynasty; so it refers to both Pandavas as well as Kauravas. Bhishma is still not very clear.
Vidura tells Bhishma that it is Arjuna who has won in the contest, and since Arjuna belongs to the Kuru dynasty, he had mentioned that Kauravas have won the contest. Then Vidura tells Bhishma that all the Pandavas are safe at Panchala and that he has sent a message to Drupada to request Dhritarashtra to ask Pandavas to be sent with due honors.
Bhishma is overjoyed with the developments. He prays to Goddess for the safe return of the Pandavas. Vidura reminisces those painful moments when Pandavas had to pass through the tunnel to escape the blazing fire, roam through forests under blazing sun and pouring rain and had even to beg for food.
Vidura also reminisces the advice of Pandu when he wanted to accompany him to the forest. He had said Vidura should stay back and advise Dhritarashtra who was rash, impulsive and greedy. Pandu had said pointedly that the future of Hastinapura was in his hands. Vidura now feels he has fulfilled the promise he made to Pandu. Bhishma says the true guard for Hastinapur was Vidura and not Bhishma himself. Vidura recalls Bhishma's words when his mind was in a turmoil following Satyavati's indifference to him. His words had a great impact on him and had changed the course of his life.
Scene 2
[Continued from the previous episode; Kauravas camp in the forest]
Duryodhana suggests they could take the help of King Somadatta and his son Bhurisravas who was also his friend. (King Bahlika, father of Somadatta, is Shantanu's elder brother.) Shakuni approves of this idea. Karna asks them who Somadatta and Bhurisravas were. Shakuni recalls the time when there was a debate over who should rule Hastinapur: Dhritarashtra or Pandu. At that time, Somadatta had supported Dhritarashtra and argued in his favor. Karna remarks that Duryodhana has selected a good ally. Dushshasana says one more point in Somadatta's favor is that he is an enemy of Krishna too.
Duryodhana and Karna are once again charged with a passion to fight against the Pandavas.
Scene 3
Duryodhana blames Shakuni for all his failures. He says Vidura has the tenacity and a strong desire to see Pandavas win, but Shakuni, despite all his empty rhetoric, has done nothing for him. He is a fool to have trusted in him blindly. Karna advises him to stop blaming Shakuni and think of how to defeat Pandavas.Shakuni says he would have led a respectable life if he had stayed back at Gandhara. But he has chosen to forget his country and his family for the sake of his nephew. Now he realizes what a blunder he has committed. Duryodhana apologizes to Shakuni for all the unkind words he has said. Shakuni says he doesn't mind, because Duryodhana's words are not wrong and they have prodded him to think. This is a moment of introspection for them, Shakuni feels.
Duryodhana bows and asks Shakuni to forgive him. Shakuni says as a future king of Hastinapura, he should never bow before others. Only others should bow to him, he tells Duryodhana with a smile.
Scene 4
Pandavas, Kunti and Drupada are discussing the next steps to be taken. Bhima wants to attack Hastinapura. Drupada wants to fight for their rights. Kunti agrees but points out that their well wishers are still at Hastinapura, and she and her children are bound to listen to them. Arjuna wants to explain to Duryodhana his mistakes but others say Duryodhana is unlikely to accept his mistakes. Sahadeva's suggestion is that they could initiate peace talks, but Kunti says that would mean that Pandavas have accepted that Kauravas are faultless. As the last word, Kunti says that they should wait till they receive message from Vidura.
Just then, a messenger arrives with a message to Drupada from Vidura. The message reads thus in Tamil:
பாண்டவர் திருமணம் பார் எங்கும் பரவட்டும்
துருபத மாமன்னர் தூது அனுப்பட்டும்
வல்லவன் சொல்லுக்கு வலிமை உண்டு
உரைப்பார் உரைக்கும் முறைப்படி உரைத்தால் அழைப்பார் அழைக்கும் முறைப்படி அழைப்பார்
Sahadeva explains the meaning of these words: "Let the news of Pandavas marriage be known to the world. Let King Drupada send the message of Pandava's well being and their marriage to Dhritarashtra. The words of strong men have strength. If the strong person speaks in an appropriate way, the inviter would invite in an appropriate way."
This meant that Pandavas could come out in the open; King Drupada should send a messenger conveying the news (of marriage). The words of the strong carry strength; Drupada's appropriately worded message to Dhritarashtra would result in his sending a formal invitation to the Pandavas.
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