Scene 1
After Gandhari leaves teary-eyed following his censure(previous episode), Dhritarashtra is anxiously waiting her arrival. Gandhari tiptoes into the room and Dhritarashtra asks her if she is angry. Gandhari says she is one amongst the several servants in the palace and she doesn't have any right to be offended. Dhritarashtra is piqued by her words and tells her not to singe him with harsh words. Gandhari says it is not her intention to hurt him. Dhritarashtra asks her if she had gone to see Vidura and what he has told her. He is relieved to hear that Vidura has only reaffirmed Dhritarashtra's love for Gandhari. He tells Gandhari that he isn't angry with her at all, but was rattled when she asked Shakuni to leave the country. In his view, Shakuni is truly interested in their welfare, as Gandhari herself has told him once. Gandhari expresses her concern that Shakunii might lead her sons along the wrong path. She doesn't want the Hastinapur throne for her sons at the cost of Pandavas.
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| Vidura with the Pandavas at Panchala |
Dhritashtra reacts sharply to this. He explains that a kshatriya's aim is to capture and retain the power that a throne endows. Though he wishes no harm to his dear brother Pandu's children, he has no doubt that he wished his sons to inherit the kingdom. Did she too not wish the same for her sons, he asks Gandhari. As a mother, Gandhari replies, she wished the same, but she is also aware that Yudhishtra, being the eldest, has a right to it.
Dhritarashtra retorts that had he also thought along the same lines as Gandhari, he would never have been the king, and even the lowliest servant in the palace would not have respected him, or her, for that matter. He tells her to emulate Kunti in this regard. Why did Kunti come to Hastinapur palace when Pandu dies, he asks Gandhari. Because she had ambitions for her sons. And that is why she followed them all the way to Varanavata and stood by them like a lioness. He tells Gandhari emphatically that even if her sons are wrong, it was her duty to support them.
Gandhari promises Dhritarashtra that henceforth her husband's dream would be her dream too.
Scene 2
Arjuna and Drishtadyumna are practising archery. Arjuna is impressed with his brother-in-law's proficiency and eulogizes it. Drishtadyumna asks Arjuna if he could teach him Brahmastra. Arjuna refuses it, citing his unsuitability as a teacher and Drishtadyumna's lack of the prerequisites such as total control of the senses for learning the art. He then asks Drishtadyumna the reason for his wanting to learn the art. Drishtadyumna says he will reveal this at an appropriate time.
Just then, a messenger arrives, announcing the arrival of a message from Hastinapura and that the king has asked them to come soon.
Scene 3
Draupadi is lost in thoughts and Kunti tells she is aware of the thoughts running in her mind. Any girl would feel anxious if she were to stay in her parents house after marriage. But now that is about to end, because Vidura will be coming to Panchala to take them back to Hastinapura.
Duryodhana is furious that Pandavas would soon arrive at Hastinapura. Shakuni tells him that since Yudhishtra is now married, it is certain that he would be asked to ascend the throne. Duryodhana contemptuously refers to the marriage of Pandavas as shameful and calls Draupadi a slut.
Bhishma, Kripacharya and Drona rejoice that Pandavas would arrive at Hastinapur soon. But Aswathama is not happy. He reminds the elders that the Pandavas are returning after earning the friendship of Drupada, their enemy.
Kunti is anxiously waiting the arrival of Vidura. She is giving instructions to the servants for the grand feast that is getting ready. The Pandava brothers are equally excited. King Drupda notices an unusually excited Kunti instead of the staid woman he has been accustomed to see. Kunti explains to him what Vidura's protective presence means for them in a palace which is indeed crawling with enemies. Had Vidura not been prescient enough in sending workmen to dig a secret tunnel, they would have perished in the fire a long time back. Drupada now understands the unfathomable depth of the love that the Pandavas have for Vidura.
Vidura arrives shortly and is given a grand welcome by Drupada. Vidura conveys the love and blessings of Dhritarashtra for the king. It is an emotional union between Vidura and Kunti and the Pandavas. Kunti is overcome by emotions when she expresses her gratitude to Vidura for being the shade where their arid hearts always found solace.
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