Dhritarashtra Commands Gandhari Support Kauravas Even When Wrong : Episode 67

Recap of Previous Episode :

Dhritarashtra accepts Bhishma’s counsel and sends Vidura to bring back the Pandavas with honour. In Dwaraka, Subhadra fears being married to Duryodhana, but Krishna reassures her. Duryodhana lashes out at Dhritarashtra, encouraged by Shakuni, whose scheme to kill the Pandavas is rejected by Gandhari. Hurt by Dhritarashtra’s defence of Shakuni, she seeks comfort in Vidura’s chamber. Meanwhile, Karna consoles Vidura with heartfelt loyalty, easing his troubled mind.

Dhritarashtra and Gandhari Reconcile

After Gandhari leaves in tears, Dhritarashtra waits anxiously for her return. When she quietly steps into the chamber, he asks if she is angry. Gandhari replies that she is only a servant among many and has no right to feel offended.

Her words sting him. He pleads with her not to burn him with such harshness. Gandhari assures him she means no hurt. Dhritarashtra gently asks if she had gone to meet Vidura—and what Vidura said.

When she tells him Vidura only reaffirmed Dhritarashtra’s love for her, he feels relieved. He explains that he reacted sharply earlier only because she asked Shakuni to leave the kingdom. To him, Shakuni has always appeared as someone who cared for their welfare.

Gandhari voices her fear: Shakuni’s influence may push their sons toward destructive choices. She does not want the throne of Hastinapura if it comes by harming the Pandavas.

Dhritarashtra’s response is firm.

A king’s duty, he says, is to protect power and lineage. Though he wishes no harm to Pandu’s sons, he cannot deny that he wants his own sons to inherit the kingdom. Did she not wish the same, he asks.

Gandhari admits that any mother would. But she also knows Yudhishtra has the rightful claim as the eldest.

Dhritarashtra grows stern. If he had thought that way, he says, he would never have been king. Even the smallest servant would not respect him—or her. He asks her to be like Kunti — ambitious, protective, unyielding. Kunti followed her sons everywhere, stood beside them through danger, and never let go of her ambitions for them.

“Even when our sons are wrong,” he tells Gandhari, “a mother must stand with them.”

Moved, Gandhari quietly promises that from now on, her husband’s dream will be her dream too.

Drishtadyumna’s Request

Arjuna and Drishtadyumna practise archery in the courtyard. Arjuna praises his brother-in-law’s skill. Encouraged, Drishtadyumna asks him to teach the Brahmastra.

Arjuna refuses gently. Such knowledge requires supreme control of the senses, unwavering discipline, and complete inner purity. He tells Drishtadyumna that not everyone is suited for it.

When Arjuna asks why he wants to learn it, Drishtadyumna replies that he will reveal the reason when the time comes.

A messenger arrives from Hastinapura: the king has summoned the Pandavas.

Draupadi’s Thoughts and Hastinapura’s Reactions

Draupadi sits deep in thought. Kunti approaches her with a knowing smile—every married woman feels uneasy staying too long in her parental home, she says. Vidura is on his way, and soon they will all return to Hastinapura. Meanwhile, in Hastinapura, Duryodhana is furious. Shakuni tells him that Yudhishtra, now married and backed by Panchala, is the obvious candidate for the throne. Enraged, Duryodhana mocks the Pandavas’ marriage and insults Draupadi with contemptuous words.

Elsewhere, Bhishma, Kripa and Drona are overjoyed that the Pandavas will return. Only Ashwatthama frowns—he reminds the elders that the Pandavas come now with the strength of Drupada, once their bitter enemy.

Vidura Arrives in Panchala

Kunti oversees preparations for a grand feast, her calm exterior replaced by visible excitement. To Drupada, this is surprising—he has always known her as composed and restrained.

Kunti explains why Vidura’s presence matters. In a palace filled with hidden dangers, Vidura has been their only shield. Without him, they would have perished long ago in the fire at Varanavata.

Drupada now understands why the Pandavas revere Vidura like a second father. Vidura arrives and receives a royal welcome. He conveys Dhritarashtra’s blessings. Kunti’s eyes fill with tears as she embraces him—her voice trembles with gratitude as she thanks him for being the shelter that protected her sons whenever darkness closed in.