Sun TV Mahabharatham

Krishna tells Karna how unbearable an agony it must be for him not to participate in the Kurukshetra battle, especially when every kshatriya willingly joined the war just to prove their mettle. Since Karna could not fight until Bhishma died, the chances for Karna's participation are very slim. He suggests to Karna that he join the Pandavas, especially since they are his brothers, and then rule Hastinapura. Karna refuses flatly, citing his supreme love for Duryodhana. Dritarashtra is lamenting his blindness that wouldn't let him participate in the war. His charioteer Sanjaya speaks to him consoling words when Sage Vyasa arrives there. Seeing Dritarashtra rue his blindness, Vyasa is willing to give him the power of sight to see the war, but Dritarshtra is unwilling, since he has got used to his blindness, and doesn't have the strength of mind to see blood and gore. He then asks the sage to give this boon to Sanjaya, who would moderate and relate to him whatever transpires on...

Karna barges angrily into his palace and throws off his bow and the quiver of arrows. His wife Bhanumathi is shocked when Karna narrates the deep shame he felt when Bhishma relegates to him the lowly position of Ardharathi. Bhanumathi is furious to know that Duryodhana doesn't support Karna against Bhishma and she threatens to demand an explanation from Duryodhana. Duryodhana, who has come to meet Karna along with Shakuni, intervenes and lets Bhanumathi vent out her anger. Then he offers to make Karna a Maharathi and says the two would lead the battle and others would be free to join if they so desired. Karna is touched by the gesture, but he clarifies that it was far more important to him that Duryodhana's victory in the battle is more important than the disgrace that he has to endure, to which he had anyway got accustomed to. Duryodhana, Dushasana, Yuyutsu — Dritarashtra's son through a dasi , and Vikarna — the virtuous son of Dritarashtra, come to seek their parent...

Pandavas, their allies, Krishna, the Kauravas, their allies and Shakuni have assembled at Upaplavya in the Matsya Kingdom ruled by king Virata. Krishna asks Bhishma to formulate the rules that would govern the war. Bhishma announces the rules: when a warrior is invited to fight, he must accept the invitation; nobody should attack the physicians who attend and treat the injured; all fightings must cease as soon as the sun sets and in case the war needs to be continued even after sun set, special provisions have to be made with the concurrence of both the warring parties; after the sun sets, any warrior can visit the opposite camp and discuss with them; no one should fight with someone who is weaponless; if a warrior decides to withdraw from the battle field, he should not be followed or coerced into fighting; Shakuni adds one more rule to this: women shouldn't be permitted in the battle field and Bhishma announces this rule as well. All those present in the assembly agree to abid...

Duryodhana and Shakuni seek private audience with Sahadeva while the Pandavas are in a meeting with Drupada and Virata. Yudhishtra asks everyone to leave. Duryodhana requests Sahadeva to fix the auspicious moment for offering sacrifice to the Lord so as to ensure victory in the war. Without hesitation, Sahadeva computes and tells Duryodhana to offer the ' bali ' on the forthcoming new moon day. Duryodhana is dubious about the trustworthiness of Sahadeva's pronouncements, but Shakuni assures Sahadeva to be ethical and righteous. Sahadeva believes he should be true to dharmic injunctions and he would never lie even if he is servicing his enemy. Duryodhana is overjoyed to learn that the Pandavas haven't offered any sacrifice as yet. After the duo leave the Pandavas ask Sahadeva about Duryodhana's mission. They are dismayed to learn that Sahadeva has provided the correct ' muhurtam ' for Duryodhana. Yudhishtra asks Krishna to help them salvage the situation, a...

Drona is offering prayer to Lord Shiva when Kunti comes to meet him. She asks him pointedly if he would kill her sons in the war. Drona protests saying the Pandavas are like his sons, but Kunti is not satisfied with the answer. She persistently argues that he should stay away from the war just as Vidura had done. Drona explains that Vidura was only bound by the promise he had made to his brother Pandu to counsel and protect Dritarashtra and being the son of Vichitraveerya, had his own royal status. But Drona was bound by the indebtedness towards Dritarashtra whose refuge he had sought to alleviate the abject poverty he was in. Even if Dritarashtra hadn't been a king, he would still have served him, being bound to him by gratitude. Kunti, however, extracts a promise from Drona that he wouldn't kill her sons. Shakuni is pondering over how to entice King Shalya to join them. Dushshasana, who had heard part conversation between Kunti and Drona, tells Shakuni that Drona had expres...

Duryodhana has convened a meeting to decide or, more correctly, announce their decision to launch war against the Pandavas. Vidura and Bhishma tell Duryodhana to spell out his agenda without wasting time on discussing the issue, as their opinions would anyway be ignored. Duryodhana accuses Pandavas of revealing themselves before the end of the 1-year ajnatavasa , and instead of going to the forest omce again as agreed to earlier, have sent Krishna on a peace mission. Hence they would have to register their disapproval appropriately. Virtuous Vikarna, Dritarashtra's son from a Vaisya woman, protests and requests that the kingdom that the Pandavas seek should be restored to them immediately. Duryodhana silences him, threatening to kill him on the spot. Finally Dritarashtra announces that Kauravas would launch war against the Pandavas for disobeying their directives and asks the court to seek allies for the impending war. Krishna announces, to the utter bewilderment of the Pandavas, ...

Karna is narrating to Kunti many momentous events in his life in which Duryodhana has played a great role. He tells her that Duryodhana trusted him deeply and sought his help in kidnapping Bhanumati, the daughter of Chitrangada, King of Kalinga. Chitrangada had organized a swayamwar to in which Jarasandha and his foster son Shishupala also participated. Duryodhana instructs Karna to fight with these kings and carries away Bhanumati. Karna easily overpowers Jarasandha who accepts his defeat and leaves the place with other warriors. Later, Duryodhana justifies the abduction, quoting Bhishma's carrying the Kashi princesses for the sons of Vichitravirya. Bhanumati talking to Shubhangi Karna describes Bhanumati as good natured and as beautiful as Draupadi. Bhanumati considers Karna her brother, and together with Duryodhana makes plans to enhance Karna's prestige by getting a kshatriya bride, in addition to Vrushali, Karna's first wife from the charioteer's clan. The...

Duryodhana is discussing war plans with Karna and Dushshasana. Dritarashtra and Bhishma enter the room. Dritarashtra tells Duryodhana to forsake the idea of war and work towards peace with the Pandavas. Krishna had shown to them His Universal Form and made persuasive arguments for peace. Duryodhana fails to see divinity in Krishna and the infallibility of His words and ignores the words of Dritarashtra. Bhishma tells Dritarashtra that now he can do very little and resigns himself to whatever happens. It is early morning and Kunti is watching the sun rise. Krishna asks Kunti what memories the sun evokes. Kunti is evasive, but Krishna tells her He knows everything about her. Kunti remembers her encounter with the sun god and the baby born to her as a result. Krishna tells her her son is Karna. Kunti recalls the first time she saw Karna at the amphithetre where the Kauravas and Pandavas displayed their proficiency in martial arts. On that occasion and later whenever she saw Karna, it...

Kunti is surprised when Vidura says he would find on the side of Kauravas in case of war. When asked the reason, Vidura says he had promised Pandu that he would never desert Dritarashtra despite his shortcomings and would always fight for him. The next day, Krishna spells out the reason for his visit and asks that the Pandavas be returned their kingdom. Duryodhana is highly disrespectful of Krishna and is in no mood for any reconciliation. He refuses to give the Pandavas even the five houses that Krishna asks for, saying he wouldn't part with even a needle-sized land. Krishna asks others in the court to advise Duryodhana. As Vidura speaks out in favor of peaceful settlement, Duryodhana lashes out angrily at him for offering to host Krishna despite his being on the payrolls of the king and receiving salary as alms and calls him the son of a dasi. As Vidura writhes in agony, Krishna slyly remarks to Duryodhana why he acted tactlessly, especially when a powerful warrior like Vid...

Yudhishtra is pensive when Krishna goes to take leave of him. Krishna wants to know if He could declare war in case His peace mission is unsuccessful. Yudhishtra says that war should be resorted to only as a last resort; however, he will abide by whatever decision Krishna takes on his behalf, as he has surrendered fully to His will. Draupadi is teary when Krishna visits her. She says that though Yudhishtra desires peace, her mind bristles with thoughts of revenge and would find no peace until she smears her hair with the blood of Dushasana. Krishna reminds her that Yudhishtra desires peace, but Draupadi gets furious. She retorts that Yudhishtra was only an onlooker when Draupadi was disrobed, but she had experienced it in flesh and blood and it wasn't easy to forgive. Krishna insists that her personal issues of dishonor should not be the cause of the bloodshed of innumerable innocent lives. In fact, Krishna says, she should have settled the scores then and there when the incident ...

Pandavas are seen chatting with Drupada and the king of Virata. Now that the path of peaceful settlement is closed, they guess that war is in the offing and feel good that they can settle old scores. Krishna and Yudhishtra, who have been listening to their conversations, enter the room. All in the room except Yudhishtra seem to favor war, so Krishna is reluctant to reveal his views, but on Yudhishtra's insistence and assurance that his brothers will always abide by his decision, He expresses his belief that one should try all avenues for peace before invoking the war. Since neither the Virata king nor Drupada is willing to go to Hastinapur as a peace ambassador, Yudhishtra asks Krishna to take up the task. Shikhandi is disappointed that war has yet not been finalized and that Krishna is set for a peace mission. Since Krishna is good at manipulating things, Shikhandi as well as Drupada are worried that Krishna would succeed in His mission, though Drishtadhyumna assures them that K...

Kunti is furious that Duryodhana is unrepentent, unrelenting and bent on continuing to rule instead of returning the kingdom to the Pandavas. She asserts vehemently that the Pandavas will seize Hastinapur that rightfully belonged to them, but was given as alms by her husband Pandu to his father Dritarashtra. Sanjaya, the messenger sent by Dritarashtra, conveys to the Pandavas the message that Yudhishtra should go back to forest, as meditation would do him a lot of good. All the Pandavas except Yudhishtra root for declaring war, but Yudhishtra is reluctant and tells Sanjaya that he would need some time to confer with his brothers before reaching any conclusion. Shakuni tells Duryodhana that they need to be cautious in dealing with Kunti as she is ambitious and savvy in politics. He recounts the incidents in Kunti's life to substantiate this claim. After Pandu loses his virility as a result of Sage Kindama's curse, she seeks to get offsprings through the intervention of Devas b...

Duryodhana is upset with Shakuni for sullying Karna's parentage and calling him the 'son of Suta ' or 'son of a charioteer'. Duryodhana doesn't want to lose Karna's friendship even if his strategic importance has been compromised by his gifting away the kavacha kundalas to a mendicant. Karna is moaning his fate on the stony steps of a tank near a temple. The secret surrounding his birth has been haunting and throwing brickbats at him. Unable to bear the pain, Karna lets out a loud sob 'amma!! who am I? why did you desert me?' and Kunti, who comes there accidentally, is moved. She assures Karna that his mother will come to him one day. Duryodhana, and Shakuni apologize to Karna for Shakuni's harsh words. They request Karna to make use of Nagastra, a poisonous shaft, painstakingly made by Ashwasena, the son of the Naga King Takshaka, whose mother Was slain by Arjuna in the Khandava forest. (It appears in this narration of Sun TV that Karna has r...

Kunti empathizes with Durydhana and chides Vidura and other Kuru elders for instilling the thought in Duryodhana in his childhood that he is the future emperor of Hastinapur. She says that Duryodhana has no other fault other than intense hatred for the Pandavas. His governance is impeccable. She therefore decides to respect Duryodhana's order as a king and would not attend Abhimanyu's wedding. Vidura pleads that Duryodhana's orders would not bind her, but she is firm in her resolve, which is in accordance with kshatriya tradition. She then lets her decision be known to Yudhishtra through a messenger. The messenger Kunti sends conveys the news to the Pandavas. Yudhishtra says he expected this, and implores Bhima to keep calm. They decide to conduct Abhimanyu's marriage without Kunti's participation. Abhimanyu's marriage is performed with due grandeur in the presence of Krishna, Balarama, and Virata and Drupada's families.

Arjuna reaches Dwaraka and meets his son Abhimanyu. While he is talking to him, Duryodhana overtakes them and enters the palace. Krishna, who is watching them all, decides to take a nap. Finding Krishna asleep, Duryodhana takes a seat near his head. Arjuna enters the room soon and sits down at Krishna's feet. Krishna wakes up and sees Arjuna first. Duryodhana protests and says he came first and demands preference over Arjuna. Krishna insists he saw Arjuna first, so he should be allowed to stake his claim first, but assures Duryodhana that his desires too would be met. Krishna then tells Arjuna he should either choose him or his entire army, with the additional injunction that he would never take up arms in the war. Arjuna wants Krishna's support alone and Duryodhana is happy to receive the entire army of Krishna. Balarama joins them and is told about Duryodhana's mission in garnering support for Hastinapur. Balarama says he loves both Pandavas and Kauravas equally and w...

Somadutta promises Duryodhana to back up his claim that the Pandavas have been discovered before the end of one year of incognito exile. Duyodhana invites Somadatta and Bhurisravas to stay at their palace for some more time, and they readily agree to this. Drona, Vidura and Bhishma seek Krishna's advice Pandavas are discussing about the invitations to be sent for Abhimanyu's marriage with Uttara. Yudhishtra would like to send invitations to Hastinapura, Panchala and Dwaraka. While they are discussing thus, a messenger from Hastinapur conveys to Yudhishtra that the Pandavas must go to forest once again, since they have been discovered before the ajnaatavasa period ended. Yudhishtra sends the messenger with the message that Duryodhana should ask the elders in the court whether their claim can be substantiated or not. It is now clear to the Pandavas that Duryodhana may not hand over the kingdom to them willingly or easily. Bhima amd Arjuna wonder if they should proceed ...

At their usual secret meeting, Arjuna is narrating to his brothers the incidents on the battle with Duryodhana and others and how he takes Uttara to the Vanni tree to get his weapons to fight the Kaurava army. Brihannala aims the Gandiva at Bhishma, and the arrow bows before him. This feat alerts Duryodhana, and he surmises BrihannaLa to be Arjuna. Arjuna doesn't affirm Duryodhana, but incites him to fight. Soon, Arjuna makes the Kaurava army swoon on the battle field with his Mohini Astra and takes away the ornaments of Karna, Duryodhana, Dushshasana, Bhishma and Drona. When these warriors revive, they notice their ornaments gone and feel very embarrassed. Shakuni tells Duryodhana not to worry over his defeat by the Pandavas but rejoice over discovering the Pandavas before the completion of the period of incognito exile. Radha places Tulsi leaves to counter balance Krishna's weight Uttara has promised to Arjuna that he would wait until the next day to reveal Pandavas...

Karna accuses Bhishma of being disloyal to the Hastinapur throne because of his partiality to Pandavas. Bhishma is stung by the criticisms and declares that he is ready to go to the aid of Trigarta King Susharma and attack the Virata kingdom as a proof of his loyalty. Dritarashtra orders Bhishma to be the commander-in-chief and commence the attack immediately by stealing away the royal cows and then simultaneously seige the country from all sides. Bhishma instructs Susharma to march into Virata from the Southern side while the Karavas attack from the North. Bhama welcomes Krishna very enthusiastically. Krishna senses something fishy and asks her what she wanted. Bhama requests Krishna's permission to gift him away to somebody and Krishna promises his consent.

After killing Keechaka , Bhima and Draupadi walk away. The next morning, a maid enters the dancing hall and screams, on finding Keechaka's body sprawled on the ground. Soon, everybody crowds around the body. Keechaka's brothers remember Draupadi's piteous call for protection and her threat to Keechaka that he would be killed by her Gandharva husbands if he continued to harrass her. They surmise correctly that Draupadi's Gandharva husband alone could have killed the invincible Keechaka. They pull her, and once again, the Pandavas remain mute witnesses. The brothers threaten that they would immolate Draupadi along with Keechaka on the same pyre. Draupadi protests that only wives would ascend the same pyre, but Keechaka's brothers drag draupadi to the pyre. Suddenly Bhima appears from nowhere, with his face covered. He overpowers all of Keechaka's brothers and kills them.

After the death of Narakasura, Indra thanks Krishna and Satyabhama for their timely help. Satyabhama wants to get the Parijata tree to take to the earth as had been agreed upon earlier. Narada intervenes to say that Indra should agree for this, with the condition that it would be restored to the Devaloka after Krishna and Satyabhama return back from the earth. krishna agrees to this and they take the Karpaka Vriksha to the Earth. Keechaka has overheard the secret conversation between the Pandavas and Draupadi. He meets her and tells her that if she does not agree to please him, he would expose their identity to Dushshasana. Draupadi is alarmed as this would mean that the Pandavas would have to spend another thirteen years in exile. She begs Keechaka to spare them, but Keechaka wants to make Draupadi yield to him. Draupadi agrees to Keechaka's proposals under the condition that he sends away Dushshasana immediately. Keechaka asks Dushshasana whether he had achieved his mission of ...

Draupadi confers secretly with her husbands Draupadi escapes from keechaka's clutches and rushes into Virata king's durbar and seeks his protection. Virata Raja offers her asylum, but withdraws it immediately when he comes to know that it was Keechaka who has chased her. He admits that he is a mere puppet and the real physical might and power rested only with his brother-in-law. Draupadi resists Keechaka's advances and is kicked by him in the presence of Yudhishtra and Bhima, who has come to the durbar to serve drinks to the courtiers. Draupadi turns to Kanaka for support but he merely tells her to be patient. He assures her that her Gandharva husbands know about what is going on, but have still chosen to keep quiet for a reason. Draupadi says she is aware that there are warriors stronger than Keechaka and wants to what is holding them back. Bhima can't take all this, but Yudhishtra (Kanaka) secretly signals restraint. Keechaka tells Draupadi that he wants her to ...

As planned earlier in consultation with Shakuni , Duryodhana meets Kunti and falls at her feet. He pretends to be contrite and wants to know where the Pandavas are so that he could return the kingdom back to them. As Kunti doesn't know Pandavas' whereabouts, she tells him that they should wait till the Pandavas return back after one year. Duryodhana tells her that she should trust him, and Vidura who has joined them says he trusts Duryodhana. He tells Duryodhana that the Pandavas are in Maya Desha. Duryodhana then guffaws and reveals his intention of sending the Pandavas to exile for another twelve years. Vidura then tells Duryodhana that he never trusted him and that there is no place called Maya Desa. Duryodhana goes away angrily.

After the successful completion of twelve years of exile, Pandavas leave Dwaita vana to plan their ajnatavasa . As warned by Sage Dhaumya, Duryodhana's spies follow them, but Bhima kills them nimbly. At one point, Bhima is about to kill a spy, but it turns out to be Kanika who is sent by Vidura and who had once helped Pandavas escape the lac palace at Varanavata . Yudhishtra tells Kanaka to inform Vidura about their well being. Later at the suggestion of Sahadeva, Bhima carries the dead body of one of the spies he has killed as they travel further. Krishna Gives Parijata Flower to Rukmini Krishna appears from the fire of Yagna that Indra is performing at Indraloka to seek Vishnu's help in vanquishing Narakasura who has imprisoned devas and their wives. Narada is present there too. Since Narakasura cannot be killed except with his mother's permission, Indra wants to know who his mother is. Krishna reveals that Narakasura's mother is his wife Bhama. To get Bhama...

The demon who is invoked by Kalamuni comes back to Sage Kalamuni and gobbles him up. The trio of Shakuni, Duryodhana and Dushshasana return back home. The spy sent by Vidura too returns and tells him that Pandavas have died, based on what he has heard the demon tell Sage Kalamuni. Vidura assures a desolate Kunti that nothing untoward could have ever happened to the Pandavas and sends his men to find out about their welfare. Yudhishtra, who had swooned on finding his brothers dead, gets up. He surmises that they would have died of drinking water from the poisoned lake and decides to end his life too by drinking the water. The yaksha guarding the lake stops him from drinking the water, saying his brothers met their end for not heedng to his words and drinking the water. Yudhishtra correctly surmises that no ordinary person is capable of vanquishing his valiant brothers. He answers all of Yaksha's questions.

Kalamuni continues without interruption the Abhichara Yagna to kill the Pandavas. Shakuni and Duryodhana feel uncertain about the outcome, but Kalamuni assures about the infallibility of the homa , reminding that any obstacle in the demon's quest will bring harm only to him, as the demon has warned already that if the Pandavas can't be traced, the demon would return to kill the sage himself. The spy, who has been watching the proceedings, reports to Vidura and he is worried to learn that Kalamuni, the renowned expert in Atharva Veda, is conducting the homa. He consults religious manuscripts and tells Kunti to pray to Lord Narayana as an counter-acting antidote to the evil spirit invoked by the homa. Kunti and Vidura's wife Sulabha start their uninterrupted worship. Sage Narada goes to Yamaloka and tells Yama that the intended life span of the Pandavas is about to change with the homa letting out a demon who has gone in search of the Pandavas to eat them. Yama seeks Narad...

Krishna appears before the distraught Draupadi as an answer to her prayers . He picks up a tiny piece of a green leaf sticking to the Akshaya Patra and puts it into his mouth, offering it to Sage Durvasa. No sooner than He eats this with relish, Sage Durvasa and others burp as though they have eaten a heavy meal. They get up and take leave of Yudhishtra and others, saying they are in no position to eat any more. Durvasa then tells Yudhishtra that Duryodhana has sent him here to partake feast and bless them. He then blesses the Pandavas and leaves. Duryodhana is once again angry and frustrated that none of his plans have the desired effect on the Pandavas. Shakuni has a new plan to destroy the Pandavas. He takes Duryodhana to meet Sage Kalamuni , who is a disciple of Sage Jabali and is well versed in Atharvana Veda. He could use magical intonations and do midnight puja to invoke asuras or demons and kill the Pandavas.

Abhimanyu is seen pestering Balarama to be the target for his bow practice at Dwaraka. Krishna, Rukmini, Balarama's wife Revati, and Subhadra are watching as amused spectators, and Krishna agrees to be target. Abhimanyu demonstrates his mastery in archery by precisely striking a fruit perhed on Krishna's head. Everybody is delighted as Abhimanyu has rivalled his own father Arjuna. Later Abhimanyu demonstrates his dexterity in swinging the mace in a duel against Balarama, who is an ace mace fighter. Abhimanyu now wants to learn how to get in and out of chakravyuha . Krishna promises to teach him later, on any auspicious day. Sage Durvasa thanks Dritarashtra; he expresses happiness over Duryodhana's hospitality and asks him what boon he wants. The cunning Duryodhana expresses regret for his disgraceful conduct in sending the Pandavas to the forest, and asks Durvasa to meet his brothers at Dwaitavana and bless them as well. Dritarashtra is happy that his son has finally real...

Arjuna and Bhima find Jayadratha carrying Draupadi in his chariot. Arjuna shoots an arrow of fire that surrounds the chariot and stops it dead on track. Jayadratha talks haughtily but is humbled when Arjuna overpowers him. Bhima and Arjuna produce Jayadratha before Yudhishtra and await his decison. Yudhishtra tells his brothers to forgive Jayadratha, but Draupadi wants the scummy Jayadratha to be punished severely so that it serves him as a lesson on how to respect a woman. Since Jayadratha had pulled Draupadi by her hair, she wants the head to be shaved so that he wouldn't be able to face women in his usual arrogant way. Yudhishtra commands him to introduce himself henceforth as Pandavas' slave and always maintain the shaved head. Jaydratha feels humiliated by these incidents and decides to stay back in the forest and do penance to please Shiva. His charioteer returns to Hastinapur and reports the matter to Duryodhana and others. Duryodhana, in his usual immature way, wants t...

Yudhishtra gets up anxiously from sleep and tells others that he has dreamt that Karna has taken a vow before Agni to kill Arjuna. Arjuna is confident that Karna is no match before his bows but Yudhishtra warns him not to be overconfident, as Karna was born with Kavacha-kundala. Arjuna counters saying even if he died at the hands of Karna, Bhima would surely fulfil the vow he (Arjuna) has taken. Yudhishtra doesn't even want to hear this as he cannot bear to live in a world bereft of Arjuna. Draupadi consoles everyone and they go back to sleep. Kuchela's wife Susheela is reeling under immense poverty and is unable to feed her hungry children. She suggests to her husband to go to Dwaraka and seek the help of Krishna who was his childhood friend at sage Sandipani's ashram. Kuchela, at first hesitant, agrees to meet Krishna and takes Krishna's favorite puffed rice securely tied in a tattered piece of cloth. When the gatekeepers at the Dwaraka palace tell Krishna about Kuc...

Duryodhana returns to Hastinapur where the Kuru elders have already received the news of Duryodhana's imprisonment and subsequent release through Pandavas' intervention. Vidura points out that Duryodhana had no business in following the Pandavas to the forest after unfairly depriving them of their kingdom. Bhishma chides Duryodhana for his childish behavior and praises Pandavas highly for their moral integrity and true kshatriya valor. Karna speaks in favor of Duryodhana, but Bhishma insults him, by speaking lightly of his might and his birth. Karna swears that he will prove his valor by conquering all the countries far and near and laying them at his friend's feet. Karna besieges all the countries in all the four directions and brings them under Duryodhana's control and makes them pay tribute to Hastinapur . Having thus subjugated all the countries on earth, Duryodhana wants to perform Rajasuya Yagna like Yudhishtra had done. But the astrologers and priests ...

Duryodhana, Dushshasana and Shakuni are brought handcuffed before Yudhishtra who orders Arjuna and Bhima to release them. Bhima doesn't let go of the chance to taunt them. Though all the three of them feel the humiliation of being saved by their enemy, they still want to save their face. Shakuni says that since Duryodhana is the emperor and the Pandavas are only ordinary citizens under their dominion, Pandavas had merely done their duty. Under this premise, Duryodhana wants to bestow gift on Yudhishtra for saving his life, but Yudhishtra declines it. On repeated insistence, Yudhishtra says he would ask for his boon at a later date. Duryodhana cannot stand the shame of being given the lease of life by their enemy. He wants to jump into fire. Karna, Dushshasana, Shakuni and Bhanumathi dissuade him, but Duryodhana is inconsolable. He jumps into fire. The king of Daityas divines Duryodhana's plight and sends an attendant to bring him. When Duryodhana regains consciousness, he fi...

Duryodhana's soldiers report to him that the gandharva Chitrasena not only refuses to vacate Dwaita vana but also threatens them with dire consequences for having trespassed into his land. Dushshasana offers to teach the Gandharva a lesson but gets imprisoned by the Gandharva. Chitrasena then comes in his aerial chariot to where Duryodhana is sitting along with Karna and Shakuni. He demands to know who Duryodhana is and informs them that he has held his brother captive. Despite Shakuni's advice not to engage in a fight with Gandharvas who were powerful enough to have killed their grandfather Chitrangada , Duryodhana enters into a fight, but finds that he is no match for the Gandharva who has mystical powers and can become invisible. In a few minutes of fight, the gandharva causes grave injury to Karna and holds Duryodhana and Shakuni captive. Duryodhan's wife Bhanumathi begs the Gandharva to show mercy, but the Gandharva huddles them into his chariot and flies away.

Indra brings his son Arjuna back to Pandavas' cottage in Dwaitavana. He tells everyone that the divyastras Arjuna has obtained from Shiva and other gods have made them very powerful and there is no doubt they will be successful in defeating the Kauravas in any future war. Particularly, the Pasupatastra he obtained by fighting with Shiva who came in the form of Kirata has made Arjuna invincible. Drupada and his wife, Drishtadyumna and Shikhandi have planned to make a shrine for Lord Subramanya. When Drupada is engaged in a discussion, Shikhandi's attention is drawn to a garland on one of the spears ('vel') planted in the ground. The memories of past birth as Amba flood him and he can recognize the garland as the own he had discarded after finding even mighty warriors unwilling to risk wearing it. Joyfully, he dons it and gets ready to confront Bhishma. Drupada stops him and says that the time is not yet ripe for a confrontation. They have to master all martial form...

Sage Parasurama is resting under a tree with his head on Karna's lap. Karna is gloating over his learning the Brahmastra with which he can vanquish Arjuna. Indra hatches a scheme which would expose the lie that Karna has told his guru. He assumes the form of a bee and stings Karna's thighs. Karna experiences excruciating pain, but simply bears it, because he doesn't want to wake up his master. The blood oozing from the bite soon touches the guru and he wakes up. Karna tells the sage he has borne the pain caused by the bee digging into his flesh because he didn't want to disturb the sage's sleep. The sage concludes that since only kshatriyas can bear pain, Karna must be a Kshatriya, and knowing that the sage was hostile towards Kshatriyas, he had lied that he is a Brahmana. Karna's blatant lie infuriates Parasurama and he curses that Karna would forget the Brahmastra mantra when he needed it most. Karna falls at the sage's feet and begs for his pardon. Th...