Duryodhana's Soldiers Pick Up A Fight With The Gandharva Chitrasena : Episode 97

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 forms from an able guru. Drupada agrees to swallow his pride and go to his nemesis Dronacharya and request him to teach astra-sastra vidya to both Shikhandi and Drishtadyumna.

Duryodhana convinces Dritarashtra to let him and his brothers take their wives for an excursion to the Dwaita forest though their real intention is to flaunt their wealthy status and mock at their austere lives. Gandhari is apprehensive and privately tells Duryodhana's wife Bhanumathi to make sure they did not get into any confrontation with the Pandavas.

The Kauravas reach Dwaitavana and want to camp there. Bhanumathi restraints them, quoting Dritarashtra's advice, but Duryodhana and Karna prevail on her to agree.

Duryodhana commands his men to build camps at Dwaitavana. Leaving Bhanumathi behind, all of them including Shakuni and Karna head to where Yudhishtra is engaged in performing a special Yagna. Karna and Duryodhana insult the Pandavas and Draupadi to their heart's content. Then they leave, saying they would continue the next day.

Duryodhana's men reach a lake where the Gandharva Chitrasena is enjoying the company of his two wives.

Chitrasena forbids them from entering their private land, but they haughtily say that they would report the matter to their master.

Kauravas return to where Bhanumathi is waiting anxiously for them. The soldiers inform that Gandharva's men forbid them from building a camp. Dushasana departs with the men to cow down the gandharva and show them that the real master is Duryodhana.