Kali Purusha Prevents Duryodhana From Committing Suicide : Episode 99

Recap of Previous Episode :

Chitrasena captures Duryodhana, Shakuni, and Dushasana for their arrogance.

Bhanumathi seeks refuge with the Pandavas.

Draupadi persuades the Pandavas to uphold dharma and rescue their enemies. Arjuna persuades Chitrasena to release the captives as per Yudhishtra’s command. Duryodhana returns humiliated and burning with resentment.

Duryodhana Burns with Humiliation

Duryodhana, Dushshasana, and Shakuni stand handcuffed before Yudhishtra. Yudhishtra orders Arjuna and Bhima to release them. Bhima cannot resist and mocks them openly. The Kauravas burn with humiliation at receiving mercy from those they consider inferior.

Shakuni attempts to salvage their pride. He declares that since Duryodhana is the emperor and the Pandavas only subjects under his rule, the Pandavas merely fulfilled their duty by saving their sovereign’s life.

Under this pretext, Duryodhana offers a gift to Yudhishtra. Yudhishtra declines, but when pressed repeatedly, he says calmly that he will ask for the boon at an appropriate future time.

Duryodhana Tries to End His Life

Unable to bear the disgrace, Duryodhana decides to immolate himself. Karna, Dushshasana, Shakuni, and Bhanumathi plead with him to stop, but he pushes them aside and leaps into the fire.

The Daitya King Appears

The Daitya king senses his despair and sends his attendant to rescue him. When Duryodhana awakens, he finds himself in the presence of the mighty Kali Purusha, the ruler of the Daityas.

The Daitya king tells him that Duryodhana is born out of the tapasya of powerful Daityas, and he represents the force of Kali against the Deva forces embodied by the Pandavas. He promises that powerful demonic warriors have taken birth to support him and that it will be impossible to defeat him unless he loses courage.

He warns that if Duryodhana dies now, the Pandavas representing Devas will grow stronger and the race of Daityas will perish.

The Daitya king reveals that the spirit of Naraka resides in Karna, who waits to take revenge upon Arjuna and Krishna.

Duryodhana Returns Alive

Renewed with fierce determination, Duryodhana leaps back through the flames. Karna, Shakuni, Dushshasana, and Bhanumathi, who are crying around the burning pit, are stunned when he emerges — alive, unscathed, and blazing with zeal for conquest.

The fire that was meant to consume him instead becomes the spark of his resolve to destroy the Pandavas.

References

1. Asramavasika Parva
2. Shakuni as Dwapara and Duryodhana as Kali Purusha
3. Karna and Narakasura (Kisari Mohan Ganguli English Translation)