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 evoked strong emotions in her and she never quite understood it. She is joyous to have found her son at last. Krishna expresses the remorse that Karna has joined the side of adharma. Kunti is now eager to tell Karna who he is and ask him to join the Pandavas. Krishna reminds her that she has never done anything for Karna other than giving birth to him; so she has no right to expect her son to blindly obey everything she says. He advises Kunti to try and get him to switch his loyalties to the Pandavas. If he refused to leave the Kauravas, she should at least get Karna to promise not to use the Nagastrata twice on Arjuna.
Vidura seeks pardon from Dritarashtra for breaking the Vishnu Astra and taking the oath not to participate in the war. Dritarashtra consoles him that he did the right thing and expresses his anguish at the disrespect shown to him by Duryodhana. Vidura says war is inevitable and they should bear the consequences with fortitude.
Kunti meets Karna on the banks of the river where he performs his daily ablutions. He takes her to his palace. Kunti tells Karna the circumstances in which she gave birth to him. Karna tells Kunti how he took the swaddling cloth from house to house in desperate attempts to know who his mother was. He also recounts all the humiliating moments when the world ridiculed him as sutaputra. Kunti tells him to join the Pandavas and as the eldest son, he could soon rule Hastinaputra.
Karna says the thought itself is wrong. However unjust Duryodhana was to others, he has been extremely caring to Karna. Not only had Duryodhana made him the ruler of Anga Desa, he had given equal administrative rights to him in Hastinapur affairs and allowed him to stay near him at all times.
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