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. They personally approach the king of a small kingdom in their dominion called Chandrasailam and ask for the hands of Shubhangi, the princess. Bhanumati talks to Shubhangi about the virtues of Karna and Duryodhana impresses on the king about the special status that Karna enjoys in Hastinapura. The king happily gives his consent and Karna marries Shubhangi.
Karna also tells Kunti about Duryodhana's magnanimity in assessing Karna's relationship with Bhanumati. Once, Bhanumati is playing chess with Karna. They tease each other and joke light-heartedly. While they are engrossed in the game, Duryodhana enters the room. Bhanumati rises from her seat and tries to move towards her husband. Thinking Bhanumati is trying to get away from the embarrassment of certain defeat in the game, Karna pulls at her upper garment that is studded with pearls. The stitches come off and all the pearls roll on the floor. Bhanumati and Karna are both stunned and worried that Duryodhana would object to such immodest behavior. Duryodhana wants to relieve them both of their anxiety and defuses the situation by saying lightly : "Should I just collect the beads, or string them as well?" Karna is grateful that Duryodhana hasn't misundesrstood him.
After narrating instances of Duryodhana's selfless love for him, Karna asks Kunti if she would still want him to defect and be called a traitor. Kunti understands the predicament Karna is in, blesses him and tells him to serve Duryodhana. Just as she is about to go away, Karna's heart wrenches in pain to see her go away empty-handed. He senses that Kunti has come to ask for something. He offers her two boons. With some hesitation, Kunti asks Karna that he shouldn't kill any of her sons. Karna is anguished that this is something he cannot promise; instead, he promises that he would spare all her sons except Arjuna. As a next boon, Kunti asks Karna that he shouldn't use Nagastra twice on Arjuna. Karna understands this request to be the handiwork of the all-knowing Krishna; nevertheless, he agrees to use the Nagastra only once on Arjuna. He consoles Kunti saying she will always have five sons whether he kills Arjuna or Arjuna kills him.
As Kunti leaves, Karna has one very strong and pointed question for her. Would she intercede with Arjuna for his sake as she has pleaded with him for Arjuna. Kunti is speechless and teary-eyed. Karna says he knows what the answer would be. Kunti expresses regret for having done nothing for him and offers him two boons.
Karna asks Kunti not to reveal his identity till his death. And when he dies, she should rest his head on her lap and wail loudly 'oh, my son!' so that the darkness of his birth gets wiped at his death. Kunti is moved. She blesses Karna with long life and leaves. From his balcony, Shakuni notices Kunti leaving the premises.
Kunti meets Krishna on return and narrates whatever transpired between them. She asks Krishna if there is a way in which all her sons could be saved. That would be possible, Krishna replies, if Kunti speaks against the war and forestall the calamity. Since avoiding the war would mean that all the Pandavas and Kunti will have to spend the rest of their lives in an alien country, Kunti isn't willing for this option. She explains that she was once a princess and then a queen, being the wife of a great emperor, but has no identity now. It is not greed for money or power, but identity and recognition, she asserts. Besides, her sons would be called cowards and eunuchs for not having avenged the dishonor of their wife, and her daughter-in-law would have to spend the rest of the life with her hair let loose and untied. That means she would have to come to terms with having to lose one of her sons, Krishna reminds Kunti.
Krishna leaves for Virata Desa where the Pandavas are waiting for Krishna's return. Bhishma follows him and intercepts him on the way. He asks Krishna if it is not possible to avoid his death at the hands of the eunuch Shikhandi. Krishna tells him that Shikhandi, as Amba, has obtained a boon from Shiva that he would bring about Bhishma's death and destruction. Bhishma pleads that he would prefer to meet his end at the hands of Arjuna or Krishna. Krishna says he has undertaken an oath not to lift arms in the battlefield. Bhishma now takes an oath that he would make Krishna break his oath and wield weapons in the war.
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