Dushala is anguished by Arjuna's vow. She is pretty sure that Jayadratha cannot withstand Arjuna's attacks. Kunti is unable to alleviate her fears; Jayadratha's life would mean Arjuna's death but Jayadratha's death would make her beloved Dushala a widow. Kunti and Gandhari decide to leave everything to God and to pray for His intervention.
Jayadratha is wondering if he should not come to the battle field the next day. This is disapproved by Duryodhana and Karna as an act of cowardice. Duryodhana asks Jayadratha if he is scared of Arjuna's oath and his might. Jayadratha replies that he is concerned more about the wily Krishna. Jayadratha feels that if he can stave off his own death even by a day, that would spell a sure death for Arjuna. Drona is pensive. He has planned a needle-shaped formation for the next day, and he assures that it would be well nigh impossible for Arjuna to reach Jayadratha, with the tight protection that they have planned for him.
In the Pandava camp, Arjuna is upset with Krishna's putting a bridle on his hysterical action of killing Jayadratha. Bhima welcomes it as the most natural and heroic jesture, but Yudhishtra expresses dissatisfaction over Arjuna's hasty oath. Krishna is not only appreciative of Yudhishtra's patience, but reveals that Arjuna has wilfully fallen into a dangerous situation with his oath. He informs about Jayadratha's father Vridhakshatra getting a boon from Lord Shiva about the death of anyone who causes his son's death. Pandavas are now worried, but entrust Krishna with somehow extricating them from the likely calamity. Krishna advises Arjuna to pray to Shiva, as both Jayadratha and his father are Shiva's ardent devotees. Arjuna prays to Shiva and receives His blessings. Arjuna is thrilled to find that the flowers he uses to worship are on Krishna's body.
In the Kaurava camp, Jayadratha is found missing and everybody get panicky; but he arrives soon and looks happy. Shakuni details the fascinating situation of Arjuna's death irrespective of whether or not he is able to kill Jayadratha. He explains to them the background story. Jayadratha had been very depressed after Pandavas disgrace him; he attempts to kill himself.
His father Vridhakshatra does penance on his son's behalf and gets the boon from Lord Shiva that whoever makes his son's head to roll on the ground would die immediately. Lord Shiva lays one condition, though. Vridakshatra should do penance at the time when his son needs protection. This is why Jayadratha has to go out in the middle of the night to inform his father to start his meditation.
Arjuna and Krishna meet Bhishma and apprise him of the day's happenings. Bhishma grieves greatly over Abhimanyu's unfair end. He wonders how this could happen in Krishna's divine presence. Krishna asks if he had ever anticipated that he would be lying on the bed of arrows three days back. Nobody can divine the future, he says. Bhishma agrees and agrees that Jayadratha deserves to be killed. He tells them that Abhimanyu's death is not in vain. He blesses Arjuna and expects that Abhimanyu's death will herald the rebirth of Dharma once again.
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