166. Duryodhana's Death and Beyond

Recap of Previous Episode :

Gandhari blesses with dharma, not victory. Krishna reveals the six forces that doomed Karna. Shakuni mocks fate and plays dice with Krishna. Krishna warns the Pandavas about Shalya and assigns Yudhishtra to face him the next day.

Gandhari Attempts to Save Her Son

Gandhari resolves to protect Duryodhana with the spiritual power earned through unwavering pativrata dharma. She asks him to bathe and come before her unclothed, so that the divine radiance from her eyes may harden his body like diamond.

Krishna learns of her plan. In disguise as Dushala, He warns Duryodhana that appearing naked before his mother is shameful and advises him to cover his loins with a banana leaf.

Gandhari, who has kept her eyes blindfolded since marriage, opens them at last, and her fiery gaze strengthens every part of Duryodhana’s body — until she sees the covered area. Horrified, she realizes Krishna has intervened. Duryodhana shrugs it off, believing he is still safe: warriors never strike below the belt.

The Eighteenth Day Begins

Yudhishtra confronts and kills Shalya, ending the terror of his strength — enhancing boon. Sahadeva slays Shakuni and his son Uluka.

Duryodhana weeps over Shakuni’s body, remembering the uncle who raised him like a son. With his dying breath, Shakuni urges him to chant the Sanjeevani mantra taught by Sage Durvasa to achieve immortality.

Duryodhana slips into a river, chanting underwater. A hunter witnesses him and informs the Pandavas, who arrive immediately. Krishna instructs the Pandavas to provoke him with insults so that he abandons chanting and accepts combat.

Duryodhana emerges, offering to return Hastinapura, but Yudhishtra refuses charity. He asks Duryodhana to choose his opponent.

Duryodhana proudly chooses Bhima.

The Final Duel

Balarama arrives to watch his disciple Duryodhana’s mace fight.

As the fight drags on, Bhima finds that Duryodhana is totally uanffected by any of the blows Bhima showers on him. He is perplexed, being unaware of the magic that Gandhari has wrought on her son's body. Krishna knows that the only way to kill Duryodhana will be to hit him in the hips and the thighs. He tells Yudhishtra and Arjuna to signal Bhima to hit Duryodhana below the belt. Both of them do not want to adopt such a non-righteous tactic, so Krishna takes the task upon himself.

Krishna slaps his thighs as a signal to Bhima

He signals Bhima by slapping his own thigh. Bhima gets the hint; he also remembers the promise he has made at the time of Draupadi's vastra-haran.

Bhima smashes Duryodhana’s thighs, breaking them. He kicks Duryodhana’s face.

Yudhishtra chides Bhima for not respecting the emperor's dignity.

Balarama takes up the cudgels for Duryodhana and is ready to fight with Bhima. Krishna reminds his brother of the appalling act of Duryodhana in humiliating his own brother's wife by commanding her to sit on his thighs, at which Bhima had sworn to break Duryodhana's thighs. Sage Maitreya had also cursed Duryodhana that his death will occur by his thighs getting split. Listening to this Balarama becomes calm and leaves the place after blessing Duryodhana and all his relatives with attaining Heaven after death.

Duryodhana begs for death, but Bhima refuses and leaves him to suffer.

Ashwathama’s Revenge

Duryodhana appoints Ashwathama as commander. Burning with revenge, Ashwathama raids the Pandava camp at night with Kripacharya and Kritavarma.

He kills Drishtadyumna, Shikhandi, and the Upapandavas — believing them to be the Pandavas. He returns triumphantly and Duryodhana dies with regret, ashamed that a Brahmin committed such a horrific act.

Gandhari’s Curse and the Brahmastra Clash

Krishna meets Dhritarashtra and Gandhari in their grief. Gandhari curses Krishna that just as her sons perished, the entire Yadava clan will destroy itself within 36 years.

Krishna accepts calmly.

The Pandavas learn of their sons’ death. Draupadi demands that Ashwathama’s Chudamani, the gem symbolizing immortality, be taken from his forehead. Ashwatthama was born as a partial Rudra-amsha (an aspect of Shiva) with a divine jewel embedded in his forehead, which granted him invincibility against weapons.

Ashwathama fires the Brahmastra to annihilate the Pandavas. Arjuna counters with his own Brahmastra. Sages led by Narada implore them to withdraw, or the universe will burn. Arjuna withdraws his weapon; Ashwathama cannot, and redirects it toward Uttara’s womb, killing the unborn child.

Krishna curses Ashwathama to wander the earth for 3,000 years, tormented and without peace. Ashwathama offers his chudamani and accepts his fate.

Parikshit Lives

The Pandavas beg Krishna to save Uttara’s child. Krishna restores life to the baby and names him Parikshit, destined to be the next king of the Kuru dynasty.

Bhishma’s Departure and the End of the War

Pandavas and elders visit Bhishma. He waits for Uttarayana, and when the day arrives, the grandsire leaves his body in their presence.

Yudhishtra is crowned King of Hastinapura and rules with Dharma as his guiding light.

Episode Summary

Gandhari’s attempt to shield Duryodhana fails due to Krishna’s strategy. Shalya and Shakuni fall. Bhima shatters Duryodhana’s thighs, fulfilling his vow. Ashwathama massacres the sleeping sons of the Pandavas and is cursed. Krishna saves Uttara's child, and Bhishma departs. Yudhishtra ascends the throne.