165. Krishna Plays Dice With Shakuni

Recap of Previous Episode :

Karna’s chariot wheel sinks and his curses come true. Krishna urges Arjuna to strike, and Karna fails to wield Brahmastra. Krishna removes Karna’s protective punya by appearing as a Brahmin. Arjuna kills Karna. Kunti reveals Karna as her son, devastating everyone. Duryodhana vows to honor Karna’s funeral alone, while Yudhishtra curses his mother in anguish.

Gandhari’s Blessings and Duryodhana’s Despair

Shakuni urges Gandhari to bless Duryodhana with victory, insisting that her divine aura can change destiny.

Gandhari can only utter: “Dharma will be victorious.”

Duryodhana pleads that unseen dharma cannot matter more than her living son standing before her.

Gandhari reassures him that the same dharma will protect him always — but Duryodhana walks away shattered.

Shakuni praises her righteousness, yet warns her that excessive idealism may destroy her own child.

Pandavas React to Karna’s Death

Krishna wonders why the Pandavas are calm compared to Duryodhana’s grief. Yudhishtra says they are stunned, and deeply hurt that Kunti hid the truth.

Krishna narrates the story of Kunti’s unwed motherhood, her fear of social disgrace, and how she secured Karna’s two solemn promises:

1. He would not kill any Pandava except Arjuna
2. He would not use the Nagastra more than once. This was why Karna spared Yudhishtra, Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva even when he could have killed them

The Six Forces That Cripple Karna

Krishna explains the unbearable burdens Karna bore in the final battle:

• The Brahmin’s curse for killing his son
• Parashurama’s curse to forget Brahmastra
• Indra taking away the divine armour
• Kunti’s condition restricting Nagastra
• Krishna stripping him of accumulated punya
• Shalya, his own charioteer, humiliating and deserting him

Hearing this, Yudhishtra is broken and unwilling to fight. Krishna declares that the war must continue, for the responsibilities of kings cannot stop for personal sorrow.

Shakuni’s Final Gambit

Shakuni visits Bhishma to mock him — claiming that revenge for Subala has been fulfilled through the destruction of the Kuru clan.

Krishna later meets Shakuni and they sit down to play dice.
Shakuni hands Krishna the dice, asking him to see the history of blood embedded in them.
Krishna recalls how Subala starved to death so Shakuni could avenge the Kauravas, and warns that dice are dangerous.
Shakuni laughs: “More dangerous is Krishna, who plays without playing.”

Strategy for the Next Day

Krishna asks the Pandavas about their war plan. They believe only Duryodhana remains a real threat.

Krishna corrects them — Shalya is far more dangerous, strengthened by a boon that transfers half of the opponent’s power to him. He further advises: Yudhishtra must fight Shalya, for Shalya will gain half of Yudhishtra’s sattvik strength — weakening rather than empowering him.