Confrontation Between Arjuna and Karna : Kunti Faints : Episode 26

Recap of previous Episode

Akrura reaches Gokula with Kamsa’s invitation, and Krishna agrees to travel to Mathura. He kills Kamsa and reinstates Ugrasena as the king. In Hastinapura, Satyavati and the queens renounce palace life, marking the end of one era.

Pandavas and Kauravas Showcase Their Prowess

After Satyavati departs to the forest with Ambika and Ambalika, the Pandavas and Kauravas continue their martial training under Dronacharya and Kripacharya. Years pass, and a grand arena is constructed for the princes to publicly display their skills. People from every corner of Hastinapura gather to witness the spectacle.

Royal Arrival and Ceremony

Dhritarashtra arrives first in a chariot driven by Vidura as clarions blow, drums roll, and heralds recite praises. Queens Gandhari and Kunti take their seats alongside Shakuni. Dronacharya, Kripacharya, and Ashwatthama sit on the dais, presiding over the event.

The princes arrive one by one in regal procession, bow to the elders, and take their seats amid applause.

Prowess of the Princes

Yudhishtra opens the exhibition by unfurling the royal standard using a spear hurled with precision. Next comes the wrestling bout between Bhima and Duryodhana. They clash with equal strength, blow meeting blow, neither yielding. Their struggle awakens old memories: Dushasana recalls how Bhima once overpowered him despite Duryodhana’s protests; Sahadeva remembers the day the Kauravas poisoned Bhima and threw him into the river.

The fight grows too fierce. Kunti, Gandhari, and Bhishma express concern. Bhishma urges Drona to stop the combat. Ashwatthama intervenes, declaring the duel a draw under the guru’s orders. Bhima and Duryodhana glare at each other and withdraw.

Arjuna’s Mastery

Arjuna enters to thunderous cheers. His archery unveils the elements themselves—winds roar at his command, fires rise only to be quenched by sudden rain, mountains rise from the earth with Parvatastra. He shoots an arrow through a revolving target by aiming only at its reflection. The crowd is spellbound.

The Stranger in the Arena

Karna walks into the arena where Arjuna displays his skills

A young warrior steps forward, radiant like the sun. Kunti recognizes the ear-ornaments and is shaken by memory—the child she once abandoned on the river. Bhishma and Vidura wonder who he is.

The newcomer proclaims he can match all of Arjuna’s feats. He strikes the revolving target effortlessly and seeks Dhritarashtra’s permission to demonstrate the rest. Duryodhana and Shakuni are delighted. The king allows him to proceed.

Duryodhana’s Offer of Brotherhood

Duryodhana steps forward and embraces the youth, declaring the Kaurava kingdom his home. Karna expresses gratitude, saying Duryodhana’s friendship alone is wealth enough.

Arjuna scoffs, calling him an uninvited intruder. Karna retorts that Arjuna is simply afraid to face him; the arena is open to all who are skilled. They challenge each other to combat, and Arjuna seeks his guru’s blessing.

The Question of Birth

Kripa intervenes. He declares that duels must be fought between equals and asks Karna to reveal his lineage if he wishes to face a prince born of King Pandu. Karna falls silent. A hush spreads through the arena. Kunti collapses, overcome with emotion.

Note on Drona and Kripacharya

Dronacharya and kriparcharya are introduced here for the first time.

Dronacharya is the son of the great sage Bharadwaja, under whom he is trained in the Vedas and austerity. He also learns the science of weapons under Parashurama, from whom he receives advanced knowledge of celestial and conventional arms.

In a flashback that occurs in later episodes, we learn that Dronacharya received his early education and training in the ashram of Agnivesha, where he studied alongside Kripacharya and Drupada, and it is here that he meets Kripi, in whom a quiet affection gradually takes root. He marries her after he completes the education.

Despite his learning, Drona lives for years in severe poverty, along with his wife Kripi and young son Ashwatthama. When he is unable even to procure milk for his child, necessity forces him to seek patronage.

Remembering his childhood friendship with Drupada, now king of Panchala, Drona approaches him — only to be humiliated and rejected. That wound never leaves him.

Drona then comes to Hastinapur with his family. There, his mastery of arms is recognized by Bhishma, who appoints him royal preceptor to train the Kuru princes — the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

Years later, when Drona asks that Drupada be brought captive as gurudakshina, it is not sudden cruelty, but the return of an old, unresolved debt born of humiliation, memory, and pride.