Scene 1
Drupada seeks the help of a sage called Upayaja to perform yagna that would help get a son capable of killing Drona. The sage drives him away advising him from pursuing his ignoble aim. Drupada refuses to go away and waits, unmindful of the frigid weather.Taking pity on Drupada's plight, Upayaja suggests that he should seek Yaja's help to conduct the Yagnas, because Yaja, his brother, is less principled and highly interested in acquiring the wealth that Drupada is prepared to give.
Scene 2
It is night, and the Pandavas prepare to go to bed. Bhima is about sneeze and stops himself when his brothers joke that it would have enough impact to shatter the lac house. Just then, a man stealthily enters the palace and is caught by Bhima. The man identifies himself as Kanaka, the messenger from Vidura who has come to help them. Purochana rushes into the chamber, but Yudhishtra sends him away, saying the commotion was caused by Bhima's sneeze! Kanika tells Yudhishtra that he would build an underground tunnel through which they could escape.Once Purochana goes away, Kanaka comes out of the hiding, and details Vidura's plan for the Pandavas' escape from the lac palace.
He tells the Pandavas that he has been sent to build a tunnel through which they could escape after setting the palace on fire. The digging work begins and goes on through the night, and the noise brings Purochana. Yudhishtra instructs Nakula to guard the entrance and the brothers pretend to practice their swords and mace so that the sound drowns the din caused by digging. They maintain the vigil throughout the night.Scene 3
Ashwaththama and his mother Kripi are riding through the forest in a chariot when they meet a tribal practicing archery. His arrows graze narrowly missing them. The precision draws them to the young man, who identifies himself as the tribal prince. Ashwaththama queries why a gypsy like him should trouble himself with archery. Ekalavya, the young man, talks about his passion for learning martial arts and how Sage Drona had refused to teach him. He finally shows them how he practiced archery on his own, worshipping the clay statue of Drona and seeking his blessings everyday. Ashwaththama is surprised to find Ekalavya without a thumb on his right hand and yet dexterously wielding his bow. Ekalavya then narrates how Drona had asked for his right thumb as Guru Dakshina and how he had willingly severed his right thumb to offer him the price. Aswaththama and Kripi are touched by his unwavering devotion to Guru.
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