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Shakuni's Dice Made From His Father's Bones : Episode 82 (28-09-14)

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(continued from previous episode...)Balarama informs Rukmini and his wife Revati that Krishna has returned safely with gifts from King Satrajit, after acquitting himself of Satrajit's charge of stealing Syamantaka gem. Rukmini rushes out to meet Krishna, but is stunned to see him with Satyabhama, with both appearing garlanded. Krishna wedded to Satyabhama She angrily asks Balarama if the woman with Krishna is the gift from Satrajit that he referred just now. Krishna introduces Satyabhma as Satrajit's daughter who used to worship him everyday and has taken refuge in him. He then asks Bhama to seek his brother's blessings. Rukmini is incensed with Krishna's behavior. Krishna had just married Jambavati because she is his devotee and now he has married Bhama citing the same reason once again. If she did not try to put an end to this, the number of Krishna's wives may grow from three to way beyond thirty. Krishna smiles and says that in this birth he is destined to...

Shakuni Advises Duryodhana to Cajole Dritarashtra Into Inviting Yudhishtra For A Game of Dice : Episode 81 (21-09-2014)

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Shakuni is busy playing a game of dice when Duryodhana and Dushshasana enter his chamber. Duryodhana taunts him for expressing mighty words of revenge-taking against Yudhishtra but doing nothing about it except playing dice throughout the day. Shakuni says that was the only way left to score over the Pandavas, as they cannot be defeated in a battle. As Pandavas were outside their purview, they couldn't employ other treacherous means either. The only way would be to defeat them in a game of dice. Duryodhana is dubious whether Yudhishtra would accept an invitation for a game of dice. Shakuni assures him that Yudhishtra was very fond of playing dice game and would never refuse an invitation, especially if it came from King Dritarashtra, whose words he always respected. He then asks Duryodhana to hook him with a show of affection and pursuade King Dritarashtra to use threat of death, if need be.

Draupadi Laughs When Duryodhana Slips Into a Pond in The Mayan's Sabha at Indraprastha : Episode 80

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Shishupala continues to rail abuses at Krishna who listens to it calmly. He asks other kings to walk out in protest, but no one follows him. Duryodhana wants to join, but Shakuni dissuades him and tells him to watch the enfolding drama. When Shishupala utters his 101st condemnation, Krishna closes his eyes and his Sudarshana Chakra appears on his finger. Shishupala runs hither and thither, but the Chakra severs his head and returns to Krishna. Yudhishtra wants to know if killing of Shishupala vitiated the ritual cleanliness of the Yagna. Krishna assures him that Shishupala was his ' dwarapalaka ', and it was his wish to oppose Krishna and die at his hands three times. He had previously taken birth as Hiranyakashipu and as Ravana, and in the present birth as Shishupala. He has now taken refuge in Krishna as his dwarpalaka, and all sins pertaining to this would touch only Krishna, and Yudhishtra could contine with the ceremonies.

Sishupala Challenges the First Honor to Krishna at Yudhishtra's Rajasuya Yagna : Episode 79

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Vyasa is dictating the Mahabharatha to Ganesha as his disciple Sage Vaishampayana watches on. With Krishna's help, Arjuna marries Subhadra . This increases Duryodhana's envy, and his parents are worried for him. At this juncture, the King of Kalinga arranges for the swayamwaram of his daughter Bhanumathi, in which Jarasandha and Shishupala also participate. Karna fights with these kings and brings Bhanumati for his friend Duryodhana. Duryodhana marries Bhanumati. Karna marries Subhangi, a princess from Chandramalai. In the course of time, Draupadi gives birth to one son each for the five Pandavas. Arjuna and Subhadra have a son called Abhimanyu. Duryodhana and Bhanumathi have a son called Lakshmana and a daughter called Lakshmi. At this juncture Yudhishtra wants to perform the Rajasuya Yagna , and he seeks Krishna's advice.

Narada Devises Conjugal Arrangement Between Pandava Brothers : Episode 78

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The priest who saw Satyavati, Ambika and Ambalika perish in the forest conflagration informs King Dhritarashtra, Bhishma and others about the incident. Bhishma offers the ancestors the prescribed final rites. The priest meets Bhishma privately and informs him about Satyavati's meeting with Shikhandi and how the queen pleaded with Shikhandi on behalf of Bhishma. Jarasandha's son Sahadeva seeks Krishna's help in ending the atrocities of Jarasandha. He says he loves his father dearly, but Jarasandha doesn't understand his concern. Krishna assures him of doing his best to end Jarasandha's evil reign, but he says he cannot guarantee his life.

Satyavati, Ambika and Ambalika Perish in Forest Fire : Episode 77 (24-08-2014)

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Satyavati, Ambika and Ambalika plod through the forest when Ambika notices Shikhandi. Shikhandi is now a man, but Ambika can still recognize her sister Amba in him. Sayavati remembers Amba's rage when Bhishma turns down her demand for marrying her and how she swore to take revenge on him. Ambika wants to talk to her sister, but Satyavati discourages her, reminding her how Amba had jumped into the fire and killed herself. As the three drink water from a river, a man approaches them, asking if they were the queens of Hastinapur. This man was the priest at a Durga temple and had stopped the daily worship at the temple when he lost his daughter to small pox. At that time, Queen Satyavati had admonished him telling him how she had stoically faced her own bereavement. Satyavati recalls all this, yet refuses to acknowledge or recognize him, saying they are hermits who had renounced everything. Bhoomadevi comes to meet Krishna . A woman carrying a heavy basket on her head comes to Dwa...

Pandavas Build Indraprastha With Krishna's Help : Episode 76

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Balarama reminds Krishna that he has to go to Hastinapur to seek the alliance of Duryodhana for their sister Subhadra, a job he has been constantly postponing on some pretext or the other. Just then, a messenger from Hastinapura brings him a message from Kunti informing him that the coronation of Yudhishtra has been fixed, after which they would move to Khandavaprastha, a region they have been assigned to rule. Balarama expresses the concern that this meant the division of Hastinapura, which is neither a matter to rejoice nor the opportune time to talk of marriage alliances; hence Balarama doesn't want to participate in the coronation ceremony. Krishna says he has promised to Draupadi to come whenever they are in trouble; hence he would go down to Hastinapur. Drupada gets the news about the coronation, and he is delirious with happiness that his sons-in-law have now moved away from his enemy Bhishma and Drona. This would bring him closer to his dream of extracting revenge agains...

Dritarashtra Agrees For Yudhishtra's Coronation : Episode 75

Subhadra and Rukmini are seated with a soothsayer woman who predicts the birth of a world renowned warrior son to Subhadra. Subhadra is more concerned about her marriage with Arjuna, as Balarama is already making preparations for seeking Duryodhana's alliance with her. The woman predicts Subhadra's marriage with an old man who is a sanyasi as well. Subhadra is worried by this prediction, but Krishna consoles her with mysterious words as usual, and tells her to have confidence that things will turn out right. Pandavas and Kunti meet Dritarashtra who openly admits that Yudhishtra is the sole rightful heir, but despite this he is still bound by his son Duryodhana's greed and fiercely blind ambition. He asks Yudhishtra to pardon him for his many lapses. He promises to hold Yudhishtra's coronation soon, after which he could go to Khandavaprastha. In fact, if Yudhishtra insists, he is prepared to give the entire Hastinapura to him and he would then leave the palace along w...

Kunti Explains Why She Chose to Remain Calm Even In The Face of Injustice : Episode 74

Vidura protests that the division of Hastinapura as delineated by Dritarashtra is unjust. Dritarashtra reminds Vidura that Hastinapura itself was a forest in the days of yore and had been cultivated by their ancestors. So Pandavas, being diligent, could do the same. He had entrusted them with the task of finding a solution and Vidura had suggested partition. He, as the king, has now accepted their solution and has devised a plan for the division of the country and it is their duty to obey their king's order. Vidura expresses the fear that the Pandavas might not agree to this gross injustice, but Dritarashtra discounts it saying it was Vidura's duty as a chief minister to force Pandavas into submission. Vidura retorts that it was also his duty to warn the king of dire consequences that might result from his action: in particular, Drupada might send an army in support of the Pandavas. This infuriates Dritarashtra who declares that he is not worried about the threat from Pancha...

Shakuni Suggests to Dritarashtra To Give Infertile Khandavapratha to the Pandavas : Episode 73

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After Bheeshma's outburst over Vidura's suggestion of partition of Hastinapura , Vidura pleads with Dritarashtra to try and understand him, but Dritarashtra says he is helpless against the senior's wrath. Vidura returns to his suite utterly shaken. He tells his wife how for the first time he had earned his uncle's displeasure. Bheeshma cannot contain his fury. He goes to the Ganges river and shoots a shower of arrows at the river. He pleads with his mother to appear before him and release him from the dilemma he is stuck in. Seeing her son so desperate, Ganga appears before him. Vidura conveys the happy tidings of Bheeshma's acquiescence to Dritarashtra, who is visibly disturbed and angry. He accuses Vidura of plotting for Yudhishtra's coronation and coercing Bheeshma to agree to his plans. Bheeshma enters and explains to Dritarashtra the consequence of not partitioning Dritarashtra, because it could lead to bloodshed between the cousin brothers. He then tel...