Karna approaches Sage Parasurama and requests that he teach him the intricacies of archery. Knowing Parasurama's animosity towards Kshatriyas, he proclaims himself to be a Brahmin. Parasurama accepts him as his disciple. Finding Karna very dexterous, he teaches him the ultimate weapon, the Brahmastra. He cautions Karna that he should use it only on the battle field against a powerful foe and not against ordinary mortals, as it has the capacity to destroy the world. Arjuna goes to Indra's abode, where he is entertained with a dance by the celestial dancer Urvashi. Arjuna is entranced by her, and Indra orders Urvashi to teach him all the fine arts. Indra also instructs Chitrasena, the king of Gandharvas, to teach him all forms of art. Arjuna learns music as well as musical instruments and dance from Chitrasena. Urvashi goes to Arjuna's room one night and expresses her love for Arjuna, but Arjuna spurns it, saying he considers her as his mother. Urvashi explains tha...

Shakuni and Dushshasana incite Mookasura and tells him that Arjuna is in meditation on Indrakeel mountains at Kailasa. Mookasura assumes the form of a wild boar and charges at Arjuna. Before Arjuna aims a deadly arrow, another arrow from a hunter pierces the boar and kills it. Arjuna feels it is his arrow which had killed the boar, but the hunter claims otherwise. A fight ensues between the hunter and Arjuna, and the hunter overpowers Arjuna in archery and in wrestling. Arjuna realizes that the hunter is not a mere mortal and asks hims who he is. The hunter, who is Lord Shiva, reveals his true form and blesses him. He gives Pashupatastra to Arjuna and tells him he has a mission to accomplish. He calls Indra to take Ajuna to heaven, give him his special weapon Vajrayudha and instruct other gods to provide similar weapons to Arjuna.

Yudhishtra overhears Vidura speaking to Sanjaya sent by Dritarashtra. He comes to know that Dritarashtra had sent away Vidura in an angry moment, but regrets it later. Realizing the deep love between Vidura and Dritarashtra, Yudhishtra asks Vidura to go back to Hastinapura, as it is his duty to help and guide the king. Vidura goes back to Hastinapura and is welcomed by an emotionally charged Dritarashtra and Gandhari. Dritarashtra chides Vidura for deserting them and asks him to promise that he'd never leave them in the future even if he finds fault with him or asks him to get out. Sthulakana, the Yaksha, asks Shikhandini who she is, and Shikhandini tells him about her vow to kill Bhishma, the boon she received from Lord Shiva, her marriage with a princess, the shame she experiences when the bride realizes that she is a woman, which makes her ran away from the palace. The Yaksha is moved by her story and he tells Shikhandini that he could exchange his masculinity with Shikhandin...

Draupadi thanks Krishna for protecting her honor but asks why he delayed helping her and let her be humiliated by Dushasana who tries to disrobe her in the Kuru assembly. Krishna asks Draupadi what she did when Dushasana dragged her by the hair. Draupadi recalls struggling to free and protect herself herself from Dushasana's grip and later asking the elders in the court to intervene. Krishna explains that as long as Draupadi believed that she could save herself with her own efforts, Krishna did not help her but when surrendered herself totally and called out to him he did appear protected her honor the next instant. Draupadi understands her folly and asks for Krishna's forgiveness. Krishna reminds Draupadi of the incident that took place at Indraprastha soon after Yudhishtra's Rajasuya Yagna when Krishna cuts his finger and blood starts to pour out of the wound. Draupadi instantly tears a piece of cloth from her upper garment and ties it around Krishna's finger to st...

As Pandavas, Draupadi and Sage Dhaumya walk along the woods of Kamyaka, they encounter the demon Kirmira, the brother of Bakasura and a friend of Hidimba. A fierce battle ensues between Bhima and the demon, where the two equally matched fighters hurl rocks and trees at each other. Eventually, Bhima emerges victorious. Shakuni and Dushasana, who have brought in Kirmira and secretly watching it from a distance, scurry away. Dritarashtra and Gandhari are worried about Duryodhana whom Sage Maitreya has cursed that his thighs would be broken by Bhima . Dritarashtra feels that Vidura, being wise in all administrative and moral matters, would appease their minds and allay their fears. Yet Vidura is brutally frank that Dritarashtra has brought on all the calamities himself by not heeding to the sagacious advice that he and others like Bhishma have given him, including discarding the new-born Duryodhana who was prophesied to cause the downfall of their dynasty. Dritarashtra is stung by hi...

Shakuni doesn't let Duryodhana become complacent and he keeps drilling the necessity of being on the guard against wounded tigers who may attack them any time. They decide to keep tabs on the Pandavas through spies and kill them at an opportune moment. Gandhari and Dritarashtra, who have come to meet Duryodhana and advise him to forsake enmity towards the Pandavas, are astonished and they return back dejected. Dritarashtra then decides to request Vyasa to advise Duryodhana. Kunti receives a sage who has paid them a visit. The sage notices that Kunti is morose and tells her that he is aware of the concern for her sons who are wandering in the forest. He assures her that with Dhaumya's guidance and blessings from gods, Pandavas have received Akshaya Patra because of which they do not have to suffer hunger pangs. Kunti wants to know who the sage is, who then reveals himself as lord Krishna. He tells her not to worry over sons because he would always protect them. Kunti is overjo...

Balarama is angry with Duryodhana for his malicious behavior towards the Pandavas and the lewd and reprehensible treatment of Draupadi. He is waiting for the return of Krishna who has gone to fight Salwa king who had attacked Dwaraka to avanege Shishupala's death. Krishna returns and is welcomed by Rukmini and Satyabhama who have a small tiff over who should welcome Krishna first and which one of them is more dear to Krishna. Krishna claifies that both of them are like his two eyes and he loves them equally. Balarama's wife Revati narrates to Krishna the abominable incidents that took place at Hastinapur, and Balarama suggests that they attack Hastinapur to seek justice for the Pandavas. Krishna's counter argument is that since Duryodhana hasn't harmed them directly and the Pandavas haven't sought his intervention and accepted their exile without a whimper, there is nothing that they can do. Krishna then suggests that Balarama could visit Hastinapur and chastise ...

Bhishma, Vidura, Drona and Kripacharya caution Yudhishtra against playing the game of dice the second time. Yudhishtra pleads helplessness against Fate, quoting the example of Sri Rama who chased a fake deer into the forest. Shakuni remembers the promise he made to his father and how he came to acquire the dice made out of his bones. The game begins under the same conditions that Bhishma set for the previous game. The player should select the target number before rolling the dice. Whoever scores three passes first is the winner. Yudhishtra magnanimously offers the first throw to Shakuni as the priority offered to the previous winner. Shakuni purposely 'loses' the first throw of dice. Duryodhana suggests that they place some bet for the sake of introducing the 'interest' element into the game. At first, he suggests that the loser spend 12 'நாழிகை'/nadi in the forest. (2.5 nadi is 1 hour and there are 60 nadis in 1 day) and then to make it interesting, the...

The second boon Draupadi seeks from Dritarashtra is to regain Indraprastha and all the weapons. The king asks Draupadi what she wishes as third boon. Draupadi declines saying a kshatriya woman is not entitled for more than two boons. However, Dritarashtra reinstates all the wealth that Yudhishtra has lost in the dice game. He then asks Yudhishtra not to think of retribution, as it would bring about the downfall of the entire clan, but rule Indraprastha just as he did before. Draupadi is weeping alone in her chamber and Kunti consoles her. She is anguished by the cowardly act of her sons that totally broke her pride of having brave sons. She tells Draupadi she should walk with her head held high. It is her sons who should feel the shame. She further tells Draupadi to wipe her tears and tie her hair, as leaving the hair unbraided was practiced only by widows and by those in whose homes death had occurred.

Draupadi continues to lash out at Bhishma and says it was foolish of her to expect justice from him. Bhishma replies lamely that dharma was a complex issue which could be interpreted differently by different people. When he had brought to Hastinapura the Kashi princess Amba, he thought he was acting in accordance with dharma, but his guru Parasurama did not think so. They had a fight but it had to be stopped because both the warriors were equally strong and invincible. When an injustice is meted out to a woman, anybody can stand up and fight for justice so long as she is helpless and single. But Draupadi had five husbands and he had no role to play in protecting her in their presence. Drona simply states that he is bound by the debt to his employer. Kripacharya has no reply when Draupadi reminds him of his duty as the adopted son of King Shantanu. Only Vikarna, the righteous son of Dritarashtra and Gandhari, asks the courtiers to answer Draupadi's question. He raises a cautionary ...