Before Karna can recover from the shock of his son's death, he hears about Dushasana's death. Brushing aside his rage towards Arjuna, Karna rushes to comfort Duryodhana. Duryodhana is woe-begone recalling how devoted and obedient Dushasana was, and carried out every command of his without questioning. The respect and love Dushasana had for Duryodhana was unparalleled. He was his veritable shadow. The gory sight of his brother's mangled body fills him with crazy fury. Gandhari cries out with inconsolable grief. She tells Kunti that she should have killed Dushasana the same day when he had disrobed and humiliated Draupadi. Her failure to do so has led to this tragedy. Karna faces Yudhishtra and blames him as the cause for the war. Had he not pledged Draupadi in the game of dice, the war would not have happened. He inflicts deep wounds on Yudhishtra, leaving him gasping and staggering. Remembering the promise he has made to Kunti, Karna spares Yudhishtra's life and tells h...

Karna is offering worship to Shiva. A young boy called Ashwasena appears and expresses his solidarity with him as both of them share a common cause: that of killing Arjuna. Ashwasena is Takshaka's son who had escaped from the fire that blazed through Khandava forest in which his mother had perished. Along with Duryodhana, Karna meets Kunti to seek her blessings. Krishna and Arjuna arrive at the same time. Kunti blesses all of them with long life. She asks Krishna in private if it is possible to save both Karna and Arjuna. Krishna asks Kunti if she is willing to reveal Karna's true identity to Arjuna but Kunti isn't ready. Arjuna chides Kunti for being self-centered. The seventeenth day of battle begins. Arjuna is eager to confront Karna, but Krishna counsels him to have patience. Karna requests Shalya to take him to where Arjuna is. Shalya uses every possible occasion to humiliate Karna and undermine his skill. In the meanwhile, Karna's son Vrishasena defeats Satyaki...

Duryodhana is confused by the barrage of accusations Shakuni lays on Karna. He is speechless, unable to affirm his faith in Karna, much as he would like to. After all, there is substance in Shakuni's questioning why Karna should gift away his kavacha kundala s to an unknown Brahmin. Does Karna value his own fame as a philanthropist over his loyalty to his benefactor and friend Duryodhana? Karna promises to kill Arjuna the next day. He has only one condition to be fulfilled. He needs a competent charioteer, the lack of which has led to his being taken to Nakula, instead of Arjuna, on the battlefield that day. Duryodhana is overjoyed. Karna desires the services of Madra King Shalya, whose horses are world renowned. Shakuni jeers with the remark that Shalya will like to associate only with nobles and aristocrats. Duryodhana is willing to negotiate with Shalya on his friend's behalf. Shalya is reluctant to accept Duryodhana's request. He then remembers what advice Krishna gave...

Yudhishtra is worried over Karna assuming power as a Kaurava war chief for the 16th day war. As usual, Bhima takes it lightly and Arjuna is over-confident of his prowess. Krishna provides the reality-check by reminding them of the deadly Nagastra that Karna possesses. Bhishma is happy to learn of Karna's rise as commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army. He blesses Karna and asks him to carry on fighting without thinking of the outcome, as they cannot direct the drama unfolded by Time ('Kala'); they can merely witness it as a spectator. On the battle field, Duryodhana cheers up the army with the news of Karna being at the helm of affairs and Karna is given a rousing welcome. On the sixteenth day, Ashwathama fights with Drishtadhyumna and Bhima. Bhima kills a dozen Kauravas and then faces Vikarna. Bhima remembers Vikarna's lone voice berating Kauravas for dishonoring Draupadi at the assembly. He also remembers Vikarna's charitably sparing his life in the battle. Bhim...

Ashwathama hears the news about his father's death from Dushasana and rushes to the scene. He is distraught by the fact that Drishtadhyumna beheaded his father when he had thrown away all the weapons. He shoots the Narayanastra skyward with the aim of exterminating all the Pandavas. Krishna tells the Pandavas to throw down their weapons, recite Narayana mantra and seek refuge in Him. The Astra returns to Krishna without harming anybody. Krishna offers solacing words to Ashwathama that Drona willingly embraced death. Ashwathama protests that Drona was killed in a non-dharmic way. Though technically Yudhishtra did not utter a lie, the objective of his uttereances was to deceive Drona. Krishna explains that to establish Dharma, sometimes small deviations have be made to certain rules, but the noble end justifies the means! Shakuni tries a new angle to trap Pandavas. He says the Pandavas should accept defeat, because they had bowed to Aswathama. He asks Duryodhana to order imprisoneme...

Ashwathama is deeply distressed by Duryodhana'words that cast aspersions on Drona's loyalty and integrity. He rushes to kill Duryodhana, but is stopped in time by Karna who drags and presents him before Drona. When Durna hears about has just transpired, he chides his son and tells him emphatically that what we was about to do is disloyal to Dritarashtra and Duryodhana who have been sustaining them all these years. Aswathama pointedly asks his father Drona if they should switch loyalties and join the Pandavas especially since he acknowledges that Duryodhana's acts are against dharma. Drona recalls the time when Dushasana dragged Draupadi to the royal court and tried to disrobe her. His mind had been so turbulent then and he had wanted to kill all those who indulged in this despicable act. But thoughts of loyalty had bound him then and they do more so, now. That's why he has decided to prove his loyalty by using Brahmastra against Arjuna. He advises Aswathama to contin...

Karna aims the Shakti astra on Ghatotkacha. The astra wounds Ghatotkacha fatally. Krishna asks Ghatotkacha to bloat up and fall on the Kaurava army in order to cause maximum damage. Ghatotkacha bows to Krishna and does as instructed. Finding his son dead, Bhima is just about to take up oath against Karna, but Bhima stops him! He reminds that Ghatotkacha's birth as well as death were divine plans as indicated by Sage Vyasa. Having used Shakti astra on Ghatotkacha, Karna cannot use it on Arjuna; thus the danger to Arjuna from the Shakti Astra has been averted. Both Prishati (Drupada's wife) and Sudeshna (Virata's wife) wail over their husband's death. Drishtadhyumna cries too, and Draupadi, who has been grim so far, flares up and demands to know why he hasn't killed Drona so far. And their father, who lived all his life with the sole object of seeing Drona being killed by his son, has been killed by Drona himself. Drishtadhyumna protests meekly that he is working un...

The Kaurava army is totally demoralized as Ghatotkacha breathes out fire and crushes soldiers under his feet. The ease with which Ghatotkacha butchers the enemy leaves Duryodhana at his wit's end. Shakuni calls for Alambusha, the son of demon Bakasura, who was killed by Bhima while the Pandavas lived at Ekachakrapura . As commanded by Shakuni, Alambusha clashes fiercely with Ghatotkacha, but is finally killed by him. To appease the rattled Duryodhana, Drona decides to use celestial weapons to kill Ghatotkacha, but Lord Indra intervenes and declines to give permission to Drona. Draupadi visits Dushala. Dushala is very rude to Draupadi and insults her by insinuating her morality in marrying five men. Kunti and Gandhari try to calm Dushala but can't. In one big outburst, Gandhari declares her son Duryodhana as evil. She admits her first mistake is to let Shakuni stay on in Hastinapura, the second one is to let Duryodhana live and not heed to Vidura's advice to discard him at...

Dushala is the only daughter amidst the hundred sons of Dritarashtra and the five Pandava sons. Her becoming a widow is deeply and truly mourned by all. When Kunti is informed of Jayadratha's death by Vidura's wife Sulabha, she wants to visit the Kauravas. Yudhishtra feels that they must visit the Kauravas and express their condolences to Dushala. Krishna agress that it is the right thing to do. Dushala wants to see the face of Jayadratha for one last time. Duryodhana dissuades her from uncovering the cloth over Jayadratha's corpse. Nevertheless, Dushala uncovers the shroud. She is shocked to see the beheaded body of her husband. She is incensed over the loss of dignity to Jayadratha even more than his death. Kunti cannot console her. At this time, the Pandavas too arrive. Kunti admonishes Arjuna, saying she is ashamed to call him her son. Krishna intervenes to explain that the mode of death has been determined by Jayadratha's father. Dushala wants to be burned along wi...

The sun has begun to set. Not having heard any news about the Pandavas, Yudhishtra and his brothers decide they too would join Arjuna in self immolation. Duryodhana, Shakuni and others rush to give the happy tidings to Jayadratha who is hiding in a nearby cave. Shakuni is wary though. Unless Arjuna actually leaps into the fire, anything can change, he feels. Duryodhana sees merit in Shakuni's words and advises Jayadratha not to stir out of the cave, even though he desires to witness Arjuna's death. He requests Somadatta to be with Jayadratha and see that he doesn't stir out. Everyone goes back to enjoy the spectacle of the Pandavas immolation. Draupadi reasons with Arjuna and asks him not to be hasty. They are now joined by the Kauravas. Duryodhna scoffs at Arjuna and calls him a coward eunuch, unworthy of being killed in a battle. Suddenly Jayadratha appears on the horizon. Finding him on the peak of a nearby hillock, Duryodhana and Shakuni are shocked. Jayadratha...