Sun TV Mahabharatham

Krishna explains to Arjuna, who is unwilling to lift arms against his family elders and his preceptors, that one who performs his work unaffected by pleasure and sorrow and faces both with equanimity, attains moksha or salvation. Arjuna need not worry about causing somebody's death, as weapons do not kill the atma that is stationed within the body. A sword doesn't pierce it, water doesn't wet it, the wind dooesn't dry it, and fire doesn't burn it. Atma is indestructible and it takes on another body after the death of the present body. Arjun remains confused. He wants to know whether it is right that Bhishma, and other elders who shaped his life and in whose arms he spent his childhood, have to be recklessly killed, considering each one of them an indestructible atma. Krishna reiterates that all the people in his present life existed before, and will continue to exist later too. The body is only an instrument for the atma. What is important, Krishna elaborates, ...

Krishna tells Karna how unbearable an agony it must be for him not to participate in the Kurukshetra battle, especially when every kshatriya willingly joined the war just to prove their mettle. Since Karna could not fight until Bhishma died, the chances for Karna's participation are very slim. He suggests to Karna that he join the Pandavas, especially since they are his brothers, and then rule Hastinapura. Karna refuses flatly, citing his supreme love for Duryodhana. Dritarashtra is lamenting his blindness that wouldn't let him participate in the war. His charioteer Sanjaya speaks to him consoling words when Sage Vyasa arrives there. Seeing Dritarashtra rue his blindness, Vyasa is willing to give him the power of sight to see the war, but Dritarshtra is unwilling, since he has got used to his blindness, and doesn't have the strength of mind to see blood and gore. He then asks the sage to give this boon to Sanjaya, who would moderate and relate to him whatever transpires on...

Karna barges angrily into his palace and throws off his bow and the quiver of arrows. His wife Bhanumathi is shocked when Karna narrates the deep shame he felt when Bhishma relegates to him the lowly position of Ardharathi. Bhanumathi is furious to know that Duryodhana doesn't support Karna against Bhishma and she threatens to demand an explanation from Duryodhana. Duryodhana, who has come to meet Karna along with Shakuni, intervenes and lets Bhanumathi vent out her anger. Then he offers to make Karna a Maharathi and says the two would lead the battle and others would be free to join if they so desired. Karna is touched by the gesture, but he clarifies that it was far more important to him that Duryodhana's victory in the battle is more important than the disgrace that he has to endure, to which he had anyway got accustomed to. Duryodhana, Dushasana, Yuyutsu — Dritarashtra's son through a dasi , and Vikarna — the virtuous son of Dritarashtra, come to seek their parent...

Pandavas, their allies, Krishna, the Kauravas, their allies and Shakuni have assembled at Upaplavya in the Matsya Kingdom ruled by king Virata. Krishna asks Bhishma to formulate the rules that would govern the war. Bhishma announces the rules: when a warrior is invited to fight, he must accept the invitation; nobody should attack the physicians who attend and treat the injured; all fightings must cease as soon as the sun sets and in case the war needs to be continued even after sun set, special provisions have to be made with the concurrence of both the warring parties; after the sun sets, any warrior can visit the opposite camp and discuss with them; no one should fight with someone who is weaponless; if a warrior decides to withdraw from the battle field, he should not be followed or coerced into fighting; Shakuni adds one more rule to this: women shouldn't be permitted in the battle field and Bhishma announces this rule as well. All those present in the assembly agree to abid...

Duryodhana and Shakuni seek private audience with Sahadeva while the Pandavas are in a meeting with Drupada and Virata. Yudhishtra asks everyone to leave. Duryodhana requests Sahadeva to fix the auspicious moment for offering sacrifice to the Lord so as to ensure victory in the war. Without hesitation, Sahadeva computes and tells Duryodhana to offer the ' bali ' on the forthcoming new moon day. Duryodhana is dubious about the trustworthiness of Sahadeva's pronouncements, but Shakuni assures Sahadeva to be ethical and righteous. Sahadeva believes he should be true to dharmic injunctions and he would never lie even if he is servicing his enemy. Duryodhana is overjoyed to learn that the Pandavas haven't offered any sacrifice as yet. After the duo leave the Pandavas ask Sahadeva about Duryodhana's mission. They are dismayed to learn that Sahadeva has provided the correct ' muhurtam ' for Duryodhana. Yudhishtra asks Krishna to help them salvage the situation, a...

Drona is offering prayer to Lord Shiva when Kunti comes to meet him. She asks him pointedly if he would kill her sons in the war. Drona protests saying the Pandavas are like his sons, but Kunti is not satisfied with the answer. She persistently argues that he should stay away from the war just as Vidura had done. Drona explains that Vidura was only bound by the promise he had made to his brother Pandu to counsel and protect Dritarashtra and being the son of Vichitraveerya, had his own royal status. But Drona was bound by the indebtedness towards Dritarashtra whose refuge he had sought to alleviate the abject poverty he was in. Even if Dritarashtra hadn't been a king, he would still have served him, being bound to him by gratitude. Kunti, however, extracts a promise from Drona that he wouldn't kill her sons. Shakuni is pondering over how to entice King Shalya to join them. Dushshasana, who had heard part conversation between Kunti and Drona, tells Shakuni that Drona had expres...

Duryodhana has convened a meeting to decide or, more correctly, announce their decision to launch war against the Pandavas. Vidura and Bhishma tell Duryodhana to spell out his agenda without wasting time on discussing the issue, as their opinions would anyway be ignored. Duryodhana accuses Pandavas of revealing themselves before the end of the 1-year ajnatavasa , and instead of going to the forest omce again as agreed to earlier, have sent Krishna on a peace mission. Hence they would have to register their disapproval appropriately. Virtuous Vikarna, Dritarashtra's son from a Vaisya woman, protests and requests that the kingdom that the Pandavas seek should be restored to them immediately. Duryodhana silences him, threatening to kill him on the spot. Finally Dritarashtra announces that Kauravas would launch war against the Pandavas for disobeying their directives and asks the court to seek allies for the impending war. Krishna announces, to the utter bewilderment of the Pandavas, ...