Sun TV Mahabharatham

Main highlights: * Defeat of Duryodhana: unable to capture Drupada * Arjuna defeats Drupada, chains and brings him as captive before Drona. * Drona says he is now the king of Panchala. Since Drupada had said that friendship had to be between equals and since he valued friendship, he would gift Northern half of Panchala to him and retain the Southern half himself and make his son Ashwatthama the king. Now that they were equals, Drupada could renew the friendship if he desired so. Drupada said the friendship would be decided by future, in future. * Drupada leaves in humiliation, but Arjuna follows him and asks for his pardon. He says he had done his duty, and had no personal enmity with him. Arjuna's politeness and his appreciation of the valor of the vanquished wins Drupada's heart. * Dhritarastra is inwardly upset over Arjuna's victory in a task that couldn't be accomplished by Duryodhana. Gandhari understands his predicament and consoles him, and orders A

Scene 1 Karna asks for a chance to demonstrate his dexterity in archery which he says will surpass that of Arjuna. Kripacharya insists that Karna reveal his pedigree and Karna stands speechless. Kripacharya says Arjuna will fight only with whose ancestry matches with his. Duryodhana says Karna is a brave warrior and that alone should be the criterion for judging his worth. If Arjuna could fight only with those belonging to royal family, he would crown Karna that very instant, and with permission from Dhritarashtra crowns him as the king of Anga. Karna is overwhelmed with gratitude and promises lifelong allegiance to Duryodhana. Seeing Karna being crowned, his foster father Adhiratha rushes to the podium and hugs him affectionately. Now that everybody comes to know who his father is, Arjuna is derisive, but Duryodhana gives back a fitting reply. Before Arjuna can decide to fight with Karna, the sun starts setting, and Kripacharya announces the closure of the game as per the rules. Eve

After Queen Satyavathi departs to the forest with Ambika and Ambalika, the Pandavas and Kauravas learn the use of martial weapons under Dronacharya and Kripacharya. A huge arena has been arranged wherein the princes may display what they have learned all these years. Apart from the courtiers, the entire population of Hastinapura has assembled to witness the grand spectacle. His chariot driven by Vidura, King Dhritarashtra arrives first, as clarions and trumpets blow, drums roll and welcome panegyrics are orated. Queens Gandhari and Kunti, and Shakuni arrive and take their seats. On the dais are also seated the royal gurus Kripacharya and Dronacharya with his son Ashwatthama. Each of the princes arrive in pomp and style and are greeted by the public warmly. They bow to the elderly and take their seats too. The show begins. Yudhishtra comes first and begins by unfurling the flag by throwing a spear at it. The next is the wrestling bout between Bhima and Duryodhana. As both are equally

Scene 1 Kamsa approaches Akrura with two wrestlers. He tells Akrura that he has found that Devaki's son Krishna who was prophesied to kill him lives in Gokula with his brother Balarama. He asks Akrura to invite Krishna and His brother Balarama to Mathura for the Dhanur Yagna that he wants to perform and to bring milk, curd and ghee for the purpose. He reveals he would then finish them off with through his powerful wrestlers. Akrura warns that Krishna has killed demons like Putana, Sadakasura, Narakasura and Pralambara when he was merely five years old. Now that he was fifteen years old, they have to be cautious in dealing with him, as he could be much more powerful now. Kamsa treats Akrura's advice and commands him to simply follow his instructions. Scene 2 Queen Satyavati is preparing to undertake Vanaprastha. As she takes off each of the ornamentas, all the griefs she had to encounter in the past flash before her. Queens Ambika and Ambalika express their desire to accompany

Scene 1 Bhishma, Satyavati and Vidura are talking together when a messenger informs them of Pandu's death in the forest. Satyavati swoons on hearing the shocking news. Pandu is laid on the pyre and the Rishis in the forest are sitting ready for the cremation, while Kunti, Madri and their five children are crying in uncontrollable anguish. Urged by the sages, the women go around the pyre. Kunti : As the senior wife of Pandu, I will burn with our beloved husband and you take care of all the children. Madri : Sister, Pandu expressed his passion to me, but he left this abode without my fulfilling it. How can I rest in peace with that knowledge? I know you can look after my children as your own: you are indeed magnanimous. But I lack that kind of magnanimous soul. Please permit me to ascend the pyre. Rishi : Both of you have sons and none of you need to undergo this. Dhritarashtra is power hungry and is not going to take very kindly to the children. But Kunti has the support of Yadav

Scene 1 Vasudeva leaves the prison, carrying Baby Krishna overhead in a basket. The door opens automatically and Vasudeva reaches the river Yamuna. Vasudeva walks along on the river bed, as Serpent Adisesha guards the baby from rain. He reaches Gokula and leaves the baby near Yashoda who is fast asleep. He picks up her new-born girl child and starts his return journey. The palace guards as well as Kamsa are still asleep when Vasudeva returns and lays down the baby girl near Devaki. Kamsa wakes up and jerks the sleeping guards into waking. He pulls the baby from Devaki's hands despite her pleas and flings it into the air. The baby disappears and a goddess appears before them. She says she is Yogamaya and informs the shocked Kamsa that his destroyer has already taken birth and is safe. She also tells him that Lord Vishnu was his destroyer even in his previous birth as Kalanemi. She warns that Kamsa should mend his ways or else his death was certain.

Scene 1 Kunti is blessed with a son. Dharmadeva, the god of Justice, names him Yudhishtra and predicts he would adopt exemplary righteous conduct throughout his life. Dharma will be the essence of his life. He would also be known for not turning his back to the enemies in a battle field. Saying so, Dharmadeva disappears. A messenger carries the news of Yudhishtra's birth to Bhishma who is conferring with Vidura, Dhritarashtra, Shakuni, Queen Satyavati and Sage Vyasa. On hearing the news of the birth of the oldest heir to the Hastinapur throne, Sage Vyasa, Queen Satyavati and Ambalika rejoice, but Dhritarashtra stomps out in anger. Scene 2 Rohini, the second wife of Vasudeva, gives birth to a son (Balarama). It is explained that Rohini went as a servant to the prison where Vasudeva and Devaki were kept captive and came back bearing Vasudeva's child. An angry Dhritarashtra barges into his chamber and calls out for Gandhari. He shouts that while Kunti had given birth to a son i