Sun TV Mahabharatham

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,

Karna is narrating to Kunti many momentous events in his life in which Duryodhana has played a great role. He tells her that Duryodhana trusted him deeply and sought his help in kidnapping Bhanumati, the daughter of Chitrangada, King of Kalinga. Chitrangada had organized a swayamwar to in which Jarasandha and his foster son Shishupala also participated. Duryodhana instructs Karna to fight with these kings and carries away Bhanumati. Karna easily overpowers Jarasandha who accepts his defeat and leaves the place with other warriors. Later, Duryodhana justifies the abduction, quoting Bhishma's carrying the Kashi princesses for the sons of Vichitravirya. Bhanumati talking to Shubhangi Karna describes Bhanumati as good natured and as beautiful as Draupadi. Bhanumati considers Karna her brother, and together with Duryodhana makes plans to enhance Karna's prestige by getting a kshatriya bride, in addition to Vrushali, Karna's first wife from the charioteer's clan. The

Duryodhana is discussing war plans with Karna and Dushshasana. Dritarashtra and Bhishma enter the room. Dritarashtra tells Duryodhana to forsake the idea of war and work towards peace with the Pandavas. Krishna had shown to them His Universal Form and made persuasive arguments for peace. Duryodhana fails to see divinity in Krishna and the infallibility of His words and ignores the words of Dritarashtra. Bhishma tells Dritarashtra that now he can do very little and resigns himself to whatever happens. It is early morning and Kunti is watching the sun rise. Krishna asks Kunti what memories the sun evokes. Kunti is evasive, but Krishna tells her He knows everything about her. Kunti remembers her encounter with the sun god and the baby born to her as a result. Krishna tells her her son is Karna. Kunti recalls the first time she saw Karna at the amphithetre where the Kauravas and Pandavas displayed their proficiency in martial arts. On that occasion and later whenever she saw Karna, it

Kunti is surprised when Vidura says he would find on the side of Kauravas in case of war. When asked the reason, Vidura says he had promised Pandu that he would never desert Dritarashtra despite his shortcomings and would always fight for him. The next day, Krishna spells out the reason for his visit and asks that the Pandavas be returned their kingdom. Duryodhana is highly disrespectful of Krishna and is in no mood for any reconciliation. He refuses to give the Pandavas even the five houses that Krishna asks for, saying he wouldn't part with even a needle-sized land. Krishna asks others in the court to advise Duryodhana. As Vidura speaks out in favor of peaceful settlement, Duryodhana lashes out angrily at him for offering to host Krishna despite his being on the payrolls of the king and receiving salary as alms and calls him the son of a dasi. As Vidura writhes in agony, Krishna slyly remarks to Duryodhana why he acted tactlessly, especially when a powerful warrior like Vid

Yudhishtra is pensive when Krishna goes to take leave of him. Krishna wants to know if He could declare war in case His peace mission is unsuccessful. Yudhishtra says that war should be resorted to only as a last resort; however, he will abide by whatever decision Krishna takes on his behalf, as he has surrendered fully to His will. Draupadi is teary when Krishna visits her. She says that though Yudhishtra desires peace, her mind bristles with thoughts of revenge and would find no peace until she smears her hair with the blood of Dushasana. Krishna reminds her that Yudhishtra desires peace, but Draupadi gets furious. She retorts that Yudhishtra was only an onlooker when Draupadi was disrobed, but she had experienced it in flesh and blood and it wasn't easy to forgive. Krishna insists that her personal issues of dishonor should not be the cause of the bloodshed of innumerable innocent lives. In fact, Krishna says, she should have settled the scores then and there when the incident

Pandavas are seen chatting with Drupada and the king of Virata. Now that the path of peaceful settlement is closed, they guess that war is in the offing and feel good that they can settle old scores. Krishna and Yudhishtra, who have been listening to their conversations, enter the room. All in the room except Yudhishtra seem to favor war, so Krishna is reluctant to reveal his views, but on Yudhishtra's insistence and assurance that his brothers will always abide by his decision, He expresses his belief that one should try all avenues for peace before invoking the war. Since neither the Virata king nor Drupada is willing to go to Hastinapur as a peace ambassador, Yudhishtra asks Krishna to take up the task. Shikhandi is disappointed that war has yet not been finalized and that Krishna is set for a peace mission. Since Krishna is good at manipulating things, Shikhandi as well as Drupada are worried that Krishna would succeed in His mission, though Drishtadhyumna assures them that K