Mahabharat 1965

Karna abandoned at birth in the Ganga

The newborn Karna is placed in a basket and set afloat on the Ganga. He is rescued by Adiratha and his wife Radha, who raise him unaware of his true lineage. His later life as a formidable warrior is shaped by this act of abandonment.

Pandu and Kunti's union and the birth of the Pandavas

In Hastinapur, Pandu marries Kunti and together they bear five sons: Yudhister, Bhimsen, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahdev. Their birth establishes the Pandavas as potential heirs, sowing seeds of future rivalry with their cousins. The royal succession begins to take shape around this growing lineage.

Dhritarashtra's large family and Shakuni's shadow

Blind king Dhritarashtra and Gandhari give birth to a hundred sons, among them Duryodhan and Dushasan. Gandhari's brother Shakuni also resides with them, plotting against the Pandavas. This setup deepens the enmity between the two branches of the Kuru clan.

Karna trained by Parshurama after Drona's rejection

Karna is rejected by his potential teacher Drona, who underestimates him. He instead seeks and learns from Parshurama, becoming a formidable warrior while hiding his true lineage. This clandestine training will haunt him later in the story.

Pandu dies; the wax palace plot begins

After Pandu's death, Dhritarashtra seeks Yudhister to ascend the throne, provoking Duryodhan's jealousy. Duryodhan and Shakuni hatch a plan to kill the Pandavas in a palace made of wax, forcing the brothers and their mother Kunti to flee for their lives. The seeds of war are planted in this treacherous act.

Exile begins; Bhima slays Hidimba and sires Ghatotkach

The Pandavas escape the wax-house plot and begin exile in the forest. Bhima encounters Hidimba, slays her demon brother Hidimb, and marries Hidimba, yielding a son who will grow into a powerful ally, Ghatotkach. The forest becomes their proving ground and home for many years.

Arjuna wins Draupadi in Panchal; brothers reveal themselves

In Panchal, Arjuna wins the hand of Draupadi after a contest, and the Pandavas reveal their true identities to her. Draupadi becomes their shared wife, binding the five brothers in a common cause and alliance. This moment solidifies the Pandavas’ unity in their exile and beyond.

Draupadi's shared marriage and Kunti's unintended boon

Kunti, unknowingly and in her earlier boon to the gods, asks the brothers to share Draupadi, which leads to Draupadi becoming the wife of all five Pandavas. The arrangement reshapes family dynamics and intensifies future political intrigue within Hastinapur.

Indraprasth is born from Khandavprasth

Dhritarashtra recognizes the growing enmity with the Pandavas and orders them to relocate to Khandavprasth. With the aid of Vishwakarma and Indra, the barren land is transformed into Indraprasth, a splendid new capital that marks the rise of the Pandavas’ power.

Duryodhan humiliates Draupadi in Maya Mahal

Duryodhan humiliates Draupadi in the Maya Mahal, a public affront that hardens the animosity between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Draupadi’s dignity becomes a rallying cry for the Pandavas and Krishna’s intervention in later events foreshadows the coming conflict.

The dice game seals the Pandavas' fate

Shakuni arranges a dice game in Hastinapur, and Yudhister loses Indraprasth, his brothers, wealth, and finally Draupadi. The atmosphere grows tense as the stakes rise and trust erodes among the clans. This game becomes a catalyst for the Pandavas' exile and the looming war.

Krishna defends Draupadi; exile is sealed

When Draupadi is humiliated in court, Krishna intervenes in her defense. The Pandavas are banished for thirteen years, with a potential additional twelve years to stay incognito if discovered. The exile tests their resolve and forges new alliances that shape the war to come.

Exile ends; war is declared at Kurukshetra

Having completed the exile, the Pandavas return to claim Indraprasth but are rejected by the Kauravas, leading to a grand confrontation at Kurukshetra. The stage is set for a war between the two houses that will decide the kingdom’s fate. The epic conflict finally nears its boiling point.

Krishna as charioteer; Arjuna finds his resolve

At Kurukshetra, Duryodhan seeks Krishna’s armies while Arjuna chooses Krishna as his charioteer. Overcome with doubt about killing his kin, Arjuna’s hesitation prompts Krishna to reveal his divine form and teach him about duty, righteousness, and detachment, yielding the famous Bhagavad Gita.