This episode of Mahabharata begins with the Pandavas being visited by their strongest and staunchest ally - Krishna. After scolding Yudhistir for staking his kingdom and later, his brothers and wife, Krishna also faults the Pandavas for not opposing Yudhistir when he did that. Krishna instructs Arjun that instead of wallowing in anger, humiliation and self pity for thirteen years, he should start observing austerities and do penance to obtain divine weapons, and in particular, Shiva’s weapon the Pashupatastra. Because, Krishna states, it is the only way they can defeat warriors like Bhishma, who are honor bound to protect Duryodhan. Krishna suggests praying to Arjun’s own divine father - Indra, the king of the gods.
After meditating for some time, Indra appears before Arjun and informs him to pray to Lord Shiva to obtain the Pashupatastra, and then to come and visit him in heaven. Meanwhile, Duryodhan summons a rakshasa and offers to feed the demon a steady supply of convicts, if he will kill Arjun before he can obtain divine weapons. The demon finds Arjun meditating on Lord Shiva, transforms into a bull and prepares to attack. Arjun however, is alerted and fires an arrow at the “bull”. But out of nowhere, a second arrow strikes the “bull”.
A hunter shows up and claims the bull as his kill, while Arjun also claims it. The two argue, then Arjun challenges the hunter to a duel. But before Arjun can even grab his bow, the hunter pins him in place with multiple arrows. Arjun, recognizing that only a god could best him like that, prostrates himself before the “hunter”, who reveals himself to be Shiva. After asking for and being given the Pashupatastra, Shiva formally invites Arjun to visit heaven.
Meanwhile, Shakuni pampers Sage Durvaasa and then sends him to the Pandavas, hoping that the latter will somehow anger the sage with the infamous Hair-Trigger Temper and receive a Curse.
And towards the end, Draupadi criticizes the Pandavas for adopting an It Can't Be Helped attitude. Yudhistir tries to give a speech about Forgiveness, but Bhim angrily cuts him short and storms off.
Tropes found here are
- Batman Gambit: Shakuni pampers Durvaasa the Sage and then sends him to the Pandavas, implying that the former should expect the same level of pampering from the latter. Shakuni is hoping that the Pandavas will somehow anger the sage with the infamous Hair-Trigger Temper and receive a Curse.
- Call-Forward: Time narrates that Arjun will go to heaven and obtain divine weapons - as well as a Curse.
- Classical Hunter: Lord Shiva shows up, disguised as this.
- Forgiveness: Yudhistir starts droning on about how Forgiving makes you Divine, and shows that you are the better and more powerful person. Bhim calls bullshit and storms off.
- It Can't Be Helped: Deconstructed. Draupadi faults the Pandavas for adopting such an attitude about their situation. Yudhistir gives a Patrick Stewart Speech about forgiveness, but Bhim snaps, claiming that what was done to Draupadi was so vile that he cannot just accept and forgive, then storms off.
- My Master, Right or Wrong: Krishna in no uncertain terms, skewers people who have such a mindset, claiming that they abet evil.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Krishna lets all Pandavas have it for their behavior during the dice game, but Yudhistir gets the brunt of it.
- Punished for Sympathy: Draupadi and later Bhim call out Yudhistir for wanting to forgive Duryodhan because he is their cousin.
