In this episode of Mahabharata, Duryodhan plans an attack on Mathsya to annex it and expose the Pandavas. He sends King Susharma of Trigarta, a rival kingdom to Mathsya to soften them up. Viraat repels that attack, but with heavy losses. Duryodhan then leads the second wave. Uttarkumar, the Crown Prince with Arjun as charioteer, boastfully rides out to fight them. But upon seeing the size and might of the Kauravas’ army, Uttarkumar panics and runs away. Arjun subdues him, forces him to become charioteer and instructs Uttarkumar to drive him to a nearby cemetery - where the Pandavas have buried their secret stash of weapons.
Tropes found here are
- Battle Trophy: Uttara asks her “dance instructor” to bring back the Kauravas’ robes to make clothes for her dolls.
- Dirty Coward: Upon seeing the huge army Bhishma has massed, Uttarkumar starts yammering about his inexperience, lack of supporting soldiers, the size of the army etc before deciding to run.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Arjun berates Uttarkumar to not run away like a coward. He states that if Uttarkumar is too scared to fight, he can be the charioteer.
- Hidden Supplies: All of the Pandavas’ weapons are stashed up on a tree in a cemetery. Arjun has Uttarkumar retrieve them.
- I Have Many Names: Uttarkumar demands that Arjun prove his bonafides by stating all ten names he is known by.
- Palace Workers Get No Respect: Viraat initially laughs of Yudhistir’s suggestion that the king’s minister, the head chef, the cowherd and stable hand know how to fight. Later on, Uttarkumar boasts that had his father taken him along instead of a minister, cook, stable hand and cowherd, Viraat would not have been injured and lost so many soldiers.
- Put Down Your Gun and Step Away: Bhim orders the invading army to stand down and disarm - else he will behead their king.
- Pyrrhic Victory: Viraat has won, but his army is reduced in strength and he is injured.
- The Reveal: Arjun reveals his true identity to Uttarkumar, then reveals the identities of all the other Pandavas too. He then reveals his presence to everyone by twanging his bow and blowing his conch.
- Rules Lawyer: Bhishma claims that the Pandavas’ exile is over because they revealed themselves on their last day. He also claims that Duryodhan broke the rules by actively pursuing them before they went into hiding.
- Secret-Keeper: For a short time, only Uttarkumar knows the Pandavas identities.
- Go For the King: When Viraat is injured, Yudhistir orders Bhim to make a beeline for King Susharma and capture him.
- Suicidal Overconfidence: Uttarkumar initially has this. However, seeing the huge army Bhishma has massed, cures him of it.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Overconfidence gives way to panic and Uttarkumar tries to flee.
- Theme Music Power-Up: Arjun’s theme plays as he strings his Gandiv bow and arms himself with arrows.
