In this episode of Mahabharata. Abhimanyu has a joyous reunion with his father and gets married. Draupadi’s sons the Uppa-Pandavas reunite with their parents.
Later, a council of war is formed between the Pandavas, Viraat, Uttarkumar, Drupad, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, Balaram, Krishna and the Yadav princes. While everyone is eager to attack Hastinapur, Krishna reminds them that this war will be extremely costly in human lives, and therefore urges diplomatic efforts first.
Drupad’s royal priest arrives in Hastinapur as an envoy from the Pandavas.
Tropes found here are
- Armor-Piercing Question: Krishna asks Drupad “Are you willing to carry the bodies of thousands of ordinary soldiers to fulfill your thirst for vengeance?”
- When Dhritharashtra blows off yet another demand by the Kuru elders to return Indraprasth to the Pandavas, by suggesting that Duryodhan’s opinion must be considered, Vidhur demands “What rule states that the king must ask the Crown Prince for permission to do anything?” Dhritharashtra can only feebly demand of Vidhur “Be nice to me for a change.”
- Arranged Marriage: Abhimanyu weds Uttara.
- Everyone Meets Everyone: Shikhandi meets everyone. Abhimanyu and the Uppa-Pandavas meet each other and then meet everyone.
- Made Out to Be a Jerkass: Deliberate strategy invoked by Krishna, that Shakuni sees through. Krishna suggests exhausting all diplomatic options first, so that the other side is seen as intractable jerks - and thereby seize the moral high ground and a few more allies in the process.
- War Is Hell: Krishna invokes this and reminds everyone that a lot of innocent soldiers will perish in any war - soldiers who had nothing to do with palace games.
- War Hawk: Everyone except Krishna is all too eager to invade Hastinapur and settle things.
