"Deceit is still deceit isn’t it? Be it in the Game Room or at the battlefield!."
—Shakuni
In this episode, Duryodhan is inconsolable over his best friend Karna’s death. But the fight must go on, so Shalya the king of Madra is appointed the new General and comes out to fight on Day #17. Meanwhile, Kunti reveals her secret parentage of Karna to Yudhistir. An incensed Yudhistir curses all womankind to forever be Gossipy Hens who Cannot Keep a Secret.
Shalya is killed by Yudhistir in a spear duel, while Shakuni ends up in a sword fight with Sahadev which ends when Sahadev’s sword is protruding from his back.
That night, Gandhari tries to make Duryodhan invincible with a boon, but Krishna’s intervention ensures that Duryodhan still has an Achilles' Heel. But in the process, Krishna’s own dynasty is cursed.
Tropes found here are
- A Day in the Limelight: Played with. Yudhistir had his days before. He had an Awesome Moment of Crowning and saved the day multiple times with his maturity, intelligence and compassion. But this is the first instance where he displays his lethality with a spear against Shalya.
- Sahadev gets his day by defeating Shakuni.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Yudhistir has always been a cerebral empathetic Reluctant Warrior who would rather govern than wage war. But he shows just how lethal and effective he can be with a spear in this episode.
- Big "NO!": Duryodhan screams one upon being informed of Karna’s death.
- Hereditary Curse: Gandhari curses Krishna that his Yadav clan will be obliterated just like her Kauravas were.
- Upon finding out that Karna was his elder brother, and therefore the whole pretext for this war was invalid all along, because Kunti kept it secret, Yudhistir curses all womankind to forever be Gossipy Hens who Cannot Keep a Secret.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Shakuni is stabbed through and through, with the pointed end protruding from his back. Shalya however isn’t, even though he fights a spear duel. Yudhistir just fatally jabs him in the chest.
- Manly Tears: Duryodhan weeps inconsolably at the deaths of Karna and his uncle Shakuni. To Bhishma he laments “I am now truly alone!”
- Shakuni also uncharacteristically cries over Karna’s corpse.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Arjun is distraught upon finding out that his arch-enemy Karna who he just killed, was his eldest brother.
- Please Put Some Clothes On: Krishna intercepts a completely naked Duryodhan going to meet his mother to receive a boon of Nigh-Invulnerability. He admonished Duryodhan for presenting himself before his mother this way. Krishna goads Duryodhan into wearing a tunic that covers his loins and thighs. This makes Duryodhan indestructible except if struck there.
- Sword Fight: Shakuni and Sahadev have a brutal one in which both are cut and bleeding.
- You Are in Command Now: Shalya is made the General of the Kaurava armies after Karna’s death.
