Dharmakshetra

'The war went on for 18 days.'

'Our thought, our culture, our history, everything changed.'

'In this war between good and evil..'

'..who was honest and who was dishonest?'

'..who was righteous and who was unrighteous?'

'Who knows?'

'Along with the war, an era also ended.'

'Kurukshetra is left behind.'

'This is Dharmakshetra.'

Apart from a throne smeared with blood, all the legends died.

They went in search of salvation.

But, they didn't know that before attaining salvation..

..they would have to traverse the final stage.

One final test remains.

In this great saga, the characters who were heroes..

..and villains, didn't take on those roles, willingly.

Stories and tales, heroic sagas..

..fables of ethics and righteousness made them like that.

Today, before attaining salvation..

..in the assembly of King Chitragupta..

..the pivotal characters of this glorious saga..

..will give an account of every deed they did on earth.

Where every character will be accused and questioned.

Such answers will be given, which these characters were..

..unable to give so far, and we have been unable to hear till now.

My greetings to every respected person present in the assembly.

Today, we have with us, Ganga's son, Bhishma..

..the wise Vidhur, King Dhritarashtra.

His sons, Duryodhan and Dushasan.

On the other side we have Queen Kunti's elder son..

..King Karna of Anga, Dharmaraj Yudhisthir..

..Bheem, Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev.

Today, in this assembly, I would like to call...

Pardon me, Your Highness.

I am on this side, only because of my birth.

If you permit it, I'd like to sit with with my friend.

King Karna of Anga.

This is not guru Drona's class.

- You can sit anywhere. - All right.

Karna, the war is over.

Mother has also accepted you as her son.

Your place is here, with us.

- Sit here. - I am not your brother.

And my place is not with you.

Today, I will be with the person I was with, all my life.

The assembly is ready for the first accused.

I have the list of accusations.

But before that person comes, I would like to call..

..those, who will verify the accusations.

In the assembly of Dharamkshetra..

..I welcome Queen Gandhari and Queen Kunti.

Queen, this assembly doesn't need your introduction.

But, we have to maintain the records.

I am the daughter of the King of Gandhar.

The daughter-in-law of the Kuru clan.

King Dhritarashtra's wife.

The mother of 100 sons and 1 daughter.

I am Gandhari.

But, the person whom I want to bring in this assembly..

..is not here.

She should have been here.

Where is she?

Who, mother?

The one whom all five of you adored.

Her obstinacy and ego..

..snatched all my sons from me, one by one.

The entire kingdom perished.

Where is Panchali? Yagyaseni? Draupadi?

Draupadi, you have been summoned in Dharamkshetra.

When will my trial end, Keshav?

First, Kurukshetra, and now Dharamkshetra.

Earlier, circumstances posed as questions.

Now, my entire existence will be questioned.

You have answered before too.

You will answer today, as well.

Many allegations will be hurled at you.

Stay in control.

You calm me.

I will find the answers, when I look at you.

Queen Draupadi.

Don't go there. Come here.

The assembly of Dharamkshetra, begins.

Today, Queen Draupadi is the accused in this assembly.

The first accusation on you is that you married the Pandvas.

But, that marriage was a ruse.

A well-planned scheme.

What scheme, Your Highness?

Everyone present here knows that I got married..

..in a 'Swayamvar' .

There was a test.

I could marry the one who could succeed in the test.

So, what was the ruse and what was the scheme?

I will tell you, Draupadi.

Before that, I want you to answer some questions.

Do you remember your 'Swayamvar'?

I do.

All the seven Princes sitting here were present in your 'Swayamvar'.

To display the power of their archery.

Which Prince did you notice, first of all?

Draupadi, be honest.

You are in King Chitragupta's assembly.

I do know that it wasn't my son Suyodhan.

So, who was it?

Dharmaraj Yudhisthir?

No.

The Son of the Wind God, Bheem?

Bheem is very dear to me.

That is not the answer to my question, Draupadi.

No.

So, it must be the sons of Ashwin, Nakul or Sahdev?

No.

I understand.

It must be the winner of the 'Swayamvar', the brave Arjun.

No.

Perhaps, it was the King of Anga, Karna. Right?

Queen Draupadi, is that accusation true?

It's true, Your Highness.

The King of Anga, Karna had hit the fish's eye..

..before Kunti's son, Arjun.

Then, why didn't you marry him?

Because at that time, Karna was known as the son of a charioteer.

And I wasn't permitted to marry..

..the son of a charioteer, Your Highness.

It's a lie, Draupadi. You know, it's a lie.

I will tell you, Draupadi.

The truth is that, there lies praise for you in the answer to my question.

You and your brother were born..

..with the goal of taking revenge from guru Drona.

The veneration was performed for revenge.

You emerged from the fire of that veneration.

You did emerge from that fire..

..but, you smoldered all your life to do something.

What can a lone, hapless woman do?

Drupad knew this very well.

So, his energy was focused on Dhristadyumna.

No one paid any attention to you, Draupadi.

You grew up with the desire to take revenge.

And that desire for revenge gave birth to your obstinacy.

Well done, son.

Someday, you have to rip Drona's chest like this.

You have to take revenge for your father, son.

You have to do it.

You insisted on contributing to your father's revenge.

Isn't that why you married Arjun, Draupadi?

Mother, I would like to stop you here.

Even if we believe what you are saying..

..that Draupadi wanted to help her father..

..what was the reason for marrying Arjun?

Everyone knew that he was guru Drona's favorite student.

If someone hated guru Drona, it was the King of Anga, Karna.

Guru Drona refused to teach him 'Brahmastra' (Lord Brahma's weapon).

He was humiliated in front of everyone.

By marrying Karna, Draupadi's task..

..would have become easier.

Draupadi was thinking about the future.

She knew about politics.

She knew that there would be a war, some day.

Duty will bind Karna with the Kauravs.

And friendship will bind Karna with Suyodhan.

In that case, Drona and Karna won't be enemies..

..but, they will be united in their goal.

Do you think, Draupadi did this?

Both of you know exactly what was done and by whom.

- Who is he? - Your destiny.

Despite the presence of all these brave warriors..

..why is he my destiny?

Time will answer your question.

I am telling the truth. Isn't it, Draupadi?

The obstinacy of your childhood..

..merged with the ambitions of your youth.

And you planted the seed of the war.

Queen Gandhari, accusing someone is one thing.

And displaying your hatred is another.

I request you to stick to the facts and not indulge in wrath.

I will answer this accusation.

Are only men entitled to the right of ambition?

If I tried to help my father, what was wrong in it?

Yes, I admit that when I saw Karna at my 'Swayamvar'..

..I thought I would be happy if I marry this brave warrior..

..who was as radiant as the sun.

But, nothing is greater than my duty for me.

No one can stop me from my duty.

The next allegation against Queen Draupadi is that she...

Pardon me, Your Highness.

Your Highness, I want to ask Draupadi a question, first.

Karna! Bear in mind.

Your words shouldn't indicate hatred or disrespect.

I am still her husband. And I will always be.

Bheem, this is not your arena or bedchamber.

Karna. This is not Kurukshetra.

This is Dharamkshetra.

I am warning both of you.

Stay within your limits.

King of Anga, you may ask your question.

Yes, Your Highness.

Draupadi, you admitted that in the 'Swayamvar'..

..you noticed me first.

But, for the sake of your duty, you married Arjun.

Didn't you think even for a moment that..

..if you'd married me, maybe this war wouldn't have happened.