Ashwatthama kills Draupadi’s sons in their sleep. Duryodhana dies satisfied. The Pandavas pursue revenge, until Ashwatthama strikes once more, this time at the unborn heir. Krishna steps in. And the war’s true cost is revealed.Sources, Bibliography and Suggested further readings:1. Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (1951)2. Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering by Ramesh Menon, Volume II3. Critical edition input from Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI)

Narrated by Kumar Varun.

As Yudhishthira's anxiety over Arjuna and Satyaki grows, he sends Bhima into the thick of battle, hoping for news of his brother. Bhima, unstoppable and furious, cuts through the Kaurava ranks like a storm, slaughtering eleven of Dhritarashtra’s sons and breaking through Drona’s forces with sheer power. When Drona himself tries to stop him, Bhima shows no hesitation—destroying eight of Drona’s chariots before forcing his way through. His lion’s roar echoes across Kurukshetra, reaching the ears of Arjuna and Krishna and Yudhisthira.Sources, Bibliography and Suggested further readings:1. Vyasa, Krishna-Dwaipayana. The Mahabharata: Critical Edition. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.2. Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (Trans.). The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. (1883-1896).3. Sukthankar, Vishnu (Ed.). The Mahabharata: Critical Text Compilation. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.4. Pattanaik, Devdutt. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata. (Penguin India, 2010).5. Hiltebeitel, Alf. Rethinking the Mahabharata: A Reader’s Guide to the Education of the Dharma King. (University of Chicago Press, 2001).Credits: Editors: Kartik Katkar and Malay Jain (https://instagram.com/portalstampstudio?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==)Illustrations: Jayesh Bareja (https://instagram.com/jaylohusiyar?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng==)

Narrated by Kumar Varun.

After learning of Abhimanyu’s tragic death, Arjuna takes a solemn oath—to slay Jayadratha before sunset the next day or sacrifice his own life. As news of this vow spreads, the Kauravas fortify their defenses, placing Jayadratha behind an impenetrable wall of warriors. With time running out, Arjuna faces relentless opposition, including a fierce standoff with Dronacharya. Can he break through the Kaurava lines and fulfill his deadly promise before the sun sets?Source, Bibliography and Suggested further readings:1. Vyasa, Krishna Dwaipayana. The Mahabharata. Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Bharata Press, 1883-1896.2. Subramaniam, Kamala. Mahabharata. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1965.3. Menon, Ramesh. The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering. Rupa Publications, 2006.4. Debroy, Bibek. The Mahabharata: Complete and Unabridged. Penguin Books, 2010.5. Dutt, Romesh Chunder. The Mahabharata: Condensed into English Verse. J. M. Dent, 1899

Narrated by Kumar Varun.

On the eleventh day of the Kurukshetra war,Duryodhana tasked Drona with capturing Yudhishthira alive, hoping to exploit the Pandava king’s adherence to dharma. The Pandavas fortified Yudhishthira’s defenses, anticipating Drona’s plan. Drona unleashed his formidable prowess, scattering the Pandava forces. However, Arjuna, with Krishna’s guidance, intervened just in time, forcing Drona to retreat. The day ended with Yudhishthira safe and the Pandavas celebrating a small yet vital victory.Sources, Bibliography and Suggested further readings:1. Vyasa, Krishna Dwaipayana. The Mahabharata. Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli. Public Domain, 1883–1896.2. Narayan, R.K. The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version. University of Chicago Press, 1978.3. Subramaniam, Kamala. Mahabharata. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1965.4. Pattanaik, Devdutt. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata. Penguin Books, 2010.

Narrated by Kumar Varun.On the seventh day of the Kurukshetra war, Duryodhana, disheartened by repeated defeats, sought solace from Bhishma, who reassured him and rallied the Kaurava army into a circular formation. The battle raged across multiple sectors with fierce clashes: Bhishma against Arjuna, Drona against Virata, and Aswatthama against Sikhandin. Bhima decimated Kritavarma and other Kaurava warriors, while Ghatotkacha fought Bhagadatta but had to retreat. Duryodhana narrowly escaped capture in a duel with Dhrishtadyumna, saved by Sakuni. Yudhishthira displayed uncharacteristic wrath, wounding Srutayu and forcing him to flee. The day ended with Bhishma holding his ground against the combined might of the Pandavas. As the sun set, the weary warriors found a brief moment of peace and solace.Bibliography, Sources and Suggested further readings:1. C. Rajagopalachari, Mahabharata: This retelling provides the foundational structure and insights into the seventh day’s battle, focusing on the vivid interplay of emotions and combat.2. Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (translation): Reference for detailed accounts of the battlefield formations, key clashes, and specific events on the seventh day.3. P. Lal, Mahabharata: An Inquiry into the Epic: Consult for understanding the moral undertones and reflective elements in the seventh day’s narrative.4. Krishna Dharma, Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time: Provides interpretative perspectives on Yudhishthira’s wrath and the temporary harmony amidst chaos.

Narrated by Kumar Varun.On the third day of battle, Bhishma led the Kaurava army in a strong formation, while the Pandavas countered strategically. The fighting was intense, with significant engagements between key warriors. Bhima wounded Duryodhana, causing temporary chaos among the Kauravas. Duryodhana accused Bhishma of not fighting wholeheartedly. Provoked, Bhishma launched a fierce attack, overwhelming the Pandavas. Seeing this, Krishna attempted to intervene directly but was stopped by Arjuna, who then fought Bhishma with full vigor. By day's end, Arjuna's prowess turned the tide, and the Kauravas retreated, acknowledging his superiority.Source, Bibliography and Suggested further reading:1. Vyasa, Maharishi. The Mahabharata. Translated by C. Rajagopalachari, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1951.2. Vyasa, Maharishi. The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, 1883–1896. (Public Domain)3. Narayan, R.K. The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. University of Chicago Press, 1978.4. Pattanaik, Devdutt. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata. Penguin Books India, 2010.5. Menon, Ramesh. The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering. Rupa Publications, 2004.

In the forest, the sage Vibhandaka raised his son Rishyasringa, who had never encountered another person. King Romapada, facing famine, sought Rishyasringa's help, knowing his purity could bring rain. Courtesans were sent to entice Rishyasringa, who, captivated by their charms, agreed to visit their hermitage. The courtesans disguised a boat as an ashrama, luring Rishyasringa to Anga. There, rain fell as predicted, and Rishyasringa married Princess Shanta. Despite initial anger, Vibhandaka blessed the king and his son, who served both faithfully.

The war is over. Or so everyone believes. But in the shadow of the banyan tree, Ashwatthama, son of Dronacharya, makes a vow. As his rage builds and the forest turns silent, he watches an owl slaughter sleeping crows… and finds his method. This episode is the story of the night that changed everything: the night the Pandava camp burned, the sons of Draupadi were killed, and warrior honour was extinguished not in battle, but in sleep.

Sources, Bibliography and Suggested further reading:

• Mahabharata (English prose retelling) by C. Rajagopalachari, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1951

• Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering by Ramesh Menon, Volume II

• Critical Edition input from Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI)