Mahabharat

Kunti uses the mantra granted by Durvasa to invoke the Sun God, and Karna is born. Being unmarried, she places the newborn in a basket and sends him down the Ganga river to keep him safe. The summary identifies Karna as the Sun's son who is thus set on a separate path from the Pandavas.

Kunti bears Yudhisthira, Bhima, and Arjun. Madri, Pandu's second wife, bears Nakul and Sahdev. The brothers are thus born under different mothers, setting the stage for a united dynasty.

Pandu dies and Dhritarashtra becomes king, with Gandhari by his side. The Kaurava princes, led by Duryodhan, are trained by Dronacharya. The stage is set for rising tensions between the Pandavas and Kauravas.

A grand royal assembly is organized to introduce the princes to the masses under Bhishma's watch. After Pandu's death, Bhishma oversees the proceedings and declares Yudhishthira the crown prince. This fuels the rivalry with Duryodhan.

Drona proclaims Arjun the best archer in the land, and Karna challenges him to a duel. Although Kunti recognizes Karna as her son, she keeps silent about their relation. Shakuni and Duryodhana soon install Karna as the King of Anga to pit him against Arjun.

Duryodhana engineers a trap by constructing a palace of combustibles to burn the Pandavas alive. With Vidur's help, the Pandavas learn of the plot and escape the fire, fleeing across a river to safety. Their survival marks the beginning of their exile.

Vidur advises the Pandavas to gather allies while in exile, traveling incognito to seek support. The brothers comply, forming strategies and plans away from Hastinapur's prying eyes. Their bond and resolve are tested during this period.

Bheem defeats Hidimb in the forest and wins Hidimba's love. She agrees to marry him, and they begin a lasting alliance that strengthens the Pandava camp. The relationship adds an element of romance amid their hardship.

Draupadi's swayamvar is held, and Arjun, in disguise as a sage, wins her hand. Krishna intervenes and reveals Arjun's true identity, preventing a kidnapping and ensuring Draupadi becomes a wife of the Pandavas. The sum total of their marriages foreshadows the five-husband arrangement.

Krishna explains Draupadi's boon of five husbands from her past life, prompting the Pandavas to return after five years. Vishwakarma is invoked to construct a majestic city and palace, giving rise to Indraprastha. The new capital marks a turning point in their sovereignty.

With Draupadi's boon and Krishna's guidance, the Pandavas set their sights on Hastinapur, planning a return that could clash with the Kauravas. The period includes intrigue, alliance-building, and sharpening martial prowess in preparation for the looming conflict.

As war approaches, Bhishma is appointed commander-in-chief. Arjun doubts whether to fight, and Krishna imparts the essence of the Gita to resolve his moral dilemma. The epic inner struggle culminates in a vow to engage in the battle.

In the war, Bhishma falls after using Shikhandi as a shield. Dronacharya adapts and launches the Chakravyuh to trap Yudhisthira, while Abhimanyu fights valiantly and dies in the trap.

Karna dies after a fierce duel when his chariot gets stuck; Shakuni is slain by Sahdev; Duryodhana is killed by Bhima after a climactic confrontation. The Pandavas' victory comes at the cost of immense tragedy and moral reckoning.

Yudhishthira is crowned king of Hastinapur, and Kunti publicly acknowledges Karna as her son. To honor Karna's legacy, Yudhishthira vows to donate 50 kgs of gold daily in his memory.