Mahabharat Katha

Plot

The series covers events not included in the original show, including the lives of Hidimba, Ghatotkatch, Maurvi, and Barbareek, the aftermath of the war, Arjuna's marriages with Ulupi and Chitrāngadā, Babhruvahana, Karna's marriage with Padmavati and his son Vrishketu, and mourning after the war. It also showcases the Ashwamedha yagna, during which Arjuna's son Babruvahana, prince of Manipur, fights Arjuna and Vrishketu when the horse of yagna reaches Manipur. In the fight, Arjuna and Vrishketu are killed. However, Krishna revives both of them and everyone lives happily ever after.

Episodes

Barbareek arrives to meet the Pandavas, and his three arrows make everyone uneasy. Shakuni talks Duryodhana into killing Barbareek while he is unarmed. Draupadi goes to Krishna for a way out, and Krishna tells her Barbareek’s backstory. Krishna kills Narakasur and frees sixteen thousand queens.

Ghatotkach marries Mourvi, and Barbareek is born. Barbareek becomes Krishna’s disciple.

Krishna sends him to study under Guru Vijay Siddha Sen. Barbareek does severe penance to win Kamakhya Devi’s favor and gets three powerful arrows. Bheem meets Barbareek.

Barbareek meets Bheesma. Krishna tests the arrows. Barbareek gives his head as guru Dakshina to Krishna. Barbareek’s head is placed on a mountain to watch the Kurukshetra war, and the war begins.

Ashwathama kills the Pandavas’ sons and brings their heads to Duryodhana. The war ends. Barbareek’s head is rejoined to his body, and he leaves for sanyas. Everyone grieves the losses.

Arjun begs Ganga for forgiveness, but she refuses. Yudhisthir dreams that Bheesma, Drona, and Karna scold him. Yudhisthir gets ready to take sanyas. Krishna talks him into staying and ruling Hastinapur as king, explaining raja dharma.

Karna marries Padmavati. Kunti brings Padmavati and her son Vrishaketu to Hastinapur. Meghavarna, Barbareek’s brother, and Vrishaketu go to bring the shyamkarn horse and fight the armies of King Yuvanashva of Bhadravati. They bring the horse.

During the Ashwamedha yajna, Anushalva kidnaps Padmavati. Arjun goes to free her but gets captured. Krishna goes to rescue them. Krishna shows his Virat roop and kills Upadrav.

The Ashwamedha yajna begins. Dushala and Arjun make peace. The horse reaches the Madra Kingdom. Shakuni’s son Viprachitti and King Arun play a dice game.

Viprachitti captures the horse. On Gandhari’s and his mother Charulata’s urging, he mends ties with Bheem. Viprachitti throws away his father Shakuni’s dice and vows never to gamble again. The horse moves to Saurashtra.

At Krishna’s request, Balaram accepts Arjun’s peace offer. The horse reaches Manipura. Babruvahan gets a boon from Kamakhya Devi. A flashback of Babruvahan’s story begins: Arjun visits Naglok and meets Ulupi.

Ulupi sets out to kill Arjuna. Ulupi kidnaps Arjun and takes him to Naglok. Love blossoms between Ulupi and Arjuna. Nagraj accepts Arjun’s peace proposal.

Arjun stays an extra day for amavasya and swayamvar in Naglok. Arjun marries Ulupi. Fight between Chitrangada and Arjun. Chitrangada invokes Kamadev and gets her blessing to regain her forgotten woman traits.

Manipur king accepts Arjun’s peace proposal. Ulupi gives birth to Iravan. Arjun saves Chitrangada from drowning. Krishna convinces Arjun to marry Chitrangada and the marriage takes place.

Chandak swears to take revenge against Arjun. He goes to Manipur to invite Arjun for Ulupi’s son Iravan’s birthday. Ulupi and Chandak trick Arjuna to believe Chitrangada is having extramarital affair. Arjun doubts Chitrangada of infidelity and abandons her.

Chitrangada gives birth to Babruvahan. Arjun meets Krishna in Dwarka and realizes his injustice towards Chitrangada. Ulupi realizes her mistake. Babruvahan is grown up and swears to defeat Arjun.

The flashback ends. Vrishaketu leaves for Manipur. Bheem goes to capture Babruvahan. Babruvahan defeats Bheem and kills Vrishaketu.

Babruvahan kills Arjun. Babruvahan and Chitrangada leave for Naglok to bring nagmani for saving Arjun. Arjun and Vrishaketu are brought back to life by Krishna.

Did You Know?

• Rishabh Shukla, who played Shantanu in the original Mahabharat, replaced Nitish Bharadwaj as Krishna.
• In 2019, Pen India Ltd bought the rights and uploaded all episodes on its devotional YouTube channel Pen Bhakti.