Dharmakshetra

Dharmakshetra - a celestial court in which Chitragupta decides the fates of each of the Kauravas and Pandavas before they are allowed to enter the pearly gates. In this episode, Chitragupta calls upon Draupadi - wife of the Pandavas and supposedly the main reason for the epic war of Mahabharata. While she justifies her actions, support and slander come from surprising sides. Was she the real reason for the war or was there more to the story? Will she finally be vilified or vindicated?

Intelligent and devious, Shakuni's words never fail to persuade an audience. One of the most pivotal characters of the Mahabharata is put on trial and everyone seems to have a bone to pick with this fallen king and orphaned son. Commencing his defense, Shakuni spreads his web of words. Who will fall into his trap this time, or will someone finally see through the charade? Will the dice roll in his favor?

Painted in the color of wickedness, the son of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra has been victorious in the game of luck. But will his luck run out when he is made accountable for his actions? Duryodhana faces Chitragupta and his accusers with valor and confidence. Will his villainy be reprimanded, or will the shocking truth of his journey be finally revealed?

The great sage and teacher Drona is called to the stand. His students sit before him, uncomfortable and unsure about the prosecution of their guru. No longer in the class room, this Acharya must be the one to give answers now. But who would want to indict this Guru and why? In this episode, skill isn't enough to get you a passing grade. Will Drona be able to confront the faults of his past or will the lessons come too late?

A warrior undeterred from his target, Arjun is subjected to accusations from the most unlikely of sources. The mighty archer faces the first accusation from Mayasura, the creator of the Maya Bhavan. With a goal to exonerate himself, will Arjun be able to handle the surprises that come his way?

A woman steeped in controversy and conflict, Kunti is called into court. An unwed mother, a widow and finally a mother-in-law who sentenced her daughter-in-law to marry all her five sons, this woman was anything but traditional. Will Kunti's non-conformist ways land her in a cradle of accusations or will her endless woes make her a cause for sympathy? Can a woman alter the course of history purely by the upbringing she gives or denies her children?

As Chitragupta calls upon the immortal and doomed Ashwatthama, the court recalls his long and varied list of heinous crimes. Support for the accused seems lacking, except for his father, Drona. Will Ashwatthama be able to argue his case without any support? Or will his karma finally catch up with him?

A formidable and impulsive adversary to every enemy, Bheem is never to be trifled with. But when he is summoned to court, there are many waiting to oppose him. His enemies know of his weaknesses and they use this against him. Will his strength lend itself to his defense or will the giant crumble under the guilt of his deeds?

Bheeshma, the immortal head of the family, is summoned by Chitragupta. An emotional Bheeshma is moved seeing his whole family before him, but before his sentiments can be appreciated, accusations are made with astonishing severity. Could the man who sacrificed everything for his family, be the reason for their greatest loss? Does the price of loyalty come at the cost of denying the denial of truth and justice?

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". And when the woman is Maharani Gandhari, you can rest assured that she is very capable of exacting revenge for the injustices endured that even a God isn't spared. A dutiful wife, an adoring mother, and a righteous queen, Gandhari's life wasn't without pain. Even her virtuous sacrifice of blindfolding herself to match her husband's pain, was not enough for her to earn the respect she deserved from her family. Continually ignored and hushed by her husband and sons, she struggled to find a voice. Blinded literally and ...

Between the means and the end, the medium is most often forgotten. Is the medium not equally guilty of the end? The son of fire and Draupadi's brother is put on trial to face only one accusation - that of adharma. Unapologetic in his stance, will the judge see his point or will his solidarity be the end of him?

The man with all of life's answers, steps into the docks. Yudhishthir tackles the accusations with ease and breeze until an unsuspected accuser points out the chink in his armor of composure. Will his steely composure stand under the pressure or will he disintegrate like his kingdom?

The virtue of loyalty is a tricky one. Loyalty to a saint, makes you a disciple, but loyalty to a sinner, makes you an accomplice. Dushasan is in court for following his brother's commands blindly. But will his brother come to his defense or did he place his unconditional faith in the wrong people? Are his misdeeds too deliberate to be deemed as mistakes?

The blinded bias of a king is detrimental to all who cross his path. Unwilling to see reason and sense, this king has many faults to own up to. Unwilling to admit his misjudgment, will his stubbornness lead him into the land of no return? Will the court see through his biases or will they see reason behind the stubbornness?

A man betrayed by fate, challenged by destiny, and forgotten by family, Karna stands in the docks as a deeply misunderstood warrior faced with an eternal question; why did he pick Duryodhana's side when he could have chosen to fight for the Pandavas? With the pain of his past clearly still present, Karna and Duryodhana build a majestic case of their friendship until an unlikely source disputes their camaraderie. Here begins a slew of accusations that leave the warrior unarmed and vulnerable. Will Karna be able to fight this battle or will his strength finally succumb?

It takes great deal of strength to live in the shadow of your greater siblings and find a way to make your own mark. The youngest Pandavas, Nakul and Sahdev, are called to the stand. Accusations abound from the opposition and the young men have no explanation in their defense. Will someone step up for them or will their follies be too severe for pardon?

The grand vizier of the court at Hastinapur is accused by his own clan, paying the price of remaining neutral through the war. Vidur's deeds are rehashed and his intentions questioned. Was he really as indifferent and unbiased as he claimed? Was his (in)action driven by righteousness? Will his voice of reason that was never heard during the war, be finally heard now?

As the author of the epic himself is called to the docks, everyone is curious to find the reasons why Ved Vyas wrote the story. Each character wants to know why they have been portrayed the way they have with some aspects (good or bad) highlighted and others overshadowed. As Ved Vyas explains both his inspiration and direction, he reminds the group of the impact the work will have on future generations. At the end his defense, everyone has had their turn to plead their case. All, except one.

A vacant chair remains in the courtroom, where Chitragupta usually presides. The Pandavas and Kauravas sit perplexed by this trial without a judge. As they look to one another, wondering who is to go on trial, they are reminded that a member of the court is missing. As the defendant takes the stand, everyone goes into a state of shock.