The mother of all wars, the epitome of all rivalries, the cauldron of emotions, insecurities, jealousies, and power play - Mahabharat!
Dronacharya becomes sad and breaks the idol created by Eklavya. Duryodhan blames Dronacharya for being unfair to Eklavya. On learning this, Dronacharya tells Ashwatthama to inform Duryodhan that he will not treat any of his students unfairly. Later, Arjun saves Dronacharya's life by risking his own.
On learning the truth about Karna, Parashurama curses him that he will forget his knowledge when he will need it the most.Meanwhile, Shakuni is back in Hastinapur. He provokes Ashwatthama and Dhritarashtra against the Pandavas. Gandhari catches Shakuni playing political games.
First, Arjun decides to avenge Drupad for Dronacharya. Then, Duryodhan and the Kauravas also gear up to attack him. The Pandavas and the Kauravas take the blessings of their parents and leave Hastinapur. At the palace, Shakuni continues to poison Dhritarashtra's mind against Bhishma and Vidur.
Drupad orders his commander, Shikhandini, to imprison the Kauravas and Pandavas. Duryodhan informs Yudhishtir that he will be the commander. The Kauravas attack Drupad's army. However, Drupad imprisons the Kauravas. Suddenly, Duryodhan sees multiple Drupads. Which one of them is real?
Shakuni becomes delighted on learning about the success of his plan against the Pandavas. He informs Duryodhan about his plan against Kunti. Vidura warns Yudhishthir about Duryodhan's conspiracies. Meanwhile, Karna is shocked to learn about Duryodhan's plan to kill the Pandavas.
Seeing Karna's reaction, Duryodhan pretends to be furious at Dushyasan and asks him to call off the plan against the Pandavas. Kunti and the Pandavas leave Hastinapur for Varnavat. In Dwarka, Lord Krishna asks Arjun to bathe in the Triveni Sangam, on their way to Varnavat.
Rukmini questions Krishna about the Pandavas. Krishna gives her an indirect answer. Meanwhile, Yaaj and Upyaaj stop Drupad from killing a rishi. They assure him that his girl child will change history. In the forest, Kunti and her sons share a light moment.
Arjun finds some injured saints in the forest. They inform the Pandavas about Drupad's violence against them. They reveal Drupad's plan to take revenge on Drona and the Pandavas. Yaaj and Upyaaj perform a yagna for Drupad. A young man emerges from the holy fire. He is Drupad's son Dhrishtadyumna.
Drupad refuses to accept his daughter. Yaaj and Upyaaj try to convince him, but in vain. A young and beautiful woman emerges from the holy fire. Yaaj and Upyaaj inform Drupad that his daughter, Draupadi, will change history. She seeks her father's blessings but he moves away.
Draupadi is upset seeing Drupad's attitude towards her, but she is happy to be in the palace, where the servants groom her. Draupadi befriends Malini, the daughter of a servant, to learn about the joys and sorrows of childhood.
As the rishis and the Pandavas move about in the forest, they see Ashwatthama and his army. To stay hidden from them, Yudhishthir takes Kunti and his brothers deep into the jungle, while Arjun distracts them. The Pandavas enter Hidimba's magical jungle.
The Pandava brothers are unable to find Hidimba. Hidimba and Hidimbi, in turn, decide to kill the Pandavas. At Panchal, Dhrishtadyumna tells Draupadi that the sole purpose of his life is to fulfil Drupad's wish of killing Drona. Shikhandini is heart-broken when her post is given to Dhrishtadyumna.
Draupadi stops Shikhandini from killing herself. She questions Drupad's behaviour towards her and Shikhandini. Drupad tells her that he blames Shikhandini for his defeat by the Pandavas. He adds that it was the gods that forced Draupadi on him.
Drona arrives in Panchal and Drupad invites him to a fight. Drona surrenders and asks Dhrishtadyumna to kill him. As Dhrishtadyumna runs towards Drona with his sword, Lord Krishna's Kaumodaki stops him. Lord Krishna destroys his army and sends his Kaumodaki to kill Drupad. But Draupadi stops Lord Krishna.
Hidimbi disguises herself as an innocent woman and tells Arjun that the giants in the forest killed her parents. She seeks Arjun's help to get out of the magical jungle. At Panchal, Lord Krishna tries to make Drupad understand his mistake. Will he accept Draupadi as his daughter?
Krishna suggests that Drona should make Dhrishtadyumna his student. He plays a prank on Draupadi to bring her back to the palace. In the forest, Arjun and Yudhishthir find that Hidimba is missing. Hidimbi asks Hidimba to bring the Pandavas to an isolated place.
Hidimbi suspects that Hidimba is in love with Bheem. He threatens to kill her if she fails to bring the Pandavas to him. Will Hidimbi succeed in his plan? Draupadi returns to Kampilya with Krishna. He tells Drupad to organise Draupadi's Swayamvar and that her wedding will make history.
Drona informs Drupad that the Pandavas might still be alive. Krishna tells Draupadi about them. In the forest, Bheem kills Hidimbi in a fight. Arjun informs him that now he is the new king of the demons. A demon informs Bheem that his marriage with Hidimba has been fixed.
Kunti accepts Hidimba as her daughter-in-law. Bheem and Hidimba get married. Meanwhile, Drupad's messenger arrives at Hastinapur with the invitation for Draupadi's Swayamvar. Duryodhan wishes to attend, but is unable to as the invitation is only for kings and he is not one!
Duryodhan requests Bhishma to appoint him as Dhritarashtra's successor. Bhishma accepts his request but what will happen when the Pandava brothers return? Hidimba gives birth to a baby boy. Bheem names him Ghatotkacha. Now, it's time for the Pandavas to leave Hidimba's forest.
The Pandavas take shelter in a potter's house. The potter informs them about Draupadi's Swayamvar. The Pandavas decide to help him by collecting mud for him. Arjun and Bheem visit the temple before digging. This is where Lord Shiva answers Draupadi's prayer by showing her a glimpse of Arjun.
While Bheem and Arjun return to the potter's house, the wheels of their cart get stuck in the mud. While taking out the wheel, Duryodhan comes face-to-face with Bheem. Will he recognise him? Later, Draupadi learns about the saint she saw in the temple.
Rukmi, Duryodhan, Karna and Shakuni arrive at the venue of Draupadi's Swayamvar. Dhrishtadyumna creates a fish in the sky. Drupad asks the invitees to target the eye of the fish while looking only at its reflection in the water. Shakuni suggests that Karna should win the competition for Duryodhan.
Drupad welcomes Krishna to Draupadi's Swayamvar. Krishna asks Karna not to support what is wrong. The invited kings fail to hit the target. Krishna informs Drupad and Draupadi that only Arjun and Karna can accomplish the task.
Dhrishtadyumna stops Karna from taking aim and tells him that he has to participate for himself, not for others. Karna tries to defend Duryodhan, but in vain. Duryodhan asks Karna to prove his capabilities and marry Draupadi. Just when Karna lifts the bow, Draupadi stops him and announces her decision.