Original subtitles

This is Kurukshetra! This is Kurukshetra!

This is Kurukshetra, this is Kurukshetra!

Far more damaging than a lie, is a half-truth.

Because we can always deny a lie. But a half-truth carries both,

the assurance of truth and the betrayal of lies.

Be it history or legend, nothing is ever untouched by half-truths.

Because historians themselves are not sure,

if the history they have written is the truth, or merely the half-truth.

Deceit, treachery and sorcery! In the fourteen days at Kurukshetra,

I had seen everything!

Abhimanyu, Bhurishrava,

Jayadrath, Somadatt were all killed

by dishonorable means.

The attacks on unarmed warriors,

clashes between demons and humans,

battles fought even after sunset.

It was as if a dark cloud had descended on Kurukshetra.

Amidst such deep, dark corruption,

how long could the integrity of an honest man survive?

Uh, Your Majesty, why are you wearing your armor?

Why? Am I not a warrior? Or not worthy of this armor?

Your Majesty, you are both a warrior and worthy.

But at present you are injured.

Your wounds have not healed properly yet.

You called me "Your Majesty," Yuyutsu.

Of course, my King.

What kind of king? The kind of king who rests

here in ease and comfort, nursing his wounds while

his army dies outside?

Or the kind of king, who lets his nephew Ghatotkach

be ruthlessly killed,

and watches his brother Bheem mourn his son,

while he just sits here counting his precious battle wounds?

It is my duty to keep you safe. I cannot allow you to

go to the battlefield.

And what about my duty? What is the righteous

King Yudhisthir's duty?

It is only natural that you find these circumstances oppressive, my King.

And my right to the throne of Hastinapur?

That too.

You are the eldest of the Pandavs.

You are unmatched in the use of the spear.

But surely, you are not simply a king, because you are a great warrior and the

-eldest? -Then why am I king?

Because you are the most steadfast. Your loyalty to the truth is unwavering.

And your knowledge of dharm is unparalleled.

But the burden of my flaws is no less heavy, King Virat.

Yes.

But I remember that young man who came to me under the guise of a Brahmin

called Kank, and helped me in my efforts to

defeat King Susharma of Trigart.

And when I found out he was the righteous King Yudhishthir,

my heart was filled with joy.

The year of disguise.

That was the one and only time, when even you, had to hide behind a lie,

Your Majesty.

Even then, I did not resort to a lie, King Virat.

Because the Kank bird is the symbol of Dharmaraj.

And I am the son of Dharmaraj.

So you did not resort to lying at that time as well.

That is why I have pledged all my power and support to you in this war.

And it is this honesty that drew me to your side, brother.

I am Duryodhan's step-brother and yet,

it is you that I stand with in the Kurukshetra war.

Hmm.

KURUKSHETRA: THE GREAT WAR OF MAHABHARATA

YUDHISHTHIR

Ashwatthama, my son, how are your wounds healing?

Hmm?

You had to fight such a fierce battle with Ghatotkach yesterday.

These wounds are like trophies for me, father.

I am a warrior. I am your son, but your disciple as well.

I will never retreat from battle.

Your teacher does not have a grain of doubt about your bravery but,

I am your father as well.

-I fear that this war will take-- -Mm-hmm!

Nothing will happen to me father. And I won't let anything

happen to you either.

Cast aside your fears and these useless sentiments!

Your emotions are allowing the Pandavs to grow more aggressive!

And warriors like Duryodhan and Karn to be irreverent!

It is time to show them your ferocious side, father!

Of course, my son!

Today's battle is something

you will never forget!

May you live long, my son.

I shall remember your blessings and your words, dear father.

It's time.

DAY FIFTEEN

On the fifteenth day, the Kaurav army began the battle divided into two parts,

-like the forked tongue of a snake. -To the left! To the left!

Narayani army, to the left!

Soldiers, move to the left!

Hastinapur had a lot of allies because they were the rulers.

However, they had many enemies too,

who had joined the war on the side of the Pandavs.

For the Pandav army advancing in the Trident formation, the kings of Chedi,

Kekeya and Srinjaya kingdoms, were spearheading the three

prongs of the trident.

Behind them was King Drupad's vast Panchal army.

And fighting alongside Yudhisthir, the Matsya kingdom led by King Virat,

followed.

Bheem, Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna guarded all of them

with their army of elephants.

But today, the commander of the Kaurav army,

Dronacharya had a very different air about him.

It's been fourteen days, Acharya,

and the Pandavs have barely

sustained a scratch!

But now my faith in you is wavering too, Acharya.

Is it possible perhaps,

that you have broken our trust in the very same way that your childhood friend

King Drupad once broke yours?

Commence the attack!

So ends the chapter of the Chedi, Kekeya and Srinjaya clans!

Drupad!

How does it feel to be so helpless?

Once even I had sought your help in a state of utter helplessness.

Do you remember that day?

Could you weigh this, please?

-Give it here. -Yes.

Hmm?

Where do you think you're going? Stop right there.

I have come to meet King Drupad. He is, he is my childhood friend.

The King? A friend? Well, I am king enough for the likes of you.

Ask me. What is it you want, beggar?

Watch your words, gatekeeper! I may be poor, but I am not a beggar.

Go on! Go and sit outside a temple. You will find some charity there,

and friends too! Go!

This is not your royal court.

You are denying me entry from this royal court. Now you will see.

Hmm?

I am a Brahmin, and a warrior!

One day, I shall turn your great

king into a beggar!

And your downfall shall begin with the destruction of your Panchal army!

Arjun! Today will be your last day.

Keshav, why are you charging away?

Are you trying to save me from the three-pronged attack by Karn,

Duryodhan and Shakuni?

I know you can fight all three of them. But Arjun,

there is no need to do that at this moment.

Brother Arjun, I'll take care of them. You take care of Dronacharya!

Today, he has destruction on his mind!

You're the only one who can stop him!

Sahdev and Nakul!

Karn!

Uncle Shakuni!

-Hmm, let's flank them from both sides! -Yes, why not?

We will defeat them and resume our attack on Arjun! Charge!

There is something very wrong here, Keshav.

-What do you mean? -It looks like Acharya Drona is

attacking our army and our allies. But he is not attacking me, why?

Hmm…

He is distracting you with Duryodhan and Karn,

and this is robbing you of your strength.

He needs to be stopped, Keshav! But how?

Today's battle has only just begun.

And the Panchal army is already in this state?

-Where is Drupad? -King Drupad!

-Your Majesty! -Look over there, a cloud of dust.

A fierce battle must be going on there.

I shall go there with my army.

Matsya army, stay alert! Move forward! Move forward, men! Move forward!

I am ashamed that I was ever your friend.

Which friend, Drupad?

The one you have been dreaming

of killing for so long?

You killed our friendship, before all who were assembled

in your court!

What are you looking at? Move!

Long live the king.

Y-Y-Your Majesty, this Brahmin is claiming to,

to be your-your friend.

Who?

And you took him at his word?

W-we tried to stop him, Your Majesty. Then he argued with us and said,

I will turn your king into a beggar.

Some audacity you have! How dare you come into my

court and threaten me?

We are not of the same standing, Drupad. But,

friendship is blind to such differences.

I am living in such extreme poverty.

You had promised to give me half of your kingdom.

But, I'm not even asking for that.

I am asking for just ten cows from your hordes of cattle.

My wife Kripi and son Ashwatthama will live well on just that much.

Only ten cows? Take all the cows in my cowshed.

First you come here and threaten me in my court, and then you start begging?

Take this beggar away. Throw him out!

In the middle of your court, you insulted this priest

mercilessly that day.

Now face a warrior in the middle of this battlefield, Drupad!

Drona!

Do you remember this face, Drupad?

There was a time, when you refused to recognize it.

Today, it is the face of your doom! What will you do now?

Drupad! Dodge that volley of arrows!

-Your Majesty! Your Majesty! -What has happened?

We lost our king.

-Father! -Father!

You accepted me fully for who I am.

May God grant peace to your soul.

It is my misfortune that I could not fulfill

your wish while you were alive.

And it is Acharya Drona's misfortune,

that your wish will be fulfilled after your death!

Because I am going to make him suffer so much, so much,

that he would want me to kill him but even death would shy away in fear!

I will keep my vow and avenge you, father!

His revenge shall be fulfilled?

Possibly, in your dreams.

Your father, your army, they are all dead! But your dream never seems to die!

My son is on one side. Kripacharya on the other.

And you believe that you are going to kill me?

The one warrior capable of stopping me has already been distracted in a

fierce battle with Duryodhan, Dhrishtadyumna!

Acharya!

And Duryodhan could stop me, is that what you really thought,

Acharya? Huh?

Brother, you here?

-You should be resting back at the-- -If I cannot protect myself,

how will I protect Hastinapur?

I am here because I am needed here.

The Matsya army is now my responsibility.

This quality is what makes you a great leader, brother.

You give us an apt solution to every problem.

By the way, there is another problem and

again you alone must solve it.

What problem, Keshav?

The profound problem of deciding between life and death.

The death of Dronacharya.

What do you make of this, brother Yudhishthir?

How much longer is it possible for Arjun and Dhrishtadyumna,

to push back against the Acharya's ferocious form?

Only you can show us the way, Keshav.

The Acharya must be disarmed to be stopped.

But why would Dronacharya lay down his arms?

What if he received the news of Ashwatthama's death?

Draupadi's father has been killed! Who will you fight for now?!

You traitor!

You call yourself a great warrior, Ashwatthama.

Is that all the power your gem can muster?

You attack ordinary soldiers to flaunt your so-called bravery!

Fight me if you are truly brave!

Yuyutsu!

Let's do this.

What are you saying, Keshav? Ashwatthama is no less of a warrior?

His divine weapons, mastery of the bow, fierceness!

He is not any less than his father in warfare.

But he is not immortal, is he?

Who will kill Ashwatthama?

We can kill him or simply give Acharya the news that Ashwatthama is dead.

-A lie? But that would be wrong, Keshav! -It would be wrong, brother

Yudhishthir, for Duryodhan to sit on the throne of Hastinapur if you lose.

Then both right and wrong would be slaves to Duryodhan's will.

Say what you want, Keshav.

But I cannot commit one wrong in order to stop another wrong.

I simply cannot tell a lie!

What is a lie? And what is the truth?

If the accuracy of your words is considered the truth, then I give you

every assurance that whatever you say, will definitely be the truth.

I don't understand, Keshav.

Madhav! We must save Dhrishtadyumna and Arjun,

before Dronacharya's wrath destroys them!

Bheem! Ashwatthama!

The time has come to send you off to meet your father and your sons, Dhrishtadyumna!

Huh? What is this?

Dhrishtadyumna!

Ashwatthama is no more!

Ashwatthama has been killed!

Do you really think I would believe this lie of yours, Bheem?

Get up, Bheem. I cannot face Drona on my own!

And I alone am enough!

Your plan proved unsuccessful, Madhav!

Patience, Dharmaraj. The plan is still in motion.

Then please complete it quickly. Because Dhrishtadyumna and Bheem don't have much

-time left. -I should complete it? The plan has

to be completed only by you, brother

-Yudhishthir! -Me? What do I have to do?

"Ashwatthama has been killed." The Acharya will believe it only if you say it.

But that is not the truth!

The one that is dead is not Dronacharya's son, but an animal, an elephant.

But his name is Ashwatthama, killed by Bheem himself!

Do not weigh righteousness only on the scales of truth and lies,

brother Yudhishthir.

Measure it against the touchstone of the future.

Do not consider only your personal values, my King.

Think about the welfare of your people too.

Because in fact that is your prime duty as a king.

I can only show you the path.

Choosing to walk on that path is your decision.

And you have to make that decision right now.

Because the future of Bharat is in your hands.

A single statement from you will determine the future of the world today.

Acharya!

Ashwatthama has been killed, Acharya!

Ashwatthama is no more!

But not the man, the elephant!

How does it feel to get the news of your son's death, Acharya Drona?

If Yudhishthir has said it, then it must be true.

Because he never lies.

My son, is no more.

My faith, does not allow me to carry on after this.

When an elephant dies, its family wails in mourning.

But they never forget its killer.

They do not forget until they have had their revenge.

No, Dhrishtadyumna!

Today, the earth at Kurukshetra, did not stain red with Drona's blood,

it turned black.

Because the truth had fallen under the sword, with his death.

The truth, for the sake of which the Kurukshetra

war was being fought, had died today. Because in order to win,

a truthful man had surrendered to a half-truth.

This was the moment that turned the abandonment

of truth into a necessity for every war to come.

But this was just the eve of the darkness to follow.

The most savage and terrifying chapter of the Kurukshetra war was about to begin.

NEXT IN KURUKSHETRA

We must appoint our new commander before the next sunrise.

One is Karn. The other is Ashwatthama.

The sacred fire has chosen the next commander for us.

See the sun's likeness within the flames.

Shoot your arrow. Go on and take Karn's life.

But he is clearly unarmed, Keshav. How can I just--

Abhimanyu was also unarmed.

This is the only justice for the unrighteous.

The Kauravs and the Pandavs, both have my blood coursing

through their veins.

Calm your mind, like water.

You remember my three vows, don't you, Duryodhan?

There is one quality for which you will always have my respect,

your courage, your strength,

and your reputation as a

truly remarkable warrior.

And for this, you do not deserve thorns, but a shower of petals.

You waited eagerly for the death of each of my hundred sons.

Another woman was shamed, yet you stayed mute to her suffering

Wait, my sons.

What is wrong, mother?

I hope you can forgive me

for the crime I committed and concealed from all of you.

I took the side of the Pandavs not for history, but to create a future.

You are concerned about the future, Keshav? Huh?

Here, I will make sure that you are free from this concern of yours forever.

I put a curse upon you!

This is not the end, but the beginning of the end!

The bloodline of the Pandavs has come to an end!

All that is dark, the light you see, all illusion, ends with me.

Come forward, be one with me. The end is the destiny.

This earth below, the stars above - this is Kurukshetra,

this is Kurukshetra.