Karna's established enmity with the Pandavas and his role as Duryodhana's chief ally and adviser leads him to propose the Ghosha expedition to humiliate the Pandavas.
Aranyaka Parva
Will Duryodhana's attempt to humiliate the Pandavas by displaying his wealth lead to his own disgrace?
Karna proposes a Ghosha expedition to Duryodhana to mock the Pandavas' poverty in exile, and Duryodhana departs for Lake Dvaitavana. His servants are confronted by Gandharvas, leading to a battle where the Kauravas are defeated and Duryodhana is captured. The Pandavas, led by Arjuna, rescue the Kauravas from the Gandharvas, and Yudhishthira frees Duryodhana, who returns to Hastinapura in shame.
14 stories · 1 pivotal · Chapters 524–533
Begin readingCausal position
How this arc sits in the story chain
Born from
This Arc
Duryodhana's Ghosha Expedition and Humiliation
Leads into
Duryodhana's humiliation from being freed by Yudhishthira drives him to such despair that he instates Duhshasana as king and resolves to fast to death, as a direct consequence of his shame.
The humiliation from the failed expedition proposed by Karna leads Karna to vow before Duryodhana to kill Arjuna, escalating the enmity and setting a direct causal path toward war.
Stories
Showing 1 spine stories · 14 total
Spine stories carry the arc's main thread. Essential adds key turning points. Supporting covers depth and backstory.