Karna's origin as Kunti's son and his rivalry with Arjuna are the underlying cause of Draupadi's grief over Karna's laughter at her during the dice game, which she laments to Krishna.
Aranyaka Parva
Can Krishna's presence and divine identity restore the Pandavas' hope and resolve during their exile?
Allied kings visit the Pandavas, and Arjuna pacifies Krishna by reciting his deeds, leading Krishna to reveal the Nara-Narayana identity. Draupadi laments her sufferings, and Krishna consoles her. Krishna explains his absence during the gambling due to his battle with Shalva, and the arc resolves with the Pandavas gaining renewed spiritual strength.
7 stories · 0 pivotal · Chapters 310–312
Begin readingCausal position
How this arc sits in the story chain
Born from
Yudhishthira's request for details about Soubha's destruction directly causes Krishna to narrate the entire episode, which includes the explanation of why Krishna was absent from Hastinapura after the gambling match; Krishna's narration is the causal agent that provides this explanation.
This Arc
Krishna's Consolation and the Nara-Narayana Revelation
Leads into
The visit of the allied kings, led by Krishna, to the Pandavas in Kamyaka forest is the event that Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra, directly causing Dhritarashtra's fear and the Kaurava council's pledge to prepare for war.
Krishna's narration of the battle against Shalva culminates in his account of killing Shalva and destroying Soubha, which is the direct resolution of the conflict he describes.
Stories
Showing essential stories
Spine stories carry the arc's main thread. Essential adds key turning points. Supporting covers depth and backstory.