Ep 40. Episode 40

Yudhishthir's Rajasuya Yagya begins with the Pandavas and Lord Krishna taking their seats. Meanwhile, Duryodhan and his brothers are discontented about being invited as guests and not being the hosts. This episode mainly revolves around the various intriguing events that take place during the Yagya.

King Drupad, the father of Draupadi, attends Yudhishthir's Yagya and he is pleased to meet Krishna. At the Yagya, Duryodhan enquires about Krishna's whereabouts and Bhima tells him that Krishna is with the Pandavas. Duryodhan is furious at this and compares himself to Krishna, which enrages Bhima. He challenges Duryodhan to a wrestling match, but Duryodhan cunningly denies him.

Meanwhile, in the banquet hall, as the food arrives, Krishna acts as the aide of the Pandavas and serves them while Duryodhan and his brothers are left waiting. Krishna offers their share of food to the sage Durvasa who arrives just then and is pleased with Krishna's hospitality. Durvasa delivers a mantra to Draupadi, which would help her call upon Lord Vishnu in times of distress.

Later, Duryodhan conspires to humiliate Bhima in front of everyone to avenge his insult. He plans a wrestling contest and invites Bhima to participate. Bhima, who is unaware of the malicious intent of Duryodhan, accepts the invitation. During the contest, Duryodhan poisons Bhima, which leaves him paralyzed and at the mercy of Duryodhan who then orders that he be cast into the river.

However, the Pandavas come to Bhima's rescue, and with the help of Lord Krishna's divine powers, Bhima regains his strength. In a final duel with Duryodhan, Bhima triumphs over him and spares his life, but not before promising to break Duryodhan's thighs in the future.

As the episode progresses, the battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas becomes more apparent, and various characters from both sides interact with each other. Duryodhan continues his wicked ways, and Shakuni, his conniving uncle, also tries to cause trouble for the Pandavas at every turn.

The episode comes to an end as Yudhishthir's Rajasuya Yagya concludes with Arjuna receiving the blessing of Lord Indra, which harnesses his prowess as the greatest archer in the world. The victory of the Pandavas and Arjuna's ascension sets the stage for the conflict between the two factions to escalate further and sets the foundation for the events that will unfold in the episodes to come.

Overall, Episode 40 of Mahabharat is a thrilling and action-packed episode that keeps the viewers engaged and entertained. The character interactions are vivid and set the stage for the events that will unfold further in the series. The performances of the actors are commendable, and the episode showcases the grandeur and scale of the show.