Season 8

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.