A game of dice between the Pandavas and Kauravas, manipulated by the cunning Shakuni, leads to the loss of kingdom, freedom, and honor. This pivotal moment sets the stage for the great war of Kurukshetra.

Prince Devavrata renounces his claim to the throne and takes a vow of celibacy so that his father Shantanu can marry the fisherman's daughter Satyavati. This sacrifice earns him the name Bhishma--the one of the terrible vow.

At Princess Draupadi's swayamvara, King Drupada sets an impossible challenge: string a mighty bow and shoot a golden target set high above, through the opening of a device. When all kings fail, a mysterious Brahmin steps forward.

Born to Kunti by the sun god Surya, Karna is abandoned at birth and raised by a charioteer. Despite his divine origins, he faces rejection, curses, and a destiny that will pit him against his own brothers.

The devoted disciple Utanka goes on a quest to retrieve the earrings of Queen Poushya for his preceptor's wife. His encounter with the naga Takshaka sets in motion the events that lead to King Janamejaya's great snake sacrifice.

To obtain the nectar of immortality, the gods and demons join forces to churn the cosmic ocean. This monumental effort brings forth divine treasures, terrifying poisons, and ultimately, the ambrosia that grants eternal life. The curse that sets the tale in motion comes from later tradition rather than the epic.

To free his mother Vinata from the cruel slavery of her sister Kadru, the mighty bird Garuda embarks on an impossible quest: to steal the nectar of immortality from the heavily guarded heavens.

King Janamejaya initiates a terrifying sacrifice to annihilate the entire snake race in revenge for his father's murder. As the snakes face total destruction, a young, brilliant sage named Astika arrives to fulfill an ancient prophecy and stop the massacre.

The bizarre and miraculous origins of the Kuru dynasty's matriarch, Satyavati, born from a fish, and her illegitimate son Vyasa, the great sage who would go on to author the Mahabharata itself.

The classic tale of love, denial, and reunion between King Dushyanta and Shakuntala, leading to the birth of Emperor Bharata, after whom the great epic and the nation of India are named.