Neev (welcoming tone):
 Welcome back to Mythical Masala! I’m Neev. 13 years of exile are done. The Pandavas are back. And they want what’s rightfully theirs.

Co-host (playfully):
 You mean — a nice welcome party with laddoos and garlands?

Neev (dry):
 More like “Oops, sorry we cheated you. Here’s your kingdom back.”

Co-host:
 But this is Mahabharata. Nobody ever says sorry.

Neev:
 That’s right. So before a single arrow is fired, a very different kind of battle begins.

Co-host (dramatic whisper):
 A battle of alliances... of egos... of last-minute deals...

Neev:
 And one of the most iconic scenes of the epic — when Arjuna and Duryodhana both show up to Lord Krishna’s palace, hoping to win his support.

Co-host:
 Who will Krishna help? Is he going to side with the enemy?

Neev:
 This episode is full of strategy, suspense, and — of course — Duryodhana being Duryodhana.

Co-host (mock sigh):
 Hashtag classic Duryodhana.

Neev (with a grin):
 Let’s dive right in.

Neev (calm, setting the scene):
 At the edge of war, the Pandavas moved their camp to Upaplavya, a city in the kingdom of Matsya. It was time to plan. To decide. To choose allies.

Co-host (curious):
 So... what’s Upaplavya like? Battlefield vibes?

Neev (thoughtful):
 More like... the eye of a storm.
 Tents lined the plains. Warriors sharpened arrows in the shade. Scrolls and maps scattered across wooden tables. And into this buzzing camp — came the heavyweights.

Co-host:
 You mean Krishna?

Neev:
 Krishna and Balarama — arriving with the mighty Yadava forces.
Drupada, the King of Panchala, brought his army. And with him, his son — Dhrishtadyumna, Draupadi’s sister.

Co-host (mock whisper):
 No pressure, Dhrishtadyumna.

Neev (smiling):
 And just before battle talk began, there was a wedding.

Co-host (surprised):
 Wait— what? A wedding? That’s interesting timing!

Neev:
 Yep. Abhimanyu — Arjuna’s brave son — married Princess Uttara, daughter of King Virata. Joy before the storm. 

Neev (serious again):
 Then, the war council began. Some like Balarama were firmly against war. He didn’t want cousins fighting cousins.

Co-host:
 Same, honestly. Can someone just give them all mango lassi and a long timeout?

Neev (dryly):
 If only. But others — like Drupada — said, “We must be ready.”

Krishna, always calm, said — “Before we raise a weapon, we must raise a message.”

Co-host (thoughtfully):
 A peace offering?

Neev:
 Yes. A final attempt.
 A messenger would go to King Dhritarashtra — asking for what was rightfully theirs. Their kingdom. Their home. No bloodshed... if it could be avoided.

Co-host (softly):
 And what if it couldn’t?

Neev (steady):
 Then the Pandavas would be ready.

Co-host (quiet beat):
 What a moment. You can feel the weight of that silence before war.

Neev (intense):
 While the Pandavas hoped for peace… Duryodhana sharpened the idea of war.

Co-host (with disdain):
 Peace? Please. That’s not in his vocabulary.

Neev:
 Nope. Duryodhana wanted the Pandavas ruined. No land. No respect. No hope.
Only then would his envy be satisfied.

Co-host:
 So what happened when Krishna showed up with a peace proposal?

Neev (dry):
 Duryodhana smirked.

"Why negotiate," he thought, "when I can crush them?"

Neev:
 In fact, he had an idea. A brilliant, sneaky idea.
 “What if Krishna fought on my side?”

Co-host (mock shocked):
 Wait WHAT? He wanted Krishna? 

Neev:
 Yes! Krishna — the most beloved, most powerful, most divine warrior-leader in all of Aryavarta.
Duryodhana thought — “If Krishna stands with me, no one can stop me.”

Co-host (mock whisper):
 Delusion: Level Expert.

Neev:
 So off he went — galloping to Dwaraka.
 But guess who else had the exact same idea?

Co-host:
 Arjuna!

Neev:
 Yep. The very same morning, Arjuna also rode to Krishna’s palace — to seek his help.

Neev (softly):
 They arrived at the gates…
 Together.
 Unaware of each other.
 And walked in…

Co-host:
 Oh, I love this setup. I can’t wait to see the look on Duryodhana’s face. 

Neev (gentle, narrative):
 Krishna — Lord of Dwaraka — lay asleep in his grand chamber. 
 Yellow silk draped over him like sunlight…
 Silent. Peaceful. Timeless.

Co-host: Was he really asleep? Or was he playing a trick!

Neev: Quite possibly. Duryodhana entered Krishna’s room, and saw him asleep. So, with smug patience he went and sat near Krishna’s head. 

Co-host (quietly):
at his head?
Because, of course — he believed just being first gave him the right to everything.

Neev:
When Arjuna entered the room, he saw Duryodhana sitting at the head of the bed. So he went and stood at Krishna’s feet. Silent. Not making a sound.

Co-host: Arjuna was humble and considered himself to be insignificant in front of Krishna

Neev (warmly):
 When Krishna opened his eyes…
 He saw Arjuna.

Neev (as Krishna, with affection):
 “Arjuna, my friend! What brings you here?”

Co-host (mock indignation, as Duryodhana):
 Well - I am sure Duryodhana is like, “I got here first!”

Neev: Absolutely. He was like “Ahem! Krishna, I came first! You must speak to me first!”

Neev (calm, amused):
 Krishna turned — slightly surprised to see Duryodhana behind him.

Neev (as Krishna):
 “Duryodhana, I saw Arjuna first. So I will speak to him first.”

Co-host (softly):
 Oof. Right in the ego. 

Neev:
 Duryodhana didn’t get it.
 It’s not about who reaches the divine first…
It’s about who the divine chooses to see.

Neev (as Krishna):
 “Tell me, Arjuna — what do you seek?”

Neev (as Arjuna, humbly):
 “Krishna… the battle with the Kauravas will soon begin.
 I need your guidance. Your support.”

Co-host (narrating, mock-nervous):
 Now Duryodhana must be sweating. This was not going to plan.

Neev:
 But Krishna smiled.

Neev (as Krishna, wisely):
 “I will offer my help to both of you —
 One of you may choose me, but I will not fight in the battle.
The other may have my army — vast and undefeated.

Since I saw Arjuna first, he will choose first.”

Co-host (gasping):
 So dramatic. I love this moment. Bet Duryodhana is freaking out!

Neev (gently):
 Krishna looked at Arjuna…
 And waited.

Neev (narrating calmly):
Duryodhana waited with bated breath.

For Arjuna, There was no hesitation.
 No doubt.
 No calculations or second-guessing.

Neev (as Arjuna, gently):
 “Krishna… I choose you.
I cannot live without you.”

Co-host (shocked):

Wow!
 He chose Krishna — the unarmed Krishna — over an entire army!

Neev (chuckling):
 Yup. Just Krishna. No soldiers. No weapons.

Co-host (mock whisper):
 That is bold.
 I mean… is he sure?

Neev:
 Meanwhile — in the back of the room — Duryodhana almost burst with joy.
 He practically skipped out of the palace, trying to contain his glee.

Co-host (mocking, as Duryodhana):
Yes of course. Duryodhana is probably going  “What a fool! What a complete fool!
 He picked Krishna over an army!
 Thank you, Arjuna — thank you for handing me victory!”

Neev:
 Duryodhana couldn’t believe his luck.
 He got the entire Yadava army —
 Thousands of mighty warriors.
 And Arjuna got… a charioteer.

Co-host:
 Except that charioteer… was Krishna.

Neev:
 After Duryodhana left, Krishna turned to Arjuna —
 His eyes were kind. Steady.

Neev (as Krishna, warm):
 “I will be with you, Arjuna.
 And I will drive your chariot.”

Co-host (softly, in awe):
 A god… choosing to serve his friend.

Neev:
 It may have seemed like Arjuna chose less.
 But really — he chose everything.

Co-host:
 And Duryodhana?
 He chose everything else…
Except wisdom.

Neev:
 Meanwhile, Balarama, Krishna’s brother, decided to stay out of the war.
 He wouldn’t pick sides between cousins.

That only made Duryodhana happier.

Neev (narrating):
 From the west, a great army was on the move.
 At its head rode King Shalya — uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva, and brother to their mother, Madri.

Co-host:
 Ooh — more family entering the scene!

Neev:
 Shalya was headed straight to the Pandavas, ready to join their side in the war.
 But… someone else had been watching.

Co-host (with mock suspicion):
 Let me guess.
 Duryodhana?

Neev (sighs):
 Of course.
 He heard that Shalya and his army would camp soon… and he made a plan.

Co-host:
 Another one!? Why am I not surprised?

Neev:
 He arranged a grand welcome —
 Tents, feasts, music, flowers…
 An entire royal experience for the visiting king and his men.

Neev:
 But here’s the thing —
 Shalya thought all this was arranged by the Pandavas!

Co-host (laughing):
 Oh nooo. He’s getting tricked by five-star hospitality!

Neev:
 Exactly.
 Feeling honored, he said to the servants,
 “Tell the Pandavas how much I appreciate this!”

But the attendants just bowed… and passed the message to Duryodhana.

Neev (as Duryodhana, smug):
Duryodhana visited the King  “I’m so glad you’re pleased, King Shalya.”

Co-host (as Shalya, confused):
The king is definitely confused. “Wait… you did all this?”

Neev:
Yeah! But he wanted to show he was grateful and asked Duryodhana how he could repay him for his hospitality.  

Co-host: Uh oh! Walking right into the trap!

Neev: And before Shalya could recover from the surprise —
 Duryodhana smiled and said:

Neev (as Duryodhana, sharply):
 “You want to repay me?
 Well then… fight for my side in the war.”

Co-host (whispering):
 And he took the bait! .

Neev:
 Shalya was stunned. He realized he’d been tricked.
 But a warrior’s word is his bond.
 So he agreed — reluctantly.

Co-host:
 Did he tell the Pandavas?

Neev:
 Yes.
 He went to them and told the whole story.
 Everyone was saddened — but Shalya made a promise.

Neev (as Shalya):
 “I may have to fight for Duryodhana…
But I’ll weaken their spirit from within.
I’ll discourage Karna. Sow doubt.
That will be my service to you.”

Co-host (softly):
 Even a misstep… turned into strategy.

Neev:
 And Yudhishthira?
 He learned an important lesson that day:

Neev (as Yudhishthira):
 “Even our closest allies… need care, attention, and vigilance.
 Friendship is not something to assume. It must be nurtured.”

 Neev (closing narration):
 So… Krishna joins as a charioteer.
 Shalya gets tricked.
 And the Pandavas?
 They’re gathering allies, armies, and wisdom — one hard lesson at a time.

Co-host: 

Was Arjuna really wrong in choosing Krishna? Time would

tell.

Neev:

The stage is almost set.
 The war drums are getting louder.
 Well… it’s the beginning of the end.

Co-host:
 Whoa. We’re actually getting close to the big one — Kurukshetra?

Neev:
 Thanks for listening to Mythical Masala.
If you liked the episode, don’t forget to follow us, share it with your friends,
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See you next time — when we step even closer to the battlefield.