A dynastic struggle occurs for the throne of Hastinapur, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan, between the Kauravas and Pandavas, collateral branches of the clan, which causes the Kurukshetra War.
King Bharat of Hastinapur, even after having nine sons, chooses a sage's son Bhumanyu as his successor. A few generations later, King Shantanu's reign weakens due to a promise made to his wife, Ganga.
After revealing about a curse to King Shantanu, Ganga leaves with their eighth son, Devavrat. He finds two newborns and names them as Kripa and Kripi. 16 years later, Ganga returns with Devavrat.
Devavrat requests King Shantanu to forgive Prince Vanu. Years later, King Shantanu falls for Satyavati. Devavrat accepts her father's condition for King Shantanu and takes a vow of lifelong celibacy.
King Shantanu blesses Devavrat with the title of Bhishma and immortality until he wishes to die. Satyavati gives birth to Chitrangad and Vichitraveer, but King Shantanu feels depressed till the end.
Bhishma barges into King Kashya's daughters ‘swayamvar' to get them married to Vichitraveer. He defeats Shalvraj and takes Amba, Ambalika and Ambika to Hastinapur. Amba vows to destroy Bhishma.
Satyavati begs her son Vyas to give Hastinapur its heirs, and thus are born Dhritrashtra, Pandu and Vidura. Their uncle Bhishma imparts education and they return as adults. Pandu is crowned the king.
Gandhari agrees to marry Dhritarashtra and blindfolds herself. Kunti chooses Pandu as her husband. Sage Durvasa grants a boon to Kunti. A bitter past haunts Kunti on her wedding night.
Pandu captures the neighbouring kingdoms. He brings Princess Madri home and goes to war. Pandu makes Dhritarashtra the king. Dhritarashtra's dream comes true, but Shakuni poisons his mind.
Rishi Kindam blesses Kunti and Madri with motherhood. Meanwhile, Pandu accidentally strikes down Rishi Kindam, so he curses Pandu. Pandu decides to go on an exile, where Bhim is born.
As advised by Jarasandh, Kansa dethrones Ugrasen and confines him to the prison. Soon, Kansa gets Vasudev married to Devaki. But a prophecy compels Kansa to send the newlyweds to the prison.
Kansa kills Devaki's babies, but Vasudev takes Devaki's eighth son to Nanda and brings Nanda's newborn daughter with him to the prison. Kansa assumes that Devaki has given birth to a girl.
On learning about the celebration in Gokul, Kansa sends Putana to kill all the newborns there. After killing all the newborns, Putana kidnaps Kanha and tries to feed him poison. Kanha kills Putana.
The residents of Nandgaon enjoy Kanha's antics. Devaki worries about Kanha. Malti comes to complain about Kanha to Yashoda, but is shocked to see Kanha already in the house.
Kanha jumps into the Yamuna river to retrieve his friend's ball. In the river, Kanha subdues Kaliya and takes a promise from him. Everyone is surprised when Kanha dances over a subdued Kaliya's head.
Rohini apprises Devaki and Vasudev of Kanha's mischiefs. Kanha stops the villagers from sending butter to Mathura. Kansa's demons spread havoc in the village, but Kanha and Balram kill them.
Kanha lifts Mount Govardhan on his finger and saves the villagers of Gokul from Lord Indra's wrath. Kansa requests Akrur to bring Kanha to Mathura. Accordingly, Akrur reaches Gokul to fetch Kanha.
Kanha bids an emotional goodbye to Radha. On reaching Mathura, Kanha helps a hunchbacked woman. Kanha and Balram wrestle Mustik and Chanur. Later, Kanha kills Kansa.
Kanha releases Devaki, Vasudev and Ugrasena from the dungeon. Yashoda is worried about Kanha. Furthermore, Pandu and Madri pass away. Kunti returns to Hastinapur with the Pandavs.
Satyavati leaves Hastinapur following Sage Vyas's request. Dhritarashtra gets worried about losing the throne. Meanwhile, Bhishma decides to send the Pandavs to Kripacharya's gurukul.
Dhritarashtra summons Kripacharya. Meanwhile, Adhiratha, the foster father of Karna, requests Dhritarashtra to relieve him of his duties. Shakuni encourages Duryodhan to trick the Pandavs.
Vidur learns about Duryodhan's heinous act of poisoning Bhim. Meanwhile, Arjun confides in Bhishma. Elsewhere, Krishna and Sudama set out on a journey from Rishi Sandipani's ashram.
Shakuni instigates Dhritarashtra against Dronacharya. Arjun saves Dronacharya from a crocodile. Later, Gandhari scolds Shakuni for attempting to manipulate her against Kunti.
Dronacharya teaches archery to his students. Eklavya, who's learning this on the sly, agrees to obey Dronacharya's order. Later, Shakuni learns that Dhritarashtra is worried about Duryodhan's future.
The Kauravs and Pandavs return from Dronacharya's ashram. Later, they compete with each other and display their individual skills. Just then, Karna challenges Arjun, and everyone mocks Karna.
In order to avenge his insult, Dronacharya asks his disciples to defeat King Drupad and capture him as an honorarium. The Pandavs succeed in doing so. Later, Parshuram shows Krishna the right path.
After defeating Jarasandh, Krishna decides to leave Mathura and settle in Dwaraka. Meanwhile, Dhritarashtra falls into a dilemma about who among Duryodhan and Yudhishthir must be crowned as the king.
Dhritarashtra chooses Yudhishthir as the throne's successor. Bhishmak accepts Jarasandh's advice to invite Shishupal for Rukmini's 'Swayamvar'. Eklavya visits Shishupal with Jarasandh's message.
Krishna stops Rukmini's marriage from taking place against her will. Shakuni shares his conspiracy against Yudhishthir with Duryodhan. Later, they try to instigate Dhritarashtra against Yudhishthir.
Kunti gives a strange blessing to Yudhishthir. Shakuni and Duryodhan plot against the Pandavs. As Yudhishthir returns from the battlefield, Dhritarashtra asks him to attend a festival at Varnavat.
The Pandavs and Kunti leave for Varnavat. Yudhishthir wonders about Vidur's puzzle. On reaching Varnavat, Yudhishthir decides to build a tunnel in the Lakshagrah.
Karna requests Duryodhan to stop his plan. The Pandavs set the Lakshagrah ablaze and escape using a tunnel built by Vidur's miner. Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Bhishma mourn the Pandavs' death.
Shakuni laughs at Bhishma's helplessness. Vidur later apprises Bhishma of Duryodhan's plan and the Pandavs' escape. A demoness, Hidimba, proposes marriage to Bhim after he kills her brother, Hidimb.
The Pandavs visit the Ekchakra village, which is ruled by Bakasur. As part of an agreement made with Bakasur, Kunti sends Bhim with food for him. Bhim fights the ferocious Bakasur and kills him.
The Pandavs hear the story of Draupadi's birth from a Brahmin. King Drupad organises a ‘Swayamvar' for Draupadi. The Pandavs participate in the ‘Swayamvar' dressed as Brahmins.
Arjun wins at the 'Swayamvar' and Draupadi weds him. Bhim defends Arjun against the Kshatriyas. Kunti unwittingly asks the Pandavs to share Draupadi. Later, Bhishma talks to Vidur about his dilemma.
Duryodhan gets angry at Dhritarashtra for his decision regarding the Pandavs. Karna complains to Duryodhan about Shakuni's actions. Later, the Pandavs prepare to visit Hastinapur.
Duryodhan and Bhishma discuss the true heir to Hastinapur's throne. The Pandavs arrive at Hastinapur. Later, Bhishma suggests to Dhritarashtra that they should divide the kingdom of Hastinapur.
On receiving Khandavprastha in the division, Yudhishthir's brothers get angry. Shakuni asks Duryodhan to befriend Balram. Arjun confronts Bhishma for not protesting the division of Hastinapur.
