Mahabharata Reading Notes: Part A
Mahabharata Reading Notes Part A
I really enjoyed using the PDE version of the Ramayana, so I'm going to continue using the PDE version here.
Sources used: Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.
1. We are introduced to Vsaya as a narrator and a character. The elephant god Ganesha is taking notes.
2. We meet Devavrata, who we learn is the byproduct of an... interesting relationship between King Shantanu and Ganga.
3. After his entanglement with Ganga, King Shantanu falls in love with Satyavati, who will soon become the mother of Vsaya.
4. Devavrata learns of a predicament with his father. Any children born by Satyavati will not be eligible for the throne. Then Devavrata makes a vow and renounces his claim to the throne.
5. After Satyavati passes, Satyavati's eldest, Vichitravirya is in line for the throne. Devavrata (Bhishma) kidnaps three princesses to potentially serve as wives for his half-brother.
6. The eldest of the three princesses, Amba, already has wedding arrangements to another. She cries for help and Shiva tells her that she will be reincarnated as a man and kill Bhishma. She then commits suicide to expedite the process.
7. Vichitravirya dies before he can get either wife pregnant. There is still a need for a successor. Satyavati and Bhishma circumvent his vow by having Vsaya impregnate the women and having Bhishma raise the kids.
8. King Pandu grows up and marries two wives, Kunti and Madri. Kunti has a moment with Surya the sun god. She bears the child Karna as a result. Then she sends the child down the river in shame.
9. King Pandu gets into a hunting accident and kills a holy brahmin in deer form. The brahmin tells Pandu that he will die in the arms of one of his wives.
10. King Pandu dies. He has two children by Kunti and three by Madri. These are known as the Pandava brothers. The Pandava brothers decide that upon his death, Madri should be burned with him. So she dies, too.
11. Here, we meet the Hauravas (sons of Dhritarashtra). They will act in conflict with the Pandavas.
12. The Pandavas go to live with their uncle and cousins (Hauravas) after their father passes away.
13. Duryodhana, a Haurava, attempts to kill Bhima, a Pandava. Bhima convenes with snakes and gets snake powers.
14. Here we meet Drona, a brahmin who will be a guru to the Pandavas and Hauravas.
15. The Pandavas excel at training with Drona. Of the Pandavas, Yudhishthria, Bhima, and Arjuna are the most important to know.
16. Ekalavya wants to study with Drona, Drona tells him to cut off his thumb. He does and discovers that he can still pluck yew with the middle finger.
17. The Pandavas and Hauravas compete in a contest now that they have both received training.
18. Karna (the child of Kunti and the sun god) shows up. He does not realize that Arjuna is his half-brother, and likewise for Arjuna.
19. Drona, having completed his teaching, demands payment. He wants the boys to get him revenge on King Drupada (old childhood friend)
20. Duryodhana gets edgier with more Pandava success. He decides that he will kill the Pandavas.
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