MAHA-P006
Since there are a lot of characters that will be introduced from this point, I am going to start an index page for detailing the characters. I need not repeat it again and again. Yet will give you a brief note on the same.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vyasa hath fully represented the greatness of the house of Kuru, the virtuous principles of Gandhari, the wisdom of Vidura, and the constancy of Kunti. The noble Rishi hath also described the divinity of Vasudeva, the rectitude of the sons of Pandu, and the evil practices of the sons and partisans of Dhritarashtra.
Kunti(Mother of Pandavas)
Kuru(A Kingdome during the Vedic period)- An excerpt from Wikipedia –
Kuru was the name of an Indo-Aryan Kshatriya tribe and their kingdom in the Vedic period of India, and later a republican Mahajanapada state. Their kingdom was located in the area of modern Haryana and Delhi. They formed the first political center of the Indo-Aryans after the Rigvedic period, and after their emergence from the Punjab, and it was there that the codification and redaction of the Vedic texts began.
Pandu is the son of Ambalika and Rishi Ved Vyasa. He is the father of the Pandavas.
Dhritarashtra was the blind king of Hastinapura. He was the father of the Kauravas. Duryodhana and Dushasana were the prominent among them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A description of the different versions of the Mahabharata is explained in these verses. Also a discription of the availablity of the different verses at different places are discribed.
Vyasa compiled the Bharata, exclusive of the episodes originally in twenty-four thousand verses; and so much only is called by the learned as the Bharata. Afterwards, he composed an epitome in one hundred and fifty verses, consisting of the introduction with the chapter of contents. This he first taught to his son Suka; and afterwards he gave it to others of his disciples who were possessed of the same qualifications.
After that he executed another compilation, consisting of six hundred thousand verses. Of those, thirty hundred thousand are known in the world of the Devas; fifteen hundred thousand in the world of the Pitris: fourteen hundred thousand among the Gandharvas, and one hundred thousand in the regions of mankind. Narada recited them to the Devas, Devala to the Pitris, and Suka published them to the Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Rakshasas: and in this world they were recited by Vaisampayana, one of the disciples of Vyasa, a man of just principles and the first among all those acquainted with the Vedas. Know that I, Sauti, have also repeated one hundred thousand verses.
In the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and other Puranas refer to many tribes, describing them as other than human (superhuman or subhuman). These tribes include the following: Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, Rakshasas, Nagas, Suparnas, Vanaras, Vidyadharas, Valikilyas, Pisachas, Devas (within them Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, Adityas) and Asuras (within them Danavas, Daityas and Kalakeyas.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pandava brothers are described as a tree. The importance of different people can be inferred from the importance of different part of the tree.
Yudhishthira is a vast tree, formed of religion and virtue; Arjuna is its trunk; Bhimasena, its branches; the two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva) are its full-grown fruit and flowers; and its roots are Krishna, Brahma (or is it Bishma, I am not sure!), and the Brahmanas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The beginning of the story of Mahabharata.........(A short description of the entire story.)
Pandu, after having subdued many countries by his wisdom and prowess, took up his abode with the Munis in a certain forest [1] as a sportsman, where he brought upon himself a very severe misfortune (Cursed) for having killed a stag coupling with its mate, which served as a warning for the conduct of the princes of his house as long as they lived. [2]
Their mothers (Mothers of Pandavas - The wives of king pandu), in order that the ordinances of the law (Dharma, vedic law) might be fulfilled, admitted to bear child with the gods Dharma, Vayu (God, air personified), Sakra (Indra, King of Devas), and the divinities the twin Aswins (Devas).
When their offspring grew up, under the care of their two mothers, in the society of ascetics, in the midst of sacred groves and holy recluse-abodes of religious men, they were conducted by Rishis into the presence of Dhritarashtra and his sons (The kauravas), following as students in the habit of Brahmacharis[1], having their hair tied in knots on their heads. 'These our pupils', said they, 'are as your sons, your brothers, and your friends; they are Pandavas.' Saying this, the Munis disappeared.
[1] - A Vanaprastha is a person who is living in the forest as a hermit after partially giving up material desires. This is one of the four stages of life, preceded by the life of a married man and followed by becoming an ascetic. Brahmacharis, the life of a student precede the married man.
[2] – Pandu was cursed for not his misdeed. The curse was that, if he tries to bear a child, he will die the very moment.
When the Kauravas saw them introduced as the sons of Pandu, the distinguished class of citizens shouted exceedingly for joy. Some, however, said, they were not the sons of Pandu; others said, they were; while a few asked how they could be his offspring, seeing he had been so long dead. Still on all sides voices were heard crying, 'They are on all accounts welcome! Through divine Providence we behold the family of Pandu! Let their welcome be proclaimed!' As these acclamations ceased, the plaudits of invisible spirits, causing every point of the heavens to resound, were tremendous. (The enthusiastic mood of the people is illustrated) There were showers of sweet-scented flowers, and the sound of shells and kettle-drums. Such were the wonders that happened on the arrival of the young princes. The joyful noise of all the citizens, in expression of their satisfaction on the occasion, was so great that it reached the very heavens in magnifying plaudits.
Having studied the whole of the Vedas and diverse other shastras, the Pandavas resided there, respected by all and without apprehension from any one.
(The vast knowledge of Pandavas can be inferred from the above line.)
The principal men were pleased with the purity of Yudhishthira, the courage of Arjuna, the submissive attention of Kunti to her superiors, and the humility of the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva; and all the people rejoiced in their heroic virtues.
(The characteristic of the individual Panadava and also that of kunti can be inferred from the above lines.)
After a while, Arjuna obtained the virgin Krishna [*] at the swayamvara[#], in the midst of a concourse of Rajas, by performing a very difficult feat of archery. And from this time he became very much respected in this world among all bowmen; and in fields of battle also, like the sun, he was hard to behold by foe-men. And having vanquished all the neighbouring princes and every considerable tribe, he accomplished all that was necessary for the Raja (his eldest brother) to perform the great sacrifice called Rajasuya[**].
[*] Actually means Draupathi. Not to be mistaken to Lord Krishna. Krishna means one with dark complexion.
[#] Swayamvara was a practice of choosing a life partner, from among a list of suitors, by a girl of marriageable age. This was followed in in ancient India. Swayam in Sanskrit means Self and Vara means choosing or wanting.
[**]Rajasuya was a type of sacrifice ordained for the Kings, was performed by the ancient kings of India who considered themselves powerful enough to be an emperor. Rajasuya would be performed after the return of generals of the king, (in most cases his own kinsmen, like his brother or son) from a successful military campaign. After conquering the kings of other kingdoms and collecting tribute from them (the tribute that will be used for the sacrifice), the general would invite the vanquished kings to attend the sacrifice ceremony. All the vanquished kings, would consider the performer of these sacrifices as an emperor. Rajasuya sacrifices were one of the rarer sacrifices among the kings, since it was more risky and costlier.
The prime even that led to the war of kurushetra is described in the following section.
Yudhishthira, after having, through the wise counsels of Vasudeva and by the valour of Bhimasena and Arjuna, slain Jarasandha (the king of Magadha) and the proud Chaidya, acquired the right to perform the grand sacrifice of Rajasuya abounding in provisions and offering and fraught with transcendent merits. And Duryodhana came to this sacrifice; and when he beheld the vast wealth of the Pandavas scattered all around, the offerings, the precious stones, gold and jewels; the wealth in cows, elephants, and horses; the curious textures, garments, and mantles; the precious shawls and furs and carpets made of the skin of the Ranku (Probably a dear); he was filled with envy and became exceedingly displeased. And when he beheld the hall of assembly elegantly constructed by Maya (the Asura architect) after the fashion of a celestial court, he was inflamed with rage. And having started in confusion at certain architectural deceptions within this building, he was derided by Bhimasena in the presence of Vasudeva, like one of mean descent.
Initially the entire kingdom of Kuru was split between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
And it was represented to Dhritarashtra that his son, while partaking of various objects of enjoyment and diverse precious things, was becoming meagre, wan, and pale. And Dhritarashtra, some time after, out of affection for his son, gave his consent to their playing (with the Pandavas) at dice. And Vasudeva coming to know of about this became exceedingly wroth. And being dissatisfied, he did nothing to prevent the disputes, but overlooked the gaming and sundry other horrid unjustifiable transactions arising there from: and in spite of Vidura[*], Bhishma[**], Drona[***], and Kripa (the son of Saradwan) [#], he made the Kshatriyas (warriors and kings) kill each other in the terrific war that ensued.'
[*]Vidura was half-brother to Dhritarashtra and Pandu. He was the son of a maid-servant who served Ambika and Ambalika (The queens of Hastinapura)and sage Vyasa. As neither of his parents were of royal blood, Vidura was never considered for, or had any chance of obtaining the throne of the kingdom. He served as a chancellor to his brothers(who were kings).
[**]Bhishma was the grandfather of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He was a prime charecter in the epic. Bhishma was born as the youngest son of the illustrious King Shantanu and Ganga. He was known as 'Bhishma Pitamaha' (Pitamaha meaning the grandfather or grandsire) among the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He was one of the Ashtavasus (The eight prime demigods, who were attendents in court of Indra- The Lord of Devas or demigods).
[***]Drona or Dronacharya is the royal guru to both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. He was a adept master in advanced military arts, including the devastras. Arjuna was his favored student. Drona's love for Arjuna was second only to his love for his son Ashwatthama. He was a partial incarnation of Brihaspathi(The Guru of Devas). Drona implies that he was not gestated in a womb, but outside the human body in a droon (vessel).
[#]Kripa or Kripacharya or Krupacharya, was the chief priest at the royal court of Hastinapura, in the Mahābhārata. He was the son of Sharadvan and Janapadi. His twin sister Kripi married Drona. He fought in the great battle of Kurukshetra for the Kaurava side. He was appointed to be the teacher and preceptor of Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna. He is one of the seven Chiranjivin(Immortals, who will live till the end of time, ofcourse have to die at the end of time!!).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That was a long one.....stays tuned for the description of the Kuru war as described by Dhritarashtra.
----------Anand Hariharan.
0 comments:
Post a Comment