I do not edit the posts so please pardon the grammatical mistakes.
Khandavaprastha
Narada the great seer advised Yushisthira to undertake the great sacrifice and undergo the royal consecration and reserve his place in the hall of the divine like King Harishchandra.
After hearing the words of Narada, Yudhisthira proceeded to consults his peers about the ceremony. He was a fair King who paid respect to all his subjects and ruled with Dharma as his guiding light. As no one hated him he was known as Ajatshatru, one with no enemies. All his ministers and brothers willingly agreed that he was ready for his consecration.
Yudhisthira willing to hear Krsna Vasudevas views sends a messenger to Dvaraka and summons Krsna to Khandavprastha. Krsna answers that even though he has all the qualities to perform the royal consecration but till King Jarasamdha stays alive he is not unparalled in his powers as a king.
Jarasamdha a uncle of Kamsa(who Krsna Vasudeva slayed) is the king of Magadha who is the masters of huge tracts of lands. He has imprisoned 84 kings of different provinces and is only 16 short of obtaining great powers. He holds these kings captive like a lion who captures majestic elephants.
Krsna insists that Jarasamdha's wickedness must be stopped and so Yudhisthira agrees to send Arjuna and Bhima with Krnsa to mountain capital of Magadha dressed as Brahmins to minimise suspicion.
Jarasamdha realizing the power of the group enquires them about their identity and purpose of their visit. They challenge him to a duel with any one of them and he challenges Bhima to a fight to death. Bhima accepts his challenge and they fight continuously for 13 days without anyone emerging on top. On 14th day Jarasamdha appears to be tired and finally Bhima grabs him in bear holds and kills him and his tyranny in a swift attack.
The brothers with Krsna returns to Khandavprastha victorious and here Yudhisthira his brothers to conquers all kingdoms in all four directions and spread his glory throughout the world. All brothers return victorious with tons of gold and subjects. Arjuna even reaches the gates of Mount Kailash in his search for new lands but has return back as he is only a mortal man.
Now Yudhisthira kingdom the richest in all of worlds living and divine is decorated for the royal consecration. Hundreds of kings and princes including the Kauravas arrive from all parts of the world. And thus commenced the royal consecration of King Yudhisthira. Bhisma who responsible for all decisions during the sacrifice chooses Krsna Vasudeva to be the first dignitary to receive the largest gift.
Raja Sisipala objects to his decisions and hurls multiple insults at both Bhisma for choosing Krsna and Krsna for accepting the honour as he believes as Krsna is neither a king nor a Brahmin or a seer he does not deserve such a honour. Krsna tired from Sisipala foolishness kills him with his divine disc and from them on the ceremony proceeds normally and finishes with all hundreds of thousands of attendees satisfied.
Duryodhana's Jealousy
After returning from Indraprastha Duryodhana complains to his maternal uncle(Mama) King Shakuni of his lack of wealth whereas his first cousins, the Pandavas enjoys all the wealth in the world. Shakuni tells him to convince his father King Dhrtarashtra to invite the Pandavas to a game of dice as he knows that Yudhisthira has weakness of gambling whereas he himself is a master of dice.
Duryodhana as part of his plan acts ill and starts losing weight and when his father asks about his ill health. He replies that unless his agrees to bend to his will of organizing a game of dice with Pandavas or else he will die of his illness. Dhrtarashtra obliges his sons wishes, against his brother Viduras advice and instructs Vidura to go to Indraprastha and invite Yudhisthira for a game of dice.
Yudhisthira realizing that the game was a trap accepted the invitation as part of his Dharma but resolved himself to not play unless provoked by Shakuni.
As soon as he entered the great hall constructed for game of dice he is provoked by Shakuni for a game of dice. He loses all of his material possessions, then his brothers, his soul and finally his wife Draupadi, daughter of Dhrupad.
Dushasan in his greed and shortsightedness dragged Draupadi attired in a single loincloth which were her menstrual garments into the great hall to accept her loyalty to the Kauravas which led to the discussion of whether Yudhisthira was the rightful owner of her wife when he waged her over a bet to Shakuni. Karna reasoned that she was Yudhisthira property as his wife so was now rightfully owned by Duryodhana. Whereas Bhisma argued that Draupadi was not Yudhisthira's to bet as she was owned by Duryodhana when he waged the bet so as a slave he could not hold property. Ultimately the discussion was laid to rest by Dhrtarashtra when he came to hear about the incidents and ordered Duryodhana to stop the molestation of Draupadi.
He gave her three boons to which in two of them she asked him to return Pandavas freedom and she rejected to use the third boon as a Kshatriya woman she is only allowed to boon according Dharma.
Pandavas agreed to leave Hastinapura with all their honour and property intact against his sons wishes. Dhrtarashtra apologized to Yudhisthira for his sons mistakes and asked him maintain peaceful relations with his kingdom.
After some days Dhrtarashtra again succombed to his sons wishes and invited Pandavas for game of dice only on the condition that they would ask Pandavas to spend 13 years in Vanvas (forest) if they lose the bet. Vidura warning Dhrtarashtra about his decision said to him that if he would allow such behaviour his line would end in 14th year after the bet.
Again the gambling started and Shakuni with all his skill with the dice defeated Yudhisthira and Pandavas with Draupadi returned to a life of hermitage. After this all Pandavas determined to wipe all Kauravas of the face of earth after completing their time in exile.
Yudhisthira asked Krsna who came to meet them in the forest to resist from fighting with Kauravas before they returned from exile. Krsna apologized for his absence during the games and told them he would have surely have come to Hastinapura if he was residing in Dvaraka.
Arjuna firm in his resolve to defeat Kauravas started a period of fasting and sacrifices in the Himalayas to gain celestial weapons. He was obliged by the gods and was rewarded with Brahmas Head which had the capability to destroy all of earth and many other weapons by all devatas.
Meanwhile Yudhisthira was rewarded with the power of playing dice by a travelling seer and decided to start a pilgrimage of all holy banks of the nation.
Interpretation
This week's post discusses the events leading to the the great war. Here what we come to realize that all things big or small are initiated by small disputes and jealousy rather than any valid reason. Duryodhan's greed led to the great war even though as King he held all material possessions that life could offer. His desire for more was the root of all evil as written in all texts. World war I was similarly sparked by the actions of a simple bosnian student regardless of the fact that tensions were brewing in europe for hundreds of years.
Dharma has finally come to the forefront of the whole epic. Yudhisthira unquestioned following of his Dharma led to his downfall regardless of the fact that he knew that he would lose against Shakuni. Draupadi's followed her Dharma even when her husband had bet her freedom in a simple game of dice which is unimaginable in modern life. Dharma as followed in the book is are unwritten rules which are followed by the characters in their love of god.
Such unquestioned following of the divine would lead to a world which is free from all suffering if one imagined it. But is it possible? One could argue that a communist government could create such a society but can our mind be free from such desires. I myself could not persuade my conscious to believe such rules could be enforced or could make the world a better place. But Dharma does induce law and order into the society but remains open to interpretations just like lawyers interpet the constitution in a court of law.
Dharma is the centre of all decisions in the book, I can not stop myself from imagining what would have happened if Yudhisthira declined Dhrtarashtra invitation for a game of dice. Would they have been happier. How did his devotion of Dharma restored ordered to the world? This would be discussed later when we come to discuss the Bhagavad Gita.
Now coming to the lack of posts in the last week. I was reading the book to understand which parts significantly affect the message of the epic and provide a better interpretation of my understanding of the Mahabharata. Secondly I started reading a new book called Virtual History edited by Niall Ferguson which answers the question What would happen if? and that to in a scientific way.
Thank you for reading the blog and please do leave a comment.
Khandavaprastha
Narada the great seer advised Yushisthira to undertake the great sacrifice and undergo the royal consecration and reserve his place in the hall of the divine like King Harishchandra.
After hearing the words of Narada, Yudhisthira proceeded to consults his peers about the ceremony. He was a fair King who paid respect to all his subjects and ruled with Dharma as his guiding light. As no one hated him he was known as Ajatshatru, one with no enemies. All his ministers and brothers willingly agreed that he was ready for his consecration.
Yudhisthira willing to hear Krsna Vasudevas views sends a messenger to Dvaraka and summons Krsna to Khandavprastha. Krsna answers that even though he has all the qualities to perform the royal consecration but till King Jarasamdha stays alive he is not unparalled in his powers as a king.
Jarasamdha a uncle of Kamsa(who Krsna Vasudeva slayed) is the king of Magadha who is the masters of huge tracts of lands. He has imprisoned 84 kings of different provinces and is only 16 short of obtaining great powers. He holds these kings captive like a lion who captures majestic elephants.
Krsna insists that Jarasamdha's wickedness must be stopped and so Yudhisthira agrees to send Arjuna and Bhima with Krnsa to mountain capital of Magadha dressed as Brahmins to minimise suspicion.
Jarasamdha realizing the power of the group enquires them about their identity and purpose of their visit. They challenge him to a duel with any one of them and he challenges Bhima to a fight to death. Bhima accepts his challenge and they fight continuously for 13 days without anyone emerging on top. On 14th day Jarasamdha appears to be tired and finally Bhima grabs him in bear holds and kills him and his tyranny in a swift attack.
The brothers with Krsna returns to Khandavprastha victorious and here Yudhisthira his brothers to conquers all kingdoms in all four directions and spread his glory throughout the world. All brothers return victorious with tons of gold and subjects. Arjuna even reaches the gates of Mount Kailash in his search for new lands but has return back as he is only a mortal man.
Now Yudhisthira kingdom the richest in all of worlds living and divine is decorated for the royal consecration. Hundreds of kings and princes including the Kauravas arrive from all parts of the world. And thus commenced the royal consecration of King Yudhisthira. Bhisma who responsible for all decisions during the sacrifice chooses Krsna Vasudeva to be the first dignitary to receive the largest gift.
Raja Sisipala objects to his decisions and hurls multiple insults at both Bhisma for choosing Krsna and Krsna for accepting the honour as he believes as Krsna is neither a king nor a Brahmin or a seer he does not deserve such a honour. Krsna tired from Sisipala foolishness kills him with his divine disc and from them on the ceremony proceeds normally and finishes with all hundreds of thousands of attendees satisfied.
Duryodhana's Jealousy
After returning from Indraprastha Duryodhana complains to his maternal uncle(Mama) King Shakuni of his lack of wealth whereas his first cousins, the Pandavas enjoys all the wealth in the world. Shakuni tells him to convince his father King Dhrtarashtra to invite the Pandavas to a game of dice as he knows that Yudhisthira has weakness of gambling whereas he himself is a master of dice.
Duryodhana as part of his plan acts ill and starts losing weight and when his father asks about his ill health. He replies that unless his agrees to bend to his will of organizing a game of dice with Pandavas or else he will die of his illness. Dhrtarashtra obliges his sons wishes, against his brother Viduras advice and instructs Vidura to go to Indraprastha and invite Yudhisthira for a game of dice.
Yudhisthira realizing that the game was a trap accepted the invitation as part of his Dharma but resolved himself to not play unless provoked by Shakuni.
As soon as he entered the great hall constructed for game of dice he is provoked by Shakuni for a game of dice. He loses all of his material possessions, then his brothers, his soul and finally his wife Draupadi, daughter of Dhrupad.
Dushasan in his greed and shortsightedness dragged Draupadi attired in a single loincloth which were her menstrual garments into the great hall to accept her loyalty to the Kauravas which led to the discussion of whether Yudhisthira was the rightful owner of her wife when he waged her over a bet to Shakuni. Karna reasoned that she was Yudhisthira property as his wife so was now rightfully owned by Duryodhana. Whereas Bhisma argued that Draupadi was not Yudhisthira's to bet as she was owned by Duryodhana when he waged the bet so as a slave he could not hold property. Ultimately the discussion was laid to rest by Dhrtarashtra when he came to hear about the incidents and ordered Duryodhana to stop the molestation of Draupadi.
He gave her three boons to which in two of them she asked him to return Pandavas freedom and she rejected to use the third boon as a Kshatriya woman she is only allowed to boon according Dharma.
Pandavas agreed to leave Hastinapura with all their honour and property intact against his sons wishes. Dhrtarashtra apologized to Yudhisthira for his sons mistakes and asked him maintain peaceful relations with his kingdom.
After some days Dhrtarashtra again succombed to his sons wishes and invited Pandavas for game of dice only on the condition that they would ask Pandavas to spend 13 years in Vanvas (forest) if they lose the bet. Vidura warning Dhrtarashtra about his decision said to him that if he would allow such behaviour his line would end in 14th year after the bet.
Again the gambling started and Shakuni with all his skill with the dice defeated Yudhisthira and Pandavas with Draupadi returned to a life of hermitage. After this all Pandavas determined to wipe all Kauravas of the face of earth after completing their time in exile.
Yudhisthira asked Krsna who came to meet them in the forest to resist from fighting with Kauravas before they returned from exile. Krsna apologized for his absence during the games and told them he would have surely have come to Hastinapura if he was residing in Dvaraka.
Arjuna firm in his resolve to defeat Kauravas started a period of fasting and sacrifices in the Himalayas to gain celestial weapons. He was obliged by the gods and was rewarded with Brahmas Head which had the capability to destroy all of earth and many other weapons by all devatas.
Meanwhile Yudhisthira was rewarded with the power of playing dice by a travelling seer and decided to start a pilgrimage of all holy banks of the nation.
Interpretation
This week's post discusses the events leading to the the great war. Here what we come to realize that all things big or small are initiated by small disputes and jealousy rather than any valid reason. Duryodhan's greed led to the great war even though as King he held all material possessions that life could offer. His desire for more was the root of all evil as written in all texts. World war I was similarly sparked by the actions of a simple bosnian student regardless of the fact that tensions were brewing in europe for hundreds of years.
Dharma has finally come to the forefront of the whole epic. Yudhisthira unquestioned following of his Dharma led to his downfall regardless of the fact that he knew that he would lose against Shakuni. Draupadi's followed her Dharma even when her husband had bet her freedom in a simple game of dice which is unimaginable in modern life. Dharma as followed in the book is are unwritten rules which are followed by the characters in their love of god.
Such unquestioned following of the divine would lead to a world which is free from all suffering if one imagined it. But is it possible? One could argue that a communist government could create such a society but can our mind be free from such desires. I myself could not persuade my conscious to believe such rules could be enforced or could make the world a better place. But Dharma does induce law and order into the society but remains open to interpretations just like lawyers interpet the constitution in a court of law.
Dharma is the centre of all decisions in the book, I can not stop myself from imagining what would have happened if Yudhisthira declined Dhrtarashtra invitation for a game of dice. Would they have been happier. How did his devotion of Dharma restored ordered to the world? This would be discussed later when we come to discuss the Bhagavad Gita.
Now coming to the lack of posts in the last week. I was reading the book to understand which parts significantly affect the message of the epic and provide a better interpretation of my understanding of the Mahabharata. Secondly I started reading a new book called Virtual History edited by Niall Ferguson which answers the question What would happen if? and that to in a scientific way.
Thank you for reading the blog and please do leave a comment.
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