Reading Notes: Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution - Part B


Ekalavya removing his thumb.
By Ramnadayandatta Shastri Pandey [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons


I'm continuing to summarize the characters and their interactions in the Mahabharata because I found it difficult to keep track of them all when reading the other version.
  • Kunti
    • was nice to and engaged the Sage Durvasa who most people were afraid of. 
    • Durvasa gave her a mantra to summon any god
    • Kunti tried it out on the Sun god, Suryadev, and accidentally bore his child
    • She could not keep the child so she sent him down the river in a basket.
  • Pandu
    • along with his wives Madri and Kunti traveled the wilderness for a break
    • accidentally shoots a hermit couple making love and kills them. Before dying the hermit curses Pandu so that the next time he has sex he will die.
    • decides to stay in the forest and take up sannyasa, and Madri and Kunti stay with him
    • died when he forced himself upon Madri who followed him to death.
  • Pandavas - sons of Kunti and various gods
    • Yudhishthira - fathered by Yama - virtuous and patient steady and dependable
      • nest charioteer
    • Bhima - fathered by Vayu, the wind god - strong and fast
      • strongest
    • Arjuna - fathered by Indra, great warrior and archer
      • perfect warrior, archer
      • taught to use the divine weapons
    • Nakula and Sahadeva - fathered by the Ashwin twins with Madri
      • best swordsmen
  • Bhima 
    • when pushed into the water by Duryodhana he fought of snakes 
    • ended up in Nag Lok the realm of serpents
    • Leader of serpents considers him a grandson and gives him a magic potion that gave him even greater strength
  • Ghandhari - Dhritarashtra's wife
    • gave birth to a putrid lump of flesh which Vyasa split into 100 pieces and placed them into oil
  • Kauravas - the 100 sons of Dhritarashtra and Ghandhari
    • everyone else can see there is something demonic about the Kauravas
    • Dhritarashtra and Ghandhari cannot see their demonic nature because they are blind
  • Duryodhana - the eldest Kaurava
    • was especially jealous of Bhima because he was Bhishma's favorite
    • mentored by Ghandhari's brother King Shakuni
    • Fed the Pandavas poisoned food that included sleeping medicine
    • tied up Bhima and pushed him into the lake while he slept to drown him 
  • Drona - teacher of the Pandavas and Kaurava
  • Ekalavya - a nishaad boy and hunter
    • Arjuna is jealous of his archery skills that surpass his own
    • claims his teacher was Drona
    • cuts off his right thumb at Drona's request

Bibliography.
Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution Part B by Epified. Source.

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