Epics of India

By Ramanarayanadatta astri (https://archive.org/details/mahabharata04ramauoft) [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons All his life Duryodhana had been more susceptible than those around him to the dark emotions that bring unhappiness and violence to people. It was apparent this would be the case when he was born. when Duryodhana entered the world, his terrible screams caused the animals of the kingdom to erupt in thunderous cries and the wind to blow so ferociously that it carried embers from fireplaces and ignited many buildings around the palace. The councilors to King Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana's father, urged him to heed the many bad omens that accompanied his son's birth and cast him aside for the good of the kingdom, but the King was very fond of his first born son from the very beginning and could not abandon him. As predicted by the councillors, Duryodhana grew up to be driven by jealousy, rage, and revenge. It was no surprise that when Duryodana first laid eyes...

Old Age, Sickness and Death by Akuppa John Widham, via flickr King Suddhoda was so worried that the brahmans' prediction that his son, Prince Siddhartha, would abandon his royalty and wander as a hermit seeking truth that he cloistered his son in the palace most of his life. Siddhartha was given access to everything he could possibly desire. The king was so worried his son would want to leave that he brought him all sorts of pleasures to temp him. The king also kept any evidence of pain, unhappiness, or suffering outside of the palace walls. Because of this Siddhartha had never even seen old age, sickness or death. One day Siddhartha overhears some people talking about how spring has arrived and the flowers are blooming in the forest. The prince decides he wants to leave the palace and see the beautiful spring flowers. Even though it scares the king he cannot deprive his beloved son what he wants. To continue his son's protection from the unpleasant aspects of the ...

'(Left) King Suddhodana asks brahmins to intertret the Queen's' . Credit: Wellcome Collection . CC BY Queen Maya decided to seclude herself at the top of the palace away from all ugliness and live an austere and celibate life. She had a dream on the night before the first day of spring of a six tusked, white elephant entering her womb. Then many gods sang to her. She summoned King Suddhodana to meet her in the forest outside the castle and shared what she had seen. On his way to the forest the king was overcome by anxiety that he couldn't explain, but a god called down to him to say that Queen Maya would bear him a son who seeks supreme knowledge. Maya asked the king to have his Brahmans interpret the dream to know if it was a good or bad omen. The Brahmans explain that it is indeed a good omen. They say that Maya's child will have intense compassion for every thing in the world and leave the castle to roam the earth as a monk. Finally, they say th...

The jealousy and hatred Duryodana felt towards the Pandavas and Bima in particular started soon after the Pandavas arrived in Hastinapura. The Pandavas were stronger than all the Kauravas, and Bima, the strongest of the Pandavas, could beat all the Kauravas at once in any sport or test of physical strength. Bima used his ability to overpower the the Kauravas to bully them throughout their youth. Duryodana was predisposed to jealousy and other evil feelings because when he was born he caused a lot of destruction throughout the kingdom and the king was advised to abandon his child. So, when Duryodana met the Pandavas and found out that they were better than them at most things, he grew deeply resentful of them. Duryodana focused his attention first on Bima and looked for a way to kill the strongest brother. Duryodana came up with a plan to kill Bima. He invited the Pandavas and the Kauravas to the river and served them a feast. During the feast Duryodana served Bima poisoned food. Af...