Reading Notes: More Mahabharata, Section B

Photo Information: Source

Reading Notes: More Mahabharata, Section B

Kunti – wise and full of life. Served a Vyasa that was famous for curses, was pleased by Kunti’s service and intellect. In reward and to show his affection to Kunti, the Vyasa gave her a manta that could summon any god. Not understanding what exactly the mantra could do. To try it, she looked at the sun and cited the mantra. The mantra summoned the sun god Surya, which embraced Kunti and gave her a gifted golden child. Knowing that she could not keep the child due to his gifts, she put him in a basket and set him adrift in a river.

This is similar to the story of Moses.

Pandu and his two wives travel to the forest for a vacation. While in the forest Pandu is hunting deer. He spies a deer and shoots an arrow at it. It wasn’t a deer, however. It was a hermit couple in the throws of passion. In retribution the hermit Vyasa cursed Pandu so that the next time he made love to a woman, he would die.

Out of sadness, Pandu decides to not to return to his palace with his wives. Unable to produce an heir to his throne without dying, Pandu is left in a desolate position. Kunti, recalling the mantra, tells Pandu that she can summon any god and that god will give her a baby. Pandu, sees this as a way for him to produce an heir.

Kunti calls on the god of truth and death. He gave her a son who embodied faith a patience. He was Yudhishthira.

Then she called on the god of wind. Bhima The boy would be a hero of unmatched strength and courage.

Then she called on the god of Devas, Indra. The boy would be the greatest warrior the world had ever known. He was Arjuna.

After the first three sons, Kunti told Pandu she would not have any more children. Kunti spoke the mantra for Pandu’s other wife and she bore two sons that would grow up in Madri and Pandu’s care.

Life was going well and until Pandu couldn’t hold back any longer and seduced Madri, thus killing himself. Madri immolated herself in the funeral pyre with Pandu’s body.

Kunti, took the five Pandava brothers and left the kingdom.

Blind, Pregnant Gandhari bore a lifeless lump of flesh. In her shame, she threw it into the forest. The flesh was cut into 100 pieces and put into vases to grow 100 sons in a special oil solution. They were born ugly and terrifying. Duryodhana was the first born.

Duryodhana often jealous of the Pandava brothers, invited them to a lakeside retreat and offered them a poisonous drink and pushed Bhima was pushed into the waters of the lake and woke to being bite at by serpents. He fought them off but found himself deep in the water in an underwater palace. Basuki gave him a magic potion that gave him super strength.

Duryodhana was dismayed by Bhima’s recovery and additional strength.

Pandava brothers discover Ekalavya while playing in the forest. Arjuna was dismayed by Ekalavya’s archery skills. Arjuna asked him who his guru was that had taught him archery. His reply was “Drone.” Drone did not teach Ekalavya, because he had rejected him as a pupil. The boy had taught himself. In order to protect Arjuna, Drone demanded that the boy cut off his thumb.

Bibliography:
Mahabharata Episode 9 - Son of the Sun
Mahabharata Episode 10 - Pandu's Curse
Mahabharata Episode 11 - Sons of Pandu
Mahabharata Episode 12 - One Hundred Sons
Mahabharata Episode 13 - Hate and Hurt
Mahabharata Episode 14 - The Magic Potion
Mahabharata Episode 15 - Drona
Mahabharata Episode 16 - Drona Trains the Pandavas
Mahabharata Episode 17 - Ekalavya's Story