Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata Part C

The next part of the Mahabharata starts with the Pandava's leaving for the forest with Draupadi following behind. Over the next 12 years, the brothers, Draupadi, and a local brahman stayed in the forest and performed their devotions. During this exile, Krishna came to visit and Draupadi explained to him how the men tried to take advantage of her. Krishna promises to help the Pandava's reclaim their throne. Draupadi is quite angry and we see Yudhisthria telling her the important lesson of not being blinded by anger but rather looking forward with a more positive perspective. Then one day, Arjuna is told that if he gets the vision of the Great God, no one would be able to stop him. So in his conquest, he sets out to the Himalayas. There reduces his allowance of the resources until the fourth month when he was able to live on air. Arjuna then gets into a fight with a local huntsman who ends up being the Great God. He gives Arjuna the Gandiva, the divine bow. Next appeared the other gods who also gave Arjuna special gifts and celestial weapons. Indra bespoke on him as his son and Arjuna then seeks war against some of Indra's enemies. 

During the time Arjuna was with Indra, the other brothers and Draupadi stayed in the forest and visited with many Sages, who told them of self-sacrifice and a long period of exiles that many endured. Then finally, Arjuna and Indra appear before them and Yudhishthira is told that his reign will splendor over others again one day. We then meet our old friend Hanuman. Bhima runs into him and Hanuman tells of his adventures with Rama. Hanuman explains the four castes to Bhima, (brahmin secures heaven by asceticism, the vaishya by gifts and hospitality, the kshatriya by protecting men, and the`shudra, by silence). 

Now, while the Pandavas were in the forest, Duryodhana went through much internal turmoil and decided to end his life. However, the others were able to convince him not too. Simulatatnouly we learn the Karna has taken the vow to kill Arjuna out of spit. Indra, Arjuna's father, became anxious to see if Karna would try to harm Arjuna and sought to get Karna's attire. So in exchange for the attire, Indra gives Karna a dart that has permission to kill just one person perfectly. 

One day, Jayadratha came across Draupadi while the brother was gone and took her with him. However, the brothers were able to bring shame to Jayadratha and get Draupadi back. Then God Dharma bestows upon Yudhishthira to help restore them to normal life. And Dharma promises that the brothers and Draupadi would stay unrecognized during their last year of exile. We are then introduced to Prince Kichaka who has a very evil wrath and anger. He tries to abuse Draupadi but she can escape but King Virate still tries to blame her in fear of Kichaka. However, when Bhima hears of this, he gets angry and kills Kichaka.

Then the Trigartis bid to invade Virata to take over the kingdom and declared war on them. Then we see the Abhimanyu (son of Arjuna) get married to Uttara as a reward for killing Kichaka. During this time, the Pandavas prepared for war along with Krishna and the gods. Karna then vows to Kunti and tells her of his thoughts on killing Arjuna but she walks away from him. Then the Pandavas and Kauravas got ready to battle and started their war. The last part is the Bhagavad-Gita, a series of conversations in the poem between Krishna and Arjuna, as they begin the battle. 

(Image shows scripture from the Bhagavad-Gita, a famous poem from the Mahabharata; image provided by Wikimedia) 

Then the battle is started; day after day they fight, with different groups winning different days. Arjuna's son dies and so do many others. This section ends with the battle going on and with the men in great sorrows.

Bibliography: Mahabharata Public Domain Edition
Authors: Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.