Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part B

As I continue to read more, I find it odd that a queen is acting as a beggar with her sons. When they escaped the palace that was set to burn, there was a family of beggars that took the queen and her sons place. They burned with the palace and everyone mistook their bodies for the queen’s and her sons. After escaping, a rakshasa fell in love with Bhima and completely abandoned her brother. Her brother happened to be the chief of the forest and after finding out she had disobeyed his orders, he threatened to kill them all including his sister. Bhima fought him and seemed to have been playing with him until his brother said to defeat him before the rakshasa gains more power from the sun rise. Bhima defeated him pretty easily and then defeated a “pest” in the next town. His mother, the queen, only had to think of him being there and he appeared to help them. Once again, the queen was living in a home of another family as a beggar. After leaving that town, they came across a large crowd who were travelling to see Nalayani, a woman who was famous for being fair and wanted as a wife. In her past life, she had a husband who was very happy, and they had a great life together. At one point, the husband decided that he would refrain from sexual desires and would not give in to her sexual desires. This made her upset and protest to Shankara. She said “I want a husband, I want a husband, I want a husband, I want a husband, I want a husband.” After protesting, Shankara said that in her next life, she will have five husbands because she asked five times. She did not like that response and tried to protest, but he said that it must be that way. Of all the men gathering to become her husband, five would be chosen because of her actions in her past life.

Vyasa tells Drupada about Draupadi's past life.

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Found Here

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part A

It’s interesting how Shantanu found his lovers and what had to be promised for them to be with him. Bhishma seemed to give up everything for Shantanu no matter what it would cost. It makes me wonder why he cared so much for Shantanu and why he was willing to give up his right to the throne so that Shantanu would have who he wanted as his bride. Even when shantanu passed away, Bhishma still cared for his half-brother and made sure to find him a wife so that he could carry on the kingdom. Bhishma was completely capable of taking the kingdom for his self. Given how easily and joyfully he defeated the kings, it seems he wouldn’t be bothered morally to take the kingdom from his half-brother. Yet, he does whatever it takes to ensure his half-brother retains the throne. Bhishma’s actions did not account for much since Vichitravirya died before having any heirs. Even then, Bhishma did not take the throne or have a son to take the throne. When asked about having an heir, he reminded Satyavati that he promised he would never have children. Vyasa was the one to produce an heir, but was very unattractive. The first two sons were not good enough, so Ambika brought her handmaiden to bear a child. This child was chosen by Dharma as his incarnation and was chosen as heir along with Pandu, “the pale one”. One thing that surprised me was that Amba was so distraught that she wanted to destroy Bhishma. She was so filled with fury that Shiva appeared before her and promised that she would be able to slay Bhishma. She would reincarnate as a man and become strong enough to destroy Bhishma. So she gathered wood and set it aflame and stepped into it promising to come back and not rest until Bhishma was beaten. Talk about raging fury…

Sadhu in Pashupatinath temple, Nepal.

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie
Found Here