Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Week 10: Reading Diary A

In this part of the Mahabharata, Duryodhana looks foolish because he is captured by the gandharvas, who were sent by the gods and had to be saved by the Pandavas, who he was trying to outsmart and look foolish.

During their time in the forest, they meet a brahmin who had his possessions stolen by a deer and ask for the Pandavas help. The Pandavas runs after the deer and on their way, stop at a lake to get some water. Before drinking the water they are asked to answer some questions, but due to their failure to comply they all die except Yudhishthira. He is told this was a test from his father, Yama the god of death, and his brothers are then restored.

After their years in exile, they must spend one year in disguise and so they began this in king Virata's kingdom. They were all living there peacefully until one day when Draupadi gets raped by the King's general. Bhima kills this general and shocks the whole kingdom. The death of the general opens up the kingdom for attack and that is exactly what happens. During the attack , King Virata gets captured and Bhima fortunately saves him.King Virata's son, Uttara hears about a cattle raid that is going to go own and takes Arjuna as his charioteer. Out of fear Uttara wants to turn around, but Arjuna takes over the war and wins in behalf of Prince Uttara. King Virata apologizes to the Pandavas after learning their true identity an offers his daughter to Arjuna's son for marriage.

Krishna sends an urge to Duryodhana, that half of the kingdom be given to the Pandavas. During this process the Pandavas and Duryodhana prepare for war. They both go to Krishna for his support. Krishna says one can have his one million soldier where as the other one would get him. Arjuna asks that he be supported by Krishna and that Duryodhana have the allies of Krishna's million soldiers.

Many ask for the war to be stopped and Yudhisthira be accepted as the heir to the throne, while Duryodhana be exiled. King Dhritarashtha wanted to accept this, but couldn't do it in front of his son Duryodhana. Duryodhana compels him that he will win the war because he has a bigger and more powerful army. 

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