Extra Credit Reading Notes

Epified: Mahabharata
Part A

Shantanu the Unfortunate: Shantanu fell in love with Ganga and she made him promise not to question any of her decisions. As Ganga continued to throw each of their children in the Ganges he couldn't stay silent and asked why. Ganga was supposed to birth the eight celestial spirits and free them from morality. After she told him, she took the eighth child and left Shantanu.
Devavrata Returns: When Shantanu was back on the Ganges one day, he found a mighty archer. Then Ganga appeared and she told him the archer was his son, Devavrat. Shantanu brought his son back to his kingdom with him. Shantanu eventually fell in love with Satyavati, but her father didn't want them to marry since Shantanu already had a child. Devavrat left to talk to Satyavati after seeing his father's sadness.
Devavrate Becomes Bhishma: Devavrat went to Satyavati's father and offered to never take the throne and never have a child of his own so his father could marry Satyavati. This oath shook the earth and the heavens, and eventually shaped the war. This made him be known as Bhishma, he of terrible oath. When the king took Satyavati as his wife, he wasn't happy, but instead he felt like he had ruined his city. For his son's act of kindness, he granted him a boon. This boon allowed Bhishma to decide when he was going to die.
Desperation of Bhishma: Bhishma became the silent guardian of Hastinapur. Once Shantanu died, he acted like a father to his two half brothers. Unfortunately, one of the sons had died in battle, and the son taking the throne was in bad health. This caused Bhishma to worry about the future of Hastinapur with no one left to inherit it the throne. So Bhishma kidnapped the princesses Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika.
Amba's Ruin: Amba pleaded to be allowed to go a different king that she loved, so Bhishma let her go. When Amba went to see King Shalva, he rejected her since she had been taken by another man. Amba returned to Bhishma to marry him, but Bhishma said no because of his oath. So, Amba become furious that Bhishma ruined her life. She claimed she would not rest until she got her revenge on Bhishma. She went out to find someone to help her, but no one would help her defeat Bhishma. Until she met Pasharum, who told her he would convince Bhishma to marry her. Bhishma and Parashum fought for 23 days because they were unable to kill each other. Eventually, Parashum gave up and Amba still hadn't gotten revenge. She still had hope that would cause Bhishma's death.
Satyavati's Secret: The second son of Shantanu died without the kingdom not having a prince to take the throne. Satyavati ordered Bhishma to have children, but he refused. Satyavati said she had another son she had before she met Shantanu. The son of a sage named Vyas. Vyas would appear whenever his mother summoned him. She asked Vyas to have the children of Ambika and Ambalika. The two widows didn't want to because of the sight of Vyas.
Son's of Vyasa: The son of Ambika and Vyasa, Dhritarashtra, was born blind because Ambika kept her eyes shut during his embrace. The son of Ambalika and Vyasa, Pandu, was born pale because Ambalika was pale with fear when she encountered Vyasa. Satyavati made Vyasa visit Ambalika again, but Ambalika sent a servant in her place. The servant had no fear so their child, Vidura, who wise and healthy. They were raised by Bhishma. As they grew there was a rivalry between Pandu and Dhritarashtra.
The Blind Bride: Dhritarashtra took the throne when the time came since he was eldest of the three brothers. Pandu served as the commander of the Hastinapur of the armies and Pandu mainly ran the kingdom. Princess Gandhari married Dhritarashtra despite him not having sight. She said she had known her husband was going to blind. She also gave up her sight for her husband. This upset her brother Shakuni and wanted to avenge this injustice. Pandu married Kunti and Madri. Kunti had a secret that would change the world.
Shantanu the Unfortunate episode 

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