Extra Credit Reading Notes
Epified: Mahabharata
Part B
Son of the Sun: When Kunti was a young woman, she was given a gift by the sage Durwasa. When she spoke a mantra, the Sun God appeared before her. Not only did she summon the god, but she was in his embrace. She had a son but she couldn't keep him or claim him as her son, so she placed him in a basket and placed him a river.
Pandu's Curse: Pandu and his wives decide to go to the forest. Pandu made a mistake while hunting in the woods, and accidentally shot a hermit and his wife while they were intimate. The hermit placed a curse on Pandu that he will die the moment he becomes intimate with a woman. Pandu decides to not return to Hastinapur. Kunti told Pandu about the gift from the sage. Pandu tells Kunti to waste no time and give Hastinapur its future kings.
Sons of Pandu: Kunti called upon Yama first, and gave her a son named Yudhishthir. Then Kunti had a son with Vayu named Bheem. The last son was from Indra and was named Arjun. Kunti refused to use the mantra again after Arjun. Kunti spoke the mantra to summon twins for Madri named Nakal and Sehdev. One day, Pandu forced himself upon Madri and died. Madri joined her husband in the flames. After Pandu's death, Kunti returned to Hastinapur with her five sons, who became known as the Pandavas.
One Hundred Sons: When Gandhari knew Kunti was pregnant, she also got pregnant so her son could be take the throne. Her pregnancy and birth was miserable. She gave birth to large lump of flesh. She ordered the lump to casted into the forest, which upset Vyasa. He forbade the flesh to be taken away and insisted that Gandhari will have a hundred sons. He separated the lumps into a 101 pieces and the sons grew in vases. The eldest son was Duryodhana. Because of her blindfold, Gandhari could not see what was demonic about her sons. The people of Hastinapur were happy when Kunti and her sons arrived.
Hate and Hurt: Duryodhana especially hated Bheem of all the Pandavas. Duryodhana once challenged Bheem to a wrestling match and lost, which hurt his ego. Duryodhana was constantly jealous of the admiration Bheem received. At this time, Shakuni became a mentor to him. Duryodhana organized a retreat so he could give them sleep inducing food. Once they had fallen asleep, he tied and pushed Bheem into the lake.
The Magic Potion: As Bheem fell into water, serpents began biting him. Instead of these biting him, they woke him up. Bheem began attacking the snakes and by the time he was finished he was in another world at a great depth. He was greeted by the ruler of the realm. The ruler showered Bheem with and love and affection and gifted him a magic drink. The potion gave Bheem immense strength and turned him into a hero. Also, Bheem's visit with Vasuki made him realize he needs to grow up and begin protecting his family.
Drona: Everyone was happy and relieved at Bheem's return except for Duryodhana. Bhishma realized that the princes needed to master the weapons. The boys had an encounter with Drona, who got their ball out of the well. Drona was embraced by Bhishma like a brother.
Drona Trains the Pandavas: Drona taught the Pandavas the ways of wars. He noted the son's specialties in battle. Bheem showed sheer strength on the battlefield. Arjun turned out to be a perfect warrior because he could yield all weapons with ease, but excelled in archery. Drona had a son Ashwatthama who was also great with weapons. Drona wanted vengeance from a kingdom.
Ekalavya's Story: During a trip to the forest the Pandavas discovered Ekalavya, who was a nishaad boy and an amazing archer. Arjun asked how he learned such skillfull archery, which was from Drona. The boy had asked Drona long ago if he could be his pupil and Drona had refused him. The boy had become the world's best archer by simply practicing. He demanded the boy cut off his thumb and give it to him, and the boy did. Without his thumb, the boy could no longer be the great archer he was.
Part B
Son of the Sun: When Kunti was a young woman, she was given a gift by the sage Durwasa. When she spoke a mantra, the Sun God appeared before her. Not only did she summon the god, but she was in his embrace. She had a son but she couldn't keep him or claim him as her son, so she placed him in a basket and placed him a river.
Pandu's Curse: Pandu and his wives decide to go to the forest. Pandu made a mistake while hunting in the woods, and accidentally shot a hermit and his wife while they were intimate. The hermit placed a curse on Pandu that he will die the moment he becomes intimate with a woman. Pandu decides to not return to Hastinapur. Kunti told Pandu about the gift from the sage. Pandu tells Kunti to waste no time and give Hastinapur its future kings.
Sons of Pandu: Kunti called upon Yama first, and gave her a son named Yudhishthir. Then Kunti had a son with Vayu named Bheem. The last son was from Indra and was named Arjun. Kunti refused to use the mantra again after Arjun. Kunti spoke the mantra to summon twins for Madri named Nakal and Sehdev. One day, Pandu forced himself upon Madri and died. Madri joined her husband in the flames. After Pandu's death, Kunti returned to Hastinapur with her five sons, who became known as the Pandavas.
One Hundred Sons: When Gandhari knew Kunti was pregnant, she also got pregnant so her son could be take the throne. Her pregnancy and birth was miserable. She gave birth to large lump of flesh. She ordered the lump to casted into the forest, which upset Vyasa. He forbade the flesh to be taken away and insisted that Gandhari will have a hundred sons. He separated the lumps into a 101 pieces and the sons grew in vases. The eldest son was Duryodhana. Because of her blindfold, Gandhari could not see what was demonic about her sons. The people of Hastinapur were happy when Kunti and her sons arrived.
Hate and Hurt: Duryodhana especially hated Bheem of all the Pandavas. Duryodhana once challenged Bheem to a wrestling match and lost, which hurt his ego. Duryodhana was constantly jealous of the admiration Bheem received. At this time, Shakuni became a mentor to him. Duryodhana organized a retreat so he could give them sleep inducing food. Once they had fallen asleep, he tied and pushed Bheem into the lake.
The Magic Potion: As Bheem fell into water, serpents began biting him. Instead of these biting him, they woke him up. Bheem began attacking the snakes and by the time he was finished he was in another world at a great depth. He was greeted by the ruler of the realm. The ruler showered Bheem with and love and affection and gifted him a magic drink. The potion gave Bheem immense strength and turned him into a hero. Also, Bheem's visit with Vasuki made him realize he needs to grow up and begin protecting his family.
Drona: Everyone was happy and relieved at Bheem's return except for Duryodhana. Bhishma realized that the princes needed to master the weapons. The boys had an encounter with Drona, who got their ball out of the well. Drona was embraced by Bhishma like a brother.
Drona Trains the Pandavas: Drona taught the Pandavas the ways of wars. He noted the son's specialties in battle. Bheem showed sheer strength on the battlefield. Arjun turned out to be a perfect warrior because he could yield all weapons with ease, but excelled in archery. Drona had a son Ashwatthama who was also great with weapons. Drona wanted vengeance from a kingdom.
Ekalavya's Story: During a trip to the forest the Pandavas discovered Ekalavya, who was a nishaad boy and an amazing archer. Arjun asked how he learned such skillfull archery, which was from Drona. The boy had asked Drona long ago if he could be his pupil and Drona had refused him. The boy had become the world's best archer by simply practicing. He demanded the boy cut off his thumb and give it to him, and the boy did. Without his thumb, the boy could no longer be the great archer he was.
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