Reading Notes: The Mahabharata Part C
The Mahabharata, Pages 85-131
POV: Narayan's translated version of The Mahabharata
Favourite Sentences/Phrases:
Hundred Questions
Duryodhana tries to put on a spectacle of strength to the Pandavas while they are in exile but is captured and must be saved by them (it is said he returns wiser but clearly not considering the next series of events?); after being led to a place by another deer, Yud is tested by Yama (his father) in the form of a yaksha by the pond with a hundred questions; his brothers are revived and Yama gifts him with cloaking so that they may live the final year of their sentence in exile incognito.
In the next section they come to live in Virata, disguised as servants to the king (Arjuna dons the life of a eunuch, which is in his favour since he was cursed for this purpose); nearing the end Draupadi is adamantly sought after by the queen's brother and after no help Yud, Bhima crushes the brother; the rumour spreads that it was her gandharva husbands that killed the queen's brother, although no one knows their identity
Servitude
No one can say for sure if the Pandavas are in Virata, but the fact that the queen's brother was the head of the military, leaves an open power space; Duryodhana seeks to exploit and sends forth his men to capture the king and his cattle; they fail because of the Pandavas brothers, but the Pandavas still fight in the secrets of their disguises; except Arjuna cause of course he has to go all out when the king's son cannot muster the bravery to fight his father's adversaries
Warning Shots
Here, the Pandavas finally reveal themselves to Vitara, and plan to re-acquire what was lost to them in the game of dice; a wedding occurs at the beginning of the chapter between Arjuna's son and the king's daughter; both sides begin making preparations by gathering allies, including Krishna, who beseeched by both Arjuna and Duryodhana ends up on Arjuna's side while Duryodhana only gets his soldiers; Yud plans a small deceit with Karna's charioteer
War or Peace?
Here Dhritarashtra is again wary and guilty of what has happened; after much back and forth between the Kauravas and the Panadavas, wherein the Pandavas only ask of five villages in exchange for peace, Duryodhana still opts for war; at the council of both Gandhari, Vidura, Vyasa and the messenger, Dhritarashtra realises that the end is nearing.
Reference: R K. Narayan. The Mahabharata, [Print].
POV: Narayan's translated version of The Mahabharata
Favourite Sentences/Phrases:
"It is said that there could be nothing more gratifying than showing off one's superiority before an enemy reduced to beggary." - Sakuni to Duryodhana
"Only a commoner serving a king could realise that it is a knife-edged existence." - Daumya to Yud when they are deciding to live incognito whilst still in the company of the King of Vitara
"Sacrifice, study, charity, truth, forgiveness, mercy, and contentment constitute the eight different paths of righteousness, they say, but which one is most important?" - Dhritarashtra to ViduraSection Summaries:
Hundred Questions
Duryodhana tries to put on a spectacle of strength to the Pandavas while they are in exile but is captured and must be saved by them (it is said he returns wiser but clearly not considering the next series of events?); after being led to a place by another deer, Yud is tested by Yama (his father) in the form of a yaksha by the pond with a hundred questions; his brothers are revived and Yama gifts him with cloaking so that they may live the final year of their sentence in exile incognito.
In the next section they come to live in Virata, disguised as servants to the king (Arjuna dons the life of a eunuch, which is in his favour since he was cursed for this purpose); nearing the end Draupadi is adamantly sought after by the queen's brother and after no help Yud, Bhima crushes the brother; the rumour spreads that it was her gandharva husbands that killed the queen's brother, although no one knows their identity
Servitude
No one can say for sure if the Pandavas are in Virata, but the fact that the queen's brother was the head of the military, leaves an open power space; Duryodhana seeks to exploit and sends forth his men to capture the king and his cattle; they fail because of the Pandavas brothers, but the Pandavas still fight in the secrets of their disguises; except Arjuna cause of course he has to go all out when the king's son cannot muster the bravery to fight his father's adversaries
Warning Shots
Here, the Pandavas finally reveal themselves to Vitara, and plan to re-acquire what was lost to them in the game of dice; a wedding occurs at the beginning of the chapter between Arjuna's son and the king's daughter; both sides begin making preparations by gathering allies, including Krishna, who beseeched by both Arjuna and Duryodhana ends up on Arjuna's side while Duryodhana only gets his soldiers; Yud plans a small deceit with Karna's charioteer
War or Peace?
Here Dhritarashtra is again wary and guilty of what has happened; after much back and forth between the Kauravas and the Panadavas, wherein the Pandavas only ask of five villages in exchange for peace, Duryodhana still opts for war; at the council of both Gandhari, Vidura, Vyasa and the messenger, Dhritarashtra realises that the end is nearing.
Statue of Krishna. Source: Flickr
Reference: R K. Narayan. The Mahabharata, [Print].
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