Indian Epics Blog

The Mahabharata, Pages 131-179 POV : Narayan's translated version of  The Mahabharata  Favourite Sentences/Phrases: "The waves of violence never cease. Victory creates animosity; hostilities lie dormant, but continue."- Yud "One should accept food only if one is desperate or loves the person who offers it." - Krishna to Duryodhana  "...the importance of performing one's duty with detachment in a spirit of dedication."  Section Summaries: Action Yud pleads with Krishna to ask one more chance at peace from the king and his sons; when he arrives he is well received but Duryodhana plots against him to try to take him prisoner; he assumes his godly, universal form and frightens everyone; here Ghandari, his mother even attempts to dissuade Duryodhana from war but to no avail; Krishna tries to also dissuade Karna from his loyalty to Duryodhana but this doesn't work either. Hesitant Hero Arjuna is hesitant to do battle (in fact most of the...

Writing a Letter. Source : Flickr Dear Mr Narayan, On behalf of my community, I would like you to stop writing us into your stories. Most of my kind are already tempted to be suing you, Dear Sir. Do you know how tired I am of being blamed in those tales? Over and over you write us as the devious character, the one that leads the protagonists astray, or the one that's always the source of some trouble. I am sick of it! We as a species are sick of it, Sir. First, it was the whole mess with Sita and Rama. Alright, I know we are  mesmerising and we do have a certain graceful, dare I be saying, divine , appearance but good sir, I implore you, do you really think a deer would lead the great Rama astray? Why couldn't you pick a slimy snake or a fearsome grizzly bear? Perhaps even a nasty hyena? Perfect little storytelling element right there, I might be adding. You could say he got his comeuppance from Rama and Lakshamana in the middle of his laughter! Or what about a golden ...

The Mahabharata, Pages 85-131 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 Vidura Section 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...

The Mahabharata, Pages 40-83 POV : Narayan's translated version of  The Mahabharata  Section Summaries: Uncle's Gift Something must be done of course, for the Pandavas are actually alive! Duryodhana again whispers malice in his father's ears against the Pandavas and Dhritarashtra becomes worried about what the Pnadavas may do; however, even with his son's misgivings, Dhritarashtra instead invites them back to his city and divides the kingdom so that the Pandavas may also rule over a section called Khandavapasthra; it is barren but they make the most of it and come to build a vast beautiful city; Arjuna makes a mistake regarding the vow they all took when another brother was accompnaying Draupadi and is banished for twelve years (marries a princess of the serpent world, Ulupi , [a naga in some versions] and Krishna's sister Subadhra) City of Splendor Duryodhana visiis the Pandavas built kingdom and immediately becomes jealous, of course; he consults with Sakuni...