Mahabharata – 12

By

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya

Anukramika

In the chapter called Anukramika an abridged version of the Mahabharata has been told .The Adiparva contains Paushya,Paulamaa &Aasitaka,birth of Dhritarastra & others & so on.The Paushyaparva  describes the greatness of Utanka.The Paulamaaparva dwels on the genesis of Bhrigu family,the Aastikaparva dwels on the origin of snakes,the Garuda, the churning of the of the ocean & the discovery of nectar. Janamejaya organised a snake sacrifice ,where all the snakes should be killed.At the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya the  son of Parikshit, all these stories of the noble minded are retold.In the Sambhavaparva the genesis of different Kings are traced.The birth of the great sage Vedavyasa is also delineated.The origin of demons, giants, gandharvas & so on have been traced here. Then there is the story of the birth of Bharata the son of Shakuntala It was from the name Bharata that the name of the country known as Bhaaratavarsa has been derived.

The River goddess Gangaa gives birth to the noble minded Vasus. Presently seven of them ascend to the heaven.The eigth Vasu Bhisma continues in human body in the palace of the king Shantanu.Bhisma takes the vow of brahmacharya.He would not get in touch with any woman in his life time. He brings up Chtraangada .Chitraangada dies.Then Chitraangada’s brother Vichitravirya ascends the throne. Dharma incarnates as Vidura in consequence of the curse of Animaandavya.The very poet Vedavyasa is instrumental in bringing about Vidura.This is a very interesting point,The poet of the Mahabharata, Vedavyasa participates in the action of the epic Mahabharata & one wonders whether the story of the Mahabharata could be interpreted as an autobiography of the poet Vedavyasa himself.

We have already referred to the burning of Lac house  The Pandavas were sent to reside there,They did not know that their residence was made of lac & could be put to flames at any moment.Vidura however warns the Pandavas .In a strange tongue or Mlechcha language,so that no one could decode them other than the Pandavas.The Pandavas clandestinely escape from the lac house & set out for adventure in forest.In the forest Bhima kills an ogre & marries his sister Hidimbaa  Later they reside in the village named Ekachakra at the advice of Vedavyasa the poet.

Mahabharata – 13

By

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr.Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya  

Draupadi’s wedding

At Ekachakra Bhima kills the demon called Baka to the amazement of the locals of the city. At Ekachakra itself the Pandavas hear about the Swayamvara,gathering to be held.In swayamvara suitors from different countries gather for the hand of a princess.There is a test in the art of handling weapons, the princess commonly chooses the most valiant among them.Vedavyasa the poet appears  once again & advices the Pandavas to go to Paanchaala where the Swayamvara of Draupadi is to be held .On the way to Paanchaala there is a battle between Arjuna & Angaaraparna.Arjuna defeats Angaaraparna & becomes a friend of Angaaraparna.Thereafter they hear the episodes of Tapati,Vaishistha & Aurva.

Finally they reach the capital of Paanchal.There Arjuna out does all other suitors & wins the hand of Draupadi. A battle between the Kings claiming Draupadi on one side & Bhima &Arjuna on the other takes place Bhima & Arjuna become victorious,Seeing the heroics of the Pandavas Krishna & Balaram meet them.There is a serious disscussion at the court of Drupada regarding whether marrying Draupadi to five brothers or Pandavas is meet or not. At that time the episode of five Indras are

recounted Thereafter the unnatural marriage ceremony of Draupadi  with five brothers is  delineated .In the meantime Vidura turns up as an emissery of the King Dhritharastra . He meets Pandavas. At the same time they meets Krishna there.

Mahabharata –14

 By

Sankar Mukherjee

& Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhya

Arjuna’s Voluntary Exile

Vidura tells the Pandavas that they should rule over half of the Kingdom of Hastinaapur staying at Khandavaprastha.Narada appears,He tells the Pandavas the story of Sunda  & Upasunda.In this context the notion of Draupadi's common wife-hood is legitimated.

The five brothers earlier took a vow that each brother would stay with Draupadi for one year .At that time if any of the other brothers intrudes the privacy of Draupadi & the brother with her must voluntarily go on  exile. Arjuna intrudes into the privacy of the king Yudhishthira & Draupadi to take weapon with a view to fighting  for a Brahmin who is in a dire situation.So  Arjuna goes on voluntary exile. During the exile Arjuna marries Ulupi the daughter of a Naga. Then Arjuna visits many sacred places.His son Babhruvaahana is born.Arjuna rescues five  celestial nymph who turned into alligators because of the curse of a great Brahaman.

Arjuna meets Krishna at sacred Pravasha. Shubhadra is there. Arjuna & Subhadra fall in love with each other , Therefore Arjuna visits Dwarka to gain the hands of Subhadra .Krishna the son of Devaki, arrives at  Khandavaprashtha with gifts for Arjuna & the Pandavas.Subhadra carries the child of Arjuna who is to be named Abhimanyu.

Then there is the pleasure trip of Krishna & Arjuna  along the banks of Yamuna , There Krishna reiceives a Wheel & Arjuna receives a Bow.

Then there is the burning of Khandava forest .The demon Maya & the snake Ashwasen are however rescued from fire

Mahabharata – 15

By

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya

Sabhaparva and Vanaparva

The Adiparva has narrated how the great sage Mandapala begets a child in the womb of Sringi. The Adiparva contains eight thousand eight hundred & eighty four .They are divided into twenty seven sections.

The second Parva or Sabhaparva is loaded with numerous events, for example, the Pandavas build a great hall. Narada who is well acquainted with the many celestial halls in celestial regions praises the hall of the Pandavas. He asks the Pandavas to prepare for Rajasuya sacrifice.

In the meantime, King Jarasandha is killed .Jarasandha kept numerous Kings imprisoned  Now they are freed.The kings settled at Giribraja.Presently the Pandavas set out for the conquest of the world.The Kings  of the then world assemble at the Rajasuyayajna of the Pandavas with tributes .Yudhisthira the eldest son of the Pandavas facilitates Krishna at the Rajsuyayajna. Shisupal protests & is killed.

Duryodhna who was invited at the sacrifice is full of sorrow & envy at the sight of untold treasure of the Pandavas .Bhima pulls Duryodhana & ridicules him. This hurts Duryodhana.Consequently play of dice between Pandavas & Kauravas lies in the logic of affairs. During the dice play Draupadi the wife of Pandavas is being insulted,She is as it were a boat tossed by the stormy waves, Dhritarastra rescues her.

There is dice play again Yudhisthira is out done , he is to go on

exile .This Sabhaaparva contains two thousand and five hundred & seven slokas. It has eight sections.Then the third Parva called Vanaparva takes place This parva dwells on the adventures of Pandavas in the forest during their exile.Yudhisthira at the instance of Dhaumya, worships the Sun God .The Sun God blesses Yudhisthira .He can henceforth maintain the Brahamins, who accompany him, with food & drinks .

Vidura the brother of Dhritarastra always takes Dhritarastra to task for supporting the evil design of Duryodhana.That is why Dhritarastra drives away his brother Vidura.Vidura joins the Pandavas But Dhritharastra repents ,At his request Vidura returns to Dhritarastra.

Karna counsels Duryodhana to go & kill the Pandavas in the forest itself. Vedavysa the narrater shows up. Seeing into the intention of Duryodhana ,he seeks to disuade Duryodhana from the heinous design to kill the Pandavas  in the forest. Also the  Vanaparva  narrates the story of Surabhi.

Then the great sage Maitreya arrives &  curses Duryodhana . In the meantime Bhima kills the demon Kirmir. The  Yaadavas as well as the clan of Drupada meet the Pandavas .They are shocked to learn how the Pandavas have been dispossesed of their wealth & land because of the unfair dice play.Krishna becomes furious with anger ,Draupadi laments before Krishna.

Thereafter the episode of killing  of Saalva is recounted. Krishna takes Subhadra & her son Abhimanyu to Dwaraka, Dhristahdyumna takes the children  of Draupadi with him to the capital of Paanchaala.Thereafter the Pandavas enter the romantic Dvaitavana.

Mahabharata – 16

By

Sankar Mukherjee

 &

Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya

Vanaparva 2 and Virataparva

At Dvaitavana conversation between Yudhishthira & Draupadi ,as well as Bhima takes place .Vyasa the narrator shows up & imparts a special knowledge to Yudhisthira. Vyasa leaves Dvaitavana ,the  Pandavas  presently move to Kaamyaka forest. Arjuna at that time goes to the Himalayas to gain the Pashupata weapon.There is a terrible fight between the God of the  gods Mahaadeva in the guise of a hunter & Arjuna. Arjuna meets the deities of ten directions.Then finally he goes to the heaven ruled by Indra . He is blessed with weapons there also.  These incidents raise anxiety in the heart of Dhritarastra .

In the meantime the episode of the king Nala  is recounted. It is charged with the spirit of virtue .But it is drenched in pathos .The episode glories in the characters of its protagonist Nala & Damayanti.The sage Brihadaswa turns up & teaches the secret lore of playing dice .Right then the sage Lomasa comes from the heaven.And informs Yudhishthira as to the achievements of Arjuna .As per the message from Arjuna, the Pandavas set out  for pilgrimage. The merits of pilgrimage are dwelled on.

Karna gives away his earrings to Indra at this time. The great glory of sacrificial rites of Gayaasur are delineated.

Then the story of Agastya follows ,he devours up the Batapi. His marriage with Lopaamudraa is also noted with a view to begetting a child. Thereafter the calibacy & austerity of Rishyasringa since his childhood & the character of the great Parashurama & killing of Kaartaviryaarjuna  are narratedThen there is the rejuvenation of the sage Chavana. Next comes the episode of Mandhata & prince Jantu. Next a king Somaka sacrifices his only son to beget many children. Then thegods put King Shivi to test .The son of Varuna, the god of water outdoes Vandi in a debate. Astaavakra defeats Vandi & regains his father who was plunged into the deep sea.There after the Pandavas travel to the hill named Gandhamaadan ,They leave at Naaryana Ashrama .Draupadi sends Bhima to bring flowers from the Gandhamadan hills  Here Bhima meets  Hanumana of great velour,the son of Pavana .A fierce battle between Bhima & an ogre takes place.The ogre Jataasur is killed .The Pandavas now move to the Ashrama Arishtasena. There Drapadi encourages Bhima. Bhima ascends the hills of Kailasha & fights the mighty yakshas.Then the Pandavas meet  Kuvera the god of wealth.

On another plane there is fierce encounter between Nibatakabacha dwelling in Hiranyaparva & Arjuna Arjuna turns up on earth & he is about to display his newly acquired weapons before Yudhisthira. But Narada stops Arjuna from doing that. A huge mighty serpent looks like a mountain It attacks Bhima in a terrible forest, The snake poses a few questions before Yudhishthira.The  latter answers them four square.Consequently Bhima is released by the snake.

Mahabharata -- 17

by

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya

Virataparva 2

Pandavas reenter the Kamyaka forest.Here Krishna visits the Pandavas.Then the stories told by Markandeya  take place ,the episode Prithu the son of Vena  is retold. There is  the story of Saraswati &Tarkshya. Thereafter the episode of Indradyumna & Dhudnhumara takes place .Then the historical episode of the chaste wife is retold.Thereafter the conversation between Draupadi & Satyabhaama takes place .Pandavas return to the Daivtavana,in the mean time Duryodhana & others set out for Dvaidavana ,On the way a  Gandharva  king defeats Duryodhana & imprisons him. Arjuna however rescues Duryodhana from the Gandharvas at the instance of Yudhishthira.

Pandavas again enter the Kamyaka forest.Presently the story of Vrihidraunika is narrated .  The  story of Durvasa is also told. Thereafter Jayadratha steals Draupadi from the residence of Pandavas .Bhima follows Jayadratha as fast as wind & shaves the head of Jayadratha. Only five tufts of hair are left on his crown.Then there is the long history of Rama ,who killed Ravana with great valor .The story of

Savitri  is  retold. Indra in the disguise of a Brahmin begs the ear rings of Karna In return Indra  gives Karna the arrow named Ekaagni ---- a missile. Then Dharma the god of Justice  gives boon to the Pandavas. Pandavas now go west ward .This is the third stage of Vanaparva.   In this Vanaparva two hundred sixty nine chapters & eleven thousand six hundred sixty four slokas occur.

The extensive Parva that comes next is called Viratparva. The Pandavas reach the dominions of Virata. They find a cemetery in the out skirts of the city ,which is the capital of King Virata .There at the cemetery a large  Shami tree stands.The Pandavas hide their weapons in the tree. Then they enter the city of Virata in disguise They intend to stay incognito here.Right now the Pandavas must remain incognito for one year. Bhima kills the demon Kichaka. Duryodhana sends spies in all directions so that Pandavas could be detected. Thereafter cows of king  Virata are stolen.A  thrilling battle between the inhabitants of Trigarta takes place. King Virata is made a captive.But Bhima intervenes. ,He liberates the King. Yudhishthira, Nakula & Sahadeva rescue the cattle of Virata.

At this crucial moment the Kauravas steal the cattle of Virata coming from the North .Arjuna fights them with all his prowess & brings back the stolen cattle. The King Virata gives his daughter Uttara to Abhimanyu the child of Subhadraa out of gratitude.

These are the contents of the extensive fourth Parva or Viratparva. The great sage Vedavyasa has composed this Parva in sixty-seven sections ,there are two thousand fifty slokas in this Parva.