Reading notes: Mahabharata part A
The Mahabharata begins by telling the reader that Vyasa, the author of this epic, is also a main character in the story. Vyasa is the grandson of the king Uparichara. Vyasa's mother, the daughter of king Uparichara, was tricked into intimacy by a rishi, and from this gave birth to Vyasa. Next, King Shantanu is introduced. King Shantanu and the goddess Ganga were married on the condition that the king always allow his wife to do what she wants. However, she drowns their first seven children together. When he finally spoke up against her actions after the eight child was born, Ganga revealed that the children were actually the eight Vasus. In exchange for Ganga carrying the Vasus, they transferred an eight of their power onto her eighth child, who was returned to King Shantanu.
In the next chapter, King Shantanu is older and looking for a new bride after Ganga. He happens across Vyasa's mother and tries to convince the fisherman to let him wed the girl, but the fisherman refuses, saying that the girl's son must inherit the throne. King Shantanu and Ganga's son promises the fisherman that he will renounce his claim on the throne so that the girl's children may inherit the throne. King Shantanu and Vyasa's mother are married, and she bears him two sons. Ganga's son relinquishes his claim to the throne as promised. Bhishma traveled to another kingdom to fight for three princesses to marry bis two half-brothers and successfully brought them back home. The eldest princess blamed Bhishma for ruining her life, and was told by the gods that she would come back as a man in the next life and kill Bhishma. Since there weren't any heirs to the throne, Vyasa had children with the two widows of the princes. One was born blind and one was born pale. King Pandu's wife conceived a son with the sun god, and sent him away from the palace in a basket to escape being found.
King Pandu enjoyed hunting trips, and on one trip he shot a deer who turned out to be a rishi's son in the shape of a deer. The deer cursed Pandu, saying that we would die if he ever united with his wives again. The prophecy came true, and Pandu and his wife died. One brother's sons are called the Kauravas, and another brother's sons are called the Pandavas. These two groups don't get along, and the Kauravas plot to kill the eldest son of the Pandavas.
Bibliography:
Mahabharata, Vyasa, http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/mahabharata-online-public-domain-edition.html
In the next chapter, King Shantanu is older and looking for a new bride after Ganga. He happens across Vyasa's mother and tries to convince the fisherman to let him wed the girl, but the fisherman refuses, saying that the girl's son must inherit the throne. King Shantanu and Ganga's son promises the fisherman that he will renounce his claim on the throne so that the girl's children may inherit the throne. King Shantanu and Vyasa's mother are married, and she bears him two sons. Ganga's son relinquishes his claim to the throne as promised. Bhishma traveled to another kingdom to fight for three princesses to marry bis two half-brothers and successfully brought them back home. The eldest princess blamed Bhishma for ruining her life, and was told by the gods that she would come back as a man in the next life and kill Bhishma. Since there weren't any heirs to the throne, Vyasa had children with the two widows of the princes. One was born blind and one was born pale. King Pandu's wife conceived a son with the sun god, and sent him away from the palace in a basket to escape being found.
King Pandu enjoyed hunting trips, and on one trip he shot a deer who turned out to be a rishi's son in the shape of a deer. The deer cursed Pandu, saying that we would die if he ever united with his wives again. The prophecy came true, and Pandu and his wife died. One brother's sons are called the Kauravas, and another brother's sons are called the Pandavas. These two groups don't get along, and the Kauravas plot to kill the eldest son of the Pandavas.
Bibliography:
Mahabharata, Vyasa, http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/mahabharata-online-public-domain-edition.html
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