Week 9 Reading Notes: Mahabharata Karmia Revolution, Part A

Shantanu the Unfortunate

King Shantanu fell in love with Ganga. Ganga drowned her children to free them from mortality of the eight celestial spirits to break a curse. Ganga left him and took their eighth child with them. 

Devavrata Returns

After 16 years, King Shantanu returns to the Ganga and meets his son who is now grown up. He also sees Ganga again. Shantanu makes his son a prince and then falls in love with a fisherman's daughter. The fisherman wanted his daughter's son to be king instead. Shantanu gets upset so Devavrata gives up the throne which was his birthright since he was the oldest. 

King Shantanu meets his son for the first time
(BP Banerjee)

Devavrata Becomes Bhishma

Devavrata vows to never marry or have children and was called Bhishma, which means "terrible oath". King Shantanu was not happy and felt his kingdom was doomed. He grants Devavrata a wish which allows him to be immune from death.

Desperation of Bhishma

After King Shantanu did, Bhishma raised helped raised his brothers. He kidnaps 3 princesses, Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika,to marry his 3 brothers,

Amba's Ruin

Amba, the oldest, asked to marry someone else and he grants it but gets rejected. Amba tells Bhishma to marry her and gets rejected again. She accuses him of ruining her life and vows for vengeance.

Satyavati's Secret

Bhishma's brother dies and he learns he had another brother. Satyavati had secretly fallen in love with someone and they had a child. He becomes king and has children. 

Sons of Vyasa

Vyasa was ugly so his wives closed their eyes and turned pale. One son was born blind, another was born pale, and one was wise. 

The Blind Bride

Duryodhana is angry that the Pandavas got the throne. Gandhari knew her husband would be blind and gives up her sight by blindfolding her eyes and marrys the blind son. Her brother is angry because he felt like her husband ruined her life and vowed to get revenge.

Bibliography

The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution. http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2016/01/overview-epified-mahabharata.html