Week 14 Reading Notes: Krishna: The Saviour , Part I

Shalva Attacks Dwarka

Krishna was in Indraprastha when the attack happened. Shalva was Shishupala's friend and wanted to avenge him by destroying all Yadavas. He began penance to summon Shiva and ask for a boon. He asks for a vehicle to attack the Yadavas. The vehicle can travel anywhere. 

Vehicle Features:

• Carries thousands of people
•  Indestructible
• Travel in air, water, and land.
• Disappears/ Teleports

Pradyumna (Krishna's son) took charge and attacked the army along with his brothers and the 

Yadava warriors. They shot a bunch of arrows until they hit Shalva. Shalva's minister hits Pradyumna so his charioteer retreats. Pradyumna is angry when he wakes up because they ran away.

The charioteer does his dharma and protects Pradyumna. 

They go back and continue the battle which was still happening. As Krishna and Balarama return and find their city chaos and their chariot is struck by an arrow and Krishna's shoulder.

Krishna attacks Shalva and he disappears with his magic vehicle. Shalva kidnaps Vasudeva (Krishna's father) and beheads him in front of Krishna but it turns out to be an illusion. 

Sudama Visits Krishna

Sudama is brahmin and one of Krishna's childhood friends. He lived in poverty with his wife. When he visits he takes rice to give to Krishna but is embarrassed to give it. Krishna appreciates it and Sudama spends the night in his palace. When he leaves, Krishna doesn't give him anything because wealth can ruin a person. 

Sudama is understanding of this.

When he returns to his home, he sees a palace. He also has servants. 

Arjuna Marries Subhadra

Arjuna and Subhadra
Image Source: (Raja Ravi Varma)

Subhadra is Krishna and Balarama's sister. Balarama was planning to marry her off to Duryodhana which Vasudeva and Krishna were against.

Isn't it up to the father who his daughter marries? 

Arjuna hears about this and goes to visit Balarama in disguise as a brahmin. Subhadra fell in love with Arjuna at first sight. He kidnaps her with Vasudeva and Krishna's help. 

Week 13 Reading Notes: Krishna: An Ally of the Pandavas, Part B

Dvivda

He is an ape with the strength of ten thousand elephants. Enraged by his friend, Narakasura's death, he goes to get revenge on Krishna by creating havoc in Anarta.

• Throws boulders on houses
• Churned sea with his hands until coastal villages submerged
• Kidnapped & held people captive 

Balarama stops him with his favorite weapon, a pestle.

Samba & Princess Lakshman

Duryodhana holds an event since it's time for his daughter to get married.

It's ironic how Duryodhana's daughter is named Lakshmana.

Samba (Krishna's son) kidnaps her in front of everyone. He tries to, fight the warriors himself and his overpowered by the Kauravas and is held captive. Narada tells Balarama and he goes to Hastinapura to persuade them to release Samba. It doesn't work so Balarama causes an earthquake in their kingdom with his weapon. They release Samba and his new wife to prevent Balarama from destroying the kingdom and ask him for forgiveness. 

 So it looks like Duryodhana did do his dharma as a king after all. 

Narada Visits Krishna 

Krishna, The Pandavas and Narada converse with Bhishma who is on the bed of Arrows
Image Source: (Ramanarayanadatta astri)

He was curious about how Krishna was living after marrying so many women. Each of his forms were doing regular things with their families. 

A messenger comes to seek Krishna's help. Several kings have been held captive by Jarasandha in Girivraja. Bheema is sent to handle the issue while Krishna attends a ceremony for the Pandavas at the advice of  his council. 

They go disguised as Brahmins and declare a fight with Jarasandha. He refuses to fight Krishna and Arjuna because he doesn't think they are worthy enough but he fights Bheema and even gives him a mace. They both fight with maces.

Jarasandha seems to be somewhat fair. 

The fight went on for days because both men had equal strength and fighting skills. Krishna gives Bheema a hint by breaking a twig. Jarasandha could be defeated if he was broken like a twig since his mother put two halves together to create him.

Jarasandha's son, Sahadeva, became king afterwards.

He was the good guy unlike his father. 

p. 224 The Yajna

The Pandavas prepare for the Yajna ceremony. A prince gets jealous because Krishna is given the first worship. Some people get angry and leave while others were ready to fight Shishupala for insulting Krishna. Krishna tries to calm everyone down but Shishupala tries to attack him and ends up getting his head cut off by Krishna. 

Duryodhana is jealous of the Pandavas wealth after the ceremony and thinks the palace built by Maya is in an illusion. Everyone but Yudhishthira laughed at him so Duryodhana did not attend the ceremony. 

Week 13 Reading Notes: Krishna: The Victorious, Part A

Krishna's Visits the Pandavas

Krishna stays with the Pandavas for 4 months during the rainy season. Arjuna meets a woman named Kalindi (daughter of Surya). and learns that she wants Lord Vishnu to be her husband and is undergoing penance for it. She vowed to live in the forest until she meets Krishna. They end up getting married. He then marries another woman who happens to be a sister of Duryodhana's ally.

He tames seven bulls to marry another woman. He tames them by creating seven forms of himself.  The couple leaves with an army behind them to Dwarka.

Krishna' rescues 16,000 princesses that ask to be his wives
Image Source: (Wikipedia)

It looks like Krishna married every girl that wanted him or needed saving.

Seven sons of Mura attack Krishna after Krishna breaks the mountain surrounding a city. Krishna fights them because they stole the earring of Mother Aditi. Inside the palace, he finds 16,000 princesses imprisoned. They had all been captured by Narakasura.

Seven seems to be significant in this story. 

Krishna sends the women to Dwarka and splits himself into multiple versions of himself and marries all of them. He gives each of them their own palace to live in.

Each of his wives have 10 sons each.

Meanwhile Banasura is devoted to Shiva. Shiva finally appears and grants Banasura a boon until Banasura asks for it. He says that his thousand hands are useless and asks Shiva to protect him in his fight against Krishna. Shiva is angered but grants him the boon but tells him his arrogance will be crushed.

Aniruddha

Usha has a dream of Aniruddha (Krishna's son) and Usha's close friend summons him into the palace which is heavily guarded. Banasura is angry. Meanwhile in Dwarka no one has seen Aniruddha in 4 months and its revealed that he'd been captured by Banasura. 

Shiva helps Banasura fight Krishna but is put to sleep by Krishna. Krishna cuts off Banasura arms and spares him. Banasura is  grateful to him.

Week 12 Reading Notes: Krishna: The Enchanter, Part B

Jursasandha is still having a war with Krishna.

The brothers run from him and make it look like they jumped to their deaths. The king of Magadha thinks he destroyed them.

Balarama Gets Married

Balarama marries Revati. Meanwhile Krishna wants to marry a girl named Rukmini because of her intelligence and beauty. She has five brothers, all of who hate Krishna because of their loyalty to Shishupala. She sends a messenger to tell Krishna what's happening. 

The two  come up with a plan to elope.

Rukimini's brother gives Krishna a chance to give up Rukmini and leave but Krishna fights him. When he's about to kill her brother, she stops him. Rama shaves half his head instead. Balarama explains to Rukmini that her brother deserved what he got and not to hate them for what they've done.

Balarama always justifies Krishna's actions.

Krishna and Rukmini get married while Rukmi vows to get revenge on Krishna.

p.159

An Incarnation of Kamadeva Is Born

Krishna's son is born. His name is Pradyumna. He is kidnapped by a demon and is thrown into the ocean and eaten by a fish. Some fishermen catch the fish and find the baby inside its stomach. Mayavati (Kamadeva's husband) finds him, raises him, and trains him to fight a demon.

She takes him to Krishna's palace. Rukmini recognizes him. Krishna is falsely blamed for a crime.

Krishna suggested that Satrajit give his gem to King Ugrasena but he gives it to his brother, Parsena for a day. Parsena is killed by a lion and Jambavan, a bear, finds it and gives it to his son to play with. 

Satrajit wonders if Krishna killed his brother for the gem and a rumor is spread.

A story can be made about the gem and how it travels from person to person.

Krishna investigates what happened to Parsena. Jambavati and Krishna fight for 28 days and finally work out their differences. 

Syamantaka Gem
Image Source: Sarang

p. 168

Ugrasena Court

Krishna explains how he got the gem and proves his innocence. To atone for his crimes, Satrajit gives his daughter to Krishna to marry and also the gem. He is murdered because by two men who wanted to marry his daughter. They killed him as revenge and took the gem. The men are scared when they find out Krishna is after them.

Krishna sounds like a bounty hunter. 

Week 12 Reading Notes: Krishna: The Lord of Dwarka, Part A

The Sons Reunite with their Parents

Krishna and Balrama's birth parents forget that they are their sons and treat them like they're gods so he casts a spell on them to make them forget about his divinity for a little bit.

Krishna also visits his grandfather, Ugrasena, who was also imprisoned by Kamsa and makes him king of Yadavas again and the people return to the kingdom. They had originally fled to neighboring kingdoms.

Krishna and Ugrasena
Image Source: Wikipedia

p. 116 Krishna and Balrama's Guru

The brothers go to the ashram and are taught by sage Sandipani. Based on tradition, they make an offering to their guru. The guru asks that Krishna restores his son who drowned at a seashore called Prabhasa. The boys set out to the seashore and speak to the ocean that assumes the form of a human. The ocean reveals that an asura disguised as a conch shell lives in the ocean took the sage's son away. He kills the demon and takes the shell to the Yama, the Lord of Death and fetch the guru's son. 

p.118 The Messenger

Krishna sends a messenger to let his adoptive parents, Nanda and Yashoda know that he and Balarama are okay. Nanda questions if his son even remembers him. The messenger stays at Vrindavana for several months talking about Krishna with the Gopikas before returning and telling Krishna about what's been going on back home.

Krishna and The Pandavas

Krishna sends his uncle, Akura, to visit the Pandavas in Hastinapura. Their father has died and Duryodhana has taken over the kingdom. Krishna wants to go check on them to make sure they're okay.

p. 120 Krishna and the Pandavas are close friends. 

It looks like someone(Akura) was watching the Pandavas when they were tricked into the gambling match. Akura is Kunti's cousin and talks to her about it. He tries to reason with Duryodhana's father and learns his favoring his own sons (Kauravas) over the Pandavas (no surprise there).

Kamsa's Wives

After Kamsa's death, his wives go back to their fathers and tell them what happened. The King of Magadha, Jarasandha wants revenge.  

Krishna has a small army. He blows his conch shell which scared Jarasandha's army. Jurasandha says he's embarrassed to fight Krishna alone because he is so young and lets Balarama fight with him.

At least he's fair.

The brothers destroy the army and let the king live. The king felt humiliated and was going to atone for it but was convinced by other kings that he could defeat Krishna.

p.133 Krishna vs. Kalyavana

Jarasandha attacks seventeen more times loses each time. On the eighteenth time Kalayavana confronts them because he thought he was as mighty as the brothers. 

The brothers create a fort city to protect the people. Krishna approached Kalayvana without weapons so he puts his weapons away too. 

Kalayvana is also fair.

Krishna makes Kalyvana chase him into a cave. In the cave, he finds a sleeping man that he thought was Krishna and kicks him. The man turns out ot be an asura and sets Kalayvana on fire with his eyes which turns him into ashes.

Reading Notes: Krishna: Victory Over Kamsa, Part B

Setting: It is Shivaratri. Krishna and his family go to visit a nearby forests along with other people and fast.

Krishna's father is attacked by a python. Krishna kicks it and it turns into a man.The man was cursed for laughing at two people and making fun of their faces since he was rich.

Shankhachooda kidnaps two girls

• Devotee of Kubera
• Krishna beheads him

The tone in this story is less aggressive and more peaceful than the Ramayana even when Krishna attacks demons.  However Krishna is brutal when he kills demons.

Animals are also charmed by Krishna's flute.

A demon named Arishtasura attacks Krishna in the form of a bull.

A lot of the demons go disguised as animals when they try to attack Krishna but all end up getting killed. 

Narada seems to encourage Kamsa to be evil but also tries to keep him from killing.

• He tells Kamsa that Vasudeva sent his boys to his friends to protect them from their uncle
• He convinces Kamsa not to kill Vasudeva but instead to hold him and his wife prisoner.

In Kamsa's defense, he felt threatened since he was told that one of his nephew's would try to kill him but he's a coward for not fighting his battle himself. 

If he does fight his own battles, it's only if the person he's fighting is at a disadvantage like the babies he killed. The parents were also chained up so they couldn't fight back.

Kamsa summons Mushtika, a wrestler, and the Keeper of elephants to kill Krishna and Balarama. He also calls his ministers.

Plan A: The keeper's elephant must kill them at the gates of the kingdom

Plan B: Mushtika must make it look like an accident while they're wrestling.

His ministers are called to arrange a celebration of a bow sacrifice to ensure his plan succeeds.

If his plans succeeds, Kamsa plans to kill Vasudeva, other Vrishnis, his own father, and all his enemies.

The attempted murder was premeditated.

Motive: He wanted to conquer the earth. 

p. 96

Another demon named Vyomasura disguises himself as a boy and plays with Krishna and his friends. He kidnaps Krishna's friends and traps them in a cave by blocking the cave with a large rock.

Krishna realizes what's happening and the demon transforms into a large muddy brown man. He has a moustache and long hair and is wearing golden earrings, a necklace, and green and red pants. He is also not wearing any shoes.

Krishna kills the asura and helps his friends escape.

Akura is sent by Kamsa to get Krishna and Balarama to take them back to Mathura so that Kamsa can ambush them.  Akura is happy to go get them because he gets to see them but he tells them Kamsa's plan.

Krishna's father hears what happened and tells the boys to play along with the plan. They visit Mathura and are adored by everyone.

Kamsa is good to his people and is doing his dharma as a king. They are kind to Krishna. Some of the people are also loyal to Kamsa. 

The Wrestling Match

Krishna kills Kamsa
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Kamsa holds a wrestling match with five of his strongest men against Krishna and Balirama, who are both still children.

All five are defeated and Krishna kills Kamsa. Kamsa's eight younger brother's try to take revenge but they get killed too.

Week 10 Reading Notes: Karmic Revolution, Part B

Draupadi's Swayamwara

A contest is held to win Draupadi's hand in marriage. All the princes are invited including the Pandavas. The challenge was to string a bow and then hit the eye of a fish with it. Duryodhana tries and fails. Arjun wins.

Karna's Humiliation

Karna begs a Pursharam to be his teacher. He is asked if he is a Kshatiya. He tells him he is also a Brahmin. He is taught the secrets of fighting. Pursharam is sleeping on Karna's lap and Karna gets bit by a scorpion and doesn't make noise. Pursharam notices Karna's bleeding and Pashram gets angry and accuses Karna of lying about his caste and curses him.

He is cursed to forget his skills on the day he needs them the most. 

 Draupadi's Husbands

The brother's call out to Kunti while she's inside her hut and assumes they brought food and carelessly told them to share whatever they brought among themselves and realizes she made a mistake.

A sage reveals that Draupadi had prayed for a husband in her previous life.

Return to Hastinapura

Duryodhana calls his council after finding out the Pandavas married Draupadi. The council advices him to give them part of the kingdom. Drona suggests a messenger go and get them and bring them back to Hastinapura.

Creation of Indraprastha

Arjun and Krishna meet Agni. Agni wants to set the forest on fire to satisfy his hunger. A palace is built and a new kingdom called Indraprastha is created. People from Hastinapura move to the new kingdom.

Narada visits Indraprastha

Narada visits the Pandavas at Krishna's requests to guide them. He meets Draupadi and tells the Pandavas the story of the Asur brothers. Like the Pandavas, the brothers were inseparable until they fell in love with the same woman. They ended up killing each other. Narad advices that they each spend time with her for a year and if one intrudes, then they must be exiled as a consequence.

Arjuna's Exile

Arjun accidently enters the room while one of his brother's is spending time their wife. He was trying to help a brahmin and went to go get his weapon which were in Yudhistra's room. He asked for permission to enter but doesn't wait for a response because he needed to help the brahmin despite knowing he would be exiled. Yudhisthira forgives Arjuna and tells him he doesn't have to go to exile because he was trying to help a brahmin but he insists that he needs to since he broke the rule and that it's his dharma to go. 

Arjun's Journey

• 12 years of exile

He chose dharma over his family. Arjun sets off with a group of brahmins into the forest and meets several women. He also marries and has children with them.


1. Draupadi

He spends his time in the Himalayas and meets Ulpi.

2. Ulpi - Arjun tells her he's married but gives into her temptation.

• Arjun broke his dharma as a husband by being unfaithful.

He wanted to explore and ended up at a kingdom. Arjun stays in a palace and is disguised as a brahmin and meets his third wife.

3. Chitrangada

• Arjun has a child with her and leaves her in the middle of the night.

Arjun reaches Dwarka

Krishna and Arjun 
Image Source: (Wikimedia)

Arjun reunites with Krishna again and catch up. Krishna tells Arjun his experiences were meant to happen. Arjun confesses his attraction to Krishna's sister and asks for permission to marry her. Krishna agrees. Balram planned to marry her so they scheme a plan to kidnap her and marry her.

Krishna and Arjun were not right to do this to Balram or Krishna's sister since Arjun is already married. Balram was also set to marry her already.

Week 10 Reading Notes: Karmic Revolution, Part A

Karna's Quest

Karna wore an enchanted armor. He was found in a basket, floating in a river. He wanted to learn under Drona but he said he only taught a certain caste. He never told Drona that he was a part of the caste Drona taught but didn't want to insult his parents. 

This could be Karna's good karma. He was good to his adoptive parents.

The Kshatriya

Every teacher refused to teach Karna because he was the son of a charioteer. He finally tells a teacher, Parshuram that he is a Brahmin and finally gets a teacher. He gets bit by a scorpion while his teacher sleeps on his lap. He remained silent while his teacher slept. His teacher gets angry and curses him and believes he's not really a Brahmin because he stayed quiet when he got bit.

This makes a great case against Karna or Parshuram. It depends. 

Karna Becomes King 

A tournament is held so the Pandavas and Kauravas can demonstrate what they've learned. Karna shows up and demonstrates his skill and does better than Arjuna. Arjuna feels insulted and Karna doesn't win the tournament. He had to be of royal blood in order to fight the Pandavas and they all laughed at him. They humiliate Karna so Duryodhana declares him king of a kingdom under him in order to fight the Pandavas.

The Pandavas deserved what they got from Karna. 

Drupad Humiliates Drona 

Drona gives the Pandavas a mission after he teached them. Drupad and Drona became good friends and Drupad made a promise to Drona that he would share half his kingdom with him. Drona suffered poverty and takes his offer several years later and is humiliated by Drupad.

Drupad gets his karma through Drona.  Drona can make a case against Drupad for breaking his promise. 

Wax Palace Conspiracy

The Kauravas are jealous of the Pandavas because they had better skilled and got more attention from people. They scheme to get rid of the Pandavas by getting a palace built of wax and setting it on fire with the Pandavas in it. 

Pandavas Escape

The brother escape with Kunti through a tunnel. The builder's living quarters are at the front of the gates so he wouldn't die in the fire. The people and Kauravas believe the Pandavas and Kunti are dead.

Pandavas Escape from Wax Palace
Image Source: India Today

Bhim Kills Bakasur

The Pandavas and Kunti disguise as Brahmins and find shelter in the house of a scholar. Bakasur, an asura (demon) steals his people's food which leaves the people starving. If the people don't give him food he eats them and their family. It's the scholars turn to deliver food so Kunti sends Bhim who eats all the food before he gets to Bakasur and then kills him. 

The Birth of Draupadi

Drona trains the Pandavas to fight Drupad. Drupad performs a fire ceremony and Draupadi and her brother are born. After she is older, her father invites men since she was ready to get married. 

Week 9 Reading Notes: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution, Part B

Son of the Sun

Pandu marries Kunti and Madri. Kunti has a secret son that she abandoned. His name was Karna. Durvasa, a sage that everyone was afraid of, gave Kunti a gift, and had Karna by accident.

 Karna was born with silver earrings and armor.

Pandu's Curse

Pandu went hunting in the woods and killed a couple that was intimate. He was cursed to die if he ever got intimate with his wife. Dhritarashtra (the blind one) became king after Pandu leaves.

Sons of Pandu

Pandavas are born. Kunti calls Yama and his given a son that's gifted with calm and patience (Yudhisthira). 

Vayudev (the wind god) is called and is given another son named Bheem who was dropped and he shattered a rock. He would have strength and courage. 

Arjuna , son of Indra, was destined to be a great warrior and archer. 

Kunti summons the Awshin twins (Nakul and Sehdev) for Madri. 

Pandu forgot his curse and died after he got intimate with Madri. Madri jumped into the fire after his death. 

The Pandavas and Kunti leave and go to Hastinapur. 

One Hundred Sons

Gandhari gives birth to a stillborn and sends it to be thrown into the forest but her husband forbids it. He takes the lump and creates 100 sons out it. All the sons were demonic. Duryodhana was also one of the sons that was born. The Pandavas move in with the Kauravas.

Hate and Hurt

The Pandavas and Kauravas have a rivalry. The Pandavas were loved by everyone while the Kauravas were neglected. His uncle, Gandhari's brother, became Duryodhana's mentor because he understood his hatred. 

In part A, Gandhari's brother, hated Gandhari's husband because he thought his sister's life was ruined.  Duryodhana tries to kill Bheem by giving him a sleeping potion in his drink and throwing him into a lake. 

The Magic Potion

Bheem is bit by snakes but instead of dying he wakes up and fights them off. Bheem meets Vasuki, the ruler of the Naglook. He learns they are related and Vasuki calls Bheem his grandsons. He is given a drink that will given him strength to fight anything.

Drona

Bheem survives being drowned and Duryodhana is upset. The Pandavas meet Drona, a brahmin. He becomes their teacher and trains them to become warriors.

Drona Trains the Pandavas

Yudhishthra was a good charioteer. Nakul and Sahadev became talented swordsmen. Bheem's weapon was a mace and he had a lot of strength. Arjun was the best warrior and could wield every weapon and was good at archery. Drona's motive for training them was vengeance. 

Eklavya's Story

Eklavya by Nanda La Bose
Image Source: Dr. Laura Gibbs

The Pandavas meet Eklavya. Eklavya is a skilled archer and hunter. They discover that Drona was his guru. Arjuna feels betrayed because he was not the best archer. Drona is not aware of Eklavya. Drona has refused to teach him because he was of lower caste. Eklavya taught himself archery. Drona demands Eklavya cut his thumb off so Arjuna could be the best.

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.

Week 7 Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part D

Bhishma Falls

Amba is reincarnated as a warrior named Shikhandin and Bhishma recognizes her reincarnated form and doesn't attack him because he still sees her as a woman. Arjuna takes advantage and kills Bhishma because he tried to kill Krishna. After he dies Karna decides to battle his brothers since he already hates them. 

After Bhishma's death, Drona takes command and vows to make Yudhishthira his prisoner while Arjuna vows to protect his brother. 

Abhimanyu and Jayadathra - Dharma & Karma

Jayadathra breaks his promise of being Yudhishthira's slave and kills Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu. Arjuna vows revenge and succeeds with Krishna's help. 

Gatokacha

• Bhima's demon son and the Pandavas nephew

He can create illusions but it didn't work on Karna and he ended up being killed by him. 

Death of Drona

The Pandavas trick Drona into think his son is dead and kill him.  Karna now takes command of Duryodhana's army.

Bhima and Duhshasana - Karma

Bhima gets revenge for Draupadi. Before exile Dushasana had not treated Draupadi right at the gambling event and karma has finally caught up to him. 

Arjuna and Karna - Karma

The brothers battle each other and Arjuna tells Karna to pause because it's unfair to allow him battle someone whose unarmed but Karna continues to attack him. Karna is now at a disadvantages and tells Arjuna to pause and tell him it's unfair to attack a helpless enemy. 

Krishna makes Karna eat his words by asking him about whether all the things he did was manly.

• Not pausing for Arjuna
• Letting Draupadi get ridiculed
• Murdering Arjuna's son with six other men 

Before Karna got to answer Arjuna killed him when he heard his son's name. 

Duryodhana in the Lake

Duryodhana is now using his powers to hide in the lake while that Kauravas fled.  Duryodhana is advised to try and make peace but insists on continuing war since he has gone in to deep. 

Shalya is now the commander of the army. During the battle Duryodhana fled and hid in the water.

Duryodhana neglected his dharma.

Duryodhana surrenders and tells them they can have the kingdom and to leave him alone so he can go into the forest to meditate. 

He tells them he will fight only if he can fight them one by one and the Pandavas agree but he still won't come out of the water until Bhima threatened to drag him out and kill him. Despite being outnumbered, he is still confident he will win. 

The Night Raid

Drona's son tries to kill the Pandavas in their sleep but fails.  All of Draupadi's kids are dead and she is angry at her husbands and asks them if the exile was worth it now since they were the reason the Pandavas and her went into exile.

In the end Kunti still got to keep her kids but everyone else lost their husbands or kids. 

The Pandavas and Bhishma 

Bhishma decides its time for him to die and explains how to run the kingdom to Yudhisthira how to run the kingdom before he dies. 

It's ironic how Yudhisthira ended up being king of the kingdom again since he was part of the reason they went into exile. 

Parikshit

Although the Pandavas are dead, a miracle happens which saves their family line.  Parikshit had originally been killed in the womb but was brought back to life by Krishna and he was born 5 months later after his father's death.  Uttara, Parikshit's mother wanted to die after he was born so she can be with her husband but Krishna reminded her that her son needed her. 

Krishna's Death

Krishna and his brother both died in the jungle. Krishna was mistaken for a deer and shot in the foot, the only spot where he could be wounded. Balarama died after a snake came out of his mouth. 

Not too long after Krishna's death, it was time for the Pandavas to leave the world as well. 

Draupadi and Krishna
(Wikimedia Commons)

The Afterlife

After the Pandavas enter the afterlife, they find Duryodhana there as well sitting on a throne. They also see the other Kauravas but do not see Draupadi.  Yudhisthira is not happy to see the Kauravas and wants to find Draupadi. 

He is tested when an illusion of hell appears. He tells the celestial to leave him there because he needed to make up for his mistake.

Week 7: PDE Mahabharata Reading Notes, Part C

Life in the Forest - Dharam 

After the Pandavas are set free they go into exile and Draupadi goes with them. At this point, they have lost their kingdom along with everything else and come across a brahmin name Dhaumya, whom they live with for the next 12 years.

Krishna's Visit

The Bhima and Draupadi are still angry at Yudhishirtha. Draupadi mentions his dharma as a husband. Krishna offers to help the Pandavas help them get their kingdom back and explains to Yudhisthira that if he had been their this would have never happened.

Draupadi continues to complain about how she is no longer a queen and is living like a peasant. 

It sounds like Krishna is a mediator and has a little more power over everyone.

Shiva

Lord Shiva, the destroyer and transformer
(flickr)

Meanwhile Arjuna is used to being exiled since he had been before. He is looking for weapons so that him and the Pandavas can fight the Kauravas. He goes to the Himalayas and meets Shiva. Shiva grants Arjuna's wish and gives him weapons. 

Arjuna and Indra - Karma

Arjuna meets his father Indra. Arjuna also meets Urvashi who curses him to become a musician and dancer for 5 years in order to get him under control. While under the curse, he also learns how to use the weapons that Shiva gave him.  Indra trained Arjuna into a warrior. 

The Pandavas and Arjuna reunite. 

Bhima and Hanuman - Dharma

Bhima is Hanuman's half-brother.  Their father is Vayu, the wind god. Hanuman explains the duties of different castes to Bhima. 

Duryodhana and the Gandharvas

Karna is loyal to Duryodhana and is sent to spy on the Pandavas. He wages war with the Gandharvas. The Pandavas are now out of exile and Karna vows to kill Arjuna. 

Karna and Indra - Dharma 

Indra is trying to protect Arjuna by negotiating with Karna. Karna is also a follower of Indra ironically. Indra disguises himself as a brahmin and demands Karna's armor and earrings.  These things are significant because they make him invincible.

In exchange for the armor, Indra gives him a weapon that can slay anyone except Arjuna but he does not mention that. The weapon rebounds if it hits Arjuna.

Karma can take away his armor and earrings as a result of misusing them for evil.

Jayadratha and Draupadi - Karma 

Like in the Ramayana, Draupadi is put in danger in the forest. Jayadratha likes her and kidnaps her.  He is also married to Duryodhana's sister. 

As punishment, he is stripped of his royal position and is declared a slave. 

The Court of King Virata

The Pandavas must spend their final year in exile hiding. The terms of exile:

• spend additional 12 years in exile if discovered by Kauravas

They hid at a kingdom where the king and queen bond with them while they are there. 

Bhima and Kichaka - Dharma

Draupadi in disguise at the Court of King Virata
(Raja Ravi Varma)

The Pandavas fail to protect their wife once again when the queen's brother, Prince Kichaka, attempts to assault Draupadi. Bhima secretly defends his wife. The queen abided by his wishes. Draupadi tells the king what happened but he just laughs at her along with the rest of the court because he feared the prince. 

Bhima hides in Draupadi's room and slays Kichaka when he comes in. 

The king and queen fail their dharma to protect their people. Why is he a king if he's going to be scared? Kings are suppose to be brave and this one shows poor leadership. 

The Cattle Raid

Despite the king's lack of leadership and integrity, the Pandavas defend him when Duryodhana tries to steal his cattle. The Pandavas brothers' exile is over and the brothers reveal themselves to the king.

Preparations for War

Krishna is trying to help the Pandavas and Kauravas make peace. The Kauravas refuse to give the kingdom back to them. 

Duryodhana and Arjuna both wanted Krishna's help but Krishna saw Arjuna first and gives him the option to choose between an army and him and Duryodhana gets the other option.  

Krishna is not going to participate in the battle but Arjuna is confident he could single-handedly defeat his enemies.

Krishna's Mission to the Kauravas

Krishna continues to try to make peace and goes to the extent of showing his true form as Vishnu.  Duryodhana wants to hurt Krishna now to weaken the Pandavas power but he reads their thoughts and so he goes to the elders.

Krishna and Karna - Karma

Karna still doesn't know that the Pandavas are his brothers until Krishna tells him. Karna confronts his mother and is angry and still chooses to help Duryodhana because they cared for him. He told Kunti that he will not hurt his brothers though. He decides to fight Arjuna only and says its a win-win situation whether he dies or not.

This is Kunti's karma.

The Battle Begins

Bishma is the General of the Kauravas but isn't confident that they'll win. 

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part B

The Pandavas and Kunti are believed to be dead but are hiding in the wilderness.

Bhima and Hidimbi

Bhima marries a demon that fell in love with him and they have son and name him Ghatotkacha.  He stays with his wife and son leaving Kunti and the rest of the Pandavas to continue their journey without him.

Bhima and Baka

Baka is the king of Ekachakra and protects the people but takes all of their food and leaves them to starve. If they don't give him the food he eats the whole household of the family that didn't pay him.

Bhima kills Baka.

The king failed his dharma and got his karma. 

Draupadi

Draupadi and the Pandavas
(Raja Ravi Varma)

• Drupada's daughter

• Supernatural birth

• Sacrificial fire

• Avenges her father and destroys Kauravas

• Sister of Dhrishtadyumna

• Reincarnation of a woman who prayed 5 times for a husband

Swayamwara

Overview: Her dad announces that whoever can break the bow will win his daughter's hand in marriage and summons the princes and regents. Krishna makes a guest appearance in this part of the story. 

Karna breaks the bow but is rejected by Draupadi because he is not a king's son.

Karna's story can make a good story for a prince in disguise. 

Arjuna breaks the bow and Krishna declares that the bride had been fairly won. 

Draupadi's marriage to five husbands results in karma from her previous life.  It's revealed that in her previous like she prayed for a husband 5 times. The husbands are all incarnations of Indra.

Kunti makes a mistake and all 5 of the Pandavas end up being married to Draupadi. They tell her they brought a gift and she tells them to share it between the 5 of them. She realizes her mistake and basically tells them to sort it out because she can't take back her words.

Indraprastha

Duryodhana knows the Pandavas are alive and became Drupada's ally. The kingdom is run by the Pandavas and they are all about justice and doing the right thing and listen to their people's concerns.

This is a good example of dharma and good karma. Maybe there can be a revelation that it's actually karma that runs the kingdom but she appointed the Pandavas as representation. 

Arjuna and Ulupi

Arjuna breaks the rules while sharing his wife with his brothers and is exiled. He meets Ulupi and she forces him to marry her and they have a child together. 

Arjuna leaves them behind in Nagaloka and continues exploring.

Rules:

• If one brother is with the wife the others need to leave the room

• If a brother enters the room it is intrusion and the punishment is being exiled for 12 years. 

Arjuna entered the weapons room where Yudhishthira was with their wife. He was chasing a robber and needed the weapon to catch him. Yudhishthira tries to defend him but Arjuna keeps his word and goes into exile.

Maybe Arjuna broke the rule on purpose because he didn't want to share his wife and be married anymore. It is a unique situation. His good deed of catching a robber is good karma. 

Arjuna and Chitra

Arjuna marries the Princess of Manipur and they also have a son together.  Arjuna leaves his son in Manipur.

It looks like Arjuna is a bit of a playboy and needs to take responsibility for his children. 

Arjuna and Subhadra

Arjuna marries Krishna's sister.  Krishna advices him to take her away by force and marry her because it is looked up upon. Krishna's brother, Balarama wanted her  to marry Duryodhana.

After exile Draupadi is angry that he married Subhadra. Subhadra becomes Draupadi's maid. 

Draupadi Lost

Yudhishthira gets into a gamble match Shakuni and loses the whole kingdom. He gambles his own wife and himself.

This is unfair because she wasn't just his wife. He gambles everything without his brothers' and wife's consent.

Draupadi is furious that she is now a slave to the Kauravas.  She questions why the Pandavas aren't protecting if they're all about justice.  The Pandavas are angry and want revenge.  

Karna explains to her that her fate is determined by her husband. Slaves can't be married.  Bhima gets angry at Yudhishthira but Arjuna defends him. Bhima can't kills his brother so he vows to avenge the kingdom and Draupadi against the Kauravas which the elders applaud him for.

The Second Match

Dhritarashtra learns the truth from his brother Vidura and is angry about what his son did. He apologizes to Draupadi who asks that he release the Pandavas and her. They are exiled.

The Pandavas and Draupadi exiled
( Ramanarayanadatta astri )

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part A

Vyasa and Ganesha

Vyasa is the author of the Mahabharata and arranged the Vedas.A god tells him that Ganesha would write the story for him. 

Ganesha agreed on the term that his pen does not stop writing.

Vyasa's birth: 

His father is human and his mother is a fish and he has a twin sister named Satyavati who smelled like fish. They were caught by a fisherman. He told the king (Uparichara) who took his son but left his daughter with the fishermen. 

She is courted by King Shantanu and agrees to love him under some conditions:

• She must remain a virgin
• The smell of fish needs to go away

King Shantanu and Ganga

Painting of King Shantanu, Ganga, and Devavrata
by B.P Banjeree 1923

Image Source: Wikipedia

• First wife

• Ganga agreed to be the mother of 7 boys who are Vasus

• A brahmin named Vasistha cursed them to be human because they interrupted his meditation 

• She made a condition that they give some of their powers to her  eighth son. 

Vasistha  with his wife Arundhati and Kamadhenu cow
Image Source; Wikipedia

Ganga meets her husband and agrees to marry him under the condition:

• He doesn't question her actions
• He doesn't insult her
• She's allowed to do whatever she wants

She will have to go away forever if these conditions are broken .

Ganga drowned her 7 children (the Vasus). Her husband breaks his promise and insults her because he couldn't watch her drown anymore children. She leaves her son with him. 

King Shantanu stops Ganga from drowning Devavtra
Image Source: Wikipedia

Satyavati

• Mother of Chitrangada  and Vichitravirya and Vyasa

• Second wife of King Shantanu

Her father would not allow her to get married until King Shantanu agreed to allow Vyasa to be king. Shantanu refused because the throne is supposed to go to Devavrata (Ganga's son).

Devavrata's Vow

• Ganga and King Shantanu's son 
• Later known as Bhishma

He visits Satyavati's father and vows not to accept the throne, get married, or have kids so that the fisherman will allow her to get married to his father.

A god and apsara called him "Bhishma" which means "Terrible" because of the vow he made but they dropped flowers on his head which can symbolize something good. 

The flowers can be a sign of good karma.

Chitrangada became king but got killed by the king of Gandhari three years later for for waging war.  

Satyavati's other son became king but was too young to rule the kingdom

• Devavrata ran the kingdom for a few years. 

Devavrata technically broke his promise but he also made sure to put make his brother king as soon as he was old enough.  

A story can be made about him breaking his promise but because he gave up his rightful place as king and helped his father marry Satyavati, he can get a pass because of his good karma.

Bhishma at the Swayamvara

• Shantanu dies and his half-brother is king now

• Bhishma was looking for a woman to marry his brother

• A competition between 3 sisters is created. They are princesses of Benares.

1.  Amba

• On the day of the wedding, she reveals to Bhishma that she already likes someone and it would be unfair to marry someone else

This can be considered good karma because she prevented several people from being hurt by admitting  the truth.

• She gets rejected by her lover & blames Bhishma
• She fasts for several days until Shiva appears
• Requests Bhishma be defeated
• Shiva tells her she will be reincarnated as a man and will battle Bhishma 
•  She sets up her own funeral and dies 

She also will get bad karma but her good deed will make karma go easy on her.

2. Ambika
3. Ambalika

Dhritarashtra and Pandu

Bhishma's younger brother is now married but he dies before he has kids. Vyasa is made king.

• Him and Ambika have a blind son because she closed her eyes with horror at Vyasa's appearance

• Dhritarashtra




• Ambalika son is born pale because she was pale at the sight of Vyasa

• Pandu
• Became king 

• He has a son with Ambika's servant

• Vidura
• Dharmas incarnation

Kunti and Her Son

• Pandu's wife

• Krishna's aunt (Vasudeva's sister)

• Mother of Karna

• Father is Surya
• Abandoned in a river 
• Adopted by Radha and Adhiratha

Kunti was granted a wish to have any god's child and out of curiosity she accidently had Karna.

This can be an example of bad karma. The quote "curiosity killed the cat" fits the situation. She failed to take responsibility for her actions and abandoned her son.

Sons of Pandu

Pandu was hunting for deer and accidentally killed a Brahmin and his wife that were disguised as deers  He is cursed to be killed by one of his wives while having intercourse so Pandu becomes celibate.

He didn't have kids of his own but his wives had sons with different gods.  There were 5 sons.

1. Yudhishthira - Dharma's son
2. Bhima - Vayu's son
3. Arjuna - Indra's son 

After he dies the wives argue about who should die with him and Madri wins. She was also Pandu's favorite wife. Kunti was his first wife.

Gandhari and Dhritarashtra

• Husband and wife
• 100 sons
• Duryodhana - oldest
• Evil

Pandavas and Kauravas

Pandu's brother blind brother takes in his family after his death and raises his sons and Pandu's sons who become enemies when they get older.

The Kauravas were jealous of the Pandavas

• Duryodhana kills his cousin Bhima by poisoning his food and throwing his body into the Ganges
• Bhima comes back to life and has super strength

• His father makes Yudhishthira, his cousin, the king because he was the oldest out of all of them.
• He lies to his father about how the Pandavas want to overthrow Dhritarashtra and he believes him 

• He schemes to build the palace out of wood and then burn it all and kill the Pandavas and Kunti.

Vidura learns about the plan and warns the Pandavas. They fake their death by escaping through and underground tunnel and go back to live in the wilderness again.

This story could be turned into a comedy where Duryodhana keeps trying to kill Bhima but fails each time. 

Drona - Example of Bad Karma

• Pandavas and Kauravas guru
• Created by a nymph; doesn't have a mom
• Ex-best friends with Drupada
• Drupada thought he was better than Drona after he became king

Eklayva

• Wanted Drona to be his guru but got rejected because he was a different caste
• Drona asks him to cut his thumb since Arjuna was his favorite 
• Leader 

Karna

• Kunti & Surya's son
• Arjuna's brother
• Duryodhana's friend 
• Adoptive father is a farmer 

• Bhima makes fun of him 

The brothers do not know they are related.

Drona's Revenge

He manipulates the princes into fighting Drupada. The Kauravas go to fight first but lose. The Pandavas defeat the kingdom. 

It looks like Drona was bias between the cousins and trained the Pandavas better since the Kauravas were related to his enemy. 

After Drupada is defeated Drona asks to be his friend and for half of the kingdom which Drupada agrees to. Drupada has a secret agenda and plans to get his kingdom back. 

The Pandavas waged war against neighboring kingdoms and took over those territories.

A great example of karma throughout this part of PDE is how both Satyavi's sons died which ended their royal line. The throne was meant to Bhishma's all along. He had took keep taking over for them. 

Reading Notes: Krishna: The Upholder of Govardhana, Part A

p. 57

Painting of Lord Krishna playing the flute
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Girls

This part of the book describes life from the women's and girls perspective. They are enchanted by Krishna when he plays the flute.

They go to take a bath in the river and are pranked by Krishna.

• This was his way of testing their loyalty to him.

At this point, it feels like Krishna and Balarama's friends depend on them for everything.

• They get hungry and tell Krishna to satisfy their hunger so he sends them to the Brahmin's and then the Brahmin's wives who wholeheartedly give them food. 

⭐They are worried they will not be accepted again by their husbands since they left everything to serve Krishna but they are reassured that they will be accepted because of how devoted they are to him.

This is what should've happened when Sita was accused of infidelity. I could use this piece of information for my project since Karma knows everything that happens. 

Yajna - Krishna is now 7 years old 

A ceremony was supposed to be performed for Indra,  the god of rain and storms , but Krishna convinces them to have a ceremony for the mountain instead. 

• Indra gets angry and attacks the village by causing a storm and flooding the village. 
• Krishna protects the people by lifting the mountain.

I think Krishna was testing Indra to see how good he is as a god. Because the people did not worship him, he attacked them. Indra realizes how strong Krishna is and sets his pride aside. 

p. 71 gives a timeline of everything Krishna has done so far

Infancy - kills a demon named Pootana 

• Pootana tried to poison Krishna by breastfeeding him poison
• 3 months - overturned loaded cart
• 1 year - Throttles Demon Trinavarta

Child

• Defeats Asunder the demon Heron  
• Uprooted Arjuna trees

Krishna Saves Nanda (his father)

Nanda is his adoptive father.

Nanda is fasting and decides to take a bath. demon drowns Nanda. Krishna goes underwater to confronTS Varuna , the lord of the Nether World. When Varuna sees Krishna, he apologizes.

• Varuna's servant drowned Nandas

Revelation

Krishna shows his true form to the people. He plays his flute and enchants the women and lures them to him. 

I could probably make Krishna seem like a flirt since so many women adore him. I also feel like he has a little bit of an ego since he knows so many people are loyal to him. 

Krishna cloned himself so each of the Gopikas (cowgirls) would have his attention.

Pareekshit makes a good point when he asks Shukadeva why Krishna behaves the way he does with the Gopikas if he was born to eliminate sin.

🌟Shukadeva reminds him that Krishna is not an ordinary human and that he acts a certain way to inspire faith (lilas) in people.

Reading Notes: Krishna: The Subduer of Kaliya, Part B

p. 29

Setting: Hot summer in the forest of Vrindavan. The villagers moved from Gokul because they were concerned for their safety.

Kaliya

• 101 headed serpent that poisoned the Yamuna (water bank)
• Krishna playfully defeats him. 
• Kaliya's family beg Krishna not to kill him and they all leave the pond 

Krishna fights Kaliya
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Not too long after arriving, Balarama defeats an asura (evil character) in the forest so that everyone can eat the fruits in the forest. 

A demon disguised a boy is tricked by Krishna and his brother in a game of hide and seek.

Forest Fire

Krishna and his friends lose their cows and get caught in the middle of a forest fire. Krishna puts it out by swallowing by swallowing the fire.  

Reading Notes: The Darling of Gokul, Reading Part A

Overview: The whole story is narrated by Shukadeva to Pareekshit

p. 1 -28


Setting: Village and Forest

Krishna eating butter as a baby
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Kamsa- Krishna's evil uncle

• Kills all of Devaki's newborns because he is told by a prophecy that one of them would try to kill him
• Only manners he has is not killing his cousin because she is a woman and his cousin 
• Imprisons Devaki and Vasudeva

Devaki and Vasudeva - Krishna's birth parents

• Vasudeva is the prince of Dwaraka

Yashoda and Nanda - Krishna's adoptive parents

• Nanda is the leader of Gokul 

Krishna and Balarama

• both mischievous
• Krishna has been killing demons since he was a baby
• He likes butter

Demons in Disguise

Krishna's Infancy

• Innocent woman 
• Hurricane 

Child

• Black calf
• Large Crane ( 4-5 years old)
• Serpent

I think it's a Krishna's adoptive parents are a bit neglectful by leaving him by himself and allowing random people into their homes. Although it is a village the demons that entered disguised as people are reasons why they should have been more careful with baby Krishna. 

Then when he gets older they continue to let him roam about despite all the dangers. Even though he can protect himself, he is still a child. What if he didn't know how to control his powers or used his powers to do something bad?