Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Week 6 Reading Diary: Mahabharata


The Pandavas were exiled and Krishna went to visit them. The son of the god Indra, Arjuna, goes on a solo adventure to get weapons that they will later need. Arjuna is an interesting fellow. He performed prayer, vigil, and fast. He would eat fallen fruits and rationed his food little by little until he did not need any food. He wore grass and deer-skin for clothing. He was always bathing and purifying himself. He was said to look like lightening. Also, “He would stand day after day with arms upraised without support, till the earth began to smoke and the heavenly beings to tremble from the heat of Arjuna’s penance.” A boar decided to rush at him one day. When he did Arjuna shot him with an arrow. But, when he did this, there was another dart that hit the boar. This was not any arrow. This arrow belonged to a powerful huntsman that was just as angry as Arjuna was with this encounter. The huntsman and Arjuna decided to fight for the dead boar. As they were about to wrestle, something interesting happened. Arjuna was touched by the heart and saw the Great God. The Great God was so pleased with Arjuna that he granted him the divine bow. 

Author: Laura Gibbs

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