Week 6 Reading Diary: Mahabharata continued

Amba sought revenge by bringing about Brishma’s death in her next life. Arjuna killed Bhisma. Everyone was in deep despair. Arjuna carried water to Bhishma out of deep sadness, Yudhishthira cursed the day on which the war began. Both friends and foes mourned over this loss. 

When Karna came to the battlefield, Bhishma said to him,” Proud rivals have we two been, jealous one of the other, and ever at strife. My voice faileth, yet must I tell thee that Arjuna is not greater than thou art on the battlefield. Nor is he of higher birth, for thou art the son of Kunti and the sun god Surya. As Arjuna is thine own brother, ‘twould be well for thee to bring this strife to an end.” But Karna despised his brother so much and wanted him to die.

After all this, Duryodhana takes command of the army and Arjuna’s son, Abhimanyu, was killed. He was devastated. He vowed to kill the slayer of his son. The next day in battle Arjuna, driven with grief, killed so many soldiers. Arjuna finally defeated Jayadratha. Karna and Arjuna get in an argument. Arjuna has some real anger problems, but I guess I cannot judge him because of all the surrounding tragedy and the loss of his son. Karna brings up his son in the argument and Arjuna gets so angry he shoots Karna with his bow, and Karna’s head strikes off.

Arjuna and Karna argue

Author: Laura Gibbs

PDE Mahabharata

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. 

Arjuna and Karna

Author: Laura Gibbs

PDE Mahabharata