Chanakya - Discussion..!!! {Link of Next Thread Updated on Page-1} - Page 7

Originally posted by: Kaana

Maddy, as always a delight to read your post. And, I am glad that you did not spare Bindusar - he seems to be sharing his thoughts more with the dasi than his wives. And spending more time with her than in the sabha for that matter,where also she is present. And ofcourse Ashoka has a free entry to the sabha anytime and can just say whatever he wants even in the middle of a discussion going on there. While, Ashoka maybe the hero, his daas position in the show as of now has to be borne in mind😕

Dharma - now which dharma is she talking about???? Kshatriya dhama or Brahmana dharma??Dharma for each of the four castes has been spelt out clearly by the Lord with the wellbeing of the world in mind. So, now Dharma in the name of dharma seem to be preaching a new dharma to me!! Well, it is not necessarily a new dharma, but a mixing up of dharma as I see for that matter. I was shocked when she asked the boon of shedding the weapons to Bindusar. The same one who said that he has to do his kshatriya dharma, more than pati dharma and packed him off to Pataliputra, now says he has to shed his kshatriya dharma. IF she had said that you do not wage war or use your weapon unnecessarily, but only to protect the motherland - then it may make sense, but asking to renounce weapons is shocking!

Essentially, in my opinion, she is going through what Bhagavan has said the Bhagavad Gita. He says that when there is a mix of caste, confusion sets in and dharma gets hit. That is wha is happening here. She is pushing her Brahmana dharma (where ahimsa is pratomo dharma for the satvik Brahmins) on to her Kshatriya husband. What will happen to the country then - did she thin about it? If Bindusar is going to sit and meditate, do japa, then enemies will just over him and the country. Then don't blame ahimsa as the reason for such a debacle. The issue is one did not apply ahimsa dharma corectly.

Now, she is applying the same Brahmana dharma on Ashoka. Let us give it to her for this for a moment. Actually, in the case of Ashoka, technicall speaking he is not a Kshatriya, as he is born of a mix of two castes and so technically do not belong neither of the castes. So, there is no kshatriya dharma that binds him as I see, but being the king later on, the raj dharma binds him though then. So, maybe she chose the Brahmana dharma to be in his life as he will anyway not be noncomplying to Kshatriya dharma. However, is this decision now a practical one as Maddy has rightly asked here?

Honestly, am thinking about it,

- in the first place, she committed herself into it.I need to go back to that epsiode to remember what exactly were the words by which she commited into - but if am right, though Ashoka's security was the prime factor, she was also bought into the hitam (wellbeing) of Magadh. So, for Magadh's well-being, given Ashoka's competence, it might do well to get him trained.

- secondly, for Ashoka's own security as well, it will be beneficial to get him trained on shastram-s.

(weapons).

- being the son of the king, especially after knowing that he did not deceive her, maybe it is her duty to train her son on the path of his father, with the above two reasons adding weight to it. Should this not overweigh her own beliefs and likes?

- the child's interest and capabilities, ability to lead a nation, over which he anyway has a right leally, needs to be borne in mind?

(I am not done - will continue later :) )

Originally posted by: MaddyO

Kaana, so wonderful to read your posts. If you watched today's episode! Dharma was even more impractical and living in some kind of dream world today!

Granted she is a Bramhan and Bindusaar Kshatriya - how can then she preach to him to follow non-violence? He has duties to protect his kingdom and subjects. For Dharma it seems to be all black and white - she does not even consider that learning of arms use can be for self defense!

When Dharma has given vachan to Chankya and handed him over to Chankya why should she constantly interfere? Even when it comes to his learning? What does she thinks a child his age should do? Like you wrote especially now that she knows Bindusaar did not abandon her nor send to kill her - she has to know eventually Chankya will tell Bindusaar about Ashoka.
Is she so silly not to realize why Chankya has got Ashoka to Pataliputra.

I will not write more cos do not want to spoil your viewing but today's precap was very interesting. Ashoka is getting very interesting.

Originally posted by: Kaana

Maddy, finished my post jut now - go up and read it fully now :).

I have not seen today's episode yet. I get to watch on the net only, so will have to wait. But you made a brilliant point about Dharma's vachan to Chanakya handing him over in his custody and her interferenc now? None, can escape your sharp eyes :) And precisely, Chanakya will eventually tell Bindusar about Ashoka - she knows that is the plan anyway. By creating obstacles, maybe she is hastening the process.

For now, I love Canakya's character -very nice portrayal and am so into this serial. Ofcourse, for Sid, the Ashoka also.

Originally posted by: history_geek

[

Is this new entry -> Rakshasacharya , or Amatya Rakshasa ? If it is, then i have not known of "enmity" between him and Chanakya till now. If i remember correctly, these two were not rivals. Need to read more , right now was busy in Bindusara - Dharma angle.!

Can you or anyone brief it here about this new entry? :)
Agreed with every thing in your comment, esp the last para. :-P

Another thing which you informed me about Justin - Nur angle was horrifying, but we do have such cases in history in some other Empires at least. I am liking Chanakya shown as a strong headed person till now.

The thing is if we watch it as a normal show forgetting history then it can be enjoyed. Gone are the days of DoodDarshan series where we used to get amazing story lines.!

Originally posted by: Meself

I must confess I am somewhere losing my interest in the series all thanks to that distortion wielding tool called "Natya Rupanter". If it were so why put the series as a historical they could have claimed it to be a historical fiction like Epic channel did with "Siyaasat" Anyway more on this and that later!

Honestly speaking Dharma is turning out to be a pretty impractical and no offence meant, stupid character. Dynasties survive because of three major causes, able leadership, flourishing economy and land expansion that often accompanies war. Krishna had guided Arjuna that war should be the ultimate weapon but it is a weapon nonetheless. How can this aspect of reign be ignored? Dharma knows that one day or the other Asoka's truth will be out in the open. And she also has an inkling that none would welcome her son and herself with open arms. So her denial at this stage is questionable. The Asoka is out with the name tag of Mauryan prince, trouble will follow this young lad and so the safest bet here is to train Asoka for all future impedance. So her "ahimsa" stand isn't digestible to me.

Coming to Chanakya. well this man is the reason why Magadha stood tall among all the other Mahajanpadas and finally engulfed all to give way to "Akhand Bharat" I do agree his stand on getting Dharma and Asoka attacked is treacherous and ruthless beyond any debate but is effective nonetheless. Dharma probably will see why Asoka needs strong able hands that are well versed with violence. Maybe she'd see that weapons are not only means of offence but also defense. Chanakya knows that Asoka has every quality that makes him king in spirit, but he needs a proper direction to process his thoughts to and that is being provided to him by Chanakya. He is like that maestro who has spotted the diamond and shaping it up slowly and carefully. It is his character that has been given ample dimension along with Asoka and that is the only saving grace of the series.

Thirdly, I am very upset seeing another great mind, Amatya Rakshasa degraded to a mere villain with a petty personal vendetta. He was a true patriot and loyalist to house of Magadha. It is sad to see him going bonkers at the hands of creatives. Amatya Rakshasa was born as Kartikeya and later during his teens had been employed as an intern in the court of Mahapadma Nanda and was finally appointed as the Mahamatya of Dhanananda. He was true blue patriot of Magadha and like Chanakya a master planer. He had tried his level best to murder Chandragupta but he was saved by Chanakya's spy Jeevsiddhi. Finally Chanakya himself went to the man and addressed him with respect and requested him join the royal court as Chandrgupta's minister for a brain like his would be beneficial to Magadha. Rakshasa had agreed and given his exemplary services to Magadha. It is nowhere mentioned as to how he died but he had lived during early years of Asoka and might have trained him for good. it is really sad to see him being reduced as a plain villain among the lot.

Lord knows what supper this Contiloe is trying to cook!

Originally posted by: RadhikaS0

Abhay

Chanakya is being developed as a grey character. Yesterday he had an encounter with Rakshasacharya, the 1st Mahamatya of CM (really?). RA accused Chanakya of passing off his own ambitions as concern for Magadh and stifling all opposition.

This set me thinking. How selfless was Chanakya's dedication to Magadh? DId he have any personal ambitions too that he hid well under the garb of public concern?

The game between Chanakya and Helena is interesting. Both are trying to be one up on the other. :)

Agree that "historical" shows on TV are all NR with a pinch of history, mostly in the form of characters.

Lot of things are unpalatable in Ashoka - the Justin-Nur affair, Charumitra's black magic, the living in oblivion to everything king who relies more on Dharma (whose standing in the royal palace is presently that of a physician ?) than anyone else. I am watching it for entertainment only. :)

The less said about the other historical shows and their NR, the better. Recently Akbar in 2 shows is facing God's wrath in the form of insects and monkeys, respectively. LOL I just hope Bindusara has better luck.