+* Dwapar Yuga: Doubts & Discussions *+ - Page 16

Janaki Duryodhan performed Visnmu Yagya and not Ashvamedh.

Originally posted by: JanakiRaghunath

They Kali who presides over Kali Yuga is not Goddess Kali, but Kali Purusha, who is the cause of all the bad that happens during this yuga.

As for the relationship between Dwaraka and Hastinapura, I think they were on equal footing because during Duryodhan's Ashvamedh Yagna, he never tried to defeat Dwaraka and brought all the other Kings into subordination. In fact, I think Dwaraka was slightly higher than all the other Kingdoms in Aryavrat because the Yadavas were the strongest warriors there...kind of like Ayodhya was the highest Kingdom during Ram and Dashrath's reign, as well as that of their ancestors.

Which makes me ask this...were Drupada and Virata also defeated by Duryodhana? If so, did they have the right to join the Pandavas since they would be considered the Kauravas' vassals?

Vrish (or anyone else) - I have a couple of questions.

a) Yes. When Krishna stands up and blocks the Vaishnavastra from killing Arjun, he describes how he had given it to Bhumi Devi on request. (One strange thing here - he describes how she had given it to Narakasura, but Krishna might as easily have given it to Bhagadatta after he killed Naraka) I'm not sure why Bhagadatta joined the Kauravas - you might want to read up Udyoga Parva and Bheeshma Parva to find out why. I also find it unlikely that Bhagadatta would have been subjugated either by Arjun nor Karna during the Rajasuya or Visnmu Yagnas.

b) Yadava participation - The Narayani Sena wasn't part of either Satyaki or Kritavarma - they seemed to be Krishna's private militia - made up of 10 crore cowherds who were supposedly very powerful. After being turned down by Balarama, Duryodhan approached Kritavarma separately, and the latter joined him w/ an entire Akshauhini. No mention was made of Arjun inviting Satyaki to join - I am interested as to on what reasons he joined, thereby becoming the #2 warrior in the Pandava army (after Arjun).

c) Krishna's sons - surprisingly, none of them are mentioned as even fighting. I'd have thought that they'd all have joined the Pandavas. Neither Duryodhan nor Arjun thought of inviting them. And yeah, Satyaki lost all his 10 sons to Bhurishrava, but after the Yadava fratricide, he apparently had a young son who Arjun crowned as a chief of the Satyakas after making Kritavarma's son the chief of the Andhakas.

What surprised me more was that Duryodhan declined the invitation of Rukmi to join him after the latter had been rebuffed by Arjun, even though after that, he went out of his way to trick Shalya into joining him.

Did Magadha also remain neutral during the War? I do not recollect Sahadeva / Meghasandhi allying with any side.

Originally posted by: varaali

Did Magadha also remain neutral during the War? I do not recollect Sahadeva / Meghasandhi allying with any side.

Also what were the political state of affairs after the War? For instance- did Matsya kingdom - which probably didn't have male survivors cede to Indraprastha? What about Panchala? With Drishtadyumna, Shikkhandin,Yudhmanyu and Uttamoujas all killed on the 18 day, who ruled Panchala or did it automatically come under Indraprastha?

No, Magadha was an ally of the Pandavas. Both Drishtaketu & Sahadev (Jarasandha's son) were killed on day 14 by Drona while they were resisting his attempts to take advantage of the absence of Arjun, Satyaki & Bhima, and capture Yudhisthir. A lot of major Pandava warriors got killed this way. I can dig up the relevant page, if one wishes.

Geographically, Matsya was nowhere close to Indraprastha/Hastinapur - after the war, neither Matsya nor Panchala seemed to have any survivors. Unless they had minor princes who couldn't participate succeeding the thrones. Same question would apply to a lot of kingdoms, but looks like they found their bearings. I think Matsya & Panchala did as well - @ any rate, neither became a part of Hastinapur. Incidentally, Indraprastha remained a part of the Pandava kingdom until Arjun installed Vajra as its ruler. But some descendents of Parikshit are said to have moved their capital to Indraprastha, which then begs the question of where did Vajra's descendents go - to Mathura?

When Arjun went on the Ashwamedha yagna, the allies obviously welcomed him, while his former enemies, like Gandhara resisted but were subjugated. In Sindhu, Jayadrath's son committed suicide rather than face Arjun, so Duhshala had his minor grandson crowned and accepted Arjun's suzerainty. The only successful resistance to Arjun, as is well known, came from Babruvahana, but after his victory, he accepted Yudhisthir as an ally on equal terms and attended the yagna.

Originally posted by: _Vrish_

When Arjun went on the Ashwamedha yagna, the allies obviously welcomed him, while his former enemies, like Gandhara resisted but were subjugated. In Sindhu, Jayadrath's son committed suicide rather than face Arjun, so Duhshala had his minor grandson crowned and accepted Arjun's suzerainty. The only successful resistance to Arjun, as is well known, came from Babruvahana, but after his victory, he accepted Yudhisthir as an ally on equal terms and attended the yagna.

Meghasandhi, ruler of Magadha did offer resistance- despite having been an ally.

I don't think any ruler welcomed Arjuna.It would have been against Kshatriya code of conduct. That was precisely Arjuna's argument to motivate Babruvahan when the latter fell prostrate at his feet.

Even the Yadavas put up a token resistance until Ugrasena (or was it Vasudeva?) came out stopped it.

At some places Karna;s wife is mantioned as Vaishali. Is she mentioned in Mahabharat

Nandini

I've not read or heard of it, and it would take a while to find out. Do you know in which parva she is likely to be mentioned, or in your source, in what context did she appear?

No I just read on the net about Vrushali

IS the story of Karna and his wife narrated in Mahabharat Katha by BRC true or is it fiction?

One of Karna's Son's accompanied Arjun during Ashwamedh yagya? Bavruvahan battle I mean?