About Mahabhart Epic--Post your Queries - Page 2

Originally posted by: *Shruti*

Kunti, mother of the Panavas often advised her sons that they share everything they have (or obtain through Bhiksha i.e. alms) equally amongst themselves. Upon returning home with Draupadi, Arjuna addresses his mother first "Look mother, I have brought Bhiksha (alms)!". Kunti, unmindful of what Arjuna was referring to, unassumingly asked her son to share whatever it is with his brothers. Thus, in order to obey their mother's order all five accepted Draupadi as their wife.

thanx this cleared everything

ya but lord krishna came there and explained the pandavas,kunti and draupadi that actually draupadi in her previous birth had undergone rigorous austerities to please lord shankar.pleased with her prayers,the kind hearted lord shankar appeared before her.draupadi after paying him regards asked for a husband such that he would be epitome of truth,he would be equal to lord hanuman in prowess and bravery,he should be a skillfull archer like the lord parshuram,he should the most handsome among the men and he should be very tolorant.lord shankar said that all these divine qualities cannot be found in a single human being.but draupadi pestered him to grant her the boon.then the great shankar bhagwan said that she will have five husband in her next birth and each one of them would possess one of those qualities stated by her.according to the boon granted by lord shiva,
1.yudhister was the epitome of truth
2.bheem-famous for his prowess
3.arjun-most skillful arher of his age
4.nakul-the most handsome man of that time
6.sahdev-popular for his tolorance,wisdom and politeness.
so draupadi had to accept the boon granted by mahadeva and marry the pandavas.kunti was just a medium for it.this mystery was revealed by lord krishna himself to the pandavas

Originally posted by: STUD_99

WEll im not a hindu so can anyone tell me about the events that led to mahabharat and what happened in the war........... 😳

In a place called Hastinapur, there was a king named Shantanu. He wanted to marry. Ganga put a condition that Shantanu would not criticize her no matter whatever she did. If he criticized, then she would leave him. Shantanu agreed and they married.
Ganga gave birth to 7 sons and she killed each son soon after birth by drowning him in river. Shantanu was heartbroken but kept quiet because of the condition. However, when 8th son was born, then Shantanu could not stop himself and expressed his anger at Ganga. Ganga said that she killed her sons because they were born on Earth because of some curse and she freed them from the curse by drowning them in water. Since Shantanu broke the promise, Ganga left him. She took her 8th son also with him. This son was named Devavrat. Ganga took Devavrat to sage Parashuram. Parashuram became Devavrat's teacher.

When Devavrat became youth, then he came back to Shantanu. One day, Shantanu saw Satyavati. Satyavati's father was a fisherman and he also did the job of ferrying people in his boat. Satyavati was exceptionally beautiful. Shantanu wanted to marry her. Satyavati's father put a condition that the son born to Satyavati would become king after Shantanu. Shantanu did not accept this condition because he wanted Devavrat to become king. Devavrat had all the qualities of a good king. Devavrat went to Satyavati's father and said that he would not stake any claim to the throne and the son born to Satyavati could become the king. Satyavati's father said, "What if your son later stakes claim to the throne?" Devavrat replied, "I will not have any child. I take a vow that I will remain celibate whole of my life." Because of such a grand vow, Devavrat was from that time called as Bhism because Bhism means grand. Satyavati and Shantanu got married.

Satyavati gave birth to two sons Chitrangad and Vichitravirya. Shantanu died when Satyavati's sons were still young. Chitrangad became king. He was always interested in wars and was killed in a war. Then Vichitravirya became king. His health was not good. Bhism ruled over the kingdom as representative of Vichitravirya.

One day, Bhism came to know that the king of Kashi was planning marriage of his three daughters Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. Bhism went there. He challenged all the suitors there. There was a fierce battle. Bhism was on one side and all the other suitors were on the other side. Bhism defeated all of them and brought the three princesses to Hastinapur. He wanted them to marry Vichitravirya. Amba said that she loved a king named Shalv and had already considered him as her husband in her heart. Bhism did not want to force Amba. He allowed her to go to Shalv. Ambika and Ambalika happily married Vichitravirya.

Amba went to Shalv. Shalv said that he had lost her in war and he did not take what he had lost. He refused to marry Amba. Amba came back to Bhism and wanted to marry him. Bhism refused because of his vow of celibacy. Amba went to Bhism's guru Parashuram to ask for justice. Parashuram said that either Bhism should marry Amba or have a battle with him. There was fierce battle between Bhism and Parashuram. Both were very brave warriors. Initially Parashuram was having upper hand but finally Bhism was winning. Parashuram said, "I cannot leave battle ground without winning. Therefore, either you kill me or you leave the ground." Bhism could easily kill Parashuram but out of respect for his guru, he left the battle field. Parashuram was very happy to see the respect that Bhism showed to him. He refused to help Amba any further. Amba resolved that she would become the cause of Bhism's death in another birth.

Because of his bad health, Vichitravirya died before he had any child. Satyavati had a son from sage Parashar even before her marriage with Shantanu. This son also became a very great sage and was named as Dwaipayan. He was more commonly known as Ved Vyas. Satyavati called him to produce child from Ambika (in those days, it was permitted by society). Because of some rituals, Ved Vyas's form was very frightening at that time. He asked Satyavati to wait for some months but Satyavati refused. In order to obey his mother's order, Ved Vyas went to Ambika. Ved Vyas was frightening to look at. Out of fear, Ambika closed her eyes. Because of this, Ambika's son was born blind. He was named Dhritarashtra.
When Satyavati came to know that Ambika's son was blind, then she sent Ved Vyas to Ambalika. Ambalika's face became pale out of fear. Because of this, her son was also born pale. He was named Pandu because he was suffering froma disease called Pandu, which is more or less the same as jaundice.
Now, Satyavati once again sent Ved Vyas to Ambika. But Ambika sent her maid servant in her room. This maid servant was very happy to see Ved Vyas. Her son was normal in all respects and he was named Vidur.

Bhism himself taught Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur. When they grew up, then Pandu became king because Dhritarashtra could not see. Dhritarashtra married a princess named Gandhari. Out of devotion towards her husband, she closed her eyes with cloth and vowed that she would also live like a blind, just like her husband.
Pandu married two girls. The first marriage was with Kunti and another with Madri. Both were very beautiful. Madri was more beautiful.

Pandu knew the art of shooting at a target by hearing the sound and without seeing it. Using this art, he killed a pair of deers. Those deers were actually sages and had taken the form of deers using their spiritual power. Before dying, the male deer said to Pandu, "You shot at us when I was with my wife. I curse you that I will die when you even embrace your wife." The sage and his wife then died.

Because of the curse, Pandu was not at all interested in being king. He left the kingdom and went to forest. His wives also followed him. Vidur could not become king because he was the son of a maid servant and also, he was not interested in becoming king. Dhritarashtra became king even though he was blind because there was no other option.
Because of curse, Pandu could not produce any child. Kunti decided to invoke gods to give her boon of children. This is because before her marriage, sage Durvasa once visited Kunti's father's kingdom. Kunti did very good hospitality because Durvasa was a distinguished guest. Durvasa was pleased with her. Before leaving, he gave her a mantra. With that mantra, Kunti could call any god and that god would give her a son. After Durvasa left, Kunti was doubtful about the mantra. Just to check it, she called Sun god. Sun god came. Kunti was afraid. She requested Sun god to go back. But Durvasa's boon could not go wrong. From Sun god, Kunti gave birth to a son named Karn. Karn was born with armours attached to his body. Kunti was afraid that the society would abuse her because she became mother before marriage. She put Karn inside a basket and floated the basket in river. The basket floated and a person named Adhirath saw it. Adhirath was very poor. He was childless. He was overjoyed to see a cute kid. He brought Karn to his wife Radha. They adopted Karn as raised him as their own kid.

Kunti remembered the mantra taught by Durvasa. She told about this to Pandu. Pandu suggested her to call gods for children. One by one, Kunti invoked three gods Yamraj (god of death and justice), Vayu (god of wind) and Indra (god of rain and also king of heaven). Kunti gave birth to three sons now - Yudhisthir from Yamraj, Bhim from Vayu and Arjun from Indra. After this, Kunti taught the mantra to Madri. Madri invoked twin gods Ashwini Kumars and gave birth to Nakul and Sahdev.
These five - Yudhisthir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahdev were called as Pandavas because Pandu was their father (though not biologically).
One day, in forest, Pandu saw Madri. Madri was looking so beautiful that Pandu could not control himself. He went and hugged Madri. Because of curse, Pandu died. Madri became sati by jumping into Pandu's funeral pyre. Now, Kunti looked after her three sons and Madri's two sons. She gave equal love to all of them. She came back to Hastinapur.

Dhritrashtra's wife Gandhari gave birth to 100 sons and 1 daughter. The eldest was a son named Suyodhan (more commonly called Duryodhan) and the youngest was a daughter named Duhshala. From another wife of his, Dhritarashtra got a son named Yuyutsu.

Bhism was now concerned about the education of his grand children. He sent them to guru Krip for study. Krip was a very good teacher. But Bhism wanted his grandchildren to learn from somebody really really good - somebody, who can be termed one of the best. And he found such a guru. He was guru Dron.
In student life, Dron and Drupad were very close friends. Drupad was a prince. He knew that he would become king after his father. He promised to Dron that he would continue to have friendship with him even after becoming king.
Both grew up. Drupad became king of Panchal kingdom. Being a king, he was very rich. On the other hand, Dron was very very poor. He had a child named Ashwatthama. They often had to go without food. Unable to bear the hunger of his family, Dron went to Drupad and reminded him of their friendship. In public Drupad insulted him and said that there could not be any friendship between a king and a beggar. Feeling insulted, Dron came back.

One day the the grandsons of Bhism were playing with a ball. The ball fell in a well. Then a poor brahmin came there. He said to them, "You are princes of Hastinapur. It is a matter of shame for you that you are not able to take out the ball. If you promise me food for one time, I can take this ball out."
Yudhisthir said,"If you can do this, then I will take you to our grandfather Bhism. Then you will get not only food but lot more."
That brahmin took some grass blades and chanted some mantra. The grass blades became weapons. He threw one blade and it got attached to the ball. Then he threw another blade and it got attached to the first blade. Then third blade attached to the second blade and so on. Finally he pulled the blade close to him and this way, he brought the ball out. After this, he threw his ring inside the well. He shot an arrow and brought the ring out. All the princes were amazed. They asked that brahmin's introduction. This brahmin was none other than Dron.
The princes went running to Bhism and told him the whole story. Bhism had already heard about Dron and respected him a lot but he had not heard from him in many years. Bhism requested Dron to become the guru of the princes. Dron agreed. Now, both Krip and Dron were teaching the princes. Dron and his family now did not have to face any poverty.

Dron's son Ashwatthama also studied together with the princes. Out of all the students, Arjun was the best. He became expert in various weapons but archery was his favourite.

Dhritarashtra's eldest son Duryodhan hated all the Pandavas. He was physically very strong but Yudhisthir's younger brother Bhim was stronger than him. Duryodhan conspired a lot to get Bhim killed but everytime Bhim somehow escaped.

One day guru Dron thought that the students had completed the education. He decided to show the expertise of his students to the elders of the royal family.
All the arrangements were made. There were many spectators.
Dron's students came and showcased their skills. Spectarors were mesmerized. Arjun was the best.
Suddenly Karn entered. He repeated all that, which Arjun had done.
Kunti was also present among spectators. When she saw Karn's armours and ear-rings, then she recognized him. She understood that this was her son from Sun god before marriage, who was born with armours and ear-rings and whom she had floated in river. Seeing Karn, Kunti fainted. Everybody thought that she fainted because of heat and after some time she recovered.

Karn challenged Arjun for a duel. Guru Krip said that Arjun was a prince and anybody had no right to challenge him. He asked about Karn's family. Karn said that he was the son of a poor service man. Durodhan decided to make Karn as his friend because he thought that it was an advantage to him to have such a brave one as his friend. He gave the kingdom of a place called Ang to Karn and said that Karn was now a king. Suddenly, Karn's foster father Adhirath came there. Karn touched his feet out of respect. Many people started making fun of Karn that he was the son such a poor man. Adhirath went with Karn. Thus, no fight happened between Karna and Arjun. Pandavas did not know that Karn was their elder brother because Kunti had kept it a secret.

Karn wanted to learn Brahmastra (a highly powerful divine weapon). But Dron refused. Then Karn went to Parashuram. Parashuram was a brahmin. Karn lied that he was also a brahmin. He started living with Parashuram and got the knowledge of Brahmastra and also many other powerful weapons. He performed whatever service Parashuram required from him. Parashuram was very pleased with him.
One day Parashuram slept keeping his head on Karn's lap. An insect started biting Karn's thigh. Karn's thigh was bleeding but he somehow bore the pain because he did not wan to disturb his guru from sleep. The insect kept on biting. Ultimately the blood touched Parashuram's face. Parashuram got up and killed the insect just by looking at it in anger (he had that spiritual power). Parashuram understood that only somebody from a warrior class could bear as much pain as Karn bore. He got angry that Karn had lied to him that Karn was a brahmin. Parashuram cursed Karn that Karn would forget the knowledge of Brahmastra when he would need it the most.
On another occasion, Karn by mistake killed a cow, which belonged to a brahmin. Karn promised him many more cows and lots of wealth in return. But the brahmin's anger was not appeased. He cursed Karn that Karn's chariot would get stuck in ground when he would be in the most dangerous situation in a battle.
Karn came back to his kingdom. Using his might, he expanded his kingdom by defeating many kings.

Dhritrashtra made Yudhisthir as his heir-apparent. He expanded the kingdom by defeating many kings.
Onece Duryodhan conspired to kill Kunti and the five Pandavas by putting the house where they were saying to fire. But they survived because they had already been warned by Vidur.
They went into forest. There Bhim killed a monster named Hidimb. Hidimb's sister Hidimba was impressed with Bhim's strength. With permission from Kunti, Bhim and Hidimba got married.
Kunti and Pandavas went into a village. There, Bhim killed a monster named Bakasur.

Draupadi became the wife of Pandavas
Kunti and her sons went to Panchal, where Durpad was ruling. There was swayamvar of Drupad's daughter Draupadi. Many kings and princes came there to marry Draupadi. Duryodhan and Karn also came. Pandavas also arrived disguised as brahmins. There was a mechanical fish rotating. By looking at its reflection in oil, the fish's eye had to be pierced with arrow. Only the one who could do so was allowed to marry Draupadi.
One by one suitors tried but they failed to even string the bow because the bow was very stiff.
Then Karn came. He stringed the bow and put arrow on it. Kunti said that she did not want to marry Karn because he was the son of a shudra. Karn laughingly went away.
Many other suitors tried after that but failed. Then Arjun came. He passed the test easily. Arjun and Draupadi got married. Some other princes there tried to forcibly take Draupadi with them but Bhim and Arjun defeated them.
Pandavas with Draupadi came to Kunti. They said, "Mother, see what we have brought."
Kunti did not see Draupadi as she was inside the room. She said, "All of you share what you have brought."
Then she saw Draupadi and was shocked at what she had said by mistake. But mother's order had to be obeyed and Draupadi became the wife of all the five Pandavas.