My thoughts about the eighty-two Nano Tales that didn't get my votes and weren't written by me:
Entry 32
Arjuna finally realised how it felt loosing one's thumb, for he lost his Kanha.
This story drew an interesting parallel, but I think it could have been improved with some action and context. If I had written it... Mlecchas grabbing women! Unable to shoot without Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna remembered depriving Ekalavya of his thumb.
These eight stories handled dramatic tension well. I voted for others that I felt were more creative, but I commend the authors for giving us enjoyable stories.
Entry 21
He took aim, fired and hit the eye. Dronacharya, impressed, handed the Brahmastra to Arjuna.
Entry 24
Babruvahana unleashes lethal arrow ... Arjuna Collapses ...
Slayer of grandfather Bhishma lies slain by own son !!!
Entry 25
Draupadi clasped her saree tighter. Long after the ordeal was over, she still felt naked.
Entry 51
Mockery. Hate. Arson. Poison. Vanvaas. Dyut. Vastraharan. Vanvaas. Agyaatvaas. The mace descended. Justice. Finally PEACE!
Entry 69
"I, Arjuna, am now Greatest Warrior!"
Krishna steps down; chariot shatters.
"Hmm, you were saying?"
The canonical story (Śalyaparvan 61.8-19) is that the chariot bursts into flames, and Arjuna has to ask why. The author has toned down the shock value and made it an amusing story of pride humbled.
Entry 79
"Stoooop mispronouncing Vedas , Father !!!!!! "
The foetus twisted, wriggled forming eight crooks.
Ashtavakra became it's name .
In the original story, Aṣṭāvakra says, sarvāṃ rātrim adhyayanaṃ karoṣi, n'edaṃ pitaḥ samyag iv'opavartate - all night you give instruction, Father, this does not seem a correct occasion. The author has made a fascinating choice to remove Kahoḍa's curse from the story (Āraṇyakaparvan 132.8-10), and instead have Aṣṭāvakra twist himself in a reflexive response to mispronunciation.
Entry 95
You can’t challenge him, Go Away!
He can challenge him, go ahead king of Anga!!
Entry 96
Arjuna appears. Like thunderstorm his arrows rained. The Kauravas, without choice, left. Yudhishthir remains safe.
These fifty-one entries did not have sufficiently clear action to be effective as stories. Nevertheless, the authors have a way with words.
Entry 2
"You are born to be immortal, my son”, Arjun cried recalling his blessings.
The reader has to guess that the son is Abhimanyu and his glorious death is figuratively immortality.
Entry 6
His irresistible dimples, mischievous eyes, peacock crown, divine melody of his flute, Rukmini blushed daydreaming !!
Entry 7
Abhimanyu knew entering Chakravyuh, he won't return alive; if didn't, his life would be meaningless.
The distinction between being alive and having lived meaningfully is thought-provoking, but why end on a note of indecision?
Entry 8
"Lakshmi", said Krishna. Rukmini smiled as she felt her Krishna calling her name.
Entry 9
One’s ego made Krishna pick up a weapon. Another’s bhakti helped him keep his vow.
In the original stories (Bhīṣmaparvan 55.80-103 and 102.50-70), it is Kṛṣṇa's ego (compared to the arrogance of a lion - samudīrṇa-darpaḥ siṃhaḥ), his resentment because Arjuna is a soft fighter and Bhīṣma is winning, that makes him brandish either Sudarśana-cakra or a whip as a weapon. Both Bhīṣma and Arjuna speak devotedly to Kṛṣṇa, respectively urging and dissuading him from the kill. This retelling obscures every detail: who else's ego? which weapon? whose bhakti? Why not be clear?
Entry 11
Ahhhhh !!!! wailed Uttara , clutching her stomach, profusely sweating. Krishna was combating BRAHMASTRA in her womb.
Entry 12
"After Dharm Sthapna we will be reunited Rukmini", said Krishna and Vaidarbhi smiled amidst tears.
Entry 13
Krishna had arranged a feast for Rudra. At Kurukshetra. All were invited.
The idea of inviting someone to be the food at the feast is classic. The past perfect tense "had arranged" and passive voice "were invited" are odd choices for a story that should be exciting.
Entry 14
Even Rukmi’s servants turned to hide a smile when their princess caught his hand.
Which princess? Rukmin's mother? His wife? His sister Rukmiṇī? His daughter Śubhāṅgī? His granddaughter Rukmavatī? If "even" the servants have to hide their smiles, who else is hiding a smile - Rukmin himself?
Entry 18
Kindama’s curse to Pandu brought powers of nature to incarnate as humans to accompany Krishna!
Entry 20
"Devi can i take these flowers?" asked Dwarkadheesh while Vaidarbhi nodded focussing on Mahadev's idol.
Entry 27
"Who are you Madhav?"
"I am what you want me to be Parth", Krishna smiled.
Entry 31
“Subhadre, I will get you a date with that totally random rishi completely resembling Arjuna!”
Is this a modern retelling set in dating culture, or set in ancient times when there were ṛṣis? Is the speaker Kṛṣṇa or a female friend of Subhadrā, or who else? Anyway, characters in a parody shouldn't be aware of their own silliness.
Entry 33
Blood oozing from Barbarika's slayed head washed Krishna's feet.
May you be worshipped as KhatuShyam !!
Barbarīka is from Skandapurāṇa - Kaumārikākhaṇḍa, not Mahābhārata.
Entry 34
"Angraj Karn apne baan jaise shabdo ke liye mai kshama prarthi hoon", Draupadi.
For what is she apologizing, and at what point in the canonical story? How will it alter the course of events?
Entry 38
Yudhisthira looks at the dog. He’d always wanted a pet, but not like this.
Not like what? Yudhiṣṭhira doesn't want a pet when he's homeless, or when he's prepared to die? If the idea is that Yudhiṣṭhira is grudgingly choosing the dog instead of heaven, it should be expressed more clearly. The words that translate to "pet" in Mahābhārata seem to be bhakta-jana - "attached person" is what Yudhiṣṭhira calls the dog, and antaḥ-pura-nivāsinī - "inner-room-inhabitant" describes what the bird Pūjanī is to Brahmadatta, although she forages for fruit all the way to the ocean shore. The dog that Ekalavya tortures apparently belongs to some man who "takes" him along to serve the hunting princes.
Entry 42
Draupadi looked around the sabha in disgust, they were supposed to be the greatest men!
Which sabhā? The one where she was dragged by Duḥśāsana seems most likely, but it could be the one where she was kicked by Kīcaka, the one where Kṛṣṇa was chosen as a messenger for peace ...
Entry 43
How could one teach a lesson better than the master teacher, O Narayana!! ?
Entry 45
O Kanha, I have attained hundred heavens today, for I have seen your true form.
Entry 47
The criminals and the silent witness will pay a price for your tears, dear Draupadi.
Who is the speaker? Bhīma? Arjuna? Satyabhāmā? Kṛṣṇa? Subhadrā? Dhṛṣṭadyumna?
Entry 53
Her baby wasn't just Bharatvansh's future, he was Abhimanyu's last memory for Uttara.
Entry 54
Guru Drona was dumbstruck as Ekalavya cut his right thumb and payed the gurudakshina.
Entry 55
Do not give yourself this much importance Parth, for everything happens like how's it's fated.
Who is the fatalistic speaker? Which of Pṛthā's sons is addressed? How much importance is he giving himself, and on what occasion?
Entry 57
They couldn’t disrobe the queen despite attempting. But it became the beginning of their end.
Entry 59
Created from the ashes of Saptarishi, Ahalya was nothing but a beautiful gift.
This origin-story of Ahalyā is from Bhīla Bhārata, not Mahābhārata, right?
Entry 62
No one was ready to face Arjuna's wrath that day. He was Lord Rudra himself.
Entry 63
"Kanha, who am I in your life now?" "You have always been my life Maiyya."
Entry 66
Duryodhana didn’t attend Draupadi's swayamvara. He had promised Bhanumati that he would never marry another.
This is non-canonical, but does changing the story like this have any impact? Would Duryodhana not show his thigh to Kṛṣṇā Draupadī later on? In Mahābhārata, Duryodhana is pointed out to Kṛṣṇā Draupadī at her svayaṃvara by Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Ādiparvan 177.1), and Dhṛtarāṣṭra mistakenly assumes that Duryodhana was chosen by her (Ādiparvan 192.19). Karṇa refers to Duryodhana's plural wives (Āraṇyakaparvan 226.20). His chief wife is called Lakṣmaṇamātṛ, and the name Bhānumatī doesn't appear until Bhaṭṭa-Nārāyaṇa's play Veṇīsaṃhāra.
Entry 71
“He was your brother, Yudhishthira. Karna was your elder brother,” Kunti’s tears had no bounds.
Entry 72
At the gate of Indraprastha rejoiced the five elephants, with the sixth, their queen, approaching.
Elephants are an interesting metaphor for the Pāṇḍavas and Kṛṣṇā Draupadī, and consistent with the royal imagery of Mahābhārata, but what are they doing at the gate, and why is she approaching?
Entry 73
“Couldn’t you have stopped the war?” “Not when you couldn’t even stop your son, mother!”
Who are the speakers?
Entry 74
"Tumhare balidaan ko yugon tak smaran rakha jayega putra Barbarik" Krishna aashirvad dete hue bole.
Barbarīka is from Skandapurāṇa - Kaumārikākhaṇḍa, not Mahābhārata.
Entry 78
Only Kanha could make her laugh at these tough times, changing her misfortune to blessing.
Who is laughing?
Entry 81
"Dushasan" roared Bheem as he almost hit him in Dyut Sabha with his mace.
Entry 83
Krishna said, "When a man feels proud of himself, it's intellectual suicide."
In what situation is this remark made, and to warn whom?
Entry 84
Shakuni laughed. He was leading the boys towards their death. But wasn’t death inevitable?
Which boys, and which death?
Entry 86
O blue eyed lord! , who could harm Arjuna while you are his protector?
Entry 87
Krishna’s dead, Arjuna tells himself. The flute that I hear is only in my imagination.
There's a topic about Kṛṣṇa's flute in Mahābhārata. It's nice to imagine that he played it for Arjuna sometimes.
Entry 88
Arjuna said, " O thousand-eyed lord, please forgive my insolence and grant my your blessings! "
Entry 89
I never want wars yet in the battle between dharma and adharma, I become Saarthi!
I infer that Kṛṣṇa is speaking, but is sārathi only literal here? If it's an allegory for the Mind driving the sense-horses of the body-chariot, there should be some more detail.
Entry 90
Accept your responsibility for you chose a priest over a warrior, on basis of caste.
Who is speaking to whom here?
Entry 91
Last time, it was Surya Dev and this time I would side with Indra Dev.
I infer that Viṣṇu is speaking about Rāma helping Sūrya's son Sugrīva against Indra's son Vālin, and Kṛṣṇa helping Indra's son Arjuna against Sūrya's son Karṇa. Could this riddle be turned into a story?
Entry 93
He was the unfortunate brother who had to kill his elder brother without knowing it.
What could the author have added to the tragedy of Arjuna and Karṇa?
Entry 94
Yudishtira's chariot which was four inches above the ground, touched the earth at last.
Entry 97
Yaksha who was actually Yamraj was impressed by Yudishtira's sense of righteousness.
Entry 98
Dhanenjaya was astonished to realise his dearest friend was no ordinary man.
Entry 99
Kunti tried to secure the lives of her sons. Your five sons will remain alive.
Entry 100
It was said Arjuna was Lady Luck's favorite and sat on his shoulder.
Arjuna sat on which male's shoulder? Bhīma carried the whole family when they escaped the burning house, so why does this story single out Arjuna?
Entry 102
"I accept Karna as my eldest son" said Pandu looking at toddler Karna.
This is non-canonical; the rest of the story could not have unfolded with Karṇa taking Duryodhana's side after this, right? At Ādiparvan 111.27-30, Pāṇḍu actually tells Kuntī that a kānīna son is a legitimate heir, but she doesn't tell him that she has one somewhere unknown.
Entry 103
Arjuna beheld His viswaroop in amazement. He folded his hands and bowed with deepest reverence.
Entry 104
How can you kill a man who has already been killed by numerous people, Arjuna ?
These seven stories rushed through a series of events, which is not aesthetically appealing. The authors had good ideas, but needed to budget words for better diction.
Entry 3
Udipi king , caterer Mahabharat cooked without wastage , peanuts Krishna ate predicted exact fatality in10000s.
Entry 5
Thirsty younger Pandavas died drinking water, ignoring crane warning .Yudhishthira saved brothers answered Yamadharma's questions.
Entry 17
Arjuna married Chitrangada. A son was born. He remained in Manipur. Arjuna continued his journey.
Entry 19
Bhima was entrapped! Yudhishthir answered Dharma-related questions, cursed Nahusha was redeemed, Bhima saved from death.
Entry 60
Dragged into the water, Arjuna rejected her. Night was spent together. Finally, Arjuna married Ulupi.
Entry 61
Devyani loved Kacha but married Yayati. Her revenge against Sharmishtha became her bane in marriage.
Entry 70
Yudhishthir diced. Loosing kingdom, brothers, himself, Draupadi. Lost himself; was it justified to pledge Draupadi?
These fifteen entries are analytical comments, not stories. Could the same messages have been conveyed in a narrative?
Entry 10
“Sootputra!” Karna was rebuked.
When God drove his friend’s chariot, no one dared a word.
Entry 16
Mahabharat is over, but its impact isn't.
Entry 22
Abhimanyu had only half knowledge of Chakravyuha, yet selflessly and righteously served his life purpose.
Entry 23
Story glorifying values.
Story fighting rights.
Story enlightening knowledge.
Story establishing dharma.
It's epic - Mahabharat!
Entry 28
Krishnaa, Yagyaseni, Draupadi. A multifaceted personality and she's mostly known for her five husbands.
Entry 29
Satyavati wasn't greedy, but she was ambitious. Only the ambitious can achieve greatness.
Entry 35
Truth battled injustice & emerged victorious from the smoke of the undying pyres on Kurukshetra.
Entry 36
Sometimes our personal trajedies benefits a greater purposes, just like Abhimanyu's death was to Arjun.
Entry 40
Lasting merely 18 days, Kurukshetra battle carries lessons for many more than 18 centuries after.
Entry 41
In Dronacharya’s test, Arjun saw only the bird’s eye. In life, he sought only Krishna!
Entry 49
Krishna was willing to negotiate peace while Duryodhana negotiated the war.
Entry 52
When facing roadblocks, we need to learn focus and determination from Ekalavya.
Entry 67
Death is inevitable. Everyone becomes Yamraj's prey, some sooner and some later.
Entry 76
Mathura sacrificed. Gokul delighted. Gokul sacrificed. Bharat delighted. No good thing happens without a sacrifice.
Entry 92
Ganga's duty was to liberate the Vasus, the price was a heartbroken Shantanu.
Thanks to all the authors for sharing their creative efforts in this contest!
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