Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Mahabharata, Part D
Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Mahabharata, Part D
In Part D of the Mahabharata, it resumes with the war
between the Pandavas and Kauravas. In attempt to kill Arjuna, Karna and
Ashwatthama in haste, use their powers immediately. The powers they had were to
only be used once and used wisely. They both failed to do so, and that caused
them much trouble. It shows you a simple lesson – that you should be wise and not
act in haste. To kill Drona, the Pandavas announced that “Ashwatthama was dead …
the elephant, not Drona’s son the elephant”. Once again, we see Krishna going
into disguise as an ordinary Brahmin man, to test an individual’s generosity -
this time it was Karna. Even in his last few moments, Karna gave his two gold
teeth. The Pandavas used their opposing teams’ weakness as their competitive
advantage. Duryodhana attempted to trick the Pandavas by hiding, but Yudhishthira
was able to sense his presence. They fought again with Duryodhana dead on the
battlefield. The Pandavas had won the war that lasted eighteen days – with the
help of Krishna’s powers. The three survivors form the Kauravas side –
Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma. Ashwatthama mistook the five children of
Draupadi – as the five Pandavas - and killed them. All those who died were
killed by their karma and their own wrongdoings, Krishna said to Gandhari. Yudhishthira
was crowned as King of Hastinapura – he went to Bhishma who taught him to change
the Sahasra-Nama (which is cool, because I know to recite it). Dhritarashtra,
Kunti, and Gandhari lived in the forest. One day a forest fire came, Gandhari
with her blindfold couldn’t see. Dhritarashtra told her to run, but when she
asked why, they were dead. I feel like sometimes we tend to ask why and its too
late. The Kali Yuga began after Krishna’s death. Just like he told Gandhari – karma
will come. He was shot in the foot with an arrow by Jara – who in a past lifetime
was shot with an arrow by Krishna. Yudhishthira was very pure and was able to
reach Meru – and reached Amravati’s gate. All the Kauravas were in Amravati,
while the Pandavas were in Naraka – hell. Yudhishthira ascended to Vaikuntha –
Gods own home. This was the Mahabharata written by Ganesha and recited by Vyasa.
Bibliography: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata from Laura Gibbs
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