End of radiance – Karna’s end | Mahabharata Paintings

February 28, 2022Pandian Ramaiah 2 Comments

Karna took over as commander in chief of Kaurava army on the sixteenth day, after the fall of Drona. Kaurava army had much hope of recovery after the fall of their great chieftains, Bhishma, and Drona.

Kunti knew about the news. She understood that she could not prevent the clash between her sons. But she wanted to minimize the damage by meeting him. Maybe, I think she might have felt that discussing that with Yudhishthira would not earn her because he did not know the background. Some versions of Mahabharata say that it was Krishna who sent her to seek protection for Pandava-s.

It was early in the morning. Karna was in his morning prayers. Kunti came to meet him. Everybody knew that Karna would donate whatever had been asked. Karna understood her motive and asked her to express her wish in a grudge.

“சந்தனக்கட்டைகள் அடுக்கிய சிதையைக் காட்டி பிணங்களை ஆசை காட்டிடும் வீண்வேலை… அர்த்தமற்றதும் கொடூரமானதுமான வீண் உடற்பயிற்சி! விரைவில் நாமிந்த காட்சியை முடித்துக் கொள்வோம்… எந்த லட்சியம் கருதி நீ இங்கு வந்தாய் – என்பதைச் சொல். இனி நான் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டிய செயல் என்னவென்பதையும் கூறிவிடு. அச்செயல் என்ன ஆயினும் நானதற்குப் பணிவேன் என்பதை நிச்சயமாக நம்பிக்கொண்டு, சொல்லவேண்டியதை விரைவில் சொல்லி முடித்துவிடு”

The futility of making a carcass happy by showing the pyre stacked with sandalwood. Meaningless and horrible futile exercise! We will finish this scene soon. Tell me what ambition you came here for. Please tell me, what you want me to do hereafter. Complete what you have to say as soon as possible, be confident that I will obey you no matter what.
Ini nan urangattum, BK Balakrishnan

Kunti requested him to come to Pandava‘s camp. Citing his bond with Duryodhana, Karna refused to oblige. She asked for the safety for Pandava-s. Karna assured her she will be known as mother of five sons even after the war, either with Arjuna or with him. Karna left to battlefield after that.

It was difficult for Pandava-s to fight with Karna. Kaurava‘s army had time to take breath after successive loses on the sixteenth day. There was a dispute between Yudhishthira and Arjuna about Arjuna’s failure in tackling Karna. All Pandava-s except Arjuna had fought with Karna and lost before this dispute. Though they lost, Karna did not kill then, as he promised to his mother. Unaware of the reality, poor Pandava-s felt humiliated by Karna.

Shalya – the Madra king and maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva – was appointed as Charioteer for Karna by Duryodhana. Krishna raged a psychological war against Karna with the help of Shalya. As directed by Krishna, Shalya was praising Arjuna often. He pointed to his low birth as well to irritate Karna while fighting.

Karna had a powerful astra (weapon) to kill Arjuna. It had the capacity to Kill Arjuna as well. But it can be used only once. Shayla advised Karna to focus on Arjuna’s chest. Karna was confident about this target, so he focused on Arjuna’s neck and shot it. Krishna pushed Arjuna’s chariot a few inches down. As Shalya expected, the astra missed its target and hit Arjuna’s crown.

“கர்ணா, சிரசினை குறிவைத்து அந்த அஸ்திரம் நீ தொடுக்காதே. குறி தவறிவிடும்…” அதற்குக் கர்ணன் சொல்வான்: “மத்ரேசா உனது கூற்றின் பொருள் எனக்குப் புரிகிறது. ஆனால் லட்சியம் குறிவைத்து தொடுத்திட்ட சரம் தனை மாற்றி தொடுப்பது தர்ம நீதிக்கு உகந்ததல்ல. தொடுத்த அம்பினை கர்ணன் திருப்பி வைப்பதில்லை என்பதை நீ அறியவும்…”

“Karna, do not aim at the neck and shoot that arrow. ” To which Karna will say: “Madresa, I understand the meaning of your statement. But it is not in the interest of moral justice to change the string of my target. Know that Karna will not revoke the his arrow.
Ini nan urangattum, BK Balakrishnan

Unfortunately, the wheel of his chariot got stuck inside the pit. He sought help from Shalya to release it. He refused to help and started abusing Karna’s caste.

Karna highlighted the rules of war and asked Arjuna to hold for some time until he releases his wheel from the pit. While Karna was busy releasing his wheel by showing his back to Arjuna, Krishna asked Arjuna to shoot his arrow to kill Karna. Arjuna refused as Karna was armless. Krishna countered him by saying that poor Draupadi had not shown such dharma when she was disrobed in court. Outraged Arjuna shot his arrow at Karna, which pierced his heart (or beheaded him).

The beautiful and mighty warrior was born in right place at wrong time, faced humiliation allover, did not take anything from this world but donated a lot, ended his life in the battlefield miserably.

Arjuna Slays Karna, page from a copy of the Razmnama, Mughal period

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The lie that killed Drona | Mahabharata Paintings

February 27, 2022Pandian Ramaiah 2 Comments

It was the fifteenth day of war. Drona was unstoppable after he took over as commander-in-chief position after Bhishma. Being his teacher, Arjuna could not raise his bow against him. The cruel killing of the unarmed Abhimanyu changed his mindset. But he could not control his teacher and the cost of lives he imposed on Pandava army.

Krishna suggested a deceptive plan to eliminate Drona. Drona had immense affection for his son Ashwatthama. But he could not be won as he was an immortal warrior. If he died, Drona would lose his will power on the battle field. Krishna suggested to them to make some plan so that he would hear these words.

Bhishma killed an elephant by the name of Ashwatthama on the fifteenth day of war. Drona was surrounded by Pandava-s. They told Drona that Ashwatthama was killed. Drona did not trust their word. He verified with Yudhishthira, who was the Dharma raja among the warriors. Yudhishthira said ‘Yes’ loudly and murmured that he did not know if it was a man or an elephant, so that Drona would not be able to hear it.

Drona felt helpless. The man who killed a number of people during the war, became wordless for those deceitful words. He put his weapons down, sat down, and practiced penance.

Krishna asked Pandava-s to kill him. No one was ready, as Drona was not only a Brahmin but also their teacher. Krishna convinced them that he lived like a kshatriya (warrior), even though he was born as Brahmin. He further affirmed that Drona should die as Kshatriya as well. Dhrishtadyumna – Drupada’s son and commander-in-chief of Pandava’s army – took his sword out of his scabbard. He beheaded Drona to take revenge for his father’s death.

A lie killed Drona – who had an enormous amount of vengeance on his friend, who took Ekalavya’s thumb as tuition fee, and who trained the Kuru princess.

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Rules broken to kill Bhurishravas | Mahabharata Paintings

February 26, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

When Arjuna was in search of Jayadratha, he was hiding behind the Kaurava army. Arjuna got frustrated. Out of incapacity, Arjuna was a bit moody that day.

Bhurishravas was a prince of a Himalayan kingdom. He was part of the Kurukshetra war. He was ferociously fighting with Satyaki, Krishna’s follower. Satyaki’s sons were killed by Bhurishravas in the war field earlier. So as a father, his fatherly love pressured him to avenge Bhurishravas.

Bhurishravas and Satyaki were in a duel that day. Both of them lost their weapons during the scuffle. Later they started fighting with their hands. Bhurishravas hit Satyaki with his fist and dragged him inside the battle ground.

Alerted by Krishna, Arjuna – out of anger, and frustration – shot an arrow at Bhurishravas, which cut his arm. It was a worse violation of war rules to attack him when he is involved in duals that too, from his back. Arjuna should have been given a red card and pushed out of Kurukshetra.

Bhurishravas condemned Arjuna’s malpractice. He sat on the war field to perform Yoga. Satyaki made use of this moment and cut his head – another misconduct from Pandava side.

A prince from a faraway kingdom, fell prey to malpractice of Dharma and died on the red soil of Kurukshetra.

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Jayadratha’s head blown off | Mahabharata Paintings

February 25, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

Pandava-s were unable to save Abhimanyu. The teenage boy was cruelly killed by Kaurava warriors. Yudhishthira tried to save Abhimanyu. But Jayadratha blocked his way. In a way, he wanted to take revenge for his humiliation by Pandava-s, when he wanted to abduct their wife, Draupadi. Arjuna was far away from the location. Finally, no one could save Arjuna’s son. Pandava-s believed Jayadratha should be avenged.

Jayadratha humiliates Draupadi - Raja Ravi Varma — Jayadratha humiliates Draupadi – Raja Ravi Varma

Arjuna took it more personally. He vowed to kill Jayadratha before the end of the fourteenth day war. Otherwise, he would kill himself. (Iravan/Aravan was also his son. He has been killed as well. Arjuna took it for granted. What a partiality!)

Knowing this, the Pandava’s army came with moral power to slash Kaurava-s. But Drona did the trick. He injected the complete Kaurava force between Jayadratha and Arjuna to keep both of them at a safer distance. His plan was to hide Jayadratha until the sun went down so that Arjuna would commit suicide as per his vow. It worked until darkness spread all over.

Arjuna was unable to find Jayadratha. He was frustrated. He had gone insane. He lamented to Krishna. Krishna asked him to calm down and listen to Jayadratha’s exultation in darkness carefully. He asked Arjuna to shoot his arrow in that direction. He also told him that it was not the end of the day as the solar eclipse occurred at that time.

Arjuna shot his arrow. Jayadratha was killed! He was beheaded, Arjuna shot arrow after arrow so that his head would be pushed high and fell on the hands of Jayadratha’s father before it fell down on the ground. As per his own boon, the head of Jayadratha’s father broke into thousands of pieces. Both Jayadratha and his father dead on the same day!

Jayadratha's head falls in his father's lap — Jayadratha’s head falls in his father’s lap

Why did Arjuna take Abhimanyu’s death seriously, while he took Aravan’s death for granted? It is an open question!

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The mutilated Abhimanyu | Mahabharata Paintings

February 24, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

After the fall of Bhishma, Drona became the commander-in-chief of Kaurava army. Though he was a skilled Archer, teacher and master of war tactics, he could not get an opportunity to slay any of the Pandava-s to take revenge for Bhishma’s fall. Karna – who had vowed not to come to the battlefield under the leadership of Bhishma – had joined the army already. Krishna kept Arjuna at a distance from him, as Karna had the weapon to kill him.

As Kaurava-s did not get notable victory for Bhishma’s fall to Pandava’s foul play, Drona was under pressure when he came to battlefield on thirteenth day.

He formed a chakra-vyuga, a circular maze to trap Pandava-s. Yudhishthira fell as a prey. He got stuck inside the chakra-vyuga. Krishna, who was at far-away distance, blew his conch to seek help to save Yudhishthira from other Pandava-s. No one was able to help him. This is when the young upapandava Abhimanyu got into action.

Abhimanyu battling alone in the Chakravyuha

The chakra-vyuga intrigued him. His maternal uncle – Krishna – taught to him on how to save others from this round maze. But he did not teach him about how to eject oneself safely.

So he successfully broke the chakra-vyuga, scattered the warriors in the maze wall, and saved Yudhishthira. Before he accomplished his notable victory, he was surrounded and attacked by the brave warriors of Kaurava army, who were his own relatives.

Karna, Duryodhana, Drona were in front of Abhimanyu. His chariot, bows, sword and spheres were broken. Jeyamohan had portrayed this scene painfully in his novel kaar-kadal of Venmurasu novel series.

தந்தையே, மைந்தனென உங்களிடம் நான் கோருவது ஒன்றுதான். ஒரு தேர்! ஒரு வில்! ஓர் ஆவநாழி! #அபிமன்யு #துரியோதனன் #கார்கடல் #வெண்முரசு #venmurasu #jeyamohan #mahabharat
— pandian ramaiah (@pandianr79) February 23, 2022

An unarmed teenage boy, fought bravely with a wheel of a chariot in his hand. He killed Laxmana Kumara – son of Duryodhana. Angered by this, Duryodhana asked Drona to move the target of Chakra-vyuga from Yudhishthira to Abhimanyu.

Arrows from Drona, Shakuni, Karna, Duryodhana stitched Abhimanyu and cut him into pieces. A brave boy – who fathered the next generation of Kuru clan – was killed tragically. Yudhishthira must have suffered the same fate instead of Abhimanyu. Dharma raja Yudhishthira got a life at the cost of his nephew!

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Kaar kadal / Venmurasu by Jeyamohan

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A excruciating war starts | Mahabharata Paintings

February 22, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

Pandava finished their exile life

Pandava-s sought refuge at Virata's palace — Pandava-s sought refuge at Virata’s palace and completed their incognito life

Gaurava-s sniffed about Pandava-s hiding in Virata. They attacked Virata without giving any opportunity for Pandava-s. There was a small war in which Arjuna fount as Brihannala. Virata-s won the war to save their kingdom with Brihannala/Arjuna’s help. With that, the 13 years of exile life came to an end!

They exposed themselves to Virata. Virata apologized for treating them as servants. In turn, Virata offered his daughter Uttara to get married to Arjuna. As Uttara was the taught by Brihannala, Arjuna said he could not marry her. But he would accept her as his daughter-in-law. Uttara married Abhimanyu later.

The messengers

Pandava-s took temporary shelter. They sent messengers to Hastinapur to ask Duryodhana to return Hastinapur. Duryodhana refused. Messengers came back empty handed. Krishna felt it was the final chance to avoid war. He himself went to Hastinapur as a messenger carrying Yudhishthira’s message.

Krishna meets Duryodhana

Duryodhana understood about Krishna’s arrival. He arranged for food and shelter on his way. But Krishna refused to enjoy his hospitality. Even after Hastinapur, he refused to stay at the palace. He stayed at Vidura’s house.

The negotiation started. Duryodhana was adamant in his claims. He was a good ruler. He rules both Hastinapur and Indraprastha without any concerns. He asked Krishna, why should he return his kingdom, while he offered good governance.

Krishna made it clear that he did discuss the good or bad governance there. The discussion is about his promise to give back Indraprastha after Pandava’s exile. It was a failed negotiation. Krishna asked for five villages, then five houses. Duryodhana refused to give even five inches of land. Krishna warned him not to pave the way for the destruction of families on both sides. It looked trivial argument to Duryodhana. Krishna then warned him that Pandava-s would meet them in Kurukshetra. Let that red soil decide who holds the dharma. Being angry at his statement, Duryodhana ordered his squad to arrest Krishna.

Krishna as messenger. Duryodhana issue orders to arrest Krishna. Satyaki protests. Image (c) Raja Ravi Varma

Krishna asked him, what did he think about him. Krishna transformed himself into Vishvarupa. The kings assembled over there were spellbound.

Dhritarashtra asked Sanjaya what the kings saw there? As there was no reply, He asked Krishna himself if he could get vision to see him. He had been gifted with vision to see the Vishvarupa. He thought he did not want to see anything else with his eyes there after. He continued to be blind as usual. Kings saw Brahma, the creator god, Lord Shiva, the destroyer in Krishna’s Vishvarupa. The eyes, mouth and ears were fuming. They saw all the creatures inside. That was the end of negotiations. The kings dispersed from the negotiation hall one by one.

Krishna meets Karna

Krishna met Karna before he left Hastinapur. As a great warrior, Karna added an enormous amount of power to Kaurava-s. Krishna wanted to divide and rule Kaurava-s. He asked Karna, why did he support Duryodhana, even if he knows his way is against the Dharma. Karna asserted his commitment to Duryodhana, his friend.

Krishna told him the secret of his birth, the information he wanted to know, the information that will bring him out of his low-birth complaint. Krishna told him that he is the ender son of Kunti. By law, he came the son of Pandu, Hence he is the elder Pandava. He can be the emperor supported by all Pandava-s and Kaurava-s. Draupadi will accept to accept to him as well.

Karna was spellbound. But he recalled Duryodhana’s recognition since the day he appeared against Arjuna during a skill display ceremony. It was due to Duryodhana, he had been crowned as King, that helped him to come out of the low-caste derision. Even with that offer, Karna refused to change his camp.

Duryodhana was confident of his success in war because of Karna, Bhishma, Drona, and himself. Krishna’s effort to stop the war (or divide and rule) did not work out.

Krishna meets Kunti

Krishna met Kunti to ask her, if she had anything to inform his sons. She asked them to fight abiding by the law of war.

Kings taking sides

Both parties have started to finalize their alliance with friendly countries. Yadava army joined Kaurava-s. Krishna joined Pandava-s with a condition that he would not fight. Balarama did not join the war. Rukmi was rejected by both parties. The final collection of troops traveled to Kurukshetra.

Aravan kalapali

Both parties looked for an auspicious time to start the war. It was decided as well. Kaurava-s army has more akshauhini-s than those of Pandava-s. So there was a widespread demotivation among the Pandava army. To motivate the force, troop leaders a self-sacrifice to Kali, the goddess of war.

Self-sacrifice is a cruel form of killing a human being and offering him to God. All humans cannot do this. A man with a predefined set of anatomy would be chosen for this. Among the troops there were three persons with such body features – Krishna, Arjuna, and Iravan/Aravan. Krishna and Arjuna cannot be lost. So Aravan became the natural choice.

Aravan was the son of Arjuna through Ulupi, a Nagini during his visit to north eastern part of Bharatha khanda. Arjuna asked if he is ready to do a self sacrifice. He asked for three boons. To make him as a war warrior; to make arrangement so that he can view the war completely; To find a wife to cry after his death.

First option was agreed.

After he did self-sacrifice, his head would be kept in a place, from where the whole war field could be observed from a bird’s- eye perspective. So the second request was also agreed.

The third option was difficult. To find a bride for Aravan, that too in a war field, is not possible. As per the stories, Vishnu took Mohini form and married him. As per Jeyamohan’s Venmurasu, she was assumed as a third gender, and came with troops. The marriage was conducted. Aravan was given as a sacrifice to Kali by beheading him. The transgender woman cried out loud about her husband. This is celebrated as Aravan Kalappali festival in Tamilnadu, Sri Lanka and Singapore.

The war starts

Pandavas headed by Yudhistira and accompanied by Krishna ask Bhishma permission to start the war

The great war of Mahabharata began at Kurukshetra after blowing the conch Panchajanya by Krishna.

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Senna Vengai / Venmurasu by Jeyamohan

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Eliminating Kshatrias | Jarasandha & Shishupala | Mahabharata Paintings

February 18, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

The Rajasuya Yagna (ceremony) was not that simple to Yudhishthira. It is an ancient process of make all other kings of Bharathakanda to agree that someone is their equal. Not an easy job for Yudhishthira. He want to coronate himself with the support of rest of his Pandava-s, wealth from Panchala, Hastinapur and Dwaraka. In addition, he need a supreme diplomat – Krishna – to make Yudhishthira’s claim uncontested.

Jarasandha

Obviously the mighty king with powerful army – Jarasandha, the king of Magadha – will not agree. His relationship with Yadava-s was not positive, as he wanted revenge for the death of his friend Kamsa – the maternal uncle of Krishna, who killed his own uncle.

Yadava-s had worst experience with Jarasandha earlier. Being scared of him, they moved from Gokulam to Dwaraka, which is far away from rest of the countries.

Jara merges two parts of Jarasandha. Picture (c) Wikipedia

It is impossible to kill Jarasandha. May be, Bhima can fight. Still it will be a fight between two equal wrestlers. Hence Krishna made a conspiracy.

The Brahman-s (priests) had rights to ask Kings for gifts. Kings will not refuse. Jarasandha was not an exception too. Krishna made use of this. Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima disguised themselves as priests. When Jarasandha asked for their plea, Krishna asked him to wrestle with one of them until death.

Bhima fights Jarasandha. Picture (c) Wikipedia

The great warrior Jarasandha chose Bhima as other two were not his match. The fight went on for long time. Krishna suggested Bhima to tear Jarasandha into two parts. After a long fight, Bhima did it. Before he tastes his victory, the body parts joined together.

Bhima and Jarasandha Wrestling - Picture (c) Unknown — Bhima and Jarasandha Wrestling – Picture (c) Unknown

Bhima looked at Krishna confusingly. Krishna showed him a gesture by tearing the a stick and place the pieces in inverted directions. The long fight started again even more ferociously. Finally Bhima teared Jarasandha and broke the two body parts in two different directions in inverted manner. The mighty king Jarasandha was killed. His son was coronated as a puppet ruler, supporting Pandava-s.

Bhima Slays Jarasandha. Image (c) prabhupadabooks

Bhima Slays Jarasandha - Picture (d) Wikipedia — Bhima Slays Jarasandha – Picture (d) Wikipedia

Shishupala

Shishupala and Krishna were cousin. Astrologers predicted that he will be killed by Krishna. Hence Shishupala’s mother requested Krishna not to do so if her son abuses him. Krishna promised her that he will tolerate one hundred times. When it is breached, he said, he will retaliate.

During Yudhishthira’s coronation ceremony, he selected Krishna as the guest of honor. Rest of the kshatriya-s were not happy. Then king of Chedi kingdom, Shishupala, jumped angrily from his seat to object this. He started abusing Krishna one after another a cowherd like Krishna to take supreme seat in the presence of Kshatria-s.

O Madhava! If the Kounteyas are scared and if they have become mean as a consequence of their asceticism, surely you could have enlightened them about what kind of honour you deserve. O Janardana! If in their meanness they offered you a homage that you are not worthy of, why did you accept it? Though undeserving, you set great store on this homage, like a dog that has found an offering of sacrificial ghee and consumes it in private. O Janardana! This is not only an insult to the Indras among kings. The Kurus have also brought out your true nature. O Madhusudana! You are not a king and this royal homage to you is like a wife to the impotent or a beautiful sight to the blind.
Shishupala to Krishna – The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

When he reached the 100th time, Krishna warned him that he is about to cross the limit of Krishna’s promise to Shishupala’s mother. He did not mind. He resumed his abuse 101th time. Krishna took his Sudarshan chakra – the sharp discus – and beheaded him.

Sishupala Insulted Krishna Picture (c) WebHR art-ma

The count started from here. More and more kings were eliminated both morally and immorally!

Jai Yudhishthira Maharaj!

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy
Panniru padaikalam, Jeyamohan

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Varanavata palace | Mahabharata paintings

February 13, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

The feud between Pandava-s and Kaurava-s reached a stage where both will not gel any longer. Duryodhana did his best to justify his right over the throne. Vidura justified the right of Yudhishthira on the same. To stop any further escalation, Dhritarashtra suggested building a dedicated palace for Kunti and her sons.

He discussed this with Vidura. He agreed as well. The palace is built at Varanavata, which is far away from Hastinapur. It was near to forest and river Ganga. But the palace was made of lacquer, which is an inflammable material. Vidura understood the conspiracy behind the kind gestures of Kaurava-s.

O scorcher of enemies! From the smell of fat and ghee mixed with lac, it is clear that this house is made of inflammable materials. The evil Purochana has used trusted and well-skilled artisans to build a house with straw, bark and cane, sprinkled all over with ghee. After winning my confidence, he wishes to burn me to death. O Partha! This is the danger that the immensely intelligent Vidura foresaw and warned me about earlier.

எதிரிகளை எரிப்பவர்களே! கொழுப்பும், நெய்யும் கலந்த அரக்கு வாசனையிலிருந்து, இந்த வீடு தீப்பற்றக்கூடிய பொருட்களால் ஆனது என்பது தெளிவாகிறது. பொல்லாத புரோச்சனன், நம்பகமான மற்றும் திறமையான கைவினைஞர்களைப் பயன்படுத்தி வைக்கோல், பட்டை மற்றும் கரும்பு ஆகியவற்றைக் கொண்டு, நெய்யைத் தெளித்து ஒரு வீட்டைக் கட்டியிருக்கிறான். என் நம்பிக்கையைப் பெற்ற பிறகு, அவன் என்னை எரித்து கொல்ல விரும்புகிறான். ஓ பார்த்தனே! வெகு அறிவாளியான விதுரர் முன்னரே முன்னறிவித்து எச்சரித்த ஆபத்து இது.
–Yudhishthira to Bhima, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Vidura warned Kunti about this. He asked them to escape through a tunnel, which connects the house of Lac to the nearby forest. It was built by Vidura to save Pandava-s. Kunti accepted the gift from Dhritarashtra as planned. As expected, the palace was burst into fire as soon as Kunti moved in with Pandava-s.

The tunnel – built by Vidura – saved Pandava-s. As per Vidura’s plan, five men and one woman were thrown inside the fire (Does dharma accept it?!).

Escape of Pandavas from Fire accident — Escape of *Pandava*-s from Fire accident

(c) The Illustrated Mahabharata – https://blog.abhinavagarwal.net

Hastinapur mourned the death of Kunti and Pandava-s. Kaurava-s relieved from their worries, unaware of the survival of their cousins.

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy

This blog post is a part of Blogchatter’s WRITE A PAGE A DAY campaign.

The birth of Dhritarashtra’s sons | Mahabharata Paintings

February 10, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

Kunti became a mother first. As a sister-in-law, Gandhari felt insecured about the throne now. The agony and trauma experienced by Pandu earlier, apprehended Gandhari’s mind now. The thoughts about the chief chair of Hastinapur bloated everyone’s mind.

Gandhari conceived well before Kunti. But she did not give birth. Hapless Gandhari did not find a way. She had been pregnant for 2 years already. With conscious volition, she decided to give birth forcefully. She ordered her maids to strike her belly with an iron bar. No one had the temerity to question her. Though the hesitated, they tended to hit her. There comes the fate.

She did not give birth to a boy or a girl. It was a sphere of flesh with pulse for life. As per Sage Vyasa’s suggestion, the piece was broken into 100 pieces and stored inside different pots with Ghee inside. Poor Gandhari wanted a girl baby as well. So it was broken into 101 pieces and incubated.

When I heard that Kunti had given birth to her first son, as radiant as the sun, I struck my belly in grief. Earlier, you granted me the boon that I would have a hundred sons. But instead of those 100 sons, this mass of flesh has been born to me.

சூரியனைப் போல பிரகாசமான தன் முதல் மகனை குந்தி பெற்றெடுத்தாள் என்று நான் கேள்விப்பட்டபோது துக்கத்தில் என் வயிற்றில் அடித்தேன். இதற்கு முன், எனக்கு நூறு மகன்கள் பிறக்கும் வரம் தந்தீர்கள். ஆனால் அந்த 100 மகன்களுக்குப் பதிலாக இந்த சதை நிறை எனக்கு பிறந்துள்ளது.
Gandhari to Vyasa, Adi Parva, , The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Sage Vyasa assured her the flesh pieces would be changed to children in an year. After an year, first pot was broken. There comes a boy. Gandhari named him as Duryodhana. Over the period rest of the incubators are broken too. The story is like eggs and chicken, isn’t it? Finally there is a girl baby. She named her as Dusshala.

O Subala’s daughter! It will be as I have said and not otherwise. I have never uttered a falsehood in jest. Why should I do it when I am in earnest? Quickly bring a hundred pots and fill them up with ghee. Let cool water be sprinkled on this mass of flesh.

ஓ சுபலரின் மகளே! நான் சொன்னபடியே இருக்கும், மற்றபடி இருக்காது. நான் ஒருபோதும் (பிறரின்) மகிழ்ச்சிக்காகப் பொய் சொன்னதில்லை. நான் ஆர்வமாக இருக்கும்போது அதை ஏன் செய்ய வேண்டும்? சீக்கிரம் நூறு பானைகளைக் கொண்டு வந்து நெய் நிரப்பு. இந்த சதையின் மீது குளிர்ந்த நீர் தெளிக்கப்படட்டும்.
Vyasa to Gandhari, Adi Parva, , The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

In addition, Dhritarashtra had a son – Yuyutsu – with a Vaishya maid Sughada. He was grown along with Gandhari’s children as well.

Here is the birth of Kaurava-s.

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy

This blog post is a part of Blogchatter’s WRITE A PAGE A DAY campaign.

The Birth of Pandu’s Children | Mahabharata Paintings

February 9, 2022Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

Pandu in exile

Once Sage Kindama and his wife wanted to get intimate in open. They turned themselves into an antelope and doe. Pandu crossed that place in the forest when he went for hunt. He hit them wit his arrow. Kindama was attacked. He cursed Pandu that Pandu will never touch a women. If he touch them, he will die on the spot.

You follow dharma and you know the pleasure that comes from satisfaction of desire. But you have killed me before my desire was satiated. Therefore, you will also be united with the five elements! in a similar state, before your desire is satiated.
நீ தர்மத்தைப் பின்பற்றுகிறாய், ஆசையின் திருப்தியால் வரும் இன்பத்தை நீ அறிவாய். ஆனால் என் ஆசை தீரும் முன்பே என்னை கொன்று விட்டாய். ஆதலால் நீயும் இதே நிலையில், உன் ஆசை நிறைவேறும் முன், ஐம்பூதங்களுடன் ஐக்கியமாகி விடுவாய்!
Sage Kindama to Pandu

Whether it is right for Kindama to curse like this itself a debate. But we assumed the curse had an effect.

Pandu was unable to give birth to any child with both Kunti and Madri. This frustrated him too much. To overcome this, he spent his time on hunting. To end a progeny is a pain for anyone. It is their progeny that would help him to find his way to heaven and the route for his next birth. So Pandu was worried if he would die without children. Finally he left Hastinapur in his brother Dhritarashtra’s care and left to forest. Kunti and Madri followed him.

Kindama's curse — Kindama’s curse. Picture credit: wikipedia

Kunti’s children

Meanwhile, Pandu came to know that Gandhari was pregnant. Hapless Pandu realized that he was losing his control on Hastinapur as the ender descendant decides who will rule the country from there on.

The exile life. Picture credit: wikipedia

This is the result of my own folly. But I have heard that in the hereafter there are no worlds for those who are childless.

Tamil Translation:
இது என் சொந்த முட்டாள்தனத்தின் விளைவு. ஆனால் குழந்தை இல்லாதவர்களுக்கு மறுமையில் உலகங்கள் இல்லை என்று கேள்விப்பட்டிருக்கிறேன்.
Pandu to Kunti

Kunti understood Pandu’s grief. She revealed about Sage Durvasa’s boon to her that can help her to summon any God and give birth to its child. Prior to that Kunti explained him the ways of getting children if her husband is unable to procreate in monogamy.

Pandu - Kunti's dialog — Pandu – Kunti’s dialog. Picture credit: wikipedia

Pandu was pleased by this. He requested Kunti to call Yama, the god of dharma. As he wished, Kunti gave birth to Yudhishthira. Then Pandu preferred Vayu, the god of Air. The powerful Bhima was born. The last child of Kunti, Arjuna, was born to Indra.

Kunti invokes Indra: Picture credit: wikipedia

Till today, I think about the real persons behind the names Yama, Vayu and Indra.

Madri’s Twins

Pandu wanted Kunti to give more children. Kunti refused because of the dharma, that says a woman can not sleep with more than four men.

Pandu and Madri in exile. Picture credit: Pinterest

Your co-wife does not have children either. Let the right offspring also be fathered on her.

Tamil Translation:
உன் துணை-மனைவிக்கும் குழந்தைகள் இல்லை. அவளுடைய சரியான சந்ததிக்கும் நான் தந்தையாகிறேன்.
Pandu to Kunti

Pandu asked Kunti to help Madri to give birth to sons as well, so that he can get more more children. Kunti and Madri agreed. Madri preferred to call Ashwini deva-s, the gods of morning and evening stars.

The deva-s came and helped Madri to get Nakula and Sahadeva.

Pandu still asked Kunti to get more kids by Madri. She refused to oblige.

The Pandava-s

Yudhishthira, who followed dharma, being impartial, educated as the chief, Bhima, a strongest to save his elder brother, Arjuna, a brave warrior to get victories after victories, Nakula-Sahadeva with skills in arts, science, finance, administration etc. – these descendants of Pandu are called the Pandava-s.

The Descent of Pandu

Pandu lived happily with his kids in the forest. There comes an end!

One day in his exile life, Pandu saw Madri beautifully dressed in her ornaments and his desire was stirred. Pandu can not and Madri did not resist. But he died as soon as he touched her. Sage Kindama might be out of his grudge then.

Pandu - Madri. Picture credits: Unknown — Pandu – Madri. Picture credits: Unknown

Kunti and Pandava-s arranged for his funeral in the forest itself. Then Madri ascended the funeral pyre with him. Before that she requested Kunti to affectionately rear the twins. Madri might have envied her for her first wife status. Still she might have realized the kind hearted nature of Kunti. She chose to leave her twins under her care while she followed Pandu to eternity.

Kunti took good care of them.

The Pandavas, https://www.deviantart.com/molee/art/Kunti-and-Pandavas-412944958

Thus Pandu’s life ended without going back to Hastinapur. After Pandu left this world, rishi-s took Kunti and Pandava princes back to Hastinapur.

References / Gratitude:

The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes, Bibek Debroy

This blog post is a part of Blogchatter’s WRITE A PAGE A DAY campaign.