Razmnama

Shikhandi, Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna born | Mahabharata paintings

Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment

Drona did not forget or forgive Drupada for humiliating him in his court. He asked Drupada’s kingdom as the tuition fee from Kuru princes.

Kuru princes fought with Drupada and captivated him. Drupada lost his kingdom. It was given as a gift to Drona by Kuru princes. Drona kept half of it and made his son Ashwatthama as a king for it. He returned the remaining half to Drupada. Drona asked Drupada if they can be friends as both are equal then. Drupada agreed.

Drona avenged and humiliated Drupada - Picture (c) Quora
Drona avenged and humiliated Drupada – Picture (c) Quora

But Drupada did not digest the humiliation caused by Drona and Kuru princess. He performed great yagna from which a boy, Dhrishtadyumna and a girl, Draupadi were born.

A Mughal painting by Bilal Habsi depicting the birth of Dhrishtadyumna. A folio of Razmnama, the Persian translation of the epic
A Mughal painting by Bilal Habsi depicting the birth of Dhrishtadyumna. A folio of Razmnama, the Persian translation of the epic

‘Then a youth who resembled a god arose from the flames. His complexion was like the fire and his form was terrible. He wore a crown on his head and his body was encased in excellent armour. He had a sword in his hand and a bow and arrows and he let out many loud roars. As soon as he was born, he ascended a supreme chariot and went forth. All the Panchalas were delighted and exclaimed, “Blessed!” From the sky issued the voice of an invisible and great being. “This terrible prince has been born for Drona’s destruction. He will increase the fame of the Panchalas and remove the king’s grief.”

“அப்போது கடவுளைப் போன்ற ஒரு இளைஞன் நெருப்பிலிருந்து எழுந்தான். அவனது நிறம் நெருப்பு போன்றது மற்றும் அவரது வடிவம் அஞ்சத்தக்கது. அவன் தலையில் மணிமுடி அணிந்திருந்தான் மற்றும் அவனது உடல் சிறந்த கவசத்தால் மூடப்பட்டிருந்தது. அவன் கையில் வாளும், வில் அம்பும் ஏந்தியபடி பல உரத்த கர்ஜனைகளை எழுப்பினான். அவர் பிறந்தவுடனேயே உயர்ந்த தேரில் ஏறிச் சென்றான். பாஞ்சாலர்கள் அனைவரும் மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்தனர், “ஆசி அளித்தேன்!” வானத்திலிருந்து கண்ணுக்குத் தெரியாத மற்றும் பேரண்டத்தின் குரல் ஒலித்தது. “துரோணரின் அழிவுக்காக இந்தப் அஞ்சத்தக்க இளவரசன் பிறந்திருக்கிறான். பாஞ்சாலர்களின் புகழைப் பெருக்கி மன்னனின் துக்கத்தை நீக்குவான்.”

-Brahmans describing the birth of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes
Draupadi born
Draupadi born

Supreme among women, this beauty of the dark complexion will bring about the destruction of the Kshatriyas. In time, this one will perform the objective of the gods. From her will arise terrible fear among the Kshatriyas.

பெண்களில் உன்னதமான, கருமையான நிறத்தின் இந்த அழகு காலப்போக்கில் க்ஷத்திரியர்களின் அழிவைக் கொண்டுவரும். அவள் தெய்வங்களின் நோக்கத்தை நிறைவேற்றுவாள். அவளைப் பற்றி க்ஷத்திரியர்களிடையே பெரும் அச்சம் எழும்.

-Brahmans describing the birth of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes
Draupadi born
Draupadi born

Different tales portrays the connection between Drupada and Shikhandi in different ways. Some says, Shikhandini was Drupada’s first child, who changed her sex into male later. Some says that Shikhandi was born as man who was actually woman. most of the stories accepts that Amba reborn as Shikhandi and he is an a third-gender.

References / Gratitude:

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

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Sarpa Sattra Yagna by Janamejaya | The Mahabharata Paintings

Pandian Ramaiah Leave a comment
The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya

‘தட்சகன் விஷமயமானவன். அவன் பூமி மீது எஞ்சுவது பேரபாயம்’ என்றார் ஸௌனகர்.

‘ஸௌனகரே, விஷம் இல்லையேல் அமுதும் இல்லை. தட்சகன் காமமூர்த்தி. சகலவிதமான செயலூக்கங்களுக்கும் காரணம் அவனே. அதை மறவாதீர்!’ (- ஆஸ்திகன்)

English translation:

‘Takshaka is poisonous. Leaving him alive on earth is a disaster’ said Shounaka.

‘Shounaka, there is no amudham (elixir) without poison. Takshaka is icon of desire. He is the cause of all kinds of karya-karma motivations. Don’t forget that!’ (said by Astika)

Short story – இறுதி விஷம் – Jeyamohan

This is an argument between Astika – the naishtika brahmachari – with minister Saunaka during the Snake sacrifice yagna performed by King Janamejaya. This is from a short story இறுதி விஷம் (‘Final Poison‘) written with a Mahabharata theme by Writer Jeyamohan.

Mahabharata was an interesting epic no one can avoid. During this series I am planning to write about 28 paintings of Mahabharata. Here is the first one – the snake sacrifice.

Illustration of Razmnama, Persian version of Mahabharata – Picture (c) Wikipedia

Parikshit – the last existed descendant after the cruel Mahabharata war – was dreaded by the fear of snake bite. He isolated himself from everyone, every place. We know the bitter meaning of isolation in this covid-19 period, isn’t it? He did not even had mobile phones or internet enabled laptops then 🙂 He was afraid because has was cursed to die of snake bite in 7 days.

Nothing could save him. He bite a fruit on the 7th day. The worm inside the fruit transformed itself in to a scary snake. He is nothing but the super king of Naga – Takshaka. The snake bite Parikshit. Before someone could save him, the poison killed him instantly. Takshaka went away silently without a trace.

Parikshit bitten by Takshak from Birla razmnama. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya

Prince Janamejaya enraged by this. He wanted to perform the powerful yagna – the sarpa sattra. This is a sacrificial ritual that would force all the snakes in this world to come and get into fire to perform self-sacrifice (suicide). All snakes died in this yagna. Takshaka was the one left alone. He came for self sacrifice with reluctance. His death would be the death of all snake creatures of this world.

The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya
The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya

There came Astika to save him. One of his arguments to justify the life of Takshaka were given in the beginning of this blog post. Janamejaya tried to cover up his decision of killing all the snakes as a dharma for his father’s death. Astika questioned him about dharma on behalf of the snakes being killed. To make Janamejaya to know about dharma, Astika suggested him to summon Vaisampayana – Sage Vyasa’s disciple – who knows the story of his forefathers.

The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya
The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as Astika tries to stop it. https://thereaderwiki.com/en/Janamejaya

This is how Mahabharata narration to Janamejaya starts! We know the rest. Emperor Akbar made the epic to be translated into Persian as the Razmnama or the Book of War, at his court. Some of the paintings of this work are given above.

The snake sacrifice happened in Takshashila, now in Pakistan.

References / Gratitude:

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