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(RJELAL) Research Journal of English Language and Literature Vol.4.Issue 3. 2016 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (July-Sept.) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected]

REVIEW ARTICLE

A RETELLING OF THE GREATEST INDIAN EPIC: THE MAHABHARTA

ISHANI JAIN Indian Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Hauz Khas, New ,

ABSTRACT The greatest Indian epic, “The Mahabharta” has resonated in the collective imaginations for millenniums owing to its universal themes. Having given the world the , the story of , an abbreviated version of the , and the , often considered as works in their own right, it is basically a story of men pursuing power and men who have wronged and have been wronged with. By virtue of this content, the author has tried to put forth her take on the grey characters of Mahabharta. ISHANI JAIN Keywords:, , Bhagwat Gita, ,

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1. INTRODUCTION thoughts. The structure of the papers is as simple as has been an oft-cited Indian it can get. The first section is devoted to the major epic for its grey portrayal of characters, their foibles plot of the elegant epic and the other section is and the unique codes of righteousness it preaches. character sketch of the major characters of the The story came into existence as conceived by the bloodshed. medieval saint Tulsidas, and spread by word of 2. Plot mouth for centuries thereafter. The first and most Mahabharata - the greatest of its kind in noted English text on Mahabharata has been the world, is a timeless story of strife due to lust of “Mahabharata” as written by C. Rajagopalachari power. It speaks a story of the clan of Kurus – the which is the central focus of discourse here. A lot Pandavas and torn amongst themselves has been said about the anecdotes, preachings and because of jealousy and greed for the throne of characterisation of the folklore Mahabharata at . various social platforms and literary articles. For , father of the Kauravas was those of the opinion that the original Mahabharata born blind( refer to imperfect birth of Dhritarashtra is just a story from the standpoint of Pandavas; and from the story of and ) there are various other texts like Rashmirathi and and hence Pandu was asked upon to rule the Mrityunjay (Mahabharata in Karn’s perspective) and kingdoms in his stead; making Yudhisthira ,his eldest The Palace of Illusions (Draupadi’s perspective of son the natural heir after him. However, turnings) for reference and takes on less focussed Duryodhana, the eldest of the 100 Kauravas, felt characters by similar minded writers and authors. that by lineage he ought to be the king which was Though the points presented in the article are partially the reason why the Pandavas and Kauravas original in all due sense, it will be insolent to claim to were always at dagger’s drawn. Another part of the be immune to such visionary and revolutionary reason was the fact that Pandavas were - 344 ISHANI JAIN

(RJELAL) Research Journal of English Language and Literature Vol.4.Issue 3. 2016 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (July-Sept.) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected]

as in being born of Gods( another back story- refer If the identity of the Pandavas somehow came up to the cursed Pandu and blessed ) and hence during the 13th year, they would be further blessed with divine powers which made them shine sentenced to 13 years of exile or “Vanavrata” as it against the Kauravas in almost all spheres of life was known as then. The Pandavas spend the 12 where the two belligerents encountered. years preparing to wage a war against the Kauravas The Kauravas’ vile intentions come to fore and earns “Divyasasta” from ; making first when they intend to burn alive the Pandavas in him further invincible. “Lakshagraha”- literally meaning the house of “”, They return to Hastinapur at the end of the inflammable materials and was gifted to the stipulated time and demand back their birthright. Pandavas by themselves. However, following a tip- However, Duryodhana vehemently refutes the idea; off by , an incarnation of , who served even denying as meager as five villages to the the realm and was immune to jealousy and power Pandavas. Inevitably, for Pandavas, now the war has lust, the Pandavas escape the trap unscathed. to be fought since the pot is now brimming with Meanwhile, the Kauravas unaugured to their foiled anger against injustice. The Pandavas make allies of plan crown Duryodhana as the heir to the throne many kings with powerful armies; their master shot assuming the natural descendants to the throne being Krishna signing up as their advisor and dead. strategist. The Kauravas are led by When the truth comes up, Dhritarashtra, Pitamah, the grandsire of Kauravas and Pandavas, the fickle- minded king torn between paternal love sworn to the realm. Their other assets are and honor calls the Pandavas back to the capital. Dronacharya, the of warfare to both sides and Upon the return of the Pandavas the issue of heir , a Kunteya- son of Kunti, by birth (refer to comes up which is diplomatically tackled by Kunti’s boon and her subsequent haste) but fiercely Duryodhana when he keeps the well- established loyal to Duryodhana. Over a period of 18 days, city of Hastinapura for him and gives away the following a lot of dirty politics (detailed later!) and hostile lands of Khandavaprastha to the Pandavas. dharma- adharma discourses, Pandavas emerge However, with the streak of reign aptitude by victorious with all 100 Kauravas dead. inheritance, the Pandavas built it into a lavish city by The Pandavas then rule Hastinapura and the name . This further fuels the their territories for 36 years and then proceed to jealousy quotient and hereby the deadly conniving Heaven through . Only Yudhisthira and his mind of , Kauravas’ maternal uncle comes dog (actually Dharma) manage to make it to the into play. He invites the gambling doting Yudhisthira gates of heaven, all others having fallen dead to a game of dice, prompting Yudhisthira to put all because of their maneuvers with the principled path he has –his kingdom, slaves, treasury, his , of Dharma. his mother, himself and finally his wife at stake. 3.Writing Style Expectedly, Yudhisthira looses it all and Draupadi, “Mahabharata” by C. Rajagopalachari is a the common wife of the Pandavas is being disrobed monologue of events in the order in which they in the public court. However, Lord Krishna comes to appear in the actual text of the Mahabharata. The her rescue, repaying for a piece of cloth Draupadi author seldom makes any comments on the events, used to nurse Krishna’s wound once during the often skipping the points of conflict between the coronation of Yudhisthira as the crown prince. actions and thoughts of the characters hence Seeing this, Dhritarashtra realizes that the somehow diminishing the textured nature of the ball is no longer in his court and before Draupadi characters. For example, the shaming of Karna by could curse his sons for her public humiliation , he Draupadi on his low- born credentials during her releases the dishonest earnings from the Pandavas swayamwara doesn’t appear in the scene at all. and compensates the wildly agitated Duryodhana by Rather, Karna is simply clubbed with Duryodhana sentencing the Pandavas and Kunti and Draupadi to and Dusshasana who failed to win Draupadi over. 12 years of exile followed by 1 year of incognito life. The scene, as stated in various other accounts was

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(RJELAL) Research Journal of English Language and Literature Vol.4.Issue 3. 2016 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (July-Sept.) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected]

the earliest event that sowed the seeds of disgust in to bless people who please him with fervent prayers Karna for Draupadi and was subsequently a cause and who treat him well as a guest. Kunti, who was for Karna applauding her public disrobing. Following living with her foster father KuntiBhoja then, has to from the minimal dialogue that appears in the book play host to once. And well does she play, throughout, Karna not protesting can be taken as a heeding all his unreasonable demands of food at sign of acceptance of the ongoing humiliation. odd hours in the night, the reward for which is her Granted that I am an over imaginative person, but ability to invoke any God at her will and demand a no dialogue from Karna’s part is a part of the son of him. Kunti, new to the gift and inexperienced sequence in which vital events have been and hasty invoked Sun God who gave her a son, conveniently skipped. Rather the narrative imparts a Karna. Kunti then comes to her senses and fearing greater importance to supernatural elements and the social stigma of mothering a child out of wedlock tends to reason all events on the basis of forgone decides to get rid of Karna. Karna, who is believed to events or a consequence of somebody’s misdeeds in be born with natural “kawachch” and “kundal” is previous birth or a boon or curse from the Gods or then put in a basket and left to float on the river sages. . Kunti then marries Pandu, the king of At some rare occasions we find the author Hastinapur. However before they could moralizing the incidents- accepting the challenge of consummate their marriage, Pandu is cursed to die the dice game by Yudhisthira and the futility of as soon as he tries enjoying carnal pleasures. On his ’s scheming being amongst them. The request, Kunti shares her gift of begetting sons from “Mahabharata” by C. Rajagopalachari has skipped Gods with , the second wife of Pandu and majority of the storyline of the times of Pandavas’ together they sire 5 sons known as the Pandavas. exile, simply stating it a grueling exercise mandatory Pandu dies falling prey to a sexual impulse and for the war that ensues. Madri follows suite getting “” on his pyre. “Mrityunjay” and “Rashmirathi” are Kunti however lives and is frequently projections of Karna’s mind and have hence biased touted as the “Iron Lady” of the Mahabharta. She my thoughts for him. They have brought down his brings the Pandavas up and follows them to arrogance of thinking himself as better than Arjuna Vanavrata and protects them if it’s in her power. at warfare to a desperate attempt to retain his self She’s also tactful a display of which is when she respect. Karna’s generous and all- giving nature are advises Bheema not to slay Hadimba, the , eulogized and his reverence for Duryodhana who but rather marry his daughter and produce a son. stood by him in his times of disgrace make him Her foresight was instrumental in killing a major part sound as honorable as Yudhisthira from the of the army when Bheema’s son conventional Mahabharata; a fact further causes Kaurava carnage at night and highlighted by his commitment to his vows. These his elimination by Karna used up Karna’s “”- books have given me a lot of insight into the the weapon he’d been saving for Arjuna. character of Karna which has been spelled out in Discussions have also been held over greater detail later. whether Kunti’s command for Arjuna to share CHARACTERISATION OF MAJOR PLAYERS Draupadi with his other brothers was an innocent Kunti : In , Kunti also called Pritha, utterance or intentional. Coming from a family of was the biological daughter of , the sister strategists- she was Krishna’s aunt after all, it would of Vasudev, the foster daughter of her cousin King be reasonable to assume her having some of it in KuntiBhoja,[2] the wife of King Pandu of Hastinapura her genes. Whatever might have been the reasons, and the mother of Karna and the Pandavas. Her Draupadi being shared equally among the brothers story is told within the , wherein ensured that everyone felt equally against her she speaks on the of devotion to her disrobing- the principle reason for the war of nephew Krishna, now known as the . Mahabharata. It was described earlier in the text Blessed by Durvasa: Sage Durvasa( of Shakuntla- how Arjuna was looked upon with a jaundiced eye Dushyant fame) , an incarnation of Shiva, is believed 346 ISHANI JAIN

(RJELAL) Research Journal of English Language and Literature Vol.4.Issue 3. 2016 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (July-Sept.) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected]

by his brethren for having won Draupadi. Kunti’s and Draupadi is being disrobed, Yudhisthira doesn’t decision ensured that the feeling didn’t culminate raise a finger publicly though seeds of hatred are further. sown within him too. Apart from the dice game, Kunti’s character appears that of an there appear few displays of Yudhisthira’s emotional intelligent, stable- minded, patient and family- state with him being shown inert in instances when doting modern woman who has got more substance he is being instigated by his brothers and wife for in her than her husband Pandu or - their public shaming. Rather, he waits for the right in-law Dhritarashtra. Her maternal love for time to attack- when Karna is rendered powerless the sons she has raised causes her to plead to Karna, because of fall of his divine and most powerful her first born son, a fierce warrior, to spare her sons. weapons. At the dawn of the first day of the war, Karna, the honorable man he is, promises to Yudhisthira proceeds unarmed towards the enemy attempt to life of none but Arjuna. Apart from lines, supposedly to seek blessings from the elders. Krishna, she’s another trusted advisor to the After he’s been blessed by and Bhishma, he Pandavas and asking neither of theirs advice for the calls for any non- Kaurava who believes in the cause ploy of dice game cost them all they had. Like almost of Pandavas and beseeches him to join the Pandavas all other characters in the “Mahabharata”, Kunti has instead. This, besides __ and __’s coming up to her own set of misfortunes and principles; however, Pandavas’ side also instills unwillingness in Bhishma her steadfast support of her sons makes her and Drona, who didn’t actually have any personal indispensable to the crisp storyline. After the gain from the war to kill the Pandavas. Mahabharata, she proceeds to the Himalayas with The portrayal of the Drona’s death scene her in-laws, Dhritarashtra and , where she on the battlefield seems to indicate that Yudhisthira perishes in a forest fire and attains Heaven. didn’t want to fib to his esteemed guru at all but at Pandavas the inevitable demands of the battlefield had to do Yudhisthira: He is the eldest of the five Pandavas so. That was the only time Yudhisthira is supposed and is considered the most virtuous and just of all to have stepped out of his Dharma shoes. When the major characters (apart from Vidura, who was after Karna’s death, Yudhistira comes to know that an incarnation of Lord Dharma itself). He was the Karna was actually his elder blood brother,he curses son of Kunti and God Dharma and fights in the his destiny and literally curses the complete battlefield using and . It is said that his womankind in Kunti’s stead to not being able to Ratha used to float 4 fingers above the ground keep any secrets at all. Besides, Yudhisthira is very because of his divine virtue. However, the trickery much of a family man and loves his wife and that he has to unwillingly resort to against Drona brothers- a fact that is elucidated at the gates of leading to Drona’s subsequent death brings his heaven where he is ready to go to to join them. Ratha back to the ground as his degradation to the The account here differs in different sources- with level of other mortal beings. some suggesting that appealed by this brotherly His participation in the infamous dice game affection, the Gods even transfer his brothers and has brought him a lot of bad light with him being wife to Heaven to join him and others saying that condemned as emotionally unstable. In the C. God convinced him that implies being free of Rajagopalachari version of the Mahabharata, it has affection and hence, he alone stays in Heaven. been spelled out clearly that the vision of being a Bheema: He was the son of Kunti and God and good and just statesman had him accept the dice was known for his indomitable physical strength challenge since he wanted to remain in Kauravas’ which was one of the primary causes for good books. This is a clear reference to the fact that Duryodhana’s jealousy in their boyhood. He uses the he was a poor judge of character, intelligent mace as his weapon and is believed that even nevertheless (according to folklore, shall mention went weak in his knees. He was singlehandedly later). He gets carried away during the course of the responsible for slaying all the 100 Kauravas and game and gambles away everything. When all is lost numerous others. He is known to have won many

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(RJELAL) Research Journal of English Language and Literature Vol.4.Issue 3. 2016 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (July-Sept.) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected]

kingdoms and get rid of a number of offenders using slaying of his arch- nemesis Karna on the 17th day of brute force- among them ( the king of the battle is indisputably the most exciting scene in and brother-in-law of Kansa and hence, the epic- a congregation of all the events that have nemesis of Krishna), Kichak( commander-in- chief of gone by. He is the favorite ward of Drona with the the forces of King and molests Draupadi) and latter going to the extent of crippling teenage boys (the Rakshasa of ) being the (read Eklavya) to protect Arjuna’s dominance and prominent ones. superiority. He wins the hand of Draupadi by On the 13th day of the battle of accomplishing a nearly impossible feat at her , Bheema kills an by the name swayamvara. He is half a mind to quit the battle Aswatthama (the very name of Drona’s beloved given he has to get the blood of his kith and kin and son) as part of a trap for murdering Drona. He was like Drona and Bhishma on his hand. His also known as Vrikadora (one with wolf’s belly) philosophical discourses with Krishna on issues of because of enormous appetite. During the course of righteousness and honor and glory forms an exile, all the food that Pandavas collected from their important segment of the Mahabharata called the alms was divided into two- the first part of which Bhagvata Gita. Apart from killing Karna, his was entirely consumed by alone and the battlefield conquests involve the killing of Bhishma second one was consumed by all others of his kin. (not directly,though) and Jayadhrata . Bhishma’s Apart from his insurmountable force, Bhima doesn’t prowess in warfare and Arjuna’s own reluctance to come across much of a strategist or plotter unlike pick up arms against him make getting rid of the other characters. He was driven by commands Bhishma an uphill task. On the 10th day of the and advices and requests and shows no intellect in battle, is replaced as Arjuna’s charioteer the state of affairs whatsoever. and Shikhandi being a woman in his previous birth He is supposed to have loved Draupadi the made it against Bhishma’s principles to slay him. most among the Pandavas and is, according to some Arjuna, with a heavy heart, progresses to slay sources exploited by her to avenge against those Bhishma, by piercing his body with numerous arrows who have wronged her. At the shameful event of such that Bhishma appears to be lying on a bed of Draupadi’s disrobing, he vows to drink Duryodhana’s arrows. Angered at ’s unjust massacre by blood someday and Draupadi swears not to let her a party led by Jayadhrata, Arjuna vows to murder hair free until she’s washed it with it. Bhima him by sundown or commit suicide. Kauravas on redeems both by killing Duryodhan on the battle realizing this do the best in their power to protect field, splitting open his chest, drinking his blood and Jayadhrata. At sundown, they let their guard down then dancing ecstatically around his corpse and and Arjuna appears and slays Jayadhrata. It is then takes another sample to Draupadi. On their way to realized that it was Krishna’s trick to hide the Sun so the heaven, when Draupadi falls the first, Bheema as to disillusion the Kauravas with dusk that turns quizzes the learned Yudhisthira why Draupadi, the events in Arjuna’s favour. dutiful to all her husbands and her dharma should On the 17th day when a battle ensues die. To this Yudhisthira replies that she loved Arjuna between Karna and Arjuna, equally matched in more than others, though some folklore says that he strength and weapons, Arjuna has a catch-22 knew that Draupadi secretly lusted for Karna, but moment when Karna’s chariot breaks down and still Yudhisthira lies to protect the sanctity of the Arjuna could kill him at the moment and end the memory of Bheema- Draupadi relationship. Bheema war or follow the path of Dharma and not attack at himself is the fifth to fall, given his vice of gluttony his rival’s back. However, Krishna instigates him to without caring for others’ hunger. slay Karnaciting the memory of Karna having being Arjun an enthusiast in Draupadi’s disrobing as well as He is the third son of Kunti fathered by the Abhimanyu’s murder. The character of Arjuna is God Indra. He is the best archer in the described as one whose mind is spotless and clean Mahabharata( only after Eklavya probably) and his of all impurities. Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita refers

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to Arjuna as Anagha, which means pure of heart or the dice game, Draupadi is insulted publicly by sinless. Arjuna's nobility is manifested in his Duryodhana and Karna, who seek vengeance for her magnanimity in victory and towards insulting them. However, at her disrobing her honor adversaries. He bears all the injustice of the is protected by Krishna who referred to her as Kauravas with stoicism and yet hesitates to kill them “Krishnaa” and treated her as a sister. For Bhishma, just before the war. Before the war, Arjuna appears who had no vested interest in the throne even says to be an insecure boy proud of his archer’s skills. to Duryodhana,"Ghayal nagin, ghayal sherni aur However, the grueling struggle in exile humbles him apamanit stree se daro" (Be afraid of an injured down and he attains Pasupatasatra by penance of cobra, an injured tigress and an insulted women) ‘’ Lord Shiva. However, his childish arrogance is As a character, Draupadi who is said to be a woman counted as his vice and he is the 4th to fall on his of breathtaking beauty appears a bit haughty. Even way to Heaven. at the admonishing of Lord Shiva, she refuses to Draupadi: She is the daughter of King Drupad of lower her standard for ideal man and is hence duty and wife of the five Pandavas. The version bound to five men with nobody asking for her will. of Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari states that Her dedication and devotion make her one she and her brother Drishtadyumna were granted to of the great personalities of Vedic culture. She was a Drupad so that he could avenge his insult by Drona. multifaceted personality: she could be fiery and Draupadi does her part by uniting the Pandavas in angry when the situation called for it, but she still their goals – the most prominent one being her had a compassionate nature. She encouraged public disrobing which angered all her husbands people to face life with the same inner strength that alike. Drishtadyumna physically completes the she did. After the war, Draupadi looked after prophecy by slaying Drona at the battlefield. Gandhari and Dhritarashtra with respect and Draupadi had been blessed by Shiva that she would affection, even though their sons had wronged her be married to a man who possessed her desired 14 in so many ways. At her first encounter with qualities. She was betrothed to be married to Gandhari, she even wept alongside with her -as Yudhisthira, the crown prince of Hastinapur but women who had lost all their sons. On the journey having heard the news of the Pandavas death, to Heaven, Draupadi is the first to fall. Yudhisthira Drupad holds a swayamvar to find her an apt groom. explained a bereaved Bheema that even though she Karna, who is generally touted as THE man with the was duty bound to all the brothers equally, she had 14 desired skills is rejected by Draupadi to partake in favored Arjuna and lusted for Karna( prior to her her swayamvar causing Arjuna, disguised as a disrobing ,according to folklore). winning her hand. By the rules of the Dhritarashtra: Satyavati, the step-mother of Narayana, Draupadi was to share her bed with every Bhishma had planned her marriage to Santanu so for one year cyclically and at the end of that her sons and their descendants become kings. every year she would be returned her virginity. She However, her both sons Chitrangada and bears the Pandavas 5 sons(known as Uppapandavas) die before they are able to sire any – one per Pandava and one daughter to Arjuna. All sons. At her request, agrees to impregnate her sons are accidentally slain by Aswatthama both of Vichitravirya’s wives- Ambika and Ambalika. completing the circle of Karma. Drona insults Because of his terrible appearance, Ambika keeps Drupad. Drupad’s son Drishtadyumna beheads her eyes shut during the encounter and is born with Drona. Drona’s son Aswatthama kills Draupadi’s a learned son who is blind. Ambalika, forewarned by sons. Satyavati not to do the same as Ambika, doesn’t During Yudhisthira’s coronation as the king shut her eyes but goes pale at Vyasa’s sight instead of Indraprastha , Duryodhana trips into a pool and is as a result of which her son would be pale. Ambika’s mocked by Draupadi who calls him “blind son of a son is named Dhritarashtra while Ambalika’s son is blind man.” Having been reduced to a slave of the called Pandu. By the sastras that prevented the Kauravas as a consequence of Yudhisthira’s loss at accession of a handicapped man to the throne,

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Dhritarashtra, the eldest son and born to be the King deadly sight on Yudhisthira’s toe which gets burnt was replaced by his Pandu. instantaneously. Dhritarashtra is believed to be a just and Gandhari too, like Dhritarahstra loved her generous king and a loving man until Duryodhana sons a lot. However, unlike Dhritarashtra, she isn’t corrupts his Dharma. His blind love for his sons and blinded by her love into the dungeons of injustice indulgence in all their plans without much ado and treason. She refuses to support Duryodhana’s reduce him simply to a stamp head to sign off claim to the throne, since she knows that he’s Duryodhana’s deals. He was perturbed by the news fighting for something that isn’t rightfully his and of Panadavas death in Lakshagraha and was against has now trodden on the path of Adharma. the dice game trick and Draupadi’s public disrobing. She leaves the kingdom with her husband However, he doesn’t raise a finger lest his sons and Kunti after the Mahabharata and dies in a forest accuse him of insensitivity to his family. fire. He appears little during the course of Duryodhana: He was the eldest of the 100 sons of Mahabharata and takes to Vanavrata with Kunti and Gandhari and Dhritarashtra and the chief antagonist Gandhari after the pogrom has ended. He is of the epic. His enormous hatred and jealousy of the supposed to have died in the fire that consumed him Pandavas and a false sense of right to the throne as well as both the women. was the chief cause of the war of Mahabharata. He PS: I read in a piece of folklore that Dhritarashtra is a avenges his insult by Draupadi by disrobing her man of amazing strength. When Panadavas come to publicly and refuses to part away with even 5 seek his blessings after the war, he hugs each of the villages of his kingdom for the Pandavas to rule. Pandavas. Krishna understands that Dhritarashtra He(the ruler of Hastinapura) was no match would hold a special vengeance for Bhima since he against Yudhisthira( the ruler of Indraprastha) as a physically killed all his sons and cheated Duryoshana ruler given that he worked with the objective of into death by striking him at his thighs which is gaining support for war in his mind and tried to buy against the Gaddayudha rules. So Krishna instead people with gold. asks Bhima to place a statue in his place for a hug Nevertheless, he was an unmatched which is crushed to pieces by Dhritarashtra. warrior with mace being his strength and Gandhari’s Gandhari: She is an incarnation of Mati, the Goddess divine sight making him strong as steel. He is of Intelligence and wife to Dhritarashtra. She bore believed to be stronger than even Bhima and the 100 Kauravas and one daughter Dusshala. It is couldn’t have died had Bhima not taken to said that envious of Kunti getting pregnant before treachery. her, she beats her own swollen belly begetting a He is an unsurpassable friend who comes to simple lump of flesh rather than a child. Ved Vyasa is love Karna like he’s loved nobody else. It is said that believed to have beaten the flesh into 100 pieces Duryodhana hadn’t shed a single tear for the death each of which is buried and grows into a Kaurava. of any of his brothers but fights vehemently for She voluntarily blindfolds herself for life as rights of cremation of Karna’s body. He has to fight a sacrifice for her blind husband Dhritarashtra. She because Yudhisthira, who has by now been told is believed to have used her eye-sight only once about Karna’s birth, tries to do whatever little he when she embalms Duryodhana with invincibility can now do for his estranged, dead brother. This is prior to his battle with Bhima on the last day of perhaps the only instance we see in the epic of Mahabharta. However, Duryodhana dies anyway Kunti’s motherly love for Karna- when she can’t since he covers his modesty with a banana leaf as stand the fact that Karna might not get a proper suggested by Krishna making his pelvic region his funeral given that he didn’t share either of Kauravas’ Achilles’ heel. or Pandavas’ blood. After the Mahabharata war, when the He is the only remarkable warrior on the Pandavas, who murdered her sons, come to seek anti side who has a sense of purpose in the war; her blessings, she diffuses her wrath by directing her

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others like Bhishma and Drona being aimless greats and hence justifies their actions and beliefs. And by hesitating to harm children of their own blood. their benchmark, everybody on the opponent’s side His Karma comes to him in his death when becomes the bad. However, Karna’s honor was in he is fatally struck at the very thigh he lecherously being dishonorable- as the Pandavas would put it. invited Draupadi to sit at. Putting up for his friend, however wrong he might Karna: Karna was the first son of Kunti born of be, was his Dharma. , the Sun God. After Kunti abandoned him, he Karna was a man at par with Arjuna in was brought up by Adhiratha, a charioteer. warfare and the only one with the ability and intent According to some folkore, Karna was, in previous on the Kauravas side to kill him. Even after Krishna birth born as Sahasrakavach, an who had to tells him of his true birth, he refuses to leave be killed 1000 times to be ultimately eliminated. Duryodhana’s side clearly stating that his enemies Nara and Narayana were two who were by birth have been better brothers to him than his blessed with the knowledge of raising dead back to brothers by birth. life. So one of them would fight Sahasrakavach and He is a man of his words and doesn’t die in ensuing battle and the other would raise him attempt on life of any of the Pandavas except Arjuna back to life. However, the feat was accomplished as he promised Kunti. only 999 times and hence Sahasrakavach was reborn He was tricked even by Death with all his as Karna and Nara- Naryana were born as Arjuna- tools vanquished and his rival killing him against the Krishna. rules of the battle. His Kawachch and Kundal were Karna as a character is a quintessential taken by Indra who granted him a potent weapon modern tragic hero. His life was full of trickery and Shakti which Karna intends to use on Arjun. deceits and everything which rightly belonged to He is forced to use Shakti on Ghatotkacha when the him was taken away from him by destiny.( Being the later demolishes half the Kauravas army at night. He eldest son of Kunti, he was the rightful heir to the couldn’t remember in his last moments throne of Hastinapura. Also he was the cut out man because of Parsurama’s spell and his chariot gets for Draupadi who rejected him for being a “suta- stuck in the mud following a curse from the Goddess putra”. He was even cursed by Parasurama, his guru, Earth. All these factors culminate to his death, with because he had to fib regarding his birth Arjuna now having redeemed his vow taken at credentials.) This injustice instilled in him a cynical Draupadi’s disrobing to kill him. attitude towards the world and hence he’s often Krishna: Krishna was the son of and called in history as a man of low self esteem. , a . He was the chief strategist and Nonetheless, he was the most generous counselor of the Pandavas during the course of man that ever walked on the Earth. Even after Mahabharta. Calling him singlehandedly responsible Surya, his biological father had spilled the beans on for winning the war for the Pandavas would be no Indra’s plan to trick Karna into giving away his exaggeration. Kawachch and Kundal , Karna gladly gives them Krishna's philosophical conversation with away spelling his own doom. his friend and cousin Arjuna during the Kurukshetra Though Karna is often said to be an War later became known as the famous Bhagavad unscrupulous man since he sided with the Kauravas Gita, the holy book of . How he amassed this and was often instrumental in their vile plans, I great knowledge is revealed in the Anugita chapters personally feel that like Yudhisthira, Karna was a of Mahabharata, which states that he got this honorable man. He had never left the side of the knowledge by interactions with many learned men, man who had stood by him in his disgrace. He was a and by his own meditations. generous man who never sought any glory or riches. Arjuna is credited for bringing Krishna to his The reason he’s counted in the villains of melee with both him and Duryodhana vouching for Mahabharata is that the most commonly read his allegiance.(This is another of Krishna’s statesman version of Mahabharta speaks the story of Pandavas attributes; even though his sister is

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married to Arjuna, he gives Kauravas an equal tips to succeed speech– “Break the rules. Not the chance to win him.) Arjuna, who takes a submissive law, but break the rules.” position near Krishna’s feet, is given a choice to He tried to instigate Karna, whom he knew select between Krishna and his armies. Arjuna, who to be a fearless and skilled warrior and the only true understands that mind is more powerful than bare mortal danger to Arjuna to join the ranks of strength chooses him and Duryodhana gets the Pandavas, his biological brothers. He suggests that entire manpower. Not that Duryodhana minded this being eldest of the Pandavas; he might even get to choice- he would have taken the army anyways. be the king. Also, he will get the right to sleep with He was a master strategist and did all in his Draupadi with Krishna believes that Karna wants power to ensure Pandavas’ victory. He broke his very much to do. Kunti however, goes a step ahead vow of not picking any weapon at all in the and uses her “true mother” credentials to extract a Mahabharata to elucidate to Bhima that the welfare vow from Karna that he won’t attempt on the lives of society is above petty vows. He even went as far on any Pandava except Arjuna. He assigned as to accept the title of ‘Rannchhod Das’ (he who to be Karna’s charioteer and asked him to praise fled the battlefield) to protect his native land of Arjuna perpetually in Karna’s presence to bring his (not in the context of Mahabharata, morale down. agreed). There are many other instances where he Krishna was a quintessential ruler since his openly flouts the battle rules in the interest of his youth. He gave up when he left Vrindavan for side- be it killing Karna or Duryodhana. Mathura to slay Kansa. He had the foresight to He protected Arjuna from killing himself by realize that his future held various hindrances and facilitating Jayadhrata’s death. He planned the tough decisions would be the norm of his day; so left killings of Bhishma and Drona by striking their Radha to life the normal life she was born in. Achilles’ heel. Assigning Shikhandi the position of After the end of the war, Gandhari cursed Arjuna’s charioteer was his idea and so was killing an Krishna, whom she held responsible for the elephant named “Aswatthama”(the same as slaughter of her 100 sons that his family would Drona’s son- a fact that Drona didn’t realize and perish and he would himself die like an animal at the assumed his own son) which killed him of grief and hands of a hunter. resignation from the battle. True to her words Krishna’s clans fought The other side was no less scheming- the amongst themselves under the spell of alcohol and only difference was while the Kauravas played killed every last person present. Krishna’s brother before the Mahabharata whereas during a major Balram had long since retired to the life of a part of the battle, the ball was in Pandavas’ court. Karmayogi while Krishna was shot in his foot by a He orchestrated the killing of Ghatotkacha hunter, Jaya (an incarnation of , who was so that Karna would exhaust his Shakti, his last supposed to kill the of ) who mistook it divine weapon, which he’d been saving for Arjuna. for the ear of a resting deer. When, at the fag- end of the war Gandhari References bid to save Duryodhana’s life by bestowing him with Web Sources divine strength that would originate from her long [1]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunti shut eyes- Krishna suggested that Duryodhana [2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karna should at least cover his privates before going to his [3]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjuna mother, thus making sure that Duryodhana’s thighs [4]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duryodhana would be left free of any abnormal qualities and [5]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yudhisthira hence striking them would spell his doom. Bhima [6]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhritarashtra rule bound by “Gaddayudha” or the mace combat [7]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bheema refused to strike Duryodhana’s thighs as suggested by Krishna but on further instigation did strike and kill him. As Arnold Schwarzeneggar put it during his

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