(pg. 1-3) Santanu asks a woman to marry him. The woman agrees, but only because she is Ganga, the deity of the river, and she is there to carry out a specific task. They have children and she drowns them, but she then keeps the eighth child. She disappears with the kid and then returns a few years later to give it back to Santanu.
[This could be good to write from Ganga's perspective]
(pg. 3) Devavratha seems as though he is a very good son. When his father, Santanu, becomes love-struck with the fisherman's daughter (Satyavathi), he gives up his birth-right to make his father happy.
(pg. 4) Devavratha (now known by Bhishma) is looking for a wife. He acquires three maiden's by force and takes them back to his home so that he and his half brother each may marry one of them.
(pg. 5-7) Satyavathi attempts to get Bhishma to impregnate her daughters-in-law after the death of her only son. Bhishma has now taken a vow of celibacy and refuses to do so because vows can never be broken. She does not want the family to die out so she tells Bhishma a story about how she was impregnated by a rishi. She gave birth on an island to her eldest son who is a sage and a savant named Vyasa. She summoned Vyasa and explained to him how she wanted him to perpetuate their race through her daughters-in-law. He agreed. Vyasa slept with Ambika, but because she shut her eyes during conception, her son was born blind. Vyasa then slept with Ambalika, but because she grew pale at the sight of him her son was born pallid. Vyasa was then tricked into sleeping with Ambalika's maidservant, who was bold and responsive during conception so her child was born normal. [Would be funny to hear from the girl's perspectives].
(pg. 11) The whole family is now living together, children, children of children, etc. Bhishma has hired a guru to train all of the children.
(pg. 12-13) We hear of Arjuna's incredible marksmanship and how he is a great warrior.
(pg. 13) The guru tells the king (now Dhritarashtra) that the children have finished their training and that there needs to be an exhibition of their skills at a public ceremony for all of the citizens to see.
(pg. 15) Karna as showed up to the ceremony uninvited and has now challenged Arjuna in combat.
(pg. 16) Suddenly Duryodhana made Karna king.
(pg. 17) Drona asks for payment from his pupils for his training. He wants them to bring back Drupada, King of Panchala, as a prisoner.
(pg. 18) Drona tell his pupils a story. He had been childhood friends with a boy who became king. When Drona went to visit his friend, the king said that they were not friends because people of unequal status could not be friends and that time changes everything.
(pg. 19) The pupils go to war, capture King Drupada, and bring him to Drona. Drona tells the King the reason he had originally visited him so many years ago. Then he tells the king that he will give him back half the kingdom but keep half of it to rule for himself, that way they would remain equals and always be friends.
*Pandu's sons: Yudhistira, Arjuna, Bhima & Nakula, Sahadeva
*Dhritarashtra is blind, his son is Duryodhana + 99 others
(pg. 21-24) Dhritarashtra is wondering why his nephews are getting all of the attention rather than his own sons. He seeks advice from the minister. The minister suggests that the King exile his nephews, so the King and his son Duryodhana hatch a plan to get rid of Pandu's sons (the nephews). He had chosen Yudhustira as heir. Dhritarashra decides to send Yudhustira to Varanavata to get him out of the city. He said that is to give Y a break to relax and enjoy himself. Y leaves to go to Varanavata, Vidura gives Y a waring in a coded language. Warning is about enemies and how Y should me cautious about the Kings motives (code phrase, "remember, the jackal emerges from many outlets underground).
(pg. 25) They arrive at Varanavata for the Shiva festival. A man named Purochana (who is an agent of Duryodhana) give them a place to stay. The boys tell their mother to be carful because they could smell oil and knew that the man was waiting for a signal from Duryodhana to start a fire at midnight and kill them, which was what Vidura was warning them about. When Y hears about Purochana's instructions from a visitor sent by Vidura, he responds by saying "How thoughtful of them!" LOL The visitor built a tunnel under the mansion.
(pg. 26) Once the tunnel was ready, they had a big feast at the mansion. Once the guests had been fed and left, the family left through the secret passage. Brim stayed behind to set the house on fire. The family emerged at the river's edge where there was a boat waiting for them, sent by Vidura, which took them to the other side to a thick forest. Charred remains of the family were found in the mansion. Dhritarashtra became conscience stricken.
*Pandavas = Kunthi (the mother) and the 5 sons.
*Kauravas = Dhritarashtra (the king) and his 100 sons and everyone working with him.
(pg. 27) Bhima has great physical might and courage. Looks after and cares for family. Kills a rakshasa to make forest safer. The rakshasa's sister falls in love with Bhima and bore him a son named Ghatotkacha (who is important in the battle later).
(pg. 28) Vyasa is composer of book! During their journey, the run into Vyasa. He gives them advise to go to a town called Ekavrata because it is safe. He then tells them that they will live in their palace and rule the country once again.
(pg. 29-31) The Pandavas are staying with a host family. The host family is crying a lot one day and tells the Pandavas that a rakshasa lives on the edge of the town but leaves the town alone as long as the members of the town follow his conditions. He requires that each day a member from one of the homes brings to him a cartload of rice and 2 buffaloes so that he may eat it all including the member of the house who brought it to him. The hosts are upset because that day it was their turn and they did not want to have to lose a family member. They decide to send Bhima instead. Brim entices the rakshasa and ultimately defeats him
(pg. 31) The Pandavas decide to leave for fear that they might be recognized. They head to Panchala because the king (Drupada) is looking for a husband for his daughter.
(pg. 32-34) The ceremony of Draupadi's swayamwara. Arjuna was able to complete the task at hand and married Draupadi.
(pg. 34) Kunthi, without looking, told the boys to share what they had. Then she realized that they had a girl and not an object. No one knew if they really were supposed to share her or not. The situation was very uncomfortable (and hilarious). [Would be funny to hear from Draupadi's perspective].
(pg. 35) Lots of awkward moments. The family debated about sharing Draupadi. Arjuna suggested that Yudhistira decide and he decide that she should be wife to all of them.
(pg. 36-37) The family goes to palace. They tell the King who they really are. Yudhistira decides that Draupadi should be all of the 5 brother's wife and informs the King of this. They debate. Vyasa appears and tells all of them at in this instance it is okay for Daupadi to marry all 5 men.
(pg. 38) The Lives of Draupadi. Discusses her past live. She was named Nalayani and was married to a horrible, disgusting man who she cared for and loved very much in spite of him being grotesque. One day he told her that his vicious and disgusting appearance had just be a disguise in order to test her and that he would give her anything she wanted. She said that she wanted him to love her as 5 men, assuming 5 forms and always coming together as one. He granted it to her. Then he became bored and left her. She prayed to a god and told the god she wanted her husband back (except she said husband 5 times), so the god said that she would be reincarnated and have 5 husbands.
(pg. 39) Draupadi married all five of the men. Their arrangement was that she would be the wife of one of the men for a year and then she would be passed on to the next. At the end of each year she would be the wife of a new brother.
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| Ganga with her eighth son (Source) |
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