Week 9 Story

Drama in Hastinapur

“I must tell you scribe that I am most looking forward to imparting a bit of my life onto that paper of yours”, said Bhishm.

“What would you like me to write o great undying Bhishm?” asked the scribe.

“I think it best to start with how I came to be here as well as what has happened so far. I believe it very important to keep records of things such as this, don’t you?” asked Bhishm.

“O-Of course your majesty”, exclaimed the scribe loudly not wanting to seem at all unsure.

“That is good to hear, for I fear there will be a lot to write and I believe it best to get started”, said Bhishm.

“It all started at my birth. I was born to the King Shantanu as you well know and my mother was a river goddess. Thankfully for me I was not killed like my other siblings, as my mother had wished it. You see she had made a promise to free the eight celestial spirits. I guess in her mind this was achieved by murdering all eight of her children. I for one don’t quite understand it but that is the case. Anyway, I eventually grew up and was by the banking of a river shooting arrows into the river to tame it, as I did quite often. It just so happened that this time that a man came strolling by and was astounded. To my surprise this man just happened to be my father! We only found this out after much talking he and I. he took me back to the palace where we were a happy family. One day my father met a lovely fisherman’s daughter and wanted to marry her. Her father said no so I set out to see that she did marry my father. It was at this time that I vowed that I shall never take a wife, this seemed to please her and make her come along with me to the palace. Upon arrival my father was saddened by what I had done, but was appreciative and blessed me saying my death came at my choosing. This leads to me not being able to bear children but also not being able to be killed. This came in handy when I fought off god like being for twenty one days. We both grew tired of fighting since neither of us could kill the other. O, did I mention this being was sent on the behalf of one of the princesses I brought to the palace to marry my brother? I probably forgot to mention that. Now I just look after their children in the palace. It seems that there is always some sort of drama happening around. I’ll have to have you by weekly so that we might go over the newest dramas to hit our fair city. Thank you so much for your time. “

“It was my pleasure sire”, said the scribe as he quickly left the room.

Authors Note: I decided to do another story about a man spinning his tale. This time it was about Bhishm. This is simply a retelling and I did not change anything from the actual story. I also thought it would be cool to make it to where he was the voice of reason in the palace with all the crazy stuff going on. He would kind of talk about what was happening with the scribe so that it could be recorded for history.

Bibliography: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution by EpifiedTv (India)

Ashtapad Hastinapur by Pratyk321

Week 9 Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part B

The sons of Vyasa grew up and each of them played a role in the kingdom. The oldest ruled the kingdom however it was well known that the younger was actually in charge. When it came time for marriage the older who was blind went and found a princess to marry. Her father and brother were very worried for her because her future husband was blind. She did not waver in her duty and blindfolded herself for life. Her brother was outraged and planned a way to get revenge for this injustice. Pandu the younger brother married as well and it just so happened that his older wife Kunti had a secret. She was actually given a mantra by Durwasa to summon any god she wanted. She summoned a god and happened to have a child from this god. She could not keep him for she was unmarried. She ended up placing him in the basket and let her sun go down the river. Pandu along with his wives spent time in the forest. While hunting Pandu shot an arrow at the hermit. The hermit cursed him saying when he was in the throes of passion he would die. He decided to stay in the forest and not return. Kunti then told him about her gift of being able to have children with gods. So Pandu told her to give birth to children and heirs to the throne. He took these children as his own and started raising them. She ended up having children from many of the gods. After the third child Kunti refused to have any more children. She then summoned two brother gods to have sex with the other wife of Pandu and she gave birth to two sons.

Bibliography: The Mahabharata: Karma Revolution by EpifiedTv (India)

Kunti Meets Karna by Unkown

Week 9 Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part A

The Mahabharata is a story about kings, queens, heroes, and an all-consuming war. It was told by many different people, in different ways. The Mahabharata is all based off karma everything that happens is due to something that happened previously. King Shantanu fell in love with the river goddess. He asked her to marry him and she said yes only if he would never question her. When they had their first child she drowned it. She then killed the next six children. On the eighth child he asked why she was doing this and her reply was that it was to free the eight celestial spirits. She left him taking the son. King Shantanu saw that an archer had tamed the river with arrows. This man was his son. His son had been taught the way of war and he brought his son home. The city rejoiced with his father. Shantanu later fell in love with fisherman’s daughter and asked her to marry her. She said no unless he would make her heir king. He couldn’t and left home sad. His son saw his father’s sadness and set out to make the fisherman’s daughter say yes. The prince begged the fisherman and eventually brought him along. Shantanu’s son promised never to be married. Shantanu promised him for this that death would not be able to touch him unless he willed it. When his father passed he taught his father’s children how to be men. He eventually found a wife for his brother by kidnapping princesses from another kingdom. After Bheeshm brought back the three princess’s one of them asked him if she could marry the man she loved. The other princesses stayed behind in the palace. When the one princess went to the man she loved he turned her down because she had been kidnapped by another man. Bheeshm the son of Shantanu said no when she came crawling back to him and begging him to marry her. She declared that she would not rest until she repayed him for his crime. She found someone to fight the king and they fought for 21 days neither fell. Queen Satyawati after the last son’s death ordered Bheeshm to marry both the other princesses and give birth to another heir. He refused and she told him he had a brother from another land. Vyas was the child and Vyas promised her to come when she called for him. She asked him to father the children for the kingdom. The two women thought him ugly and did not want to lay with him.

Bibliography: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution by Epified Tv (India)

Shantanu by Unkown