Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part C

  For the reading over Mahabharata, I chose the version written by R.K. Narayan. This version is similar to the one of Ramayana that I read in that it is a shortened modern version of the Indian Epic. I found myself enjoying these versions better because they are easier to follow and comprehend for me. I will be taking notes over some of the most interesting subparts in part C.

Part 88. The voice in the Lake

• The Pandavas are living in a forest
• They are approached by a Brahmin
• He is desperate because a giant deer has stolen his staff and the kindling he uses to make his sacrificial fire
• The Pandavas try to chase the deer
• They cannot catch it
• They are tired and thirsty
• Nakula finds a lake
• a voice tells him that before drinking he must answer some questions
• he proceeds to ignore the voice and drinks the water
• he dies
• One after another, Sahadeva, Arjuna, and Bhima meet the same fate
• Yudhishthira comes to find all his brothers dead
• he also heard the voice and proceeds to answer the questions
• in the end, this was a test by his father, Yama, the god of death and of Dharma.
• the brothers came back to life
• their punishment was unrecognizably for their 13th year in exile

Part 93. In the Court of King Virata

• after 12 years in exile in the forest, they spend the 13th year in disguise in the court of King Virata
• Yudhishthira is the king's companion
• he plays dice with him
• Bhima is a cook
• Nakula as a stable boy
• Sahadeva as a cowherd
• Arjuna takes the name Brihannala and lives as a eunuch in the women's quarters
• Draupadi is Sairandhri, the hairdresser of Queen Sudeshna
• Draupadi is raped by Kichaka
• he is the queen's brother
• Draupadi begs Bhima to avenge her
• Bhima squeezes Kichaka to death
• the king and queen want to send Daupadi away
• Draupadi had to beg for permission to remain at the court for the last days of the appointed exile

Part 99. The Cattle Raid

• The story of Kichaka made Duryodhana suspicious
• Susharman, one of Duryodhana's allies, is glad to hear of Kichaka's death
• he proposes that they attack Virata and steal his cattle
• Susharman takes King Virata prisoner
• Bhima rescues the king
• Prince Uttara, the son of Virata heard the. news of the cattle raid
• He takes Brihannala (Arjuna) as his charioteer
• Brihannala and Uttara retrieve the weapons from the Pandavas' weapons from their hiding place
• Brihannala reveals his true identity
• Arjuna tells Uttara not to reveal the Pandavas' identity
• Virata is then amazed to discover the Pandavas' real identity
• He apologizes to Yudhishthira and gives his daughter Uttarā to Arjuna's son Abhimanyu in marriage

Bibliography. R.K. Narayan, Mahabharata, pp. 85-131

(Image of King Virata in his Court)