Reading Notes Part D: Mahabharata

Draupadi and the Pandavas, Wikicommons

Mahabhara:

• Despite mounting tensions Yudhishthira still wants to avoid a war and plans to send Krishna to Hastinapura, but is rightfully worried about Krishna's safety.
• Dhritarashtra learns that Krishna is coming and only plans on wowing him with a grandiose decorations. Virdura is quick to alert him that Krishna does not care for these formalities and just wants peace.
• Duryodhana as always is acting on his worst intentions and plans to take Krishna captive.
• Krishna sees Kunti and informs her of how her sons are doing.
• Despite his mother's please Duryodhana still intends on taking Krishna captive, but this is thwarted when Krishna takes on his divine form
• Before leaving Krishna speaks with Karna and how he is his father and that he should abandon Duryodhana. Karna remains with Duryodhana, but agrees not to attack any of Kunti's sons with the exception of Arjuna.
• Krishna returns and generals are appointed to the army. There is mixed emotions between some of the men. Arjuna is reluctant to fight as he will be fighting his own guru, Drona. Krishna preaches the Bhagadvad-Gita and takes his cosmic form and Arjuna is quickly readied.
• Despite an ongoing battle there is still reluctance to fight and kill. Karna does not join until Bhishma is fatally wounded.
• The fighting grows
• Abhimanyu is able to pierce the line, but he is unable to escape and is slain by Jayadratha. This angers Arjuna as it is his son who is slain.
• Krishna is able to blot out the son with his discus and trick Jayadratha into thinking it is night time. Arjuna is then able to slay Jayadratha.
• Bhima kills, mutilates, and drinks the blood of Duhshasana.
• Arjuna duels with Karna, but Karna's chariot wheel gets stuck in mud and he also forgets the mantra needed to use his Brahmastra weapon. Krishna urges Arjuna to slay him. Arjuna is reluctant but eventually does kill Karna.
• Shayla is made supreme commander but is instantly slain by Yudhishthira
• Duryodhana hides at the bottom of a lake, but eventually emerges for a final duel with Bhima. Duryodhana's thigh is smashed and he is fatally wounded. Duryodhana states that Krishna was only able to win through tricks, but this is countered by Krishna stating that the warriors deserved their deaths through their own karma.
• The Pandavas are victorious and head to Hastinapura. The dead are grieved and there is no celebrations. Yudhishthira is to be crowned king, but states that he does not want it. All object and Yudhisthira takes his place as king.
• Yudhishtira visits the dying Bhishma and learns on how to be a king. Yudhisthira then cremates Bhismas dead body at the shores of the Ganges. Krishna's people kill each other in a civil war. Kunti, Ghadhari, and Dhritarashtra die in a forest fire. Dwaraka is swallowed by the sea. Krishna is ultimately slain by a hunter who mistakes the sole of his feet for birds. The Pandavas eventually all start to die until Yudhishthira is the only one left. Yudhishthira departs for heaven in his bodily form. The throne is left for Parikshit, grandson of Arjuna and child of Abhimanyu, and the Pandava line is continued.