Week 6: reading diary b

This reading was the continuation of the Mahabharata that we began last week.  Picking up from last week, the Pandavas are in exile in the forest and are hearing many stories from interesting creatures.  Krishna visits them, which makes Draupadi get a little emotional.  She begins to cry out for their old lives in their silken robes and soft beds, and cannot believe this is what their lives have come to.  She declares that now is a time for vengeance, but Brahman assures her that being angry is just sinful and forgiveness will bring her happiness.  The Pandavas are now traveling toward the Himalayas, where they laid eyes on gorgeous gold and crystal palaces lined with jewels. They are finally reunited with Arjuna.  We now learn that Arjuna will have to face Karna in a "deadly conflict," causing everyone to be sad.

We meet Arjuna's father Indra next, who steals Karna's natural, celestial jewels hoping that this will give his son an advantage whenever they face in battle.  Karna argues with Indra though that he must give him something in return, so he gives him an "invincible arrow." The next part was one of my favorites, "Riddles at the Lake."  This was interesting because all of the brothers approach this pool of water, one by one, and the water asks them questions, demanding they answer before drinking the water.  None of them obey, and they each fall dead.  Finally, Yudhisthira listens to the voice in the water and plays his game.  Little did he know, Dharma appears and brings the brothers back to life granting them the ability to remain unrecognizable.  I thought this was a funny, clever little excerpt and I may want to base my storytelling post on it this week.

The Pandavas exile ends, and the war with Kauravas is nearing. Krishna does not want the war to happen, and attempts to make peace and do what he can to avoid it.  It is not working, and they are realizing they are going to have to fight.  Krishna will not stop, he even takes on his divine of Krishnu to work his magic.  Unfortunately, Krishna's efforts fail and everyone begins assembling for war to begin.  Arjuna is getting cold feet, and Krishna addresses him in a powerful, poetic scene encouraging him and preparing him for battle.

Krisha (wikimedia commons)

Mahabhrata