Week 10 Storytelling; The Shanti Parva

The Shanti Parva

After the battle it was time for the coronation of Yudhistira. Peace and tranquility came after, but the story was yet to end. Yudhistira found Krishna upset and moody. He said that he realizes with the coming of Urtarayana, Bhishma will sacrifice himself. Bhishma was the keeper of knowledge for the world. Also kingship and human conduct; so when he passes away it will be gone with him forever. Krishna warned him there was not much time left.

While Brishma was speaking his final words to Yudhistira he showed much affection and spoke to him on the duties that were necessary for a king. It lasted for several days, and when he was finished he told everyone farewell and took his last breath. Yudhistira took his body and took the arrows off of it. Then he performed the obsequies due the eldest member of the family. He cremated his body on the bank of the river Ganga. The Goddess who was Brishma’s mother appeared again to take his soul and send it to his original home in the place of the celestials.

Following his deaf, Yudhistira ruled for thirty-six years. At the end of his 36th year his uncle, Dhritarashtra showed a desire to to adopt vanaprasha and live out in the woods with Gandhari and his brother’s wife, Kunthi. Yudhistira made sure all of their requests were made and he visited them frequently. He watched over their belongings too. One day, there was a forest fire and somehow Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti all died.

Meanwhile Krishna’s clan, the Vrishnis, destroyed themselves in a civil war, and nobody even remembered them because they left no trace of their existence. Krishna them left himself like he foresaw. While he was on the bank of the river, he was in deep thought. Lying on the sands, a hunter that was a distance away confused the soles of his feet for a bird and shot an arrow at them killing him. Depressed by all of the news the Pandavas decided to leave the world. One by one they died and Draupadi did too.

Yudhistira found himself to be all alone, and he was gifted the power to go to heaven in his eartly form. On his way there he saw many familiar faces. The last person that was there to take charge of Hastinapura was the son of Abhimanyu, who had protection of Krishna. He grew up to be the King and further continuing the Pandava lineage.

The Great Battle  by Ankush Bahuguna

Author's Note

This week I decided to retell the ending of R. K. Narayan's version of the Mahabharata. 

I chose to do the ending of this story because I like how in the end of the story when you thought that everything was over it actually wasn't. In the Epilogue, the story is contunied further on a bigger time scale and we learn of the deaths of everyone except Yudhistira. He went to heaven and there was only one person left to rule. It was neat how the Pandava line was still passed on in the end. It is a true never ending story. 

Week 10 Reading Diary B: The Ending

Since this is the last reading of the Mahabharata, I wanted to briefly cover the last bit of the story for my storytelling post. I think that I will write it over the ending.

Yudhishthira wants to make a final plea for peace. He is also not sure if it is safe for Krishna to go to Hastinapura as his emissary. Dhritarashtra learns about Krishna and wants a lavish reception. All Krishna wants is peach and justice.

Duryodhana denies Krishna’s plea for peace and refused to listen to the requests of his mother Ganhari. Krishna manifests himself in his divine form to the assembly. Shortly after Duryodyna realizes it is impossible to take him prisoner.  Krishna speaks to Karna and tries to convince him to abandon Duryodhana. But he refuses. Karna the promises Kunti that only one of her sons that he will attack in the future battle is Arjuna.

In the end Yudhishthira goes to consult Bhishma, who is dying. After he dies he is cremated. Dhritarashtra, Gandhair and Kunti go to live in the forest and die in a fire. Krishna’s people all destroy themselves in a civil war. Krishma is killed by a hunter and Yudhishthira goes to heaven in is bodily form. Arjuna’s son, grows up to be king of Hastinapura which continues the Pandava line. 

 

Bhima about to kill Duryodhana

Week 10 Reading Diary A: 13th Year

Dhritarashtra’s sends his spies to find out what the Pandavas are doing. He also leans about the weapons Arjuna has. He then makes a royal camp near Pandavas to shame and humiliate them, but the gods send a gandharava to fight with Duryodhana. During the fight the gandharvas eventually take Duryodhana into captivity. His plan is ruined and backfired on him.

A Brahmin asks the Pandavas for help because a giant deer stole his staff and the kindling he uses to make the sacrificial fire. The Pandavas chase it but fail. They soon became tired and went to find water. Nakula finds a lake to drink water from. Suddenly he hears a voice telling him not to drink the water until he answers all of his questions. He ignores his requests and drinks the water and dies instantly. Arjuna, Sahadeva, and Brima all die as well. Yudhishthira comes and sees that all his brothers are dead and he answers all the questions. He tells him that it was test by Yama, the god of death and of Dharma. The fallen brothers are brought back to life, and they receives the gift of unrecognizability.

Remember from before that after 12 years of exile they must spend their thirteenth year in disguise at the court of King Virata.  The Brothers all disguise themselves. Yudhishthira is the king’s companion. Bhima is a cook. Makula a stable boy, Sahadeva is a cowherd, Arjuna new alias is Brihannala and lives as a eunuch in the women’s quarters. Draupadi is Sairandhir, the hairdresser. 

Kichaka and Bhima