Reading Notes, Narayan's Mahabharata Part B

  Bibliography: R.K Narayan, Narayan's Mahabharata, http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2015/05/week-1-of-2-narayans-mahabharata.html
- Duryodhana hates that the Pandavas are still alive, but his son, Dhritsarshtra doesn't hate them near as much. Bhishma and Vidura urge Dhritarashta to make peace. 
- Karna denouces both of them as kings/people or want war and urgers that. 
-Dhritarashtra sends Vidura to the Pandavas to come back to Hastinapura. Dhritashtra gives the Pandavas part of his kingdom. The Pandavas build a city called Indraprastha. Because Arjuna intruded on Yudhishthira and Draupadi during the year that Draupadi was Yudhishthira's wife, he goes into exile for twelve years. During this time, he marries Ulupi, a naga princess, and he also marries Subhadra, the sister of Krishna.
-Yudhishthria is crowned as a king of Indraprastha. Duryodhana is jealous of Indrapastha.

-Agni was served as a reward to help Gandiva to burn from the Khandava forest.

-Shakuni suggests to Duryodhana that they can get their revenge on the Pandavas in a game of dice. Shakuni is an expert player, and Yudhishthira has no talent for the game. Vyasa comes to visit the Pandavas and warns them of the bad omens that he sees. Dhritarashtra, meanwhile, agrees to build a great assembly hall, the Crystal Palace, to rival the hall of the Pandavas. Vidura comes to invite the Pandavas to the Crystal Palace for a game of dice. As a kshatriya, Yudhishthira cannot refuse this challenge, so he and the Pandavas go to Hastinapura. (Though this was very important so I included it).

-In Duryodhana's place, Shakuni decides to play the dice game. Yudhisthira loses everything. Vidura wants Dhritarashtra to stop the dice game but it goes along way.

-Bhima thinks he will get revenge on Duryodhana. Duryodhana taunts Draupadi. Draupadi a wish, and she asks that Yudhishthira be set free. Dhritarashtra gives her another wish, and she frees her other four husbands. When he gives her a third wish

, Draupadi declines. Dhritarashtra then gives back all the Pandavas' possessions and sends them back to Indraprastha in peace.

-Duryodhana urges his father to invite them back for a second match. Gandhari, his mother, wants him to decline this offer but the invitation is made. Yudhishthira accepts. The stake is thirteen years of exile: twelve years in poverty, followed by one year in disguise. Yudhishthira loses, and the Pandavas go into exile. Vidura offers to take care of Kunti while her sons are away. The Pandavas go to the Ganga river. Yudhishthira urges the people following them to go home, but some insist on staying. Yudhishthira prays to Surya, the Sun God, who gives Yudhishthira a copper bowl with an endless supply of food. This allows Yudhishthira to feed the people who are with him. The Pandavas go to live with hermits in the wilderness. Shakuni, Duryodhana and Karna urge an attack on the Pandavas, but Vyasa urges peace instead. (this was very important to me)

 

-Meanwhile, Krishna comes to see Yudhishthira and promises that Duryodhana and his allies will be punished. Draupadi criticizes Yudhishthira for being so willing to forgive their enemies, while Yudhishthira urges Draupadi to be patient. As they speculate about the future, Vyasa assures Yudhishthira that all his enemies will be slain in battle, and he teaches Yudhishthira a great mantra that makes it possible to get weapons from the gods. Yudhishthira teaches this mantra to Arjuna, who uses it to get weapons from Indra, Varuna, and other gods. When Arjuna goes to the Vindhya mountains to meditate, he gets the weapon Pashupata from the god Shiva. Arjuna also visits Amaravati, the heavenly city of Indra. A gandharva teaches Arjuna music and dance, and an apsara named Urvashi falls in love with Arjuna, but he rejects her advances. Urvashi curses Arjuna to live among women as a eunuch. Indra, however, is impressed with Arjuna's self-control and tells him that this curse will turn out to be a blessing later on. Arjuna rejoins the Pandavas after five years, and they are delighted to learn of the weapons that he has acquired. (I felt like i had to include the ending in the words of Narayan to part B, it is something that is very interesting)

Part B of this incredible story