Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Reading Notes: Narayan's Mahabharata Part A

Title: The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic Part A
Author: R. K. Narayan
Year: 1978

- Dhritarashtra treated all of his sons and his brother's (Pandu) sons equally after Pandu's self inflicted death.

- Drona instructs his pupils to attack Panchala and capture Drupada as his payment for being their tutor. Drupada was his friend when they were younger. Drupada became king when he grew older and treated Drona poorly when he saw him next. Drupada is captured and Drona takes half of his kingdom to rule so that he and Drupada would always be equals, allowing them to be friends.

- Dhritarashtra is a bit jealous during the ceremony when his narrator is only telling of the great things his nephews are doing, with little mention of his own sons. He then names Yudhistira as his heir apparent instead of one of his sons.

- Dhritarasthra, his adviser, and Duryodhana devise a plan to get Pandu's sons out of the capital. They have become jealous. Dhritarasthra could have just had a talk with all of his sons and nephews in order to keep the peace. 

- The charred remains of a mother and five sons were found inside the burnt mansion. This story could use more detail.

- Dhritarasthra did not expect the plan to go so far and was at the mercy of his conscious. Perhaps he had helped Vidura get the Pandava's to safety, knowing the evil plot of Duryodhana and Purichana.

Pandavas
Image Author: Jijithnr
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons


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