Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part A

(Ganesha writing the Mahabharata; Source Wikimedia)

The birth story of Vyasa to begin the Mahabharata can be important in my project of karma. The king of Chedi, Uparichara, dropped his semen into a river and the result was 2 children, a boy and a girl. The king took the boy, but he did not want girl so left her with the fisherman's wife. She had a fishy smell and worked as a ferryman. She met the sage Parashara and had a son with him (out of wedlock) named Vyasa.
Ganga, the goddess of the Ganges river took form into human as the eight Vasus came to her. She became their human form mother and promised she would cast upon them her children. King Shantanu saw Ganga in human form and was taken with her immediately. He asked her to wed him and she would so long as he never spoke harshly to her or question her actions. They eventually had a son, but she gave him to the Ganges. The king was horrified, but kept his promise to not speak to her about it. Seven children later, all of whom Ganga destroyed by casting them to the Ganges. On the eighth child and in her attempt to drown him, the king spoke up. Their vows were broken, but Ganga revealed her true self to the king and explained. She took the eighth child with her. Eventually she brought their son back and his name was Devavrata. Years later, Shantanu sought after Satyavati, the girl who was born from Chedi but was left with the fisherman and his wife. Shantanu wanted to wed Satyavati, but the fisherman demanded that Vyasa become the heir to the throne. Shantanu could not agree as his son, Devavrata, whom he had with Ganga was the heir. Devavrata went in search for the fisherman as his father had become heart broken. Devavrata promised that if Satyavati is to become queen, he will never accept the throne, marry a wife, or father children. From this day, Devavrata was now called Bhishma which means "terrible". Satyavati was wed to Shantanu and bore 2 sons. When Shantanu died, Bhishma was left to care for his family. The elder of the 2 sons was king, but was killed in battle so the younger became king and Bhishma ruled as regent.
Vichitravirya, the younger of the 2 sons and who was now king, needed a wife. Bhishma was in charge of finding him one. The king of Benares had 3 daughters that he were to marry off. Bhishma seized all three to take back to find the suitable one for Vichitravirya.
One of the daughters, Amba, was secretly betrothed to the king of Shalwas. Upon her return, the king showed no affection so she was sent away and she returned home. Amba, angered, vows to slay Bhishma, with the encouragement from Shiva.
3 children, Dhritarashtra, Vidura, and Pandu were brought up by Bhishma and Pandu was set to take over the throne.
Pandu had 2 wives (Kunti and Madri). Kunti became the mother of Karna with Surya, the god of the sun. With shame, she put the baby in a basket and set it down a river. The baby was given to the Ganges. Radha and Adhiratha took the child as they could not bear children.
Pandu, who was cursed due to killing a holy brahmin and his wife while in animal form, would die in one of his wives arms. Pandu was fearful and vowed to celibacy, gave all his possession to brahmins and left to live in solitary with his wives. Pandu shot another brahmin in the form of a deer. The brahmin was not mad about being shot since he was a deer, but rather he was mad about being shot while he was engaged in sexual intercourse. This brahmin said that Pandu shall have the same happen to him, that while he were to engage in intercourse, he and his wife would fall dead. Pandu and Madri, his favorite wife, has snuck away one day and Pandu immediately fell dead.  His 5 sons, the Pandava brothers, arranged his funeral pyre. Pandu's wives fought over which was to brun with him, but the brahmin decided Madri shall because she was his favorite.
Dhritarashtra, Pandu's brother, was ruler of Bharatavarsha and took a wfie, Gandhari. She had hundreds of sons called the Kauravas, the oldest was Duryodhana. Duryodhana grew up to be evil-minded and would be the ruin of his people.
Kunti returned to tell Dhritarashtra of Pandu's death. He vowed to protect the Pandava brothers. The Pandava brothers and the Kaurava grew up together and trained. Bhima was the favorite of the Pandava brothers and Duryodhana was jealous. Duryodhana poisoned Bhima's food and appeared dead so he was thrown into waters and attacked by nagas. The nagas' poison counteracted with the poison Duryodhana gave him. He spent time in the underworld and 8 days later, Bhima returned to land and told his brothers of his poisoning and they advised him not to tell the Kauravas.
Drona was brought as the preceptor for the Pandava brothers and the Kauravas. He would train them so long as they helped him fight his enemy. Drona took delight with the Pandavas, especially Arjuna which made Duryodhana jealous again.
Ekalavya wanted to be trained by Drona, but Drona would not. Ekalavya then worshipped a clay image of Drona and resolved to become an accomplished warrior.
There was a tournament held. Karna, son of Kunti, challenged his brother Arjuna. Karna symbolizes rejection by those who should love him, yet becomes a loyal friend.
With training complete, Drona sent the Pandavas and Kauravas to fight Drupada. The Kauravas began the fight and were defeated so the Pandavas took over next. Drona took possession of half the kingdom. Duryodhana was very jealous of the Pandavas and very much Arjuna. He went to his father, Dhritarashtra, and told him lies about them and what they planned to do to him to take over the kingdom. Duryodhana planned to build a house made of wood and set it on fire. The king would send Kunti and her sons there. When they were asleep, the guard would set it on fire.

Bibliography: The Mahabharata, A Summary by John Mandeville Macfie (1921).