Reading notes: Indian Heroes


File:Yudhisthira with a dog as a chariot from heaven arrive.jpg

Before starting the notes, this story is more entertaining than the original in my opinion. The story being told as the Pandavas being the heroes made it more one-sided and by the end I was rooting for the Pandavas more so than I was in the original.

Plot:
  • The Pandavas and the Kauravas are all descendants of the Bharatas, but the Pandavas all come from one King, King Pandu. Drona teaches both the Pandavas and Kauravas instead of just one clan. Duryodhana quickly becomes jealous of the Panadavas and ousted them quickly from the Kingdom. 
  • In the forest, the Pandavas fight many monsters including Hidimba and Baka. In their travels, one of the brothers, Arjuna, wins a bow contest and makes Draupadi the wife of the five brothers. 
  • The Kauravas realize the Pandavas are alive and give them half of the kingdom. Arjuna then burns down a forest full of Nymphs but one survives. She builds them a palace. 
  • Yudhishtira, a Pandava brother, declares himself king and he kills a wicked ruler named Jarasandha. 
  •  Duryodhana becomes jealous at the victory and challenges Yudhishtira to a gambling match. The Pandavas lose and spend 13 years in exile. 
  • In the thirteenth year of exile, the Pandava brothers must disguise themselves and live in the kingdom of King Virata. 
  • The Queens brother tries to rape Draupadi, but she is saved, and the brothers are almost done with their exile. 
  • Once the exile is up, Duryodhana says the Pandavas must spend another 12 years in exile, but they refuse, and a great battle takes place. 
  • The brothers prepare for battle, but the Pandavas army is much smaller than the Kauravas 
  • The Pandavas eventually win the battle, and Duryodhana stays hidden until he duels Bhima. Bhima wins, but the Kaurava survivors raid the Pandavas camp and slay almost everyone. 
  • Yudhishthira rules the kingdom, but problems arise. There are curses put on the kingdom and eventually the curses take the kingdom over and destroy it. 
  • The brothers all begin to leave the earth. They climb the Himalayas and die one by one. 
  • Eventually, Yudhishthira is met by Indra to climb to heaven, but Yudhishthira refuses and it turns out to be a test of his loyalty. All of the Pandava brothers end up reaching heaven.
Bibliography:
Author: C. A. Kincaid
Title: The Indian Heroes
Source: Blogspot


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