Indian Epics: A Blog by Trace Youngman

       Davavrata vows to give up the throne:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bheeshma_oath_by_RRV.jpg      I guess people think naivety is the reason I gave up my place on the throne. Truth be told, naivety has nothing to do with it. When I was younger, I was hunting for my father, King Shantanu, to kill a deer for dinner for the next couple of nights. I was hunting alone when I saw the largest deer to walk this earth. I quickly drew my bow and fired. However, instead of hearing the deer whine and thud to the ground, I heard a visceral scream. I kept hearing the screaming "AHH AHH" as I walked over. I eventually found a Brahman laying on the ground. He has always been known as a great Brahman, but that day, he took the form of a great deer and he said to me, "As punishment for ending my life, you will never take the place of your father on the throne." I remember being quite taken aback, but I quickly understanding why my punishme...

Arjuna and Krishna:  Wikimedia Commons Plot The Pandavas must go live in the forest in exile because of their gambling losses. During their stay they visit many sages and learn a lot. Each of the brothers also embarks on their own journey. Because the Pandava brothers go into the forest, so must Draupadi. At the beginning of their exile, Krishna goes to speak with Draupadi and attempts to make Draupadi feel better about the situation. Krishna succeeds to a point, but Draupadi is still sad. Arjuna goes on his own adventures at this point to secure divine weapons for the rest of the Pandava brothers to help them in the journey. He secures weapons from the great god and spent the next five years in his father Indra’s abode learning dance and song. During Arjunas absence, the other brothers spent their time being visited by great sages who taught them valuable skills. During cattle inspections that the Kauravas had to undertake, the gandharvas and apsaras entered into bat...