Week 9 Reading, Part B

In this part of the story the Pandavas and Draupadi go under cover into the kingdom after 12 years of living in the forest. They are in the kingdom for a year disguised as cooks, teachers, maids, and cowherds. Kichaka tries to rape Draupadi and Bhima kills him. Draupadi tells the queen that she is married to a celestial husband called a ganharva and the queen beleives her. The Pandavas reveal themselves and they go to battle. I found it interesting when Arjuna used a shikhandi which is a man dressed like a woman. That part of the story kind of caught me off guard but I thought it was very interesting. Bhima fulfills his vow to break Duryodhana's thigh. Yudhishthira is tested to get into heaven with a dog and his family but passes.

Bibliography: The Princes of Elephant City (Link)

Arjuna (Source)

Week 9 Reading: Part A

This story tells the Marabharata with the focus on the five Pandava brothers. It begins by giving some background information on the leadership history of the kingdom of Hastinapura. It began with King Bharata and long after that there was a king named Vichitravirya who died and left two sons name Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Dhritarashtra was blind so the throne went to Pandu. Pandu had 5 sons, the Panadavas, who were said to be sons on gods. Pandu dies and Dhritarashtra becomes kings. Duryadhana becomes jealous and tries to kill the Pnadavas but they escape through a secret tunnel. They go on an spree of battles with demons and end up fighting for the hand of Draupadi and Arjuna wins the contest for her hand.

Bibliography: The Princes of Elephant City (Link)

Draupadi and Pandavas (Source)