Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part A

 Shantanu tries to stop Ganga from drowning one of their children.

Painting by Raja Ravi Varma (1890). Link.

1. Already, the boy and the girl are given a divine background.
2. The king does not know what is actually going on. His overconfidence has ended with the loss of his loved one. Maybe humans shouldn’t assume they know everything.
3. The king did, finally, get one good thing out this: a son.
4. Devavrata/Bhishma is selfless, just like Rama, in that he’ll give up his claim to the throne in order to fulfill his father’s wishes.
5. Bhishma might be working behind the (political) scenes.
6. Bhishma is compared to a god. He has divine qualities that will likely come into play somewhere else in the story.
7. Like Rama, Bhishma’s prowess in battle is stressed or emphasized.
8. Bhishma is understanding of Amba. She will likely help him for because of his kindness (karma).
9. The rejection of Amba by King Shalwa is similar to Rama’s rejection of Sita after she was rescued from Ravana.
10. There’s irony in the fact that, as Amba becomes calmer and reflects on the past, she begins to blame Bhishma for all her woes.
11. Amba must really hate Bhishma if she’s willing to burn herself alive in order to kill him sooner. Are her beliefs justified in any way?
12. Just like Moses, Karna is sent floating on a river. He will likely lead a group out of slavery or oppression.
13. Even accidents are punished. Why wouldn’t the sage forgive the king?
14. The king is going to bring ruin upon the kingdom. How would Dhritarashtra have fared if he had been kicked off the throne?
15. The brothers are likely to become able warriors.
16. Will the two (former) friends become reconciled? How would their conversation have gone if they had spoken?
17. They’re serious about their promises. What if he had refused to sever his thumb?
18. Arjuna seems likely to use unfair means to get what he wants. He treats Drona as unworthy of the tournament.
19. Drona will prove a wise and merciful warrior. He is willing to let those who deserve it live.
20. Duryodhana’s father is more likely to be negatively influenced, given his blindness. If he had his sight, would he believe anything his son said? Is the blindness a symbol of not being able to see the truth?

Bibliography

Various authors. Mahabharata (public domain). Source.