Reading Diary B: PDE Mahabharata

1. The House of Fire

Prince Vidura was the half-brother of King Pandu. Even though he had a connection to royalty, he could never be king of Hastinapura because his mother was only a slave girl. The Pandavas and Queen Kunti made their way to the palace. Prince Vidura noticed the walls and tapestries were soaked with oil and the wood was easily flammable. He enacted a plan to save everyone from the fire. He saved them all, but when the city saw the fire, they thought surely, Queen Kunti and the Pandavas died in the fire. The news spread to Prince Duryodhana (the man responsible) and he was pleased his plan had succeeded or so he thought.

(Image Source: Wikipedia Commons "Escape of Pandavas from fire accident")

2. Birth of Draupadi

The Pandavas were still living in the city, in disguise, as brahmins. Drupada's kingdom had been claimed by Drona and he needed offspring to reclaim the throne. A sacred spiritual sacrifice gave them the hope they so desired. A prince (Dhrishtadymna) arose in the fire wearing fully armed with a bow and he was prophesied to defeat Drona. After him, a girl came from the fire (Draupadi) and she was prophesied to accomplish the will of the gods and to be the leader of all women. Kunti headed towards Panchala.

3. Wife of the Five Pandavas

Arjuna won the heart of Draupadi, but because of the Pandavas' mother, they would all end up marrying Draupadi. They claim it was the will of the gods? She married each brother according to their age, so in a succession of five days, she married one brother at a time.

4. The Burning of the Forest

Krishna and Arjuna take on Indra in a battle. Indra is defeated by a bow and arrows, mace, and a discus. They helped the fire god, Agni, take down Indra because he wanted to claim the forest, but Indra kept standing in the way.