The Mahabharata Story ends in eighteen episodes. Adi, Sabha, Jan, Virat, Udayeg, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Shalya, Sauptika, Wife, Shanti, Anushasana, Ashvamedhik, Ashram dweller, Mausal, Mahaprasthan and Swargaarehan.
The text of the Mahabharata story contains a poem that Vyasadeva asked Brahma to write, which would contain all the details of Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, details of Hinduism, Ashram system, Chaturvarna etc. The Mahabharata is called the Fifth Veda. It has one lakh verses.
The Chapters of the Mahabharata story
Mahabharata story Episode: I
In the first episode, the sage Vaishampayan, at the atonement sacrifice of King Janmejaya, recited the Mahabharata to him and the people present, and after hearing that story, Lameharshaputra began to recite the story of Shaunak and other sages who performed the sacrifice.
This episode contains the identity of the Bhrigu dynasty, the Kurubangas, the stories of Maharaja Shantanu and Bhishma, the birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas, the burning of the Jatugriha, the marriage of the Pandavas and Draupadi and the Khandabavandah by Krishnarjuna.
Episode: II
The second episode is about the construction of the palace of the Pandavas at Indraprastha by Maidanab, the acquisition of the emperor’s post by Yudhisthira in Rajsuya Yajna and the jealousy of the Kauravas.
Episode: III
The Episode 3 calls forest period, there is a 12-year-long forest life and hearing of various stories of the Pandavas, Arjuna’s acquisition of various divine weapons, Krishna’s arrogance of misery, Jayadratha’s Draupadi abduction.
Episode: IV
The Episode 4 is big episode where disguise with King Virat in Matsyade in the eyes of the rationalist, Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata etc. Shelter of Panchpandava and Draupadi, defeat of Kauravas in battle, Uttara Aminur.
Episode: V
Udyogaparva includes preparations for the Great War on behalf of the Pandavas and Kauravas, Arjuna and Duryodhana going to Dwarka in prayer for Yadav’s help, Arjuna’s attainment of Krishna, Krishna’s visit to Hastinapur as the peace envoy of the Pandavas
Episode: VI
The Episode 6 is Bhishma period, there is the beginning of war, Arjuna’s sadness in the battlefield philosophy, Krishna’s speech and worldview, Krishna’s anger and throwing of arms at Bhishma’s power, Arjuna’s suppression of Bhishma and construction of Sharasya.
Episode: VII
The Episode 7 is Drona episode, Drona is accepted as commander-in-chief, Abhimanyu is killed by Saptarathi, Jayadratha is killed, Drona is killed by Dhrishtadyumna in the guise of Yudhisthira’s false sentence.
Episode: VIII
The episode 8 is the Karna episode, Karna is accepted as commander-in-chief, misrule by Bhima, fall of Karna’s chariot in Medina and death by Arjuna on that occasion.
Episode: IX
This episode calls surgical period; here includes the last day of the war, the slaughter, the vulture slaughter by Sahadeva, the breaking of Duryodhana’s thigh by Bhima and the death of Duryodhana.
Episode: X
The 10 episode is the Sauptik episode, there is a secret night in the Pandava camp of Ashwatthama; Entering, the five sons of the sleeping Draupadi, the killing of Dhrishtadyumnadi, the battle of Ashvathama and Arjuna, the abduction of the divine head of Ashvathama.
Mahabharata story Episode: XI
In the feminine phase, there is the crushing of iron by Dhritarashtra, the mourning of the bereaved and the burial of corpses, Gandhari’s curse on Krishna.
Episode: XII
The 12 episode is the Peace Period, Yudhisthira’s inauguration to the throne, Bhishma’s advice and explanation of religion to Yudhisthira.
Episode: XIII
Anushasanaparva contains the ascension of Bhismadeva and the reign of Yudhisthira.
Episode: XIV
This episode is Ashwamedha Episode; here contains Yudhisthira’s Ashvamedha Yajna, Arjuna’s journey to Digvijaya, Bhavrubahana and Arjuna’s battle.
Mahabharata story Episode: XV
15 episode calls Ashram Basik episode, there is the adoption of Banprastha by Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti and Bidur, the death of Bidur, the death of the rest by fire.
Episode: XVI
In the Mausala period, there is the curse of the sages on the Jadubalakas, the destruction of the Jadu dynasty in the Prabhasa Mausala war, the great love of Balarama and Krishna, the fall of Dwarka.
Mahabharata story Episode: XVII
In the Mahaprasthanik episode, there is the departure of Pandava and Draupadi to Mahaprasthan, the fall of Draupadi, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva.
Episode: XVIII
In the ascension phase, there is the test of Yudhisthira by religion, the hellish vision of Yudhisthira, the ascension of Panchpandava and Draupadi.
Period of composition of Mahabharata story
Although the main story of the Mahabharata has been prevalent as a myth since the eighth century BC. The first compositions began in the fourth century BC. This is like different historians.
Since the Mahabharata story has been written for hundreds of years, there is no doubt that different authors are associated with it. Some parts of the Mahabharata were later added at different times.
Different versions at different times in the Mahabharata story
The story of the Mahabharata changed differently over time. As a result, it becomes difficult to grasp the main story. To solve this problem, the Bhandarekar Institute of Oriental Studies in Pune (196–1919) searched and collected almost all the manuscripts (about 10,000) of the Mahabharata found all over South Asia and published a critical version of the Mahabharata with 35,000 verses of the same type found in that script. The 13,000-page book, consisting of 18 volumes, is popular with people all over the world.
It is difficult to say, who was the first to translate the Mahabharata into Bengali. However, in the seventeenth century, a poet named ‘Kashiram Das’ is known to have composed ‘Bharat Panchali’ or ‘Kashidasi Mahabharata’ in ‘Pyaar Kavya Chhand’. This is the most popular and well-known Kashidasi Mahabharata in Bengal.
Kaliprasanna Singh also wrote the Mahabharata in prose in six volumes, and it became very popular in the Bengali aristocracy.
Over time, various regional versions of the Mahabharata have been published, most of which have slightly altered the original story or added to the contemporary conventional story.
There are three separate versions of the Mahabharata in India — North Indian, South Indian, and Malabari. The Mahabharata is mentioned in various texts of the people such as Garibansha Puran Pabpuran etc.
The lust of sages in the Mahabharata story
In the Mahabharata, we see that when the beautiful Nara of the Muni-Eids were seen; they would go out and have sleep with them. They thought it was semen in a yajna kund or pitcher
If left, there will be children. Women have no role to play in childbearing. Parashar Ridhi, the father of Bedavas, came to the river Jamuna and saw the smell of fish. Matsyagandha ‘Naeka was crossing then. He fell in love with the amazing smell of fish and climbed into his boat in the heat of the boat crossing.
Then Parashar Muni had sleep with Matsyagandha. The smell of fish forbids her to have sleep because of the smell of fish on her body. Parashar then made him ‘Jaejangandha’ meaning ‘musk’. But for fear of catching everyone’s eye, Matsyagandha Parashar told Muni to wait till night. Meanwhile, the dam of work is broken in Parashar.
Dharmakshetra
Kurukshetra is call ‘Dharmakshetra’. It is known as the battlefield of the Koks and Pandavas. In the Jabal Upanishads ‘O’ Satpath Brahman; it mentioned as the force of the gods. The ancient name of Kurukshetra is Samantapanchake Prashuram’s father killed all the Kshatriyas in the world in this place in the Mahabharata. In ancient times Rajarki Kuru used to do this place all the time.
Kuru says that Ray will die in this place, his sins will be erased and he will go to heaven. Then the gods Indraka said if Kuru is not to be plowed or stopped if a man dies in the rough; he will be able to go to his heaven and the gods will not share the sacrifice. Indra then forbade Kuru to cultivate — Bay Lake will die here bored or Buddha, he will be able to go to heaven. Kuru agreed.
Kauravas and the Pandavas
The Kauravas and the Pandavas had a Buddha for 18 days. Seven Pandavas were alive. Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Sri Krishna and Satyaki. And three survived for Kaurava. Kripacharya, Kritavarma, Ashvatthama.
To the southeast of Thaneswar in Haryana is a district called Kurukshetra. Its area is 1,530 square kilometers. It is said that the battle of Kurukshetra took place over one-fifth of the district. So the name of this district is Kurukshetra. Eighteen Akshauhini forces took part in the battle at Kurukshetra.
One Akshauhini says that the army has one hundred and ninety thousand three hundred and fifty infantry, sixty-five thousand six hundred and ten horses, twenty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy elephants, and twenty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy chariots with two hundred and eighteen thousand seven hundred soldiers.
Then the eighteen Akshauhini is forty-nine lakh thirty-six thousand six hundred soldiers. These were Krishna’s soldiers who fought for the Kauravas. Besides, the Kauravas had a huge army and the Pandavas also had a huge army. How did such a huge army fight in Oituku place according to Kurukshetra? Where did they eat? Where did you sleep and Where did you do breakfast? This is a big story from the story of the cow tree.
The millions of soldiers who died in the war all went to heaven. But how big is heaven? What is the place of so many soldiers there? What do they play there? Do they drink seamstresses and have slept with sixty million apsara prostitutes in heaven?
Incest and sex in the Mahabharata story
After the death of Satyavati’s eldest son, Bhishma married Ambika and Ambalika to another son, Bichitravirya. Shortly after the marriage, Bichitravirya died childless. Mother Satyavati, in fear of descent, requested Krishna Dvaipayana Basa, a virgin of her virginity, to produce a child in the womb of her two daughters-in-law.
As a result, Ambika’s blind son Dhritarashtra was born! Dhritarashtra was blind, Bedavas was about to have slept with Ambalika. As a result, Pandu was born. When Ambika menstruates again, Satyavati tells her to go to the diameter. But Ambika frightened and sends one of his beautiful maids as Bedavas’s bedfellow and Bidur is born from her.
Gandhari, the wife of Dhritarashtra, gave a gift by Vyasadeva and she will be the mother of a hundred sons. Gandhari became pregnant in time. But within two years the child was born. Gandhari saddened to hear that Krimbhi’s child had born and aborted himself without informing Dhritarashtra. Out of the womb came a hard flesh, according to Leah.
When Gandhari tried to destroy it, on the advice of Byasadeva, he soaked the meat in cold water. And he divided the hundred and put it in a jug of ghee. A year later Duryodhana and a year and a month later another hundred sons and a daughter named Duhshala had born.
In the age of Mahabharata, married or virgin girls could have fun with other men and that did not at all reprehensible.
Kunti
Kunti once got a mantra by appeasing Durbasa Muni in service. Durbasa says that whoever you call with this mantra will come and have slept with you. Kunti is still a virgin. He chanted mantras to have slept with the sun. The sun made her have sleep. And in due time the ear is born.
But Kunti, the son of a virgin mother, floated Karna in the water on behalf of the society. Where will the nature of intercourse after that! After marrying Pandu, he invited Dharmaraj to have sleep. Dharmaraja had slept with satisfaction and Yudhisthira was born. Meanwhile, Kunti’s polygamous rage has spread. Called the wind. He had slept with Kunti and Bhim was born.
He then summoned Yuvraj Indra. Arjuna was born in the union of Indra and Kunti. Meanwhile, Madhuri saw all this and said to Kunti, teach me the mantra too. Madhuri then called Ashwini and Kumar to have sleep. Nakul and Sahadeva were born with the sleep of Ashwini and Kumar.
The stories of Kunti and Madri’s sexual promiscuity or religion fueled women in the human society of that time. Kunti was not monogamous. She was polygamous. The men and women of that era were also polygamous.
Draupadi
Draupadi, the daughter of Panchal Raj Drupada, revered as one of the Sati. She has five husbands. Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadeva.
Women had humiliated everywhere in the Mahabharata. At that time women seen only as a commodity. Hundreds of beautiful young women donated to Brahmins in any religious ceremony or yajna.
Then the eagle asked the king to pray to Jayati. He was unable to pay so much due to lack of financial resources. But he handed over his daughter Madhavi to Galbe. He asked Madhavi to pay rent to other kings.
Madhavi
Galab took Madhavi to Harishwar, the king of Ayodhya. Hash was wanted to have slept with Madhavi instead of giving her two hundred hugs and expresses her desire to have one child in her womb. Then Madhabi told Jayati that every time she gave birth, she would become a virgin again. The groom gave her a muni.
So Madhavi had slept with Hashwar and two other kings namely Kashiraj Dibadas and Vajraj Ushinar and gave birth to three children. From these three, Galab got Mate 600 Ghara by hiring Madhavi. We still need 200 more horses.
But Garuda told Galb that such a neck would no longer found. So he asked Bishwamitra to give this 600 ghaerai. Galab gave 600 rounds to Bishwamitra. And asked Madhavi to have sleep instead of the remaining 200.
Bishwamitra dissatisfied and said, “If I could have had sleep with this girl earlier, I would have had four children.” However, Bishwamitra broke Madhavi and produced a child in her womb.
Bishwamitra went to the forest with her child, religion, and money. Go through Madhabi to Galbe. Galab brought Madhavi into the hands of her father Jayati. When Swayambhara held a meeting for the marriage of Jayati’s daughter, Madhabi rejected the marriage and went to the forest to observe celibacy and save religion.
Wealth
In the Mahabharata, Dhritarashtra said to have been very prosperous and wealthy. But where did so much wealth and money come from? He did not cultivate paddy or cow-rearing?
The common man had accumulated so much wealth by ruthlessly exploiting it. And they used to live a luxurious life with the wealth of this booty. The Pandavas were the same. They also subjugated the people, enslaved the Shudras, and amassed wealth.
The battle of Kurukshetra is for truth at all, not for religion. In every case of war lies, deceptions have been reported to. Krishna himself has said that the Kauravas are great warriors.
The Pandavas could never lose a battle like theirs. If the Pandavas had not resorted to such deceptions in war, they would never have won and gained the kingdom. So the battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, fought for the sake of gaining power and wealth.
Disrespect in the Mahabharata Story
Shudras and women had no respect in the age of Mahabharata. Because Eklavya was a Shudra, Dronacharya cut off his thumb. The five sons of the Nishad nation and their mother were burnt to death by the Pandavas in their sleep after being shown the lure of eating delicious good food in the zoo. This is a heinous act.
In the dice game, without Draupadi’s permission, Yudhisthira bet Draupadi on the product. No one protested against it, not even Gandhari became a woman. Everyone in the Kaurava dynasty involved in the heinous act of undressing Draupadi equally.
In the episode of Bakrakshas Badh, we see the Brahmani saying that there is no harm if a Brahmani or a married woman dies after producing children after marriage. Because men get married to produce children. And she gave birth to a son and a daughter. Brahmani has been successful in being born as a woman. If the wife dies, the men can remarry. But when the husband died, the wife is forbidden to remarry.
Originally published at https://mahasoe.com on May 7, 2021.