Said the celebrated sage Vyasa to Krishna, I need pramana– pratyakshya pramana (direct evidence); only then would I accept. That was when Krishna met Arjuna for the first time. That was when in Sarala Mahabharata Krishna entered the story of the Kuru clan. Nakula and Sahadeva were not born yet. The story of Madri posted …
SHANTANU AND GANGA
Shantanu was a great devotee of Bhagawan Shiva. Sarala spoke of him as a “rushi(“rishi”, sage)”. He was so emerged in Shiva consciousness that he would dress himself like him and then even the gods were confused. One day the unbelievable of the unbelievable happened – goddess Ganga was confused. She had taken birth in …
CHITRAVIRYA AND VICHITRAVIRYA
Chitravirya and Vichitravirya were the sage-king Shantanu’s sons, but they were not born out of the womb of any woman. They were born of pictures of women. They were cursed by Ganga, Shantanu’s wife, for no fault of theirs. This is their sad story:Ganga knew that she had married the wrong person in Shantanu and …
BHIMA AND THE CROCODILE ASURA
The Pandavas and mother Kunti had only just escaped the huge fire in the laksha griha (wax palace). They were standing on the bank of the river Suranadi which was in full spate. It had rained heavily that night and the sky was overcast and it was dark. Uncle Vidura had told them that they …
KRISHNA’S TEST OF KARNA
When Karna was born, he carried on his body his father Sun god’s blessings in the form of armour and a pair of earrings. They protected him from harm. No arrow could break the armour and pierce into his body. No sword or mace could do so either. Not just ordinary arrows and weapons, the …
ON SOME DISTURBING DEATHS
This post explores Supriya Prashant’s idea that the death of Lakshmana Kumara, Duryodhana’ son, and of Draupadi’s children should be considered together not merely because these deaths hurt us particularly deeply - killing of those who impress us as innocent is always profoundly disturbing, but also because these constitute yet another poignant reminder about how …
LAKSHMANA KUMARA
In Sarala Mahabharata there is no character other than Jara, who is anywhere as childlike and endearing and as innocent and pure as Lakshmana Kumara. For the last ten years, ever since I read his story, he has often been in my thought. In my quiet moments I have felt hurt on his account, have …
DID ARJUNA USE CELESTIAL ARROWS AFTER HIS LAST FIGHT AGAINST ASWASTHAMA?
What is Sarala’s take on this, Mr. Sudeep Kanwal asks. Before answering this question, we should like to observe that in the context of Sarala Mahabharatathis question translates itself into “Did Arjuna use celestial arrows after the Kurukshetra War?” because in this narrative it is Krishna, not Arjuna, who fought Aswasthama in the episode we …
Continue reading "DID ARJUNA USE CELESTIAL ARROWS AFTER HIS LAST FIGHT AGAINST ASWASTHAMA?"
DURYODHANA’S COMMANDERS – IN – CHIEF: A NARRATIVE OF VIRTUOUS BETRAYAL
According to Sarala Mahabharata, in the Kurukshetra War, there were five of them: Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Salya and Aswasthama – in this order. It was his greatest misfortune that the Kaurava king, Duryodhana, had these very eminent men as his commanders-in-chief. Salya was undoubtedly a very great warrior but the other four belonged to a …
Continue reading "DURYODHANA’S COMMANDERS – IN – CHIEF: A NARRATIVE OF VIRTUOUS BETRAYAL"
BHIMA AND KRISHNA
There is one similarity between Bhima and Krishna in Sarala Mahabharata (doesn’t it come as a surprise?): neither can be satisfied. Insatiable, says Sarala, was Bhima’s hunger for a fight, for food, for sleep and for sex. Wild, full of superhuman energy, and lacking in patience, this son of god Pavana (Wind) would, unlike his …
Sarala Mahabharata 