Rishi Markandeya narrated one story after another to the Pandavas, Draupadi, Krishna, Satyabhama, and Narada. This time, Yudhistira asked why Agni went into the forest and how new types of Agni (fires) were created. The rishi explained. A long time ago, Agni was angry and stalked into a forest to perform austerities. With no Agni […]
We read about the birth of Skanda in the previous story. Rishi Markandeya continued his story of how Skanda was gifted the necessary weapons and items to become the general of Indra’s army and tackled the asuras who attacked the devas. Airavata, Indra’s white celestial elephant, had two bells named Vaijayanti. Indra gave one bell […]
After Rishi Markandeya narrated the genealogy of the different types of Agnis, he told Yudhistira to listen to the story of the birth of Karthikeya/ Kumara/ Skanda. The rishi called him the son of Adbutha, born from the wives of the seven rishis. Once upon a time, the devas and asuras were constantly fighting each […]
Yudhistira asked Rishi Markandeya about the greatness of women. The rishi replied that, unlike men, women don’t need to fast or perform sacrifices to obtain heaven. Taking care of her family with a true heart is enough. Markandeya shared the story of how a woman taught an arrogant Brahmin named Kaushika about true dharma. Once upon […]
After listening to the story of Indradyumna, Yudhistira asked Rishi Markandeya to tell him about Dhundhumara and why Kuvalashva of the Ikshvaku lineage changed his name to Dhundhumara. The rishi obliged. Once upon a time, there lived a rishi named Utanka. He was a devotee of Hari and performed a tapasya to see the god. […]
Rishi Markandeya was a very old man who lived for thousands of years. Yudhistira wondered if he was the oldest man ever living or if anyone else had a longer life than him. The rishi then shared the story of a king named Indradyumna. Here is how it goes! There was once a Rajarishi Indradyumna. […]
Yudhistira continued to ask Rishi Markandeya to tell them more stories. This time, the rishi spoke about a king named Parikshit of the Ikshvaku lineage from the older days. One day, King Parikshit went on a hunt in a forest. He found some deer and pursued them on his horse. The herd scattered, and the […]
After the story of Manu and the fish, Yudhistira asked Rishi Markandeya to provide insights into the lives during the yugas, especially kali yuga. The rishi started with a small prayer to Narayana and shared the details. Krita yuga began after the universe’s destruction and lasted four thousand years. A sandhya period of four hundred […]
Yudhistira asked Rishi Markandeya to share the story of Manu and the fish. Krishna, Satyabhama, and Narada were also present in the audience (along with the Pandavas, Draupadi, and Purohit Dhaumya). Markandeya obliged. Vivasvat (sun god) had a son named Manu, who was radiant and powerful like his father and Prajapati. He surpassed his father […]
After the Pandavas united with Arjuna, everyone returned to the Kamyaka forest to complete the remaining years of their exile. Krishna met the Pandavas to express his support once again. Knowing of their return, Krishna came to meet them with Satyabhama. They took the blessings of Purohit Dhaumya and greeted the Pandava brothers and Draupadi. Once […]
When his Pandava brothers and Draupadi were on a pilgrimage, Arjuna was at Indra’s sabha, mastering the art of using celestial weapons, as well as learning music and dance from a gandharva. When his training was complete, Indra gifted the celestial missiles to Arjuna and asked for guru dakshina. He wanted Arjuna to kill the […]
During the twelve-year exile, Bhima faced and fought rakshasas. He also fought with the yakshas of Kubera’s kingdom. The Pandavas climbed up Mount Gandhamadhana and settled in the region with Kubera’s permission (it was his land). After a few days, Draupadi said to Bhima that the shouts of the rakshasas from the top of the […]