When Agni burned the Kandava forest, only six beings came out alive. One was Maya (the asura architect), and the other was Ashvasena, the son of Takshaka. The other four were the Sharngaka birds. These birds were the children of Rishi Mandapala and a female Sharngaka bird. Once upon a time, there lived a rishi […]
Draupadi gave birth to five sons, one with each Pandava brother. Her five sons were called the Upapandavas and were born after Abhimanyu (Arjuna and Subhadra’s son). However, more research shows four Upandavas were older than Abhimanyu (who was sixteen when the Kurukshetra War occurred). The Upapandavas (sons of Pandavas) were born a year apart […]
King Samvarana was an ancestor of the Pandavas who married Tapati (the river goddess), the daughter of Vivasvat (Surya Deva). Tapati was the younger daughter of Vivasvat, born after Savitri. She was a mesmerizing beauty with symmetrical features and an unblemished face. She was also known for her devotion to austerities. Surya Deva wanted to […]
The enmity between Drona and Draupada is an interesting situation caused by childhood promises and differences in their approaches to life. After all, Drona was a Brahmin and Draupda was a king. Drona was the son of Rishi Bharadwaja. He studied Vedas, Vedeangas, and Shastras under his father. Bharadwaja had a friend, King Prishata, whose […]
King Draupada of Panchala wanted a son who could one day avenge his humiliation and kill Drona. This desire eventually led to the birth of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna. After the defeat in Drona’s hands (when Drona used his students, the Pandavas and Kauravas, including Karna, to attack Panchala), Draupada went into the forests and hills, […]
The second Pandava brother, Bhima, was known for his tremendous physical strength. He killed many rakshasas throughout the Mahabharata, though these events took place more during their time spent in the forests. After escaping the House of Lac in Vanavrata, the Pandavas went into hiding. Bhima first killed Hidimba and had to marry the rakshasa’s […]
When the Pandavas became more popular than his sons, Dhritarashtra couldn’t suppress his jealousy. However, he knew he couldn’t openly display his partiality as a king. He called his ministers and wise Brahmins to ask for help to handle the situation. A Brahmin named Kanika taught him the art of duality where he could act as […]
Duryodhana’s hatred for the Pandavas hadn’t occurred overnight. Soon after the Pandavas came to Hastinapura after Pandu’s death, they became popular with everyone for their good manners and helpful nature. This caused envy and jealousy in Duryodhana, who until then, considered himself a favorite. He poisoned Bhima and tried many other ways to get rid of […]
Dharma was born as Vidura in the Mahabharata due to a curse from Rishi Mandavya. This story has been narrated in the Adi Parva. A long time ago, there lived a Brahmin named Mandavya who was steadfast in following austerities. He was devoted to truth and established in dharma. He took the vow of silence […]
Yayati is an ancestor of the Kuru lineage. His sons are the ancestors of the Yadavas and the Purus. The full story of Yayati’s marriage, curse, and redemption is narrated in the Mahabharata. Nahusha was the emperor of the earth. He and his wife Priyavasa had six sons – Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Pancha, and […]
The love story of Shakuntala and Dushyant (Duhshanta) has been popularized by Kalidasa. However, the version we read in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata is different. It doesn’t include the curse of Rishi Durvasa nor does Dushyant forget his wife. However, it is dramatic in its own way and shows Shakuntala’s inner strength. A […]
The churning of the milky ocean for amrita is one of the popular stories from the Puranas. Rishi Sauti narrated it in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. A long time ago, the devas met on the mystical Meru Mountain. The repeated wars with asuras were affecting them. Many devas were being injured or killed. […]