Reading Notes: Mahabharata C

Mahabharata Online: Public Domain Edition

The brothers and their wives start lives in exile. They at first lamented living in the forest but soon met a bunch of Brahmin and they end up enjoying their time. They would give some of their food to these holy people, visited holy shrines, bathed in holy water, and was instructed in pious works by these holy men. They promised that the brothers would gain their kingdom back.

Krishna goes to visit the Pandavas and tries to encourage them but it only makes Draupadi even more upset. Yudhishthira then tries to act all high and mighty with Draupadi by saying that she should forgive him because anger is sinful. Bhima then gets super upset too at how weak Yudhishthira is acting.

Arjuna leaves the bros to try and find some weapons for the Pandavas when they inevitably confront Duryodhana and company. While away, a boar rushes Arjuna so he shoots it but another huntsman also shot the boar at the same time. The huntsman was pissed and said that Arjuna took his prey so Arjuna and him fought but none of Arjuna's arrows had an effect on the huntsman. Arjuna then tries to wrestle the huntsman but he places his hand on Arjuna's heart and then he realizes that the huntsman is actually a god. Arjuna apologizes but the god is pleased with Arjuna's behavior so he gives him the divine bow Gandiva and a bunch of other weapons.

Indra and a bunch of other gods came down and gave Arjuna weapons. Indra then transports Arjuna to his hometown, Swarga, where Arjuna learned how to wield the weapons and also became a skilled musician and dancer. One day Arjuna attacked the daityas and danavas, demons and giants who are Indra's enemies. He beat all of them and Indra, recognizing Arjuna's warrior skills, gave him a chain of gold, a bright diadem, and the war shell.

The bros travel through the Himalayas to meet up with Arjuna.

Bhima runs into Hanuman, who is his half brother, and Hanuman tells him the Ramayana and talked about the four different castes.

Karna told Duryodhana to spy on the Pandava's misery but when the spying group came to the forest, it just so happened that the gandharvas and apsaras came down to that location. Duryodhana commanded the gandharva king to tell him to move but the gandharva king gets pissed off and fights Duryodhana and company. The gandharvas won and captured Duryodhana and the rest of his family but it just so happened that some of the spying group had escaped. They ran into Arjuna and Bhima and told them what happened so they go and fight the gandharvas to try to get them to release their captives. Arjuna and Bhima won but Duryodhana's honor has been destroyed because of this. He contemplated suicide but the gandharvas make a deal with him where they will partner with him to destroy the Pandavas. Duryodhana agrees. He then tries to hold an imperial sacrifice so he can be on the same level as Yudhishthira. He invited the Pandavas but this just made angry and Bhima swore that after their exile is over, he's going to overhtrow them. Karna also makes a pact where he will not eat or clean himself until he has killed Arjuna.

Indra, fearing Karna's invincible armor, goes to him and tries to take his stuff away. Karna agrees but only if he gets one invincible dart in return. Indra agrees and gives him Vasava in exchange for Karna's armor and earrings. Little does Indra know that Karna plans to use this against Arjuna.

A random king called Jayadratha saw Draupadi and decides to kidnap her. The bros find out and beats him and then spared his life but only if he promises to be their slave.

The bros are thirsty so they send a guy called Nakula to a pond to fetch water. The Voice of the pond gave him a riddle but Nakula ignored it and drank the water and then he died. Sahadeva, Nakula's brother, also does the same and dies. Arjuna then goes and the Voice says the same thing but Arjuna actually listens. He then answers a bunch of riddles and the Voice reveals itself to be Dharma, the god of wisdom and justice. He revives the two guys that died and then gives them all the power to remain unrecognizable by anyone in the three worlds for one year.

During the final year of the exile, the Pandavas go into hiding. The five brothers and Draupadi go to the court of King Virata, and they each enter into his service and Arjuna becomes a dancing teacher.


While in hiding, this random prince named Kichaka, who is the brother of King Virata's wife, visited and is immediately in love with Draupadi, disguised as a maid. The queen then reluctantly commands Draupadi to bring food to Kichaka's room and Kichaka tries to rape her but failed. Draupadi then goes to the king and tells him what happened but the king, who is scared of Kichaka, blew her off. She then tells Bhima what happened and he goes and kills Kichaka.

Rajah of Tigartis hears about Kichaka's death and decides that now is a great time to invade King Virata and steal his cattle. Duryodhana and co decides to back up the Rajah. The Pandava bros hears of this and backs up Virata. Arjuna and the Rajah's son goes to the south to fight while the Pandava bros beat up the Rajah and forced him to apologize. The banishment also just so happened to expire then so the Pandava's true identity was revealed to everyone.

Krishna tries to make peace between the two factions since war was inevitable.

Arjuna and Duryodhana both tried to get Krishna on their side so Krishna asked them would they rather have him or the whole army of Dwaraka. Arjuna replied with Krishna while Duryodhana wanted the army so they each got what they replied with.

Krishna manifests himself as his divine form Vishnu and asked one Duryodhana and co one more time for peace but he ignored Krishna.

Before Krishna left, he tells Karna of his true origins and how the Pandavas are actually his brothers. Karna was shoked and asked his mom if this was true. Karna, however, still decided to fight the Pandavas. He said that she abandoned him so he does not have that name anymore. He also said that while he can kill all of the Pandavas, he will only kill Arjuna.

The battle forces assemble as they split between Duryodhana's faction and the Pandavas.

Before the battle begins, Arjuna sees a bunch of his relatives on the other side and he is upset but Krishna persuades him to still fight. (this section is apparently the most well known / popular of the Mahabharata)

The battle begins  and Bhishma, who commands an army under Duryodhana, warns him that he'll lose.

The battle begins

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