Famous Last Words: The End (Week 11)

I finished reading the Mahabharata this week and I actually think I enjoyed The Ramayana more. There were pros and cons to both, however. I loved the way Draupadi stood up for herself, and she definitely was more outspoken than Sita. I thought the characters were a little more active in The Mahabharata. However, I have a special place in my heart for some of the characters in The Ramayana. Hanuman is by far my favorite character out of all the versions of the Indian epics that I have read. He is funny and sassy and definitely a little crazy, but he is so loyal to Rama and Sita. I thought the battle scene out of The Ramayana was a little better too. It was more specific when it came to the fighting, and I really loved how they described the death of Ravana. However, in The Mahabharata I loved the respect they showed to the elders. Even though the Pandava brothers fought against all their mentors and elders that they had grown up with, they still showed them the utmost respect when it came to fighting and killing them. I was struck by how similar these stories were. For one thing, they both centered on royal families. The main protagonist and his (or their) lovely wife were sent to exile in the forest for years, through no fault of their own. (I am on the side that Yudisratha was not aware of all that he was gambling away. That he was caught up in the game.) They also had an epic battle with a villain who had tried to disgrace the female protagonist of the story. These are two absolutely beautiful stories and I am somewhat heartbroken that I am done reading them for this semester. I absolutely see why they have lasted through the ages.

Bharata and Rama by Raja Ravi Varma
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Storytelling Week Fourteen: Dhritarashtra's Blessing

Never once had he said this. Nor had he ever thought he would say it. But the king was glad that he was blind. Not forever, obviously. But for this particular moment, he did not want to see. He had gathered too much already from his other senses. He could smell death everywhere. He would have known he was on a battlefield the second he breathed in, without anyone telling him. That, or hell. He could smell the blood and sweat and decay radiating from what he assumed were millions of bodies. It was a hot summer day and this only helped to make things ten times worse. But the smell alone could not indicate to the king how many had died here. But he could hear the crowing of the ravens and the vultures that feasted on this land. Never had a vulture wasted a drop of food, yet there was too much for all the vultures in the entire universe to feast on in this field. The king could hear the sounds of thousands of birds, so loud it almost drowned out what his chariot driver was saying to him. Yet, this still did not indicate him the true magnitude of the lives that had been lost here. The king sought for another sense that would tell him of the sorrow that he could not see. So he tasted the water of the stream that ran next to the field. Yet as he drank, the king cried out and spit out the liquid. For what the king could not see was that this river was not clear with water, but ran red with the spilled blood of so many warriors. He stood there spitting the blood of a million men out of his mouth, yet he then could not understand the magnitude of this battle. But finally, the king had his question answered. And his heart broke when he finally grasped what had happened here. This epiphany came not from the earth, the water, or the birds. It came from the women. He could hear them although they were miles and miles downstream. These widows were screaming for their husbands that had died in battle. There tears had turns the dirt road to mud. The hair they ripped out of their heads coated the sides of the road like fur. As the king heard the cries of a million women, he finally understood

 

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Author's Note: The magnitude of this battle struck me so hard. Krishna stated that the men who had died had numbered in the thousands of millions. The world has never seen a battle like that. It would be unimaginable. As I read this, I thought how the king would finally be lucky to be blind. To not have to see the wreckage his son had caused, that he had allowed.

Source: Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata

 

Storytelling Week Thirteen: Arjuna's Reservations

You have got to be kidding me. When Urvasi had cursed me so many years ago, it just did not seem like a big deal. I know, I know. I should have thought more seriously about a woman cursing me to lose my manhood for a year. But at the time it just did not seem that important. Maybe I was caught up in the ambrosia. Let’s be honest, Indra knows how to throw a good party. He had all the finest girls dancing for me. They are such teases! After all the strain those women had put me through, losing my manhood for a year did not seem to bad. Don’t get me wrong, I was right to reject her. It was not right to have her. But did she have to be such a bitch about the whole thing? Still, there was no getting around it. Arjuna took a deep breath and called down Urvasi’s curse. He furrowed his brow and gritted his teeth, preparing for the pain he was certain would come with the absence of his penis. However, nothing hurt. Sure, he felt a slight tingle down there, but nothing to be concerned about. That happened when the wind blew wrong. Arjuna carefully looked under his robe, and almost gasped aloud. There was bare skin. And down there, something weird! Why, it was the parts of a woman! Arjuna smiled at the ridiculousness of it all, but then practical concerns came about. How would he urinate? Did women urinate? They had to. Arjuna was so preoccupied with these thoughts that he did not notice the gold cuffs that had formed around his wrists. He also did not notice how his defined muscles were shrinking down and becoming softer. And he certainly did not notice that long wisps of hair that were curling down his back to his now ample backside. But soon enough Arjuna did take notice of all these changes, and was as amazed as before. Why, he looked like a woman! But now, the weight of the whole situation began to set in. Actually, just the weight of this stupid hair began to set in. How did women do this? And in such pretty, ornate fashions. And then the weight of his earrings and jewelry set in as well. God, his ears felt like they were being pulled to the ground! And how the hell was he supposed to walk in this sari. Arjuna sighed a resigned breath, and began his long stumble towards the kingdom where his brothers resided.

Urvasi Curses Arjuna
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Author's Note: I found Arjuna's curse to be ironic and funny. That such a strong man would lose his manhood for an entire year struck me as something entertaining, but also very important, that simply was glossed over in both versions I have read of the Mahabharata. Therefore I decided to elaborate on the implications of becoming a woman, and also wanted to add some humor in. I think these are very real thoughts that a man would have if this kind of change happened to him.

Source: Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata

 

Storytelling Week Twelve: Duryodhana's Shame

Damn those Pandava brothers! They could at least have the courtesy of having one flaw. Well, besides that eldest being such a miserable dice player. Duryodhana chuckled to himself as he thought of the way he had tricked the five brothers and made a show of their whore wife. What man wants to share a woman anyways? Especially with five men. Duryodhana occupied himself with thoughts of anatomy and how the whole five husband thing would play out. He shuddered. They could have that. He then daydreamed of his wives, and then of course there was his harem. Thousands of women, just awaiting the day they could grant his every desire. Now that is how a man should live. But Duryodhana’s daydreams dissipated like a cloud in the summer sun when he thought of the occurrence that day. He had been trying to show off his wealth to those wretches, and had gotten captured! How could he have been so stupid! He had misjudged those Gandharvas. I mean, who knew they were such masters of illusion? Really, it was not his fault that he had gotten captured. But this train of thought made the young prince feel weak, so he desperately thought of another justification for the battle earlier that day. Why had the Gandharva’s obeyed the Pandava brothers? What was so special about them? He hated them so much. Their smug faces as they let Duryodhana out of the iron cage he was being held in in the sky. That was so humiliating! He was squashed among his common soldiers like a fruit at the bottom of a farmer’s basket. He could still feel the sweaty men crushing him. And the smell. Who knew that many soldiers could make such a foul stench? That odor could have killed him alone. But amid all these random thoughts, a small voice spoke out in the back of Duryodhana’s mind. Why had the brothers saved him? Did they want to save the pleasure of killing him for themselves? He had certainly done enough to deserve their hatred. But they were worthless peasants, and as prince he could do whatever he wanted with them. Or maybe, were they simply that honorable? Duryodhana quickly shook this preposterous idea out of his head. Nonsense. Suddenly, his face lit up. He had figured it out! They feared the wrath of Duryodhana! They saw how I was being treated and worried that I would seek vengeance. That is it! Duryodhana adopted a smug smile as the idea crossed his mind, and let himself fall asleep with the thought of the Pandava brothers bowing to him caressing his mind.

Drona and Duryodhana
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Author's Note: I find Duryodhana to be a pompous, ignorant slug. I thought this scene illuminated these qualities in Duryodhana so I could not resist the urge to write on it. The Pandava brothers were simply being honorable, and saving their kinsmen. Yet Duryodhana, as disillusioned as he was, would have never picked up on that. He would have simply looked for another answer that allowed him to remain the best.

Sources: Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata

 

Storytelling Week 11: Draupadi's Disrobing

All I feel is my hair being torn out of my skull. I feel the tears running down my face and my single sari beginning to slip off my body. This could not be happening! I was a princess! I had never before been touched by a man who I had not wanted to touch me, much less been dragged along the floor like a sack of flour. What had my husband done? They had told me he had staked me in a game. But I was not gold or a cow or a piece of land. Could men really bet me like I was a piece of property? Duryodhana’s vile brother Duhsasana would pay for this. He threw me into a heap on the floor and I glanced up. My god, I was in the assembly hall! In front of everyone! And yet, everyone was allowing it. Not a single of the brave warriors or wise elders stood up and commanded that this abuse stop. My heart became numb as hopelessness sunk into it. If I was really Duryodhana’s now, he would make me a slave. A sexual treat to impress his visitors. Visions flashed before my eyes as I saw myself sweeping filthy rooms, getting on my knees for fat, old kings. Rage burned inside me. This would not stand. Then the words that imbecile Duryodhana was mumbling pierced through my head. Take off her robe. Suddenly my insides went ice cold. He would not. I knew he was vile, but this was beyond reason. There was absolutely no reason to disgrace me in this way. Yet, through my disbelief, I felt Duhsasana’s hands on my robe. I looked at my husbands, but they all had their eyes downcast. My brave Pandava’s, infamous for their skill in war, stared at the ground and would not save their common wife. Shame burned in me for them. These were not men. These were monsters. I did not know what to do. I closed my eyes and prayed. This is what I had done all my life when I had trials, and it is what I reverted back to this habit. I prayed and prayed to every god, and then Krishna illuminated my mind. I saw his smile, and knew, I was safe. I did not have to hear the exclamations of awe to know that Krishna had saved me, and my honor.

The Disrobing of Draupadi
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Author's Note: This was such a violent and heartwrenching story to me, and the entire time I was reading of this situation I was wondering what was going on in Draupadi's mind. Was she angry? Numb? Hysterical? I decided to incorporate a medley of emotions into her personal monologue, because I believe that is the most accurate of what a woman would feel.

Sources: Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata

 

Reading Diary B: Dhritarashtra's Legacy

I think it is odd and also kind of awesome at the way Dhritarashtra was described leaving the city. My impression of the king the entire time I was reading this book was that he was a fool. He used being blind in order to excuse indulging his son and making weak decisions. Everyone told him that his son was evil, and would destroy their race, but he would not stop him. Even the queen, his wife, told him how evil their son was, how he cried and it sounded like a jackal when he was a baby. So I never really had a lot of respect for Dhritarashtra. He let his son kill all of his sons, all his friends, millions of his subjects. While he was king! He could have said one word, and his son would have stopped. He could have said one word and had his son killed! Yet when he leaves to die in the woods, the Pandava brothers treat him as respectfully as they can, as a father. Their mother accompanies the king and his wife in the forest. All these signs are bestowed on a man who in my opinion does not deserve it. Yet it is obvious the king has a kind heart. Maybe that is what the Pandava's are seeing.

 Dhritarashtra, Kunti, and Gandhari depart
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Reading Diary A: Duryodhana Curses Krishna

This is crazy! Crazy crazy crazy! Everyone recognizes that Krishna is the god Naryana incarnated, one of the most elite gods ever. Yet Duryodhana curses him, calling him a slave and the son of a slave. Now don't get me wrong, I know Duryodhana is stupid. I get that. He fought until not only all of his friends and eldesr were gone, but until his whole race was gone. Idiot. But to curse a god, a known god! That seems beyond help to me. And not only that, but Duryodhana starts to turn the Pandava brothers against Krishna. Now do not get me wrong. I do not like that a god reincarnated lied and cheated to win a war. I am sure there was a divine reason and this was all Karma and blah blah blah but it still seems wrong to make such a wise and moral character so flawed when it came to these decisions. But maybe that is genius. It certainly livens up the story a lot.

Duryodhana in the Lake
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