2/15/16

Reading Diary Part A: Week 5

For the Mahabharta, I have once again decided to read the public domain edition. Mainly because of the ease of access. In addition, I also am a fan of the listening option that has been prerecorded. I have had much trouble keeping up with all the characters introduced in the story thus far, but here is my takeaways from the Part A reading:



- King Chedi impregnates a fish while flying in his crystal car. The fish gives birth to a daughter and a son. The daughter, Satyavati, at first smells fishy but is cured as long as she follows some conditions. She is the mother of Vyasa.
-Vyasa believe his story of the Mahabharata is only worth of a god writing it down. This god being Ganesha, an elephant-headed god. This will be possibly something I can coordinate with my story telling with the incorporation of another animal as a being.
-Devavrata aka Bhishma posses powers of both human and divine gods. This is because he is son of a king and the goddess of the Ganges river.
-King Shantanu is heavily in love with Satyavati however cannot give consent for her love because then Vyasa would have right to the throne instead of Devavrata. We find out that so this love can happen, Devavrata takes upon an oath which in turn changes his name's to Bhishma.
- Bhishma at the Swayamvara is another story which incorporates demons (asuras) to which I can try to follow for my portfolio theme.
-Pandu's curse is similar to king Dashartha's. He mistakes two deer for a holy brahmin and his wife and accidentally kills them. His curse is that he will die in one of his wife's arms.
-Madri and Kunti both want to burn and die with the king because they both shared great love for him. The strong family connection is much to be appreciated.
-Duryodhana is envious of the five brothers, Pandavas, because they are rightful to the throne.  There is also much hate for their mother.

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