Mahabharata war
Mahabharata story is sons’ Bharata. The war was between brothers’ sons.
In those days in the city of Hastinapuram on the bank of Ganga ruled a blind old king named Dhritarashtra. Dhritarashtra had a hundreds who were called the Kauravas. He also had five nephews who were called the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra loved his nephews as much as his sons.
Yudhishthira was elder of the Pandavas. Bhima the second, Arjuna the third, Nakula and Sahadeva fourth and fifth were the respectively.
Bhima was so strong that he could uproot trees and use them in battle, against his enemies. Arjuna was skilled in the archery and was famous for this art.
The eldest of the kauravas, Duryodhana, was jealous of his five cousins. He made many attempts to kill them, compelling the Pandavas to leave the home and live in the forests.
Pandavas came to the kingdom of Panchala where a lovely princess by the name of Draupadi arranged an archery contest to select her bridegroom. The contest was attended by hundreds of kings and princess. Arjuna proved the best shot with his bow and arrow and thus married Draupadi when the Pandavas brought Draupadi home, they sought the blessings of their mother Kunti who ordained her son to share the prize and so Draupadi became the wife of all the five brothers.
The Pandavas returned home to Hastinapuram. Their uncle felt sorry for them and gave them half his kingdom. Duryodhana again felt jealous and unhappy over his father’s giving Pandavas a share in the kingdom. As a villain, he thought of a pain to ruin the Pandavas.
He invited Yudhishthira to a game a dice. Yudhishthira lost in the game lost every thing including his kingdom. He lost his brothers and even including his kingdom. He lost his brothers and even Draupadi.
The kauravas were very happy. One of them dragged her by her hair the court. Poor Draupadi could do nothing but pray. Lord Krishna heard her prayers and saved hey honor.
Dhritarashtra restored the kingdom to Pandavas once again, but Duryodhana again called Yudhishthira to another game of dice. The stake this time was that the loser should go away to the forest foe twelve years and spend one year in hiding with out being found out. Yudhishthira again lost the game.
The Pandavas, however, kept their word and went away to forests with Draupadi.
At the end of the term, Pandavas claimed their kingdom from Duryodhana but Duryodhana flatly refused. Instead, he called a huge army from the farthest corners of the land and declared a war on the Pandavas.
The battle took place at Kurukshetra and ranged for eighteen days. Many great heroes fought on each side.
The army of the Pandavas was much smaller than that of the kauravas, yet the Pandavas won.
It tells of the time when Arjuna stood with his armies on the battle field of Kurukshetra and was full doubt and sorrow. He saw that those he had once loved were ranged opposite him. How could he lift his bow against the cousins with whom he had grown up and the elders whom he loved and respected? Lord Krishna, who drove his chariot, gave him strength and wisdom and told him that the most important thing to do one’s duty with out thinking of the results. A man could best do his duty if he conquered selfishness and desire.
The secret behind Pandava’s success was the blessings of lord Krishna who always supported the cause of the party that was in the right and fought for justice. In the end, all the kauravas were killed and Yudhishthira became the king of Hastinapuram.
All though the Pandavas won, they were never happy as they were sorry over having lost their kith and kin, cousins and relations in the war.
The Mahabharata is the longest poem in the world. The most important part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagwat Gita or the divine song.
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