Reading Notes: Mahabarata A
Public Domain Edition: Mahabarata
Author sources: Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.
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From the first episode of this new epic, I found it interesting as the author introduced the story within the story itself. In my opinion, this episode serves more as a prelude to the introduction of Mahabharata. It begins speaking about the elaborate journey of Vyasa writing these accounts accompanied by the god Ganesha as his scribe. So from the reader's perspective, it is a supernatural and godly wonder that this story was written to begin with. We are then introduced to the central characters of the epic, more specifically Vyasa-- originating unnaturally from a fish swallowing semen.
Continuing into the next episode, we are introduced to the well respected KIng Shantanu and his wife Ganga, a goddess. After transitioning into the human being form, she agrees to marry King Shantanu, as he is enamored with her beauty and graceful appearance. The conditions to this marriage were that he must speak to her in a nice tone and give her freedom to do what she wished to do. I loved this part because as a very traditional story, it combats the stereotypical gender roles I wrongly expected to see-- perhaps only because she is a goddess however. Why didn't Ganga tell the king of her status before? After breaking this vow, as expected and fully warned, Ganga leaves King Shantanu and eventually returns with the son Devavrata. I understand the conditions on why she left, but I am curious why did she return?
This next episode is feels almost like a blast from what we previously read. King Shantanu finds a beautiful woman near a river. It says that her attraction stems from her beautiful scent. We are introduced once again to Satyavati, who was previously introduced as the the offspring from the fish who swallowed the semen. Previously, it mentions that she had a fishy smell, so why was King Shantanu attracted to her scent, presented as more pleasant this go around?
Author sources: Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.
Click!
Vyasa and Ganesha, Wikimedia
From the first episode of this new epic, I found it interesting as the author introduced the story within the story itself. In my opinion, this episode serves more as a prelude to the introduction of Mahabharata. It begins speaking about the elaborate journey of Vyasa writing these accounts accompanied by the god Ganesha as his scribe. So from the reader's perspective, it is a supernatural and godly wonder that this story was written to begin with. We are then introduced to the central characters of the epic, more specifically Vyasa-- originating unnaturally from a fish swallowing semen.
Continuing into the next episode, we are introduced to the well respected KIng Shantanu and his wife Ganga, a goddess. After transitioning into the human being form, she agrees to marry King Shantanu, as he is enamored with her beauty and graceful appearance. The conditions to this marriage were that he must speak to her in a nice tone and give her freedom to do what she wished to do. I loved this part because as a very traditional story, it combats the stereotypical gender roles I wrongly expected to see-- perhaps only because she is a goddess however. Why didn't Ganga tell the king of her status before? After breaking this vow, as expected and fully warned, Ganga leaves King Shantanu and eventually returns with the son Devavrata. I understand the conditions on why she left, but I am curious why did she return?
This next episode is feels almost like a blast from what we previously read. King Shantanu finds a beautiful woman near a river. It says that her attraction stems from her beautiful scent. We are introduced once again to Satyavati, who was previously introduced as the the offspring from the fish who swallowed the semen. Previously, it mentions that she had a fishy smell, so why was King Shantanu attracted to her scent, presented as more pleasant this go around?
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