Jai Sriman Narayana !!
The
great epic Mahabharath was composed by Maharishi Veda Vyasa/Krishna Dwaipayana,
son of Sage Parasara and Sathyavati, a woman from fishermen clan. Mahabharath describes the legend of Bharatha
Dynasty. It was written in 18 Parva
such as Adhi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virada Parva, Udhyoga Parva,
Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva, Soupthika Parva, Stri
Parva, Shanthi Parva, Anushasana Parva, Ashwamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva,
Musala Parva, Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohana Parva and each Parva has
divided into many Upaparva and has chapters in detail. Adhi Parva depicts the life of King
Dushyantha and his wife Shakunthala and their son Sarvadhamanan, who was
famously known as Bharatha, a righteous ruler of Bharatha Empior.
Lord
Brahma created deities, Sages and Prajapathis.
It was the beginning of the growth of human race from the sixty
daughters of Daksha Prajapathi.
Pururavass, Yayathi, Puru, Dushyantha,
Bharatha, Shanthanu were born in the family of Dithi, one of the
daughters of Daksha Prajapathi.
Life
of Drutharashtra & Gandhari:
Rishi Vaishampayana narrated the
prosperity of Kuru Dynasty after the birth of Drutharashtra, Pandu and Vidura to
Ambika, Ambalika and a maid servant respectively. The Kingdom of Hasthinapur flourished with
rich natural resources and its people led a happy and peaceful life. The people of Hasthinapur were righteous and
skilled in their work. Drushtharashtra, Pandu and Vidura was brought
up by Bhishma, they were introduced to the knowledge in Veda Sastra Puranas,
Astra and Sastra etc.. The three of them
were gained remarkable knowledge in all the fields. Drutharashtra attained astounding physical
strength, Pandu gained extraordinary skill in war tactics and Vidura outshined
in Dharma Sastra. The whole Kingdom
praised the good fortune of the daughters of King of Kasi, they shone as the
privileged mothers of ideal children.
Bhishma Pitamaha narrates to
Vidura about the glorious return of Kuru Dynasty and the three maidens who are
flawlessly suitable for Drutharashtra and Pandu, would add fame to the Kurus
was Kunthi daughter of Shoorasena of Yadhava Dynasty and adopted daughter of
King Kunthiboj, Gandhari daughter of King Subhala of Kingdom Gandhar and Madri,
the princes of Mathura/Madhra. Further
Bhishma enquires Vidura’s opinion about the above thought. Vidura reverentially answered that it was
Bhishma Pitamaha ought to have the right to make a decision about the
well-being of Kurus as a father, mother and an Acharya.
Drutharashtra and Pandu has
grown into competent charming adults attained the age to pronounce them as the
King of Hasthinapur. Bhishma heard from
Brahmins about the amazing virtues Gandhari, the princess of Gandhar and the
boon received from Lord Shiva to have hundred children from her husband. Bhishma was highly pleased at Gandhari’s devotion
and dedication to Lord Shiva and thereby the remarkable boon she had achieved. Bhishma approached King Subhala and revealed
his purpose of visit to choose Gandhari as a bride to Drutharashtra. King Subhala was traumatized at the suggestion
of Bhishma, he was not enthusiastic about the proposal or sends his daughter
married off to a blind prince. Later,
King Subhala had to agree with the terms of Bhishma, enmity towards Hasthinapur
would never do good to Gandhar, after a series of thought about the fame of
Hasthinapur and the status of Drutharashtra he reluctantly decided to give away
his daughter’s hand to Drutharashtra.
Shakuni, brother of Gandhari was not at all happy about the proposal of
marriage; he held his parents responsible for Gandhari’s misery. He sincerely wanted to put an end to his
dearest sister’s marriage to a blind prince.
Gandhari, the gorgeous princes of
Gandhar was happened to hear about her parent’s choice of bridegroom, she was hysterical;
shortly she decided to follow her fate and revealed her acceptance by tying her
eyes forever. Gandhari sincerely decided
to have the experiences and agonies of a blind; she was always had utmost
reverence and love for her husband.
Gandhari was brought to the
Kingdom of Hasthinapur with all honors and the marriage to Drutharashtra was
performed according to the rules prescribed in the scriptures. Initially, the appearance of Gandhari created
a huge chaos in the assembly, it was Drutharashtra dreamed for a wife who would
be capable to remove the weakness of his blindness, and he strictly opposed the
very idea of Gandhari to tie her eyes and refused to marry her. Gandhari earnestly prayed to the respected
elders and the enlightened people assembled about her decision to tie her eyes
to remain a chaste wife of Drutharashtra, requested for an opportunity to
provide hundred children to Kuru Dynasty.
Drutharashtra had the dislike against the promise of Gandhari to remain
blind forever; he denied accepting her as his wife and Gandhari was discarded
from the life of her husband for several years, it was Gandhari’s will to live
her married life as a couple equally grieved of their blindness. Shakuni the elder brother of Gandhari refused
to return Gandhar after witnessing the pathetic plight of his dearest sister
and has chosen Hasthinapur as his place of residence. Later, it was created a huge turmoil in the
relationship of Kurus, gradually he injected venom in the heart of
Drutharashtra against his brother Pandu and his family, Shakuni took ultimate
control over the life of his nieces, brought up them with all wickedness, the
same way he had manipulated Drutharashtra and it resulted in the great war of
Kurushetra.
Finally,
the auspicious moment has arrived for the coronation of Drutharashtra as the
King of Hasthinapur, the moment he was desired all his life. The decision has been made, Pandu was elected
as the chief of the Army of Hasthinapur and Vidura as the Chief of Assembly. Vidura who has the ultimate wisdom of Dharma
Sastra stated publicly in the Assembly that a blind person cannot be crowned as
the king, hence Pandu was chosen for coronation as the King of Hasthinapur. This pronouncement was exasperated
Drutharashtra, he was deeply hurt, it was the same for Shakuni who was desired
her sister to be declared as the Empress of Hasthinapur. The very moment Shakuni promised to himself
to take away the peace of Kurus and bring fairness in the life of his
sister. Pandu had lots of affection and
respect towards his elder brother Drutharashtra, in order to save Hasthinapur
from the hands of enemies, he unenthusiastically agreed for the coronation
ceremony. This incident has created an
enormous rupture in the relationship between the two brothers, Pandu and
Drutharashtra. On the other side
Shakuni tactfully utilized the above circumstances to instigate enmity between
Pandu and Drutharashtra by pouring ghee into the fire.
Once
again a big question raised before Sathyavati and Bhishma that who will be the
suitable bride for Pandu?
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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