Mahabharath !! Life of Drutharashtra & Gandhari !!

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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