Reading Notes: Pattanaik's Jaya, Part G

Reading Notes: Pattanaik's Jaya, Part G

(Blind Dhritarashtra and blindfolded Gandhari)

Story Source: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik (2010).



Before Sunset

• Krishna hid the sun to trick the Kauravas and kill Jayadhrata

After Sunset

• Bhima's demon son killed
• The battle became personal for Arjuna and Bhima

A Teacher Beheaded

• Yudhishthira lied for Krishna's plan
• killing a Brahman was a crime
• Drona beheaded

A Fight Between Brothers

• Karna became leader and spared Pandavas
• Krishna twists rules by looking at them from a different angle

Wheel of Karna's Chariot

• Karna Arjuna face to face
• Karna long ago incurred wrath of Boo-devi, the earth goddess (274)
• Arjuna killed Karna, Karna's karma

Death of Shalya

• Shalya took over Kaurava army
• Shalya was Nakula and Sahadeva's uncle

Fall of Ninety-Nine Kauravas

• Bhima killed all the Kauravas except Duryodhana

Below the Belt

• Pandavas won

Talking Head

• Arjuna learned humility because he realized Krishna sat in the chariot to save it from flames
• Pandavas realized everything was destiny

Aftermath: Death of Draupadi's Children

• Duryodhana beheaded Draupadi's young children thinking they were the Pandavas
• Duryodhana dies vaguely?

Aswatthaman Cursed

• Ashwatthama's jewel given to Draupadi, who gave it to Yudhishthira

Kunti's Secret

• Kunti reveals Karna is her oldest son and that Karna knew in the battle
• Pandavas realize this is why Karna didn't kill them in battle
• "relationship between Kunti and Karna was never the same again" (298)
• "Through Karna, Vyasa reiterates that our knowledge of the world is imperfect based on perceptions and false info. We are surrounded by Kuntis who hide the truth in fear and Karnas, villisans who are actually brothers." (298)

Rage of Elders

• Pandavas talk to Kaurava's parents
• Krishna tells them about fate: Gandhari as a child poured hot water into the ground and killed 100 eggs laid by an insect, this was the karmic consequence 
• Note: "rage needs expression" (300)

Gandhari's Curse

• Gandhari learns the power of maya with the mango and bodies/rocks incident 
• Gods die by earning demerits on earth that lead to their death
• Note: Krishna blessed for restoring faith in justice, but cured for breaking a mother's heart, even the goodness of god is challenged by man. (302)
• "In many ways, Gandhari is the reason for the Mahabharata war because she blindfolded herself and never saw the truth about her children. (302)