Raajaa Drupad is a Mahaabhaarat character. Raajaa Drupad was the king of Paanchaal Desh. Kaampilya Nagaree was his capital. He had a daughter named Draupadee and four sons - Yudhaamanyu, Uttamaujaa, Shikhandee and Dhrishtdyumn.
He and Dronaachaarya were together in Gurukul. They were great friends. At that time he said to Drone that whatever is his, its half is his. Later they went to their respective places.
Drupad and Dronaachaarya
Drupad was a prince so he became a king, Drone was a Braahman, he wanted to become a teacher but he couldn't get anything for living. In the meantime Drone got married to Kripee and had a son named Ashwatthaamaa. Because of no living means, Kripee was not able to give him even milk. Once Drone saw her giving him flour mixed water telling him as milk. Drone got very sad seeing this so in such great difficult times, he remembered his friend Drupad and his promise that "whatever I will have half of it is yours". He went to Drupad and reminded about his promise made in childhood and asked him only a cow from his share, but Drupad refused to give the cow saying that he might have said it in some playful mood that "whatever was his, half of it is his too, how could it be possible". If you ask the cow as a Braahman, I can give you as many cows as you ask, but not as a friend. Friendship is always between the people of equal status. we have no equality between us." Drone felt insulted and went away.
Dronaachaarya Gets Drupad's Kingdom
Later Drone started teaching Paandav and Kaurav. When Paandav and Kaurav had finished their education, and the time came to pay Guru Dakshinaa, Drone asked both of them, Kaurav and Paandav to bring Raajaa Drupad tied with a horse. Kaurav went there but came back defeated by Drupad; but Paandav brought him to Drone tied with a horse. Drone said - "I still considers you my friend. Now you and your kingdom is mine. When you had the whole kingdom, you did not give me even one cow, but now first I divide your kingdom in half and half as a friend. And then I take only one cow from your part of kingdom." He took one cow from Drupad's share of kingdom and gave back his kingdom and freed him. Then he went to home where Kripee was still waiting for him to bring milk for his little son Ashwatthaamaa.
Drupad Asks For a Son to Kill Drone
Drupad went away, but an enmity had developed in Drupad's heart. At the same time he was impressed with Arjun's fighting. He just wished that if he had a daughter then he would have married her to Arjun. But Drupad was greatly insulted by Drone. So Drupad decided to do a Yagya for a son who could kill Drone and a daughter to marry her to Arjun. When the time came to give Aahuti for the son, Rishi asked him to call his wife, but his wife was taking bath. Rishi could not wait. He gave Aahuti but with the desire of a girl. So Agni Dev appeared from Havan Kund with a beautiful girl Draupadee and gave her to him. Drupad was very happy o see that girl. He found her just suitable for Arjun. He said - "Now I want a son". So the Rishi gave another Aahuti and Agni Dev appeared again with a handsome man Dhrishtdyumn. Drupad was very happyt to see him also. Thus both sister and brother were born from a Havan Kund and were divine. He married his daughter Draupadee to Arjun, as he planned. But since at that time Paandav were in living in hiding, Drupad could not know that who took her. Later when he came to know that only Arjun took her, he got very happy. She was distributed among all five Paandav by the order of Maa Kuntee.
Drupad Marries Draupadee
Drupad wanted to marry his daughter to Arjun, so he built a machine in which a fish was revolving on the top of a stick around it and at its bottom was a pond of oil. One had to pierce fish's eye looking at the shadow of the fish in the oil below.
Many kings came as her candidates. Duryodhan, Dushaasan, Karn, Jayadrath were there. Krishn and Balraam were also invited. Paandav arrived there in Braahman's disguise. Duryodhan tried to lift the bow to pierce the eye of the fish but he couldn't even move it. Karn also got up, he picked the bow and aimed at the fish's eye, the then Krishn gestured Draupadee that she should refuse to marry him. Draupadee stood and said - "I will not marry a Soot-Putra." Karn felt very much insulted and got very angry at all this.
Then Krishn gestured Arjun to come on and set his aim . Arjun came, lifted the bow, set the aim and pierced the eye of the fish. All were surprised to see this that a Braahman would take Draupadee in the presence of so many Kshatriya kings. But nobody could do anything as the condition of the marriage had been met. Drupad was already sad because after hearing the news of Paandav's death in Baaranaavat he was disappointed that now his Draupadee will not be married to Arjun. And after this incident he got more sad that some Braahman took away his Draupadee.
So after Paandav had left the court, Drupad and Dhrishtdyumn thought that at least they should check the man who took away their daughter and sister. So Drupad asked Dhrishtdyumn to follow them. Dhrishtdyumn followed them, heard all their talks, including Krishn's reason for Draupasee's five husbands. Drupad got relieved with both the news that Paandav were alive and only Arjun took Draupadee in marriage. He was a bit sad about her married to five Paandav, but couldn't do anything for her fate.
Shikhandee
Drupad previously had a daughter also, named Shikhandinee. All of them, Drupad, Dhrishtdyumn, and Shikhandee, fought from Paandav's side in Mahaabhaarat war. Shikhandee and Dhrishtdyumn were killed by Ashwatthaamaa in the end of the war, on its last day, along with Paandav's sons.
http://www.geocities.com/mahaabhaarat/witnesses/people/men/drupad.htm
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Brief Description of the Mahabharata
The Mahabharata has existed in various forms for well over two thousand years:
* First, starting in the middle of the first millennium BCE, it existed in the form of popular stories of Gods, kings, and seers retained, retold, and improved by priests living in shrines, ascetics living in retreats or wandering about, and by traveling bards, minstrels, dance-troupes, etc.
* Later, after about 350 CE, it came to be a unified, sacred text of 100,000 stanzas written in Sanskrit, distributed throughout India by kings and wealthy patrons, and declaimed from temples.
* Even after it became a famous Sanskrit writing it continued to exist in various performance media in many different local genres of dance and theater throughout India and then Southeast Asia.
* Finally, it came to exist, in numerous literary and popular transformations in many of the non-Sanskrit vernacular languages of India and Southeast Asia, which (with the exception of Tamil, a language that had developed a classical literature in the first millennium BCE) began developing recorded literatures shortly after 1000 CE.
The Mahabharata was one of the two most important factors that created the "Hindu" culture of India (the other was the other all-India epic, the Ramayana, pronounced approximately as Raa-MEYE-a-na), and the Mahabharata and Ramayana still exert tremendous cultural influence throughout India and Southeast Asia.
But the historical importance of the Mahabharata is not the main reason to read the Mahabharata. Quite simply, the Mahabharata is a powerful and amazing text that inspires awe and wonder. It presents sweeping visions of the cosmos and humanity and intriguing and frightening glimpses of divinity in an ancient narrative that is accessible, interesting, and compelling for anyone willing to learn the basic themes of India's culture. The Mahabharata definitely is one of those creations of human language and spirit that has traveled far beyond the place of its original creation and will eventually take its rightful place on the highest shelf of world literature beside Homer's epics, the Greek tragedies, the Bible, Shakespeare, and similarly transcendent works.
http://web.utk.edu/~jftzgrld/MBh1Description.html
* First, starting in the middle of the first millennium BCE, it existed in the form of popular stories of Gods, kings, and seers retained, retold, and improved by priests living in shrines, ascetics living in retreats or wandering about, and by traveling bards, minstrels, dance-troupes, etc.
* Later, after about 350 CE, it came to be a unified, sacred text of 100,000 stanzas written in Sanskrit, distributed throughout India by kings and wealthy patrons, and declaimed from temples.
* Even after it became a famous Sanskrit writing it continued to exist in various performance media in many different local genres of dance and theater throughout India and then Southeast Asia.
* Finally, it came to exist, in numerous literary and popular transformations in many of the non-Sanskrit vernacular languages of India and Southeast Asia, which (with the exception of Tamil, a language that had developed a classical literature in the first millennium BCE) began developing recorded literatures shortly after 1000 CE.
The Mahabharata was one of the two most important factors that created the "Hindu" culture of India (the other was the other all-India epic, the Ramayana, pronounced approximately as Raa-MEYE-a-na), and the Mahabharata and Ramayana still exert tremendous cultural influence throughout India and Southeast Asia.
But the historical importance of the Mahabharata is not the main reason to read the Mahabharata. Quite simply, the Mahabharata is a powerful and amazing text that inspires awe and wonder. It presents sweeping visions of the cosmos and humanity and intriguing and frightening glimpses of divinity in an ancient narrative that is accessible, interesting, and compelling for anyone willing to learn the basic themes of India's culture. The Mahabharata definitely is one of those creations of human language and spirit that has traveled far beyond the place of its original creation and will eventually take its rightful place on the highest shelf of world literature beside Homer's epics, the Greek tragedies, the Bible, Shakespeare, and similarly transcendent works.
http://web.utk.edu/~jftzgrld/MBh1Description.html
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Pain Of Draupadi
Can one imagine the amount of pain that Draupadi felt when she was being disrobed? It was like rape in public. Those were the times in India. Nothing has changed even now.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Mahabharata- Why Karna Supported Evil?
Karna is one of the main characters of Mahabharata. He was the son of Kunti and the elder brother of Pandavas. But he did not know this. A charioteer brought him up. Karna was a great warrior and could match Arjuna in archery. But Karna's life went waste supporting evil of Duryodhana.
Karna was made the king of Ang Desh by Duryodhana because he could otherwise not take part in the competition for princes. Duryodhana wanted somebody with him to fight Arjuna. He therefore helped Karna and won his friendship for life. We can say that Karna sold his soul to Duryodhana forever. When Draupadi was being disrobed Karna was amongst those who were laughing and making a joke, little realizing that
Draupadi was the wife of his younger brothers. Even otherwise Karna should have got up and protested against this disrobing which was very evil. But he did not do so. His wisdom was lost in friendship of Duryodhana and like others he was also thinking of ways to show Pandavas in bad light. Karna's duty was different. He should have got up and protested. But he joined others in laughing though he knew well that to laugh at a helpless woman who was being disrobed was extremely wrong.
In the end of war when Arjuna was asked by Lord Krishna to kill Karna, Karna reminded Arjuna of righteousness. At that time Lord Krishna reminded Karna of all evil deeds done by him. Karna had no answer to that. He could only bow down his head in shame. Karna died a death of shame and defeat. A great warrior lost his wisdom and supported evil because he had promised that to Duryodhana. Karna should have followed the path of righteousness and virtue. Sadly he followed the opposite path.
Karna was made the king of Ang Desh by Duryodhana because he could otherwise not take part in the competition for princes. Duryodhana wanted somebody with him to fight Arjuna. He therefore helped Karna and won his friendship for life. We can say that Karna sold his soul to Duryodhana forever. When Draupadi was being disrobed Karna was amongst those who were laughing and making a joke, little realizing that
Draupadi was the wife of his younger brothers. Even otherwise Karna should have got up and protested against this disrobing which was very evil. But he did not do so. His wisdom was lost in friendship of Duryodhana and like others he was also thinking of ways to show Pandavas in bad light. Karna's duty was different. He should have got up and protested. But he joined others in laughing though he knew well that to laugh at a helpless woman who was being disrobed was extremely wrong.
In the end of war when Arjuna was asked by Lord Krishna to kill Karna, Karna reminded Arjuna of righteousness. At that time Lord Krishna reminded Karna of all evil deeds done by him. Karna had no answer to that. He could only bow down his head in shame. Karna died a death of shame and defeat. A great warrior lost his wisdom and supported evil because he had promised that to Duryodhana. Karna should have followed the path of righteousness and virtue. Sadly he followed the opposite path.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Mahabharata- Draupadi's Disrespect And Bhishma's Keeping Quite
In Mahabharata the Kauravs invited Pandavas for dice play. Pandavas lost everything including Draupadi in the dice play. After that Dushashana brought in Draupadi to the hall and wanted to disrobe her in front of all. That time Draupadi called upon all the elders sitting in the hall including Bhishma to save her. None of them got up. They all kept quite. That was a sin committed by Bhishma.
Bhishma has been depicted as a man of principals. When he found out that his father was in love with a girl, he vowed that he would never marry. Bhishma never married in his life. That was his character. Though he could have rightfully become the king and get married he gave it all away for his father's happiness. It was a huge sacrifice.
Bhishma knew all about what is right and what is wrong. But even then he did not stop or even try to prevent the dice play. After that when the Pandavas lost, he never said that it was all wrong and the dice play was manipulated. But the worst came when he kept silent while Dushashana was trying to disrobe Draupadi. Draupadi was a lady from his own family - The wife of his grandsons. It was his duty to get up and stop all what happened. But he kept quite. As a result during the great war, Bhishma was hurt and wounded beyond description. He waited for sun to change its direction and suffered alone in the battlefield with all the arrows stuck in his body. He must have suffered immense pain.
But the law of karma does not leave anybody. Bhishma suffered all this because he did not try to defend a defenseless woman. He should have got up and put a stop to disrobing and punished all the Kauravas. He did nothing of that kind. That was his blunder.
Bhishma has been depicted as a man of principals. When he found out that his father was in love with a girl, he vowed that he would never marry. Bhishma never married in his life. That was his character. Though he could have rightfully become the king and get married he gave it all away for his father's happiness. It was a huge sacrifice.
Bhishma knew all about what is right and what is wrong. But even then he did not stop or even try to prevent the dice play. After that when the Pandavas lost, he never said that it was all wrong and the dice play was manipulated. But the worst came when he kept silent while Dushashana was trying to disrobe Draupadi. Draupadi was a lady from his own family - The wife of his grandsons. It was his duty to get up and stop all what happened. But he kept quite. As a result during the great war, Bhishma was hurt and wounded beyond description. He waited for sun to change its direction and suffered alone in the battlefield with all the arrows stuck in his body. He must have suffered immense pain.
But the law of karma does not leave anybody. Bhishma suffered all this because he did not try to defend a defenseless woman. He should have got up and put a stop to disrobing and punished all the Kauravas. He did nothing of that kind. That was his blunder.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
How Lord Krishna saved Draupadi?
Lord Krishna is the incarnation of Parabrahma- the God according to Hinduism. Lord Krishna took birth on the earth to reduce the weight of the earth. He did this with the great battle of Mahabharata. In this battle millions were killed and earth became lighter.
Lord Krishna is the savior according to Hinduism. Call him when in deep distress and he always helps. This is revealed in the story of Draupadi. The story is this.
Kauravas invited the Pandavas for a gambling match. In this match the Pandavs lost everything. In the end they put the bet on themselves and they lost that. After that they bet upon Draupadi and they lost her in the gamble. After Draupadi was lost, the rascal Dushasana brought her to the court, pulling her by her hair. Dushasana wanted to disrobe her. He therefore started pulling her sari. Draupadi called her husbands to save her. As they had become slaves of Kauravas they could not help Draupadi. Draupadi then called for help from all the elders sitting in the court. But the elders’ including Bhishma kept did not get up. Most of them closed their eyes. But none came forward to help Draupadi.
Then Draupadi called Lord Krishna to save her. Lord Krishna lengthened her sari to infinite length. The rascal Dushasana kept pulling on the sari but after hours could not disrobe her. He got tired of the whole thing and retired. That man could not fulfill his desire to make Draupadi naked in front of everyone.
Lord Krishna helped Draupadi when no body did. He came at a moment’s notice when Draupadi called him for help. Hindus believe that if one has faith in the lord and calls upon him in deep distress Lord Krishna always helps. Lord has helped many other followers when they needed him most.
Lord Krishna is the savior according to Hinduism. Call him when in deep distress and he always helps. This is revealed in the story of Draupadi. The story is this.
Kauravas invited the Pandavas for a gambling match. In this match the Pandavs lost everything. In the end they put the bet on themselves and they lost that. After that they bet upon Draupadi and they lost her in the gamble. After Draupadi was lost, the rascal Dushasana brought her to the court, pulling her by her hair. Dushasana wanted to disrobe her. He therefore started pulling her sari. Draupadi called her husbands to save her. As they had become slaves of Kauravas they could not help Draupadi. Draupadi then called for help from all the elders sitting in the court. But the elders’ including Bhishma kept did not get up. Most of them closed their eyes. But none came forward to help Draupadi.
Then Draupadi called Lord Krishna to save her. Lord Krishna lengthened her sari to infinite length. The rascal Dushasana kept pulling on the sari but after hours could not disrobe her. He got tired of the whole thing and retired. That man could not fulfill his desire to make Draupadi naked in front of everyone.
Lord Krishna helped Draupadi when no body did. He came at a moment’s notice when Draupadi called him for help. Hindus believe that if one has faith in the lord and calls upon him in deep distress Lord Krishna always helps. Lord has helped many other followers when they needed him most.
Mahabharata- How Kunti Suffered Because Of Her Lie
Kunti was the wife of King Pandu and mother of the Pandavas. Kunti is considered one of the most respected characters of Mahabharata. Till end of war the Pandavs did not know that Karna was their own brother. Kunti had hidden this truth from her sons. This lie made Kunti suffer tremendously. Along with Kunti, Karna also suffered. Because when he came to know that he was the son of a queen but was being brought up by a charioteer, he did not know what to do? Karna could not give up his friendship with Duryodhana because it was Duryodhana who had made Karna the king of Ang Desh during the competition. Those who have read Mahabharata must know about this competition.
The story is this. This competition was held to find out who was the best warrior amongst all the princes. Arjuna came out as the winner. At that time Karna who was unknown to others came forward and did all that Arjuna could do. But Karna was not accepted as a competitor because he was son of a charioteer. This was a great disrespect Karna suffered in front of the public. Kunti was one of those sitting in the audience. She saw her son being humiliated but did not dare to say that Karna was her son. She was a mute spectator of her son's state. At that time Duryodhana came forward and made Karna the king of Ang Desh. This made Karna a friend and follower of Duryodhana for life. He vowed never to leave Duryodhana. This was a turning point in the story because Karna was a great warrior.
If Kunti had got up and spoken the truth, Karna would have been saved from this humiliation. But she kept quite and lied. She had hidden the fact of Karna's birth right from the day he was born. That was a blunder and a sin because she hid this fact from her husband, her pother sons and Karna himself. A charioteer brought up a prince. Karna suffered agony all his life because of his mother's lie. Kunti herself had to suffer the pain of having lied to all and watch her son suffering. She wanted to look pious and she sacrificed her son for that lie.
This story teaches us that a lie spoken for whatever reason always brings nothing other than suffering.
The story is this. This competition was held to find out who was the best warrior amongst all the princes. Arjuna came out as the winner. At that time Karna who was unknown to others came forward and did all that Arjuna could do. But Karna was not accepted as a competitor because he was son of a charioteer. This was a great disrespect Karna suffered in front of the public. Kunti was one of those sitting in the audience. She saw her son being humiliated but did not dare to say that Karna was her son. She was a mute spectator of her son's state. At that time Duryodhana came forward and made Karna the king of Ang Desh. This made Karna a friend and follower of Duryodhana for life. He vowed never to leave Duryodhana. This was a turning point in the story because Karna was a great warrior.
If Kunti had got up and spoken the truth, Karna would have been saved from this humiliation. But she kept quite and lied. She had hidden the fact of Karna's birth right from the day he was born. That was a blunder and a sin because she hid this fact from her husband, her pother sons and Karna himself. A charioteer brought up a prince. Karna suffered agony all his life because of his mother's lie. Kunti herself had to suffer the pain of having lied to all and watch her son suffering. She wanted to look pious and she sacrificed her son for that lie.
This story teaches us that a lie spoken for whatever reason always brings nothing other than suffering.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Lessons Of Mahabharata
Hindus consider Mahabharata as the greatest epic in India. It is a story of love, courage, truth, lies, deceit, selfishness, foolishness, and every other human emotion. Today when we see people of selfish interests all around us, that reminds us of Mahabharata. When we find nations states fighting with each other for frivolous reasons that also reminds us of Mahabharata. Everything that is bad and everything that is good reminds us
of something in Mahabharata. That is beauty of this epic. It showcases human emotions so totally that you need not study anything other than Mahabharata to understand human nature.
The characters are many and all have their own specialty. The circumstances play different roles in shaping destinies and this gives us a lot to learn from Mahabharta.
Kunti teaches us the lesson of lie. She spoke lie about birth of Karna and suffered all her life.
Bhishma teaches us the lesson of what happens if you become a mute observer to great injustice.
Dhritrashtra teaches us the lesson of misplace love which in the end killed all his sons.
Karna teaches us the lesson of undying friendship with a man of no principals. This led to karna's death.
Duryodhana teaches us about the reasons of destruction. He managed to get all his brothers and friends killed because of his hatred.
Bhima teaches us about why one should never forget a wrong done to oneself.
All the pandva brothers teach us about how the orders of the elsest brother are to be followed.
Love between Kunti nad madri teaches us about how love can be sustained between step wives.
Pandus death teaches us about how he could not control his sexual desire at the cost of his life.
Every character of Mahabharata teaches us something. It is for us to understand the lesson and follow a path in life that brings joy and peace in life.
of something in Mahabharata. That is beauty of this epic. It showcases human emotions so totally that you need not study anything other than Mahabharata to understand human nature.
The characters are many and all have their own specialty. The circumstances play different roles in shaping destinies and this gives us a lot to learn from Mahabharta.
Kunti teaches us the lesson of lie. She spoke lie about birth of Karna and suffered all her life.
Bhishma teaches us the lesson of what happens if you become a mute observer to great injustice.
Dhritrashtra teaches us the lesson of misplace love which in the end killed all his sons.
Karna teaches us the lesson of undying friendship with a man of no principals. This led to karna's death.
Duryodhana teaches us about the reasons of destruction. He managed to get all his brothers and friends killed because of his hatred.
Bhima teaches us about why one should never forget a wrong done to oneself.
All the pandva brothers teach us about how the orders of the elsest brother are to be followed.
Love between Kunti nad madri teaches us about how love can be sustained between step wives.
Pandus death teaches us about how he could not control his sexual desire at the cost of his life.
Every character of Mahabharata teaches us something. It is for us to understand the lesson and follow a path in life that brings joy and peace in life.
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