Story of Mahabharata

## The Story of Mahabharata:

The Mahabharata is the largest and most important epic of India. It was composed by Sage Vedavyasa. This epic narrates the story of the great war of Kurukshetra between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.

### Early Stories:

The Mahabharata begins with King Shantanu, who was the king of Hastinapur. Shantanu married Ganga, and from their union, Bhishma was born. Later, Shantanu married Satyavati, who bore him two sons – Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.

### Bhishma’s Vow:

To ensure that Satyavati’s sons could inherit the throne of Hastinapur, Bhishma took a lifelong vow of celibacy. Due to this great sacrifice, he was called Bhishma.

### Pandu and Dhritarashtra:

After the deaths of Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, Satyavati asked her son Vyasa to beget children with her daughters-in-law. Thus, Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura were born. Dhritarashtra married Gandhari, and Pandu married Kunti and Madri.

### Birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas:

Pandu had five sons – Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, who were called the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra had a hundred sons, with Duryodhana being the eldest; they were known as the Kauravas.

### The House of Lac:

Duryodhana and Shakuni plotted to kill the Pandavas by setting the House of Lac on fire, but they escaped and lived in disguise as Brahmins.

### Draupadi’s Swayamvara:

At Draupadi’s swayamvara, Arjuna won her hand by succeeding in the archery competition. Draupadi married all five Pandavas.

### Indraprastha and the Game of Dice:

Yudhishthira performed the Rajasuya Yajna and became the king of Indraprastha. Duryodhana, with Shakuni’s help, defeated Yudhishthira in a game of dice, sending the Pandavas into exile and humiliating Draupadi.

### Exile and Incognito:

The Pandavas spent thirteen years in exile and incognito. During their incognito period, they spent time in the court of King Virata in disguise.

### The Battle of Kurukshetra:

After their incognito period, the Pandavas demanded their kingdom back, but Duryodhana refused, leading to the great war of Kurukshetra. This eighteen-day war saw the deaths of many great warriors, including Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Karna. Ultimately, the Pandavas won the war.

### Bhagavad Gita:

On the first day of the war, Arjuna refused to fight. Krishna then imparted the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to him, emphasizing the importance of duty, righteousness, and yoga.

### Outcome of the War:

After the war, Yudhishthira took over the rule of Hastinapur. Bhima defeated Duryodhana by breaking his thigh with a mace. Krishna cursed Ashwatthama.

### Conclusion:

Yudhishthira ruled the kingdom after performing the Ashwamedha Yajna. Ultimately, the Pandavas set out for the Himalayas on their journey to heaven. Yudhishthira, due to his righteousness and truth, reached heaven.

The Mahabharata is not just a tale of war but also contains many important lessons on duty, morality, and the various aspects of life. Studying this epic helps understand and follow the various facets of life correctly.