Kumaravyasa Bharata Recitation

The tussle between Kaurava-s and Pāṇḍava-s no longer remains restricted to the arena, but also enters their homes. The fact that there is a power-struggle between the two sets of cousins becomes widely known. The citizens of Hastinapura begin fearing the outcome of this struggle.

In such times, one day Duryodhana was brooding in the privacy of his palace, accompanied by Karṇa, Śakuni and Jayadratha. Duryodhana expresses his frustration that the Pānḍava-s having bound Drupada had won great fame, while the Kaurava-s had to suffer the humiliation of defeat in that battle. He tells everyone that it is impossible to survive with Bhīma, whose existence is like thorn among flowers. Given this, there was no doubt that eventually they will have to fight with the Pāṇdava-s who were no pushovers.

Listening to this, Karṇa tries to placate Duryodhana assuring him that given a chance, he would destroy the Pāṇḍava-s in the battle, that he is only waiting for Duryodhana’s orders. While Śakuni agrees with Karṇa’s sentiments, he informs Duryodhana that Bhīma and Arjuna were the best among the warriors who can defeat even the Deva-s and the Dānava-s. Thus facing them in an open battle would be foolishness for Duryodhana does not have the capability to do so. However, it was possible to bring down the Pāṇḍava-s through cunning. Thus, Śakuni begins is long advice on the importance of addressing the threat of the Pāṇḍava-s at the earliest before they get a chance to consolidate their strength and become a bigger threat than they currently were.

Audio Link: https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-008-Sandhi-Part-01-of-05.mp3

The day after the display of the arms by the Kuru Princes, Guru Droṇacārya calls them to his Gurukula and asks them for Gurudakśiṇa. When the princes ask what does he desire, Droṇa asks them to capture King Drupada of Pāñcāla and make him submit to Droṇa. Duryodhana and the other Kaurava-s smirk at what they think is a petty Gurudakśiṇa and make the first attempt .They enter the Pāñcāla kingdom with their full army and destroy the outer fort. However as they near the palace, they are soundly defeated by Drupada’s brothers, who also destroy most of Duryodhana’s army. The five Pāṇḍava-s stand outside the city fully armed, along with Guru Droṇācārya and observe retreating Kaurava army after it was thrashed by the citizens of Pāñcāla.

The Pāṇḍava-s enter the fray and having soundly defeated the Pāñcāla army, they capture Drupada and drag him before Guru Droṇa, thereby paying their Gurudakśiṇa. Droṇa lets Drupada live and frees him, but not before taking away half of the Pāñcāla kingdom for himself. Enraged by this insult, Drupada goes in search of capable learned Brāhmaṇa-s who can perform the Putrakāmeṣṭhi Yajña through which he can gain children who will be the cause of Droṇa’s downfall. Two Brāhmana-s named Yāja and Upayāja agree to officiate this Yajña. The Yajña thus performed pleases the Deva-s who grant Drupada’s desire. Out of the Yajñakuṇḍa emerges a man wearing a shining armour, armed with bows, arrows and other weapons. Drupada is delighted.
Soon after, a beautiful young girl emerges from the Yajñakuṇḍa. The onlookers are astonished to see such a divine beauty.

Drupada is mighty pleased that he obtained a son Dṛṣṭadyumna who will be the cause of Droṇa’s death, and a daughter Draupadi who will be Arjuna-s bride. He brought them up with lot of affection. Droṇa offered to teach Dṛṣṭadyumna the knowledge of weapons despite knowing that the latter will be the cause of his death. Such was the valor of the honourable Droṇa.

Audio Link : https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-007-Sandhi-Part-04-of-04.mp3

When Arjuna entered the stadium, the whole stadium fell silent. Having bowed to the elders, and the Gods, he showed his skill in handling the bow, arrows, the chariot, the horse and the elephant. Again picking up the bow, he showed his prowess in the use of Divyāstra-s such as Āgneyāstra, Vāruṇāstra, Parvatāstra, Meghāstra, Nāgāstra, Vāyavyāstra among others. The whole stadium was wonder struck at this glorious display. The faces of Bhīṣma, Drōṇa, Kṛpācārya and Kunti beamed with delight while the faces of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhāri, and the Kaurava-s lost their colour.

Amidst this was heard a sound “Shut the mouths of these fools needlessly showering so much praise on Arjuna. What is so great about this ?”, and out of the group of Kaurava-s emerged Karṇa. Having saluted the elders and prayed to Surya, Karṇa showed his skill with the weapons and the various vāhana-s. With the same flourish and excellence displayed by Arjuna, Karṇa too showed the use of Divyāstra-s.

Then he challenged Arjuna to a duel. Arjuna took up the challenge, and the stadium witnessed arrows of one cutting down the arrows of the other with equal ferocity. When it became clear that this is no mere challenge, but a battle, Bhīma, Kṛpa, and Aśvatthāma put an end to it. An enraged Kṛpa asked Kaṛṇa, “Ok Karṇa, are you a King or are you a servant of a King? Who are you ? Introduce yourself to this audience.” Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who was rejoicing to the fact that there was challenger to Arjuna in their own camp, saw nothing wrong in Karṇa’s display of impropriety. Kunti, on the other hand was unable to deal with her emotions. She could not blurt out that “He is my son”, and unable to cope up with the stress, she swooned. Karṇa was sad that he would not be able to answer Kṛpācārya’s question.

At this moment, Duryodhana stepped in and announced that he would make Karṇa a king of the Aṅga country. Thus, amidst that audience, Duryodhana organized the Paṭṭābhiṣeka of Karṇa. All the other assembled kings in the audience paid their homage to Karṇa. Thinking his son’s glory to be his own, Adiratha, Karṇa’s foster father came to the throne. Karṇa, out of respect, fell at his feet. It became known to everyone that Karṇa was not a nobleman, but the son of a charioteer. Bhīma smirked at this and pointed it out loudly.

Duryodhana protested reminding Bhīma that people still aren’t sure if his father is Pāṇḍu or Vāyu. Or for that matter, the birth of Kṛpācarya was no ordinary one. Neither did anyone know who the mother of Droṇācarya was. Thus when Duryodhana insulted the elderly Guru-s, the two sides of Kaurava-s and Pāṇḍava-s came to blows. Disgusted by this Bhīṣma and the others left the stadium. The audience too dispersed debating among themselves as to who was right – Bhīma and Arjuna or Duryodhana and Karṇa.

The next morning, Droṇacārya called all the princes to his Gurukula and spoke to them of an important matter.

Audio Link: https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-007-Sandhi-Part-03-of-04.mp3

In the newly erected stadium, when the auspicious moment arrived, Yudhiṣṭhira stood up and bowed to Droṇacārya, and the others. He shows his skill with the Bow, the discuss, the mace and several other weapons. He demonstrated the mastery over the horse, the elephant and the chariot. Bhīṣma and others were extremely pleased with this. Following him, the other hundred Princes showed their skills. Then entered into the arena the lord of the Kaurava-s Duryodhana. He mesmerized the audience with astonishing feats with the weapons. When the audience thought they had seen it all, arrived that fearless Bhīmasena like the Sun bursting forth from the clouds. He showed his skills with every weapon and war instrument a hundred times better than Duryodhana. Then he challenged Duryodhana into a duel. These two fought like enraged elephants taking on one-another with their mighty Gada-s. It slowly started to dawn on everyone that this was no mere contest, but a bloody duel. At the behest of Bhiṣma and Vidura , Kṛpācārya and Aśvatthāma put an end to the duel by separating the two. The whole stadium was divided into two – some praising Bhīma and the others praising Duryodhana.

In such bustling atmosphere, on the sign from Guru Drōṇacārya, Arjuna entered into the arena. The stadium was awestruck into silence.

Audio Link : https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-007-Sandhi-Part-02-of-04.mp3

In the first part of the seventh Sandhi of Ādiparva, Vaiśampāyana narrates how the Kaurava-s and Pāṇḍava-s become proficient in the various arts of warfare including horse-riding, elephant riding and chariot riding. Seeking the best archer among them, Droṇa arranges a difficult test, which Arjuna passes with flying colours. Pleased Droṇa teaches Arjuna the use of various secret and divine weapons. Having completed training the princes, Droṇa approaches Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Vidura and Bhīṣma asking them to evaluate how well their children had learnt under him. Bhīṣma gladly accepts this proposal and they pick a suitable place and erect a huge stadium outside Hastinapura for the display of the skills of the princes. Kings from various kingdoms arrive at Hastinapura to watch this spectacle.

On the auspicious day, crowds throng to Hastinapura as if it was some huge festival. The hundred and one Kaurava-s led by Duryodhana and the five Pāṇḍava-s led by Yudhiṣṭhira arrive into the the stadium with Aśvatthāma, Kṛpācārya, Karṇa alongside them, and Drona walking ahead of them. That day the world witnessed the glory of the great teacher of weapons Droṇacārya.

Audio Link: https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-007-Sandhi-Part-01-of-04.mp3

As Droṇa was watching the Kaurava-s and the Pāṇḍava-s playing, Yudhiṣṭhira’s ring slipped and fell into a deep well. When the boys had given up any hope of retrieving it, Droṇa instructed his son Aśvatthāma to remove it. Aśvatthāma aimed an arrow at the ring. It found its mark. He then aimed another arrow at the fin of that arrow. Thus, building a chain of arrows, Aśvatthāma removed the ring out.

The Kaurava-s and the Pāṇḍava-s were impressed by this feat. They narrated this incident to Bhīṣma and begged him to convince that Brāhmaṇa to be their Guru. Bhīṣma met Droṇa and paid him homage with generous gifts that made Droṇa a rich man. On a suitable day, Bhīṣma handed over the Kaurava-s and the Pāṇḍava-s to Droṇa to be instructed in the art of the use of weapons. A huge arena was created for this purpose. Thus the Kaurava-s and Pāṇḍava-s began their studies under Droṇa.

Karṇa, who was hitherto studying the use of weapons under Paraśurāma returned to Hastināpura after completing his studies. There he met with Duryodhana, who introduced him to Droṇa. Since that day, the friendship between Duryodhana and Karṇa grew. They became inseparable.

As days passed all the princes became adept at the use of various weapons. Bhīma and Duryodhana became experts in the art of wielding the Gadāyudha (Mace), while Karṇa and Arjuna excelled in the use of the Dhanuśa and Bāṇa (Bows and arrows). Among all the students, Arjuna was the one who became very close to Droṇa for his dedication and his skill in the use of weapons.

Audio Link: https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-006-Sandhi-Part-03-of-03.mp3

In the 2nd part of the 6th Sandhi of Ādiparva, Vaiśampāyana narrates the birth of Kṛpācārya and his twin-sister Kṛpi from the sage Śaradvanu. The twins are brought up by Śantanu. Kṛpācārya goes on to become the Kulaguru of the Kuru-s. Bhīṣma approaches him to teach the Kaurava-s and the Pāṇḍava-s. Through him, the Kaurava-s and Pāṇḍava-s learn the fourteen Vidya-s and the various Kala-s. However, Bhīṣma is still looking out for a capable Guru who can instruct them in the art of warfare, especially Archery and other allied arts.

Long ago, to the Ṛṣi Bharadwāja was born a son named Droṇa. Bharadwāja taught him the arts of warefare along with other princes. Droṇa got married to Kṛpi, through whom he obtained a valiant son named Aśvatthāma. One of Droṇa’s fellow students was a prince named Drupada of Pāñcāla kingdom. Droṇa and Drupada were good friends. When it was time for Drupada to leave, he promised Droṇa eternal friendship before taking his leave.

After Bharadvāja passed away, Droṇa tried continuing in his father’s Aśrama, but, poverty made him go in search of benefactors. During his travels, he visited Paraśurāma, from whom he obtained all the divine weapons. From there he thought of paying a visit to his childhood friend Drupada, hoping to gain employment in the kingdom of Pāñcāla.
However, Drupada had grown haughty and refused to even meet Droṇa. Enraged by Drupada-s behaviour, Droṇa barged into his assembly and admonished him. Drupada said that there cannot be any friendship between a rich king such as himself and a poor Braḥmaṇa such as Droṇa. Thus humiliated, Droṇa vowed that he would teach valiant students whom will then defeat and tie up Drupada so that Droṇa can avenge his humiliation. Saying this , he left Pāñcāla along with his son Aśvatthāma. After crossing several other kingdoms, he arrived in Hastināpura where he saw a hundred and five princes diligently trying to aim and shoot at the targets with their bows and arrows. Droṇa looked at them intently, having realized that perhaps these might be the disciples who would help him with his revenge.

Audio Link: https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-006-Sandhi-Part-02-of-03.mp3

In the first part of the 6th Sandhi of Ādiparva, Vaiśampāyana narrates to Janamejaya the favorite games that were played between the hundred Kaurava-s and the five Pāṇḍava-s in the outskirts of their palace.

Bhīma, the strongest of them all, used to playfully taunt the Kaurava-s and deliberately pester them. During the rough-play, the Kaurava-s would be at the receiving end of Bhīma’s blows due to which they would repeatedly complain to Bhīṣma and Dhṛtarāṣṭra. While Bhīma did this, he did not have any bad intentions against the Kaurava-s. It was fun and games for him. But Duryodhana took offense to Bhīma-s behaviour. This resulted in Kaurava-s trying to kill Bhīma using various methods – they tried drowning him, they tried getting him bitten by poisonous serpents, they fed him food laced in poison. However, Bhīma survived every attempt, and vowed to kill them all.

Bhīṣma realized that if this rivalry was left unattended, it would consume the entire family. Thus, Bhīṣma decided to keep the boys busy by finding a suitable teacher who could teach them the use and practice of Śastra-s and Astra-s.

Audio link: https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-006-Sandhi-Part-01-of-03.mp3

Kunti hears Mādri’s wailing and goes to the forest to see what happened. There she sees Pāṇḍu lying on Mādrī’s lap. She realizes what transpired. The five Pāṇḍava-s too come there and see their father lying dead. They all lament at the death of Pāṇḍu. The Ṛṣi-s of the forest console them. Mādrī decides to give up her life to follow Pāṇḍu in the other world leaving behind her sons Nakula and Sahadeva in Kunti’s care. The Ṛṣi-s perform the funeral rites of both Pāṇḍu and Mādrī. Realizing that it is no long appropriate to have Kunti and the five Pāṇḍava-s staying in the forest after Pāṇdu’s death, the Ṛṣi-s take them to Hastināpura , where Bhīṣma and others welcome them with open arms.

Having described the births of the five Pāṇḍava-s, the valour of Pāṇḍu, the manner of his death, the sahagamana of Mādrī, the Ṛṣi-s return to their abode. Dhṛtarāṣṭra and other relatives perform the funeral rites of Pāṇḍu once again.

Vedavyāsa arrives to console Bhīṣma and Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He advices his mother Satyavati that it would be better for her to leave the palace and take up Vānaprasta in the forest since she would no longer be able to withstand the destruction that is sure to come in the future due to the enemity between Dhṛtarāṣtṛa’s sons Kaurava-s and Pāṇḍava-s. Thus Satyavati along with her daughters-in-law Ambika and Ambālika leave for the forest. In Hastināpura, Bhīṣma takes care of the needs of Kaurava-s and Pāṇḍava-s.

Audio Link: https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-005-Sandhi-Part-02-of-02.mp3

Pāṇḍu , along with his two wives and five children was leading a blissful life in the āśrama of Śataśṛṅga mountains, making those forests habitable for the Ṛṣi-s, by hunting down the wild animals which were a danger to the life and limb. He spent a few years this way. One year, when his eldest son was sixteen, Bhimasena was fifteen, Arjuna was fourteen and the twins were thirteen, a glorious spring season arrived. [These few verses are some of the most beautiful verses that I have encountered so far]

In this beautiful spring season, one day, Mādrī was playing in the forests, bedecking herself with the fresh flowers that were in full bloom in the forests. Pāṇḍu saw her, and wondered to himself if he just saw Ūrvaśī, Rambhā or any other Apsarā. Smitten by her beauty, Pāṇḍu threw caution to the winds and went after her. Mādrī tried to speak sense into him, but Pāṇḍu was struck by the darts of Kāma. Without listening to her, Pāṇḍu united with her.

The Ṛṣī-s curse took effect and soon after the union, Pāṇḍu ‘s face lost its colour, his eyes closed, his grip on her loosened, his body became devoid of strength. Taking one big sigh, Pāṇḍu lay his face in her lap – unconscious. To her horror, Mādrī’s realized what had just happened. Pāṇḍu passed away leaving his two wives and five children behind.

Audio Link : https://archive.org/download/kumaravyasa-bharata-recitation/Parva-01-Adiparva-005-Sandhi-Part-01-of-02.mp3