By Arti Dhand, University of Toronto
A Tale About Everything
The Pandavas hear the stories of King Yuvanasva, who gives birth to Prince Mandhatr, and of Jantu, the only child of King Somaka. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The tale of Rama Jamadagneya aka "Parasurama" concludes; the tale of another Bhargava figure, Cyavana and his wife, Sukanya www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
We conclude the story of Rsyasrnga, and begin that of Rama Jamadagneya, aka Parasurama, or "Rama with an axe". www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
King Sagara's story continues, with his great-grandson Bhagiratha's efforts to entice Ganga to earth; in part II, we meet Rsyasrnga, a boy who's grown up in the forest and never met another human being before. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Pandavas continue their tour, still hearing about Agastya; they learn of Indra's battle against the asura Vrtra, followed by the story of King Sagara and his 60,001 sons. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Distressed at the absence of Arjuna, the Pandavas go on pilgrimage, where they hear many ancient stories--among them that of the famous rsi Agastya. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Nala and Damayanti are finally united; The Pandavas think consider the future. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Nala-Damayanti story continues. Nala loses his kingdom, and the couple is forced to confront a new reality. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The charming tale of Nala and Damayanti continues. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Arjuna ascends to heaven, and begins military school. The Pandavas, meanwhile, hear a story about the unluckiest man on earth. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Vyasa suggests Arjuna train with the gods; Arjuna travels up the Himalayas and tussles with a seemingly indomitable tribal man. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Pandavas move to Dvaitavana, where they wrestle painfully with their situation, and try to persuade Yudhisthira to fight. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Krishna explains his absence from Indraprastha. The King of Saubha had attacked his city of Dvarka, which was defended valiantly by his sons. Then Krishna'd pursued Shalva to destroy him. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
As the Pandavas set up in the Kamyaka Forest, visitors come by--Vidura, Samjaya, Rishi Maitreya, Krishna, Dhrstadyumna, and others. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Duryodhana frets about Vidura's return, and Duryodhana hatches another plan. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Pandavas begin their exile, and try to come to terms with the trauma of all that's befallen them. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Pandavas bid goodbye to folks in Hastinapura, leaving behind Kunti, their other wives and children; the Kauravas take stock. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Why did Yudhisthira gamble? Where was Krishna? What game were Yudhisthira and Sakuni playing? In this episode, we consider these questions, as the last game concludes and the Pandavas and Draupadi prepare for exile. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Sinister omens bring a halt to the events, and Dhrtarastra offers Draupadi 3 boons. Yudhisthira, however, imperils the Pandavas' kingdom again. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The infamous scene in the Kaurava assembly hall continues. Draupadi demands an answer to her question. Duryodhana's brother Vikarna offers his perspective, Vidura tries again to make the Kauravas see reason, and the assembly devolves into the outrageous sexual assault...
Some of the most outrageous, iconic, and scandalous events of the epic - Yudhisthira loses himself and all of his brothers to Duryodhana, then stakes his wife, Draupadi. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Yudhisthira and Sakuni face off in a series of high stakes gambles in which Yudhisthira experiences a catastrophic losing streak, jeopardizing everything for himself and his family. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Dhrtarastra dispatches Vidura to invite the Pandavas to Hastinapura; Yudhisthira must decide whether to go, knowing it involves gambling. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Duryodhana returns from Indraprastha filled with envy, and his uncle Sakuni devises a plan to wrest away the Pandavas' kingdom. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Yudhisthira's rajasuya sacrifice gets underway, but runs into a hiccup when Sisupala, the King of Cedi, challenges the choice of Krishna as the Guest of Honour. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima challenge King Jarasamdha of Magadha, and Yudhisthira prepares to fulfill the requirements for the Rajasuya Sacrifice, which will declare him emperor of the world. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Book II, the Sabhaparva begins with councils to discuss the viability of Yudhisthira's ambition to perform the rajasuya sacrifice. What's the import of this sacrifice? What does it entail? Krsna arrives for consultation, and advises that the only way forward...
Why did Krishna and Arjuna enable the massacre of the Khandava Forest? Some theories, some survivors, and the building of the Pandava Palace. www.themahabharatapodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast The Mahabharata Podcast with Arti Dhand @the_dhand
Arjuna marries Subhadra with high drama, and the couple return to Hastinapura. Arjuna and Krishna participate in the burning of the Khandava Forest. www.themahabharatapodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Pandavas begin work on their new capital, but there's a mishap. Arjuna must retreat into exile for a year. www.themahabharatapodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Upon learning of the Pandavas' survival, King Dhrtarastra considers his options, war or conciliation. www.themahabharatapodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Kunti instructs Arjuna to share his alms with his brothers, prompting a crisis when the "alms" in question is the Princess Draupadi. www.themahabharatapodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Pandavas arrive in Pancala, in time for the groom-choosing tournament of Draupadi. www.themahabharatapodcast.com https://www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Visvamitra orchestrates the murder of Vasistha's sons by using the King Kalmasapada, who becomes a cannibal. www.themahabharatapodcast.com
As the Pandavas travel to King Drupada's capital in Pancala, they have an altercation with a gandharva known for his snazzy chariot as Citraratha. He tells them stories of their ancestry, which leads to tales about the ancient rsi Vasistha. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
After the departure of Hidimba and Ghatotkaca, the Pandavas wander the forests until they meet their grandfather Vyasa, who directs them to live disguised as brahmins in the town of Ekacakra. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
While Hastinapura mourns the death of the Pandavas, the heroes escape to the woods and Bhima assumes responsibility for the protection of the family. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The Pandavas arrive for the festival of Varnavata, and find themselves living in a house constructed for burning. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Duryodhana schemes with his father to get rid of the Pandavas. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Drona is now prepared to undertake the task for which he's worked so hard to train the Bharata boys: revenge upon his childhood friend Drupada for his rejection of him. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Drona organizes a tournament to showcase his students' talents, and the great hero Karna enters the scene. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Arrival on scene of one of the most important characters of our text, Drona. www.themahabharatapodcast.com
Last rites of Pandu and Madri, who becomes a sati; and childhood squabbles among the 106 boys lead Dhrtarastra to look for teachers. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Gandhari's 100 sons are born, and one daughter; and Pandu succumbs to death, followed by Madri. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Kunti shares her secret, enabling Pandu to have 5 children through the intercession of the gods. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Pandu returns triumphant from conquest, and goes on vacation - to traumatic results. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
The story of Samtanu and Satyavati, concluding with Devavrata's magnificent sacrifice, which transforms him into Bhisma. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Bhisma arranges the marriages of Dhrtarastra, Pandu, and Vidura; introduction to Gandhari themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
We learn the mystery behind Satyavati's birth, and hear the painful story of Ani Mandavya, who curses the god Dharma to be born as Vidura. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
A dynastic crisis in the House of Bharata is resolved with the assistance of Vyasa--or is it? www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
Two weddings, a Funeral, and a Kingdom without a King: Bhisma returns to Hastinapura with the 3 Kasi princesses, and the marriage of Ambika and Ambalika to Satyavati's son, Vicitravirya. www.themahabharatapodcast.com www.facebook.com/themahabharatapodcast
