Tag: indian culture (Page 3 of 11)

Ajnathavasa Parva is the forty fifth upa parva included in the fourth maha parva, named as virata parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated the historical events that had happened in the Ajnathavasa or unrecognized life to Janamejaya on his queries.

When twelve years of exile was completed in the forest, Yudhishtira decided to bid farewell to Dhaumya Rishi and saluted him with reverence. Dhaumya Rishi then started to Panchala kingdom, after advising and blessing the five Pandava brothers and Draupadi. Dhaumya Rishi had advised the Pandavas about the life and works to be done in the palace of Virata. He advised how to live politely in a palace, be obedient and pleasing everybody including servants also.

After morning rituals, they had sat together and decided to spend the time in Ajnathavasa. Yudhishtira sought the suggestion of Arjuna for the selection of the place to live unrecognized for one year. Arjuna recited the name of the nine kingdoms surrounded to Kuru kingdome and the country Virata was one of it. As per the suggestions of Yama received after Yakshaprashna, Yudhishtira found the place Virata as better suited for Ajnathavasa.

Yakshaprashna is the forty fourth upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated the historical events that happened in the forests to Janamejaya upon his queries.

What were the questions of the Yaksha and how Yudhishtira had answered them?

The questions of the Yaksha and the answers of Yudhishtira are listed below:

Question 01: The Yaksha questioned, “What is it that makes the Sun rise? Who keeps him company? Who causes him to set? And how he is established?”

Yudhishtira answered, “Brahma makes the Sun rise; the gods keep him company; Dharma causes him to set; and he is established in truth.”

Question 02: The Yaksha asked, “By what does one become learned and attain the very greatness? What is the second option to acquire higher levels of knowledge?”

Kundala Harina Parva is the forty third upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events that happened in the forests, on his queries.

What had been signified by the name of the upa parva as Kundala Harina?

The initial part of the upa parva narrates the story regarding the donation of ear ornaments, Karna Kunadala. The later part of the upa parva narrates the story regarding the appearance of a deer or harina, who was none other than Yama, the father of Yudhishtira, who had come to advise the Pandava brothers in disguise. 

What had been advised to Karna by the Sun God in the form of a Brahmin and how Karna reacted to him in his dream?

Draupadi Harana Parva is the forty second upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events, happened in the forests on his queries.

Who was Jayadratha and what he had done to Draupadi?

Jayadratha was the son of the King of Sindhu. Jayadratha had already married Dushala and he was the brother in law of Yudhishtira. One day, he wished to attend the marriage of Shalva and was travelling near the Pandavas’ Ashram at Kamyakavana. Jayadratha was dressed in his royal attires wearing gems and jewels and his friends, king Kotikashya and others were accompanying him.  

Pandavas were suffering in the forest due to exile and living as saints. When Jayadratha had seen Draupadi on the door steps of her Ashram, king Kotikashya had explained to him that the lady found was Draupadi. Then all Pandavas had gone out of their Ashram with weapons as other Brahmins had requested them to drive away the cruel animals from the proximity of their Ashram for the safety of their life.   

Vrihidraunika Parva is the forty first upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events, happened in the forests on his queries.

Who told the story of Vrihi Drounika to Yudhishtira?

Vyasa had told the story of Vrihi Draunika to Yudhishtira. 

कृषिगोरक्ष्यमित्येके प्रतिपद्यन्ति मानवाः ।
पुरुषाःप्रेष्यतामेके निर्गच्चन्ति धनार्थिनः ॥

Meaning: Human beings in order to gain money or wealth work for agriculture, cows grazing or cattle farming and sometimes they work as labourers or perform service.  

पात्रे दानं स्वल्पमपि काले दत्तं युधिष्ठिर ।
मनसा सुविशुद्धेन प्रेत्यानंतफलं स्मृतम् ॥

Mrigaswapnodbhava Parva is the fortieth upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events, happened in the forests on his queries.

How the presence of Pandavas occasionally affected the forest animals adversely? 

Ghatotkacha had visited Bhima frequently since Bhima was his father. Since he was a demon, he liked to eat forest animals. Also, the brother in law of Nakula, Drishtaketu, occasionally visited Pandava brothers. Krishna had killed Ekalavya and later the eldest son of Ekalavya had been crowned for Indraprastha. He was also in good terms with Padavas and occasionally visited them in exile.

These visitors of Pandavas occasionally adversely affected forest animals due to their hunting habits. But Pandava brothers preferred only vegetarian food and were satisfied by the daily balance food of Akshayapatra. First, Draupadi was serving the poor Brahmins using the food received from the Akshayapatra and then the Pandava brothers were eating the balance food. Yudhishtira, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Draupadi were eating only vegetarian food.

What happened to Yudhishtira in the Dvaitavana in the night after Ghoshayatra?

Ghoshayatra Parva is the thirty ninth upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events, happened in the forests on his queries.

This upa parva is also called as Gau Goshayatra since the inspection of the cow herds of the Kauravas had been carried out near the Dvaitavana in this parva.

How a Brahmin had described about Pandavas to Dritarashtra and how he felt it?

A Brahmin from the Dvaithavana had visited Hastinapura and met with Dritarashtra. He had reported about the Pandavas narrating the hardships and their sufferings in the forests. Then Dritarashtra had become sympathetic towards Pandavas and repented for the past events of dice games held in his palace. Dritarashtra felt afraid of Arjuna since he procured special weapons and anticipated destruction of Duryodhana and his other children if a war would start. 

How Duryodhana had secured the permission of Dritarashtra to go near Dvaitavana?

Shakuni advised Duryodhana to carry out the inspection of their royal cow herds that grazed near the Dvaithavana. They accompanied veterinary doctors with them and with inspection of cow herds as their primary reason, asked the permission of Dritarashtra to go near Dvaithavana. Dritarashtra had consulted with Bhishma and Drona and advised Duryodhana not to go near the camp of Yudhishtira to avoid unprecedented incidences. Then Duryodhana with his wife Bhanumathi and Karna started with their ministers and required security troops.

What Duryodhana had done near Dvaitavana and why Karna had escaped from the battle field?

Draupadi Sathyabhama Parva is the thirty eighth upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events, happened in the forests on his queries.

In this upa parva, mainly the conversations between Draupadi and Sathyabhama are narrated and hence it is also named as Draupadi Sathyabhama Samvada parva.

Who was Sathyabhama and what was Syamanthaka Upakhyana?

Sathyabhama was the daughter of Sathrajitha. Sathrajitha had three daughters and Sathyabhama was the eldest one. Sathrajitha belonged to Yadava lineage and was the chief of the treasury of Dwaraka. Prasena was his brother.

Sathrajitha was the custodian of the famous gem Syamanthaka Mani. One day, Krishna told Sathrajitha to hand over the Syamanthaka Mani to him and he would keep it safely with him. Sathrajitha had denied giving the gem to Krishna. Later one day, his brother Prasena had gone to the forest for hunting wearing the Syamanthaka gem but in the forest, Prasena was killed by a lion. Jambava was living in the same forest and he was running an orphanage. Jambava had killed the lion and got the Sayamanthaka gem but he gave it to his daughter, Jambavathi. 

Markandeya Parva is the thirty seventh upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharat. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events, happened in the forests on his queries.

Who was Markandeaya Rishi, and what was his specialty?

Markandeya Rishi was a great devotee of God. God had blessed him with a boon to live for unlimited time on the Earth. Whenever God appeared by his incarnation, he could see him face to face and talk to him. When Krishna was born, he desired to visit him and found him lying on the leaf of a big banyan tree. When Krishna married Satyabhama and visited Yudhishtira at Kamyakavana, he wished to see the couple and hence visited there. He could remember many events, and he could continue to live for many Yuga periods. He was able to preserve his body himself during the Pralaya or world reshuffling, and it was his specialty.  

Who were the people to hear the stories from Markandeya Rishi?

Ajagara Parva is the thirty sixth upa parva included in the third maha parva, named as Vana parva or Aranyaka parva in the epic Mahabharata. The original epic was composed by Vyasa in Sanskrit. Vyshampayana had narrated to Janamejaya the historical events, happened during the exile of Pandavas on his queries.

Who had permitted Arjuna to live on top of the Gandhamadana Mountain?

The Angel God of wealth and treasures, Kubera, or Vaishravana had permitted to live Arjuna on the top of Gandhamadana Mountain. 

How did Yudhishtira spend four years on top of the Gandhamadana Mountain and what was Arjuna doing then?