What are some secret facts about Mahabharata ?

 This one fact made me feel Shakuni is actually not cunning character but just a victim.

Shakuni early life

• Shakuni was born in present day Afghanistan, yester year Gandhara to King Subala.
• He was very much connected to his sister Gandhari.
• As a prince, he started to live his life well but things changed badly after his sister Gandhari marriage to Dhritarashtra.
• According to our Hindu tradition , Gandhari was a manglik meaning person whose horoscope doesn't have Mars in proper place so this can be inauscipious to family. So only a manglik should marry a manglik.
• Knowing this, the King decided to do kumbh vivah meaning getting married to a banana tree and would cut down the banana tree after her marriage to prince.
• Bheeshma was the one who selected princess Gandhari for marrying Dhritarashtra. And they got married and lived well for sometime .
• So this makes Dhritarashtra technically second husband and Dhritarashtra jailed the entire family of Gandhari and ordered to give them only a fistful of rice every day. This was a very hard decision for whole family including king.
• 
  Eventually whole family was in jail and was trying to manage the food with all but soon they got to know that this diet won't make the whole family survive for a long time.
• So Gandhari's father decided and started to give whole fistful of rice to his younger son Shakuni. So Shakuni accepted and started to have whole fistful so that he can avenge his family death as per his dad wish.
• As he is not adolescent and yet a small kid that time, his father twisted his leg and made permanent limp so that he would remember always that he is there to avenge their death .
• Also, he requested Dhritarashtra to set free and said that he would be guardian for Dhritarashtra sons.
• So his last request was fulfilled and Shakuni really became guardian of the Dhritarashtra sons.
• But also he said to Shakuni that that he might use his thigh or also back bone for any avenge purpose and this bones will obey your decision during his complete lifetime.
• This bones were only used as a dice against Pandavas in the elaborate game of dice that followed. It's said that this dice has magical abilities and it would help Shakuni win all games of dice ever played.
• As he was true guardian of all hundred kuaravas and he slowly started showing special attention towards Duryodhana.
• With passage of time, he became so close and trusted person. So Shakuni used this trust to instill hate and wicked thoughts against Pandavas of all time.
• This incident as known started bringing downfall of Pandavas.

image courtesy :Google.

I found this secret of Mahabharata more interesting. A person lived whole life for setting the revenge for his family death.

What are some facts about Mahabharata?

 There was a time when Asuras and Devas would fight all the time. After one of these fights, where the Asuras lost again, their teacher Shukracharya thought of a solution – to obtain the Mritasanjeevani Stotram – a mantra that will make the Asuras invincible. He set out to Shiva’s abode to obtain it through penance and told his Asura disciples to rest in the ashram of his father – Bhrigu.

The Devas knew that the Asuras were living as hermits in the ashram and had no weapons on them. They set out to kill the asuras. The Asuras went and sought the protection of Bhrigu’s wife. She was powerful enough to make Indra immobile. The Devas got scared and ran to Vishnu. Vishnu told them to enter his body for protection. Bhrigu’s wife threatened Vishnu with dire consequences if he did that.

Vishnu got angry and killed the woman with his Sudarshan Chakra. Bhrigu was furious when he heard that his wife was killed. So, he cursed Vishnu – to be born on Earth and suffer the cycles of birth and death several times.

And this is the reason we have had avatars of Vishnu on Earth, and hence the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata

What are some of the least read stories in the Mahabharata?

 Sahadeva knew how to stop the war

When asked by Krishna about how they can prevent the war

Sahadeva replied by going in their weapons room and bringing Bheem’s mace ,Arjuna's gandiva ,his and Nakula's swords and other weapons and replied “ To stop the war we must do these 3 things

First we must destroy Bheems and Arjuna's mace and gandiva as the Pandava forces are depended on them for their victory

Second ,we must send the pandavas and kauravas to the dungeon and make Karna the emperor

Third ,we must send send all the elders like gandari , kunti , dridrastra , vidura , guru drona and krip , bhimsa and vidura to the jungle so that they don't intervene for the second point .

But Sahadeva s suggestions were neglected as Arjuna and Bheem had to take revenge

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Post war after Yudhistir knew the that Karna was his elder brother

Then he ruled on behalf of Karna for 36 years and daily just like Karna did he also donated 15 kilos of gold to the regular public

Karna's youngest son Vrishaketu was the last of Karnas legacy . He was also the last person on the Earth to know the secret of divine weapons . He was trained and given these celestial weapons by lord Krishna and Arjuna .But he was told by the Lord to not to tell it to anyone in the Kaliyuga .

He was later killed by Babruvana the son of Arjuna from Chitraganda during the ashvameda or horse sacrifice

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The insect which bit Karna was THE lord indra himself . He came there so that the Karna would not disturb his teachers sleep but the blood from his body would and enrage Parshuram to give karna a curse for not telling him , his original caste

image source :google

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Bhisma said that he either do one of the following things in Mahabharata

1 He would kill Arjuna

2 He would make Lord krishna Take weapons .

And he was so fierce that he would have killed Arjuna , but Lord Krishna remembered what Bhisma said and Took his Advantage , He broke his own vow and took up a broken chariot wheel to kill Bhisma , to save his helpless Devotee Arjuna .

But was stopped by Arjuna .

Image source : Google

Krshna with the chariot wheel , going towards Bhisma

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Ever wondered Why Lord Krishna , The epitome of rightousness , The reincarnation of Lord Vishnu Himself . Would do a wrong thing of killing Karna when he was Weaponless and He also prompted Arjun to kill Karna from the back .

Well the Answer to this thing goes way back

PAST : When Lord Vishnu told lord Indra that he would incarnate as Krishna and Lord Indra has to give a child to Kunti i.e. Arjuna

Then Lord Indra said that when in treta yuga when Indra had a child i.e. Vali , He was killed in the back by Lord Ram i.e. the incarnate of Lord Vishnu . And he supported Sugreev lord surya’s child . Then Indra said that , Lord vishnu as Krshna must support Arjuna and kill Sun god ‘ child that is Karna in the back .

And thats why Lord Krishna prompted Arjuna to kill Karna in the back to maintain cosmic balance and also to make Indra’s wish true.

another factor would be that Krishna and Arjuna are reincarnations of Nara and narayana, two twins who fought and defeated a demon who was the previous avatar of karna.

the demon had 100 armours that would kill the person who destroyed it. Nara and narayana could revive each other and took turns destroying the armour 99 times. After which the demon went running back to surya.

karna was born with that last armour as his kavach.

image source :google

What exactly happened after the Kurukshetra War in the Mahabharata?

 

1. After winning the war of Kurukshetra, Yudhistria with his 4 brothers were crowned the rulers of Hastinapur. Almost 36 years they ruled.

2. After some years, Dhritharastra and Gandhari decided to go Himalayas.

3. Gandhari’s curse to Lord Krishna takes 36 years to materialize i.e leading to his death. A hunter mistakenly shot an arrow to Krishna which leads his death(dissolving Lord Vishnu’s Avatara in Dwapari yuga)

4. Yadavs end up killing each other which leads destruction of Yadava’s.

5. Arjuna performed all funeral rites to Vasudeva, Balarama and Sri Krishna and saved Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavathi and other wives of Krishna along with some other yadavas.

6.Arjuna warrior abilities start to give up.

7. Pandavas decided to go Himalayas,While scaling the Himalayas, the 4 Pandavas and Draupadi fall to their respective failings, but Yudhishthira stays put.

8. The happy reunion in heaven.

Note: Lot of stories/facts there behind for all these 8 points.

Image source: google

In Mahabharata, how did Bheeshma know that Karna was Kunti's son. Who revealed it to Bheeshma?

 Bhīṣma knew that Karṇa was Kuntī’s son through Devarṣi Nārada, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, and Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa (Keśava).

On hearing that Bhishma had been brought down, Radheya, bull among men, swiftly came to him, partly because he was terrified. He saw the great-souled one, lying down on his bed of arrows, like the lord, the god Kartikeya, lying down after his birth. The brave one’s eyes were closed. His voice choked with tears, Vrisha (Karna) worshipped the feet of the immensely radiant one who had fallen down. ‘O best of the Kurus! I am Radheya. I have been in your sight, but you have always regarded ‎me with hate.’ He spoke these words. On hearing these words, the aged Kuru used his strength to slowly open his closed eyes and glanced at him. He spoke these affectionate words. He asked the guards to leave and once they were alone, glanced at him with benevolence.

‘“Gangeya embraced him with one arm, like a father towards a son. ‘Come. Come. You have always been my adversary and have always sought to rival me. If you had not come before me, there is no doubt that it would not have been good for you. You are a Kounteya(son of Kunti). You are not Radheya. I have known this from Narada and from Krishna Dvaipayana and Keshava.

• ‎CHAPTER 977(117) Bhishma Vadha Parva, Mahabharata

What are 10 lessons I can learn from the Mahabharata?

 

• It is okay to break a promise if the result would be good to all. Bhishma could have married and become the King after the death of Shanthanu’s other sons, which would have done good to the country.
• No one is completely good, no one is completely bad. Every human in Mahabharata was a shade of grey. No one was totally black. No one was totally white.
• Use words carefully. Once said, they cant be taken back. Draupadi used the words ‘Is son of a blind, blind too?’ Karna called Draupadi a prostitute. All these led to destruction.
• Take right decisions at right time. Yudhistra failed to withdraw gambling before he had to bet on his family and kingdom. Duryodhana failed to accept the deal from Krishna to avoid the war.
• Respect women. In both Ramayanam and Mahabharatam, the death-chapters of antagonists were written because they ill-treated women.
• If you have a dilemma, then choose the one which is your duty. Arjuna got into a dilemma whether he should fight or not. Krishna advised him to fight as that was his duty.
• War is never good. Mahabharata war ended with victory of the side which was relatively more Dharmic, but they too had to pay a lot for the win.
• Never be egoistic or arrogant. In the whole Mahabharata, the job Krishna did was slashing the ego of people.
• Do not support your friends or family in their misdeeds. Had Bhishma, Drona refused to join Duryodhana’s side, he would not have dared to start the war at all.
• Half-baked knowledge is dangerous. Abhimanyu and Ashwattama did the same mistake and they had to pay for it.

What are some mind blowing facts about Bhishma in Mahabharata?

 

1. Bhishma possessed the ability to check the flow of river Ganga with his divine arrows.
2. Bhishma learnt the art of warfare from multiple preceptors like Brihaspati, Shukracharya, Vasishtha and Parashurama.
3. Bhishma learnt all the five forms of warfare from Parashurama. They are namely Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta, Jantramukta and Mantramukta.
4. Bhishma was thirty-six years old when he took the vow of celibacy known as Brahmacharya.
5. He defeated the invincible king Shalva in archery.
6. He killed a demon named Ugrayudha who plundered the kingdom of Panchala.
7. He defeated all the kings of the earth who were assembled together in the swayambara of Kashi princesses.
8. He countered all the ten thousand arrows with one single arrow which were shot towards him by the kings in the swayambara.
9. Bhishma fought with his preceptor Parashurama for twenty-three days in the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
10. Bhishma possessed the divine weapon of Vasus known as Praswapa which was unknown to Parashurama.
11. Bhishma was stopped by sage Narada and other celestial sages when he was about to invoke the weapon Praswapa for defeating Parashurama in the battle.
12. Bhishma was the only warrior in Virat war who succeeded in countering Arjuna's irresistible sleep-inducing weapon known as Sammohanastra.
13. He single-handedly resisted the combined attack of all five Pandava brothers on the 7th day of Kurukshetra war.
14. He defeated powerful warriors of Pandava army like Bhima, Abhimanyu, Dhristadyumna and Satyaki.
15. He killed ten thousand Pandava warriors per day during his term as the Kourava commander for ten days.
16. He fought to such an extent which made even Lord Krishna break the vow of being weaponless in Kurukshetra war.
17. Bhishma gave up his life on the first day of Uttarayana forty days after the conclusion of Kurukshetra war.
18. Bhishma is considered to be one of the twelve Mahajanas the delegated agents of Lord Vishnu who are the knowledgeable about the highest spiritual knowledge known as Bhagavata Dharma.

Image courtesy: Google

What are some interesting pledges taken by any character in the Mahabharata?

 

1. Bhishma took the vow of celibacy and refrained from conjugal relationships throughout the course of his life.
2. Bhishma pledged to serve as a slave to the kings of Hastinapura. Following the pledge, he served as a slave to the kings Chitrangada, Vichitravirya, Pandu and Dhritarashtra.
3. Bhima took the vow that he would kill Duhshasana (responsible for Draupadi's humiliation) like an animal and gratify his anger by drinking Duhshasana's blood in front of all the warriors. Bhima fulfilled his vow on the 17th day of Kurukshetra war.
4. Bhima took the pledge that he would single-handedly kill all the Kourava brothers in battle as a consequence of Draupadi's humiliation at the gambling match. Bhima killed all the Kourava brothers in Kurukshetra war and fulfilled his terrible vow.
5. Bhima took the vow that he would break Duryodhana’s thigh with his mace. Duryodhana showed his thigh to Draupadi with an evil intention and asked her to sit on his thigh. This provoked Bhima to take the terrible vow. Bhima broke Duryodhana's thigh in the mace fight on the 18th day of Kurukshetra war.
6. Arjuna took the vow that he would kill Karna in front of all the Kourava warriors in the battlefield. Arjuna killed Karna on the 17th day of Kurukshetra war and hence fulfilled his vow.
7. Karna took the vow that he would not wash his feet until he killed Arjuna in an encounter. However this was no fulfilled since it was Karna who was killed by Arjuna on the 17th day of Kurukshetra war.
8. Sahadeva took the vow that he would kill Shakuni who was the perpetrator of the infamous gambling match which brought about Draupadi's humiliation. Sahadeva killed Shakuni on the 18th day of Kurukshetra war and succeeded in fulfilling his vow.
9. Dhristadyumna took the pledge that he would kill Drona in an encounter. Drona killed Dhristadyumna's father Drupada on the 15th day of Kurukshetra war. This provoked Dhristadyumna to take the vow in front of all the Pandava warriors. Dhristadyumna beheaded Drona on the 15th day and fulfilled his vow.
10. Ashwatthama (Drona's son) pledged that he would kill Dhristadyumna. Ashwatthama fulfilled this vow when he violently kicked Dhristadyumna to death on the 18th night of Kurukshetra war.
11. Satyaki pledged to kill Bhurishrava for taking revenge for the death of his sons. Bhurishrava killed all the ten sons of Satyaki on the 5th day of Kurukshetra war. Satyaki pledged to take revenge for the death of his sons. He fulfilled his vow when he killed Bhurishrava on the 14th day of Kurukshetra war.
12. Lord Krishna took the vow that he would not raise any weapon in the Kurukshetra war. He momentarily broke his vow twice when he raised a chariot wheel to kill Bhishma on the 3rd day and the 9th day of Kurukshetra war.

Image courtesy: Google

What are some facts about Mahabharata?

 Do you know that "the dogs having sex in public unlike other animals, in secluded place has something to do with Draupadhi curse in Mahabharatha?"

One version of Mahabharata says ….

An agreement was made between the Pandavs that if Draupadi is with one of the Pandavas others must not sneak into their bedroom. And a pair of slippers kept outside the bedroom will be the indication for the presence of a Pandav.

Arjun was in a fix for some reason and had to enter the bedroom for getting his Gandiv Danush. Asserting that no one was inside, since slippers weren't there outside he entered. But to his shock he found Yudhishtir, the eldest of Pandav, along with Draupadhi and was ashamed of his act.

It was found later that a dog had taken away the slippers. This was the reason behind Arjun entering and had to go on Vanavasa for certain period of time punishing himself for the act.

Draupadi cursed all the dogs on whole that “entire dog race will copulate in public”

source Gogle 

Who was a better warrior between Ghatotkacha and Ashwatthama?

 Let's see the feats of Ghatotkacha and Ashwatthama.

Feats of Ghatotkacha:

1. Ghatotkacha created the elephants Airavata, Anjana, Vamana and Mahapadma through his own maya to fight with Bhagadatta's elephant force on the 4th day.

2. Ghatotkacha defeated Bhagadatta in archery which made Kourava commander Bhishma to withdraw the Kourava army from the fight on the 4th day.

3. Ghatotkacha killed mighty demons like Alayudha and Jatasura.

4. Ghatotkacha invoked his maya and created countless powerful demons who decimated Duryodhana's forces.

5. Ghatotkacha fought to such an extent that Karna had no choice but to hurl Indra's spear which he preserved to kill Arjuna.

6. Ghatotkacha assumed a gigantic form and fell upon one Akshauhini of Kourava soilders killing them parallelly with ending his own life.

Feats of Ashwatthama:

1. Possessed the knowledge of lethal celestial weapons like Brahmashira and Narayanastra.

2. Possessed the ability to invoke weapons through mind, air or tiny objects like a blade of grass.

3. The only warrior who fought Arjuna to stalemate in Virat war.

4. Defeated Yudhishthira, Bhima, Satyaki and Dhristadyumna multiple times.

5. Killed one Akshauhini of Ghatotkacha's soilders on the 14th night.

6. Killed Ghatotkacha's son Anjanaparva.

7. Defeated Ghatotkacha in archery.

8. Killed innumerable Pandava soilders by invoking Narayanastra on the 15th day.

9. Killed one Akshauhini of Pandava soilders by firing Agneya missile on the 15th day.

10. Killed great Pandava warriors like Nila and Malayadwaja.

11. Rescued Karna from Arjuna three times in Kurukshetra war.

12. Became invincible when Lord Shiva entered his body thus helping him to decimate the remaining soilders of the Pandava camp.

Now come to the prowess of Ghatotkacha and Ashwatthama.

Ghatotkacha being a demon was surely superior in strength as compared to mortal warriors. As we saw in the Mahabharata, Ghatotkacha's strength increased in twilight and eventually he became invincible in the night. Ghatotkacha put up a good fight with Bhagadatta on the 4th day. Ghatotkacha had the ability to invoke great maya and create creatures like beasts, demons, ghosts, goblins, serpents and sharks to confound the enemy. The best time for any warrior to fight with Ghatotkacha was in broad daylight.

Ashwatthama always sought the welfare of the Pandavas and didn't fight to his full potential until the 15th day. Even though he fought mildly, Ashwatthama had some great feats and repeatedly proved himself a warrior of highest class. In the knowledge of celestial weapons, no one was close to Ashwatthama barring Arjuna. From putting up some great fights with Arjuna to annihilating two Akshauhinis of Pandava forces, Ashwatthama was the achiever of some extraordinary feats. And when Lord Shiva entered his body, he was absolutely invincible armed with a scimitar. Realising the true potential of Ashwatthama, even Lord Krishna had to depart from the Pandava camp taking the five Pandava brothers along with him. After arriving in the Pandava camp, Ashwatthama single-handedly wiped out all the remaining warriors.

After the war was over, Duryodhana lamented in death bed that he made the mistake of not making Ashwatthama as his commander immediately after Dronacharya's death. Duryodhana realised angered at Dronacharya's death, Ashwatthama could have single-handedly wiped out the Pandava army.

Inspite of being a mortal warrior, Ashwatthama was afterall the partial incarnation of Lord Shiva. A genius in the art of divine weapons, Ashwatthama defeated foremost Pandava warriors like Bhima and Satyaki. Ashwatthama also defeated Ghatotkacha on the 14th night. Inspite of repeatedly trying in diverse ways, Ghatotkacha was unable to confound Ashwatthama with maya. Ashwatthama destroyed all of Ghatotkacha's illusions with his celestial weapons. Therefore, Ghaotkacha had to abandon the fight with Ashwatthama and proceed for Karna's direction instead.

Ashwatthama was a greater warrior than Ghatotkacha.

Why couldn't Dronacharya defeat Arjuna?

 

1. Drona had taught everything to Arjuna which he knew. So what drona knew even Arjuna knew.
2. Arjuna learnt not only from Drona but from various other teachers.
3. Arjuna was student of Chitrasena Chief of Gandharva , Krishna , Shiva, all gods led by Indra, Vasus ,Nagas and all celestial beings.
4. Arjuna acquired all divine weapons from Desha Dik Palakas ,the Demi Gods and learnt various other things from them.
5. Arjuna was a life long learner. The education with Drona was just a beginning of Arjuna’s Learning. He never stopped learning.
6. Arjuna was a hard worker. He always practiced a lot. His speed and shooting skills were unmatchable.
7. Arjuna learnt to shoot with both hands himself and also to shoot in dark himself.
8. As per Drona himself Arjuna’s shooting speed was unmatchable and his arrows on 14th day were falling as far as 2 miles away.
9. Arjuna respected and worshipped his Gurus and revered elders.
10. Arjuna achieved the feats which no one did . He killed Nivatkavachas and Kalakeya demons, he gratified Lord Mahadeva, He gratified Indra and Dik palakas, He defeated celestial army led by Indra in Khandavdahan. Powerful Vajra of Indra rendered useless in the combat.
11. In Virat war Arjuna defeated whole army of Kauravas with Maharathis Bhishma Drona Kripa Karna Ashwathama , alone with an inexperienced charioteer like Prince Uttar.
12. Basically It was due to his hard work ,practice, devotion and skills.
13. Drona himself acknowledged many times not only he but no one can defeat Arjuna .

Image :- Google.