Guide: Tales of Arjuna

This is a guide to Tales of Arjuna: The Exploits of an Exceptional Warrior (Volume 525). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.525


See the detailed Reading Guide below.

Arjuna, The Monkey, and the Boy (pp. 1-8). When Arjuna comes to Rama's Bridge at Rameshwaram, he is surprised Rama used the help of monkeys instead of building a bridge of arrows. A monkey laughs and challenges Arjuna to build a bridge of arrows that will support his weight. With arrows from Agni's quiver, Arjuna builds the bridge, but it collapse when the monkey touches it. Arjuna tries again, and fails, so now he must immolate himself as promised. Just before Arjuna jumps into the flames, a mysterious boy appears on the scene who disputes the terms of the bet. The boy proposes to repeat the contest now with a witness, and this time the bridge holds, so the monkey makes himself gigantic, revealing himself as Hanuman. The bridge still holds, and Hanuman realizes the boy is Krishna in diguise; he and Arjuna both worship him as Vishnu. Vishnu explains that he wanted to teach them both a lesson about humility, and henceforth Arjuna will have Hanuman as the emblem on his flag.

Additional reading: You can learn more about Rameshwaram and its monuments at Wikipedia: Rameshwaram, and also in the article about Rama's Bridge, which is also known as Wikipedia: Adam's Bridge. Both Rama and Krishna are avatars of Vishnu; you can read more about Vishnu's avatars at Wikipedia: Dashavatara. Hanuman is indeed alive at the time of events of the Mahabharata; in a famous incident, Hanuman meets Bhima, too.

~ ~ ~

Arjuna Defeats Indra (pp. 9-22). For twelve years, a king sacrifices to Agni, the fire god, pouring ghee (butter) into the sacrificial fire. All that butter makes Agni ill! Brahma tells him to go eat the Khandava forest to feel better. Indra is upset that Agni is burning the forest where Takshaka the king of the nagas lives, so Indra rains down on Agni. Brahma tells Agni to seek help from Arjuna and Krishna. Disguised as a brahmin, Agni asks them for help, and he summons Varuna to give the Gandiva bow and inexhaustible quiver to Arjuna, and the Sudarshana chakra to Krishna, along with a chariot. Krishna fights the forest dwellers, and Arjuna fights the gods, stopping Indra's rain with a canopy of arrows and rendering Indra powerless with the Vayavya, the weapon of Vayu, the wind god. Together, Krishna and Arjuna fight off all the gods, the nagas, and asuras. Indra hurls the peak of Mandara mountain at Arjuna, who shatters it with arrows. Indra is impressed, and when he learns Takshaka is safe, he yields. The Maya Asura seeks refuge with Arjuna, even as Agni keeps on burning. Indra bestows boons on Krishna and Arjuna, and Agni promises to help them at any time, and Maya promises to build a great palace for Yudhishthira, Arjuna's brother. This is the palace that drove Duryodhana, the elder of the Kaurava brothers, mad with envy, eventually leading to the Great War.

Additional reading: The famous burning of Khandava forest is an important event in the Mahabharata, and you can read more at Wikipedia: Khandava. For more about Takshaka, see this comic book: Parikshit (and Parikshit happens to be Arjuna's grandson).

~ ~ ~

Arjuna Humbled (pp. 23-31). A brahmin who has lost nine sons already begs Arjuna for help, and Arjuna vows to protect the brahmin's tenth son, vowing to defeat even Yama, the god of death. When the son is born, Arjuna surrounds the brahmin's hut with arrows and stands outside to face Yama, yet the baby vanishes. Arjuna rides off in a celestial chariot to find the baby, but he fails. Now he must immolate himself as promised. Krishna intervenes, and he and Arjuna journey into the regions of night in the west, and finally they come to Vishnu's home. All the sons of the brahmin are there; Vishnu took them to get Arjuna's attention. Arjuna realizes that it is humility and faith that will be victorious, not vanity, and he takes the brahmin's ten sons back to their home.

Additional reading: This story forms the subject of a dance-drama from Kerala: "The progeny of Krishna" by the 18th-century poet Mandavappalli Ittiraricha Menon, based on a story in the Bhagavata Purana (X.89.22–66).

Guide: The Gita

This is a guide to The Gita: The Song of Eternal Wisdom (Volume 505). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.505

Summary: The story begins with Yudhishthira's installation as emperor in a rajasuya sacrifice at his palace in Indraprastha. His jealous cousin Duryodhana dethrones Yudhishthira in a dice game, and the Pandavas go into exile. Duryodhana prepares for war after the exile is over, rejecting Krishna's attempt to make peace. When battle begins, Arjuna despairs at the thought of fighting his family and his guru. Krishna then teaches Arjuna the philosophy of life known as the Bhagavad-Gita, "The Song of the Lord," and Arjuna sees Krishna manifested in his divine form. His doubts resolved, Arjuna is ready to fight. You can learn more about the Gita at Wikipedia, and you can also choose to read the Gita itself as a reading option: Bhagavad-Gita.

Guide: Ghatotkacha

This is a guide to Ghatotkacha: The Chivalrous Demon (Volume 592). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.592

See the detailed Reading Guide below.

Bhima and the Pandavas (pp. 1-3). The story begins with the sons of King Pandu, the Pandavas, growing up with their cousins, the Kauravas, who are jealous of the Pandavas' popularity. Duroyodhana, eldest of the Kaurava brothers, plots the death of the Pandavas, but the Pandavas escape and flee with their mother into the forest. Bhima, the strongest of the five Pandava brothers, carries the family on his shoulders.

Additional reading: You can read more about Kunti and the Pandava brothers at Wikipedia, with separate articles about each brother. The most important for this story are Bhima and Arjuna.

~ ~ ~

Bhima's rakshasa wife and son (pp. 3-6). In that same forest live a rakshasa brother and sister, Hidimba and Hidimbaa. They like to eat humans! When Hidimbaa sees Bhima, she falls in love and changes herself into a beautiful woman. Her brother sees this and attacks Bhima. Bhima's mother and brothers hear what is happening and come watch the fight. Bhima kills Hidimba, and then Hidimbaa (still in her human form) asks to marry Bhima. Bhima and Hidimbaa have a son: Ghatotkacha. As a rakshasa, he is full-grown at birth and he has magical powers. He promises to come whenever his father needs him. The Pandavas continue their journey in exile, leaving Hidimbaa and Ghatotkacha in the forest.

Additional reading: The spelling "aa" is used here to convey the long vowel in Sanskrit. In Sanskrit there is a long "a" letter ("ah") and a short "a" ("uh") letter, but in English, we have only one letter "a," which can lead to some confusion with transliterated Sanskrit names. Hidimba (short a) is the masculine name, and Hidimbā (Hidimbaa, long a) is the feminine form. She is also called Hidimbi. You can read more about rakshasas at Wikipedia. This comic book explains the story of why they are born full-grown: Kubera (see the section about "Rakshasas in Lanka").

~ ~ ~

Abhimanyu and Vatsala (pp. 7-9). The Pandavas gain a kingdom and build a beautiful palace, making the Kauravas even more jealous. They lure the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira, into a game of dice and he loses everything. The Pandavas go into the forest as exiles, this time with their shared wife, Draupadi. The great Pandava archer, Arjuna, leaves his wife, Subhadra (Krishna's sister), and son, Abhimanyu, behind; Subhadra and Abhimanyu go to Dwaraka, Subhadra's family home. Abhimanyu is engaged to Vatsala (the daughter of Balarama, Krishna's brother), but Balarama decides to marry Vatsala to Lakshmana, Duryodhana's son instead. As Subhadra and Abhimanyu cross the forest, a rakshasa attacks them: it is Bhima's son, Ghatotkacha, Abhimanyu's cousin.

Additional reading: This wonderful story about Vatsala is not part of the traditional Mahabharata, but it is a famous folktale. You can learn more at these Wikipedia pages: Revati (she is Vatsala's mother) and Lakshmana Kumara. You can learn more about Abhimanyu in this comic book: Abhimanyu.

~ ~ ~

Ghatotkacha and the wedding (pp. 10-15). Ghatotkacha agrees to help Abhimanyu. The rakshasas go to Dwaraka and, disguised as humans, buy up the shops and offer new clothes for old. The Kauravas, who have come for the wedding of Vatsala and Lakshmana, are delighted. Ghatotkacha then carries Vatsala away to Abhimanyu. Next, he transforms himself to look like Vatsala. During the wedding ceremony, Lakshmana is surprised by how tight the bride's grip is; Ghatotkacha squeezes Lakshmana's hand so tight that he faints. The rakshasas all fly away, as do the new clothes, leaving the Kauravas naked and helpless. Abhimanyu then comes to Dwaraka with Vatsala and they live happily there.

Additional reading: This story about Ghatotkacha in disguise might remind you of the story about the Norse god Thor disguised as a bride. 

~ ~ ~

The war (pp. 16-21). When the Pandavas and Kauravas finally go to war, Bhima summons Ghatotkacha, and he arrives with his rakshasa warriors. Ghatotkacha rescues his father when King Bhagadatta attacks him, and the next day Ghatotkacha uses illusions to terrify the Kauravas. When Abhimanyu is killed in battle, Arjuna vows to avenge his death by killing Jayadratha, and when Arjuna manages to kill Jayadratha, the Kauravas vow to avenge his death. The Pandavas call on Ghatotkacha to defeat Karna, one of the greatest of the Kaurava warriors.

Additional reading: Arjuna eventually slays Bhagadatta; you can read about that confrontation at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

Ghatotkacha and Karna (pp. 22-27). Ghatotkacha throws a chakrayudha (disc) at Karna, but Karna smashes it with his arrows. Ghatotkacha creates a mountain that pours forth weapons, but Karna destroys it with a Vajra Astra, the thunderbolt weapon. Ghatotkacha conjures up a cloud that rains stones, but Karna counters with a Vayu Astra, a wind weapon. Ghatotkacha hurls trees at Karna, but he snaps them with arrows. Ghatotkacha multiplies himself, but Karna shoots arrows at all the Ghatotkachas, and then Ghatotkacha swallows the arrows.

Additional reading: You can read more about the battle chakrams and supernatural astra weapons at Wikipedia, including a specific article about the god Indra's Vajra. Many of the astras are associated with specific gods; the Vayu Astra is named for Vayu, the god of wind.

~ ~ ~

Ghatotkacha falls (pp. 27-31). When Ghatotkacha shrinks and becomes invisible, shooting forth weapons of fire, the terrified Kaurava warriors beg Karna to use the Shakti weapon of Indra, which can only be used once. Karna wants to save that weapon for Arjuna, but he realizes he must save the Kaurava warriors, so he launches the weapon at Ghatotkacha. As Ghatotkacha is dying, he makes his body into a gigantic size and falls on a Kaurava regiment, crushing them to death beneath his corpse. The Pandavas mourn Ghatotkacha, and Krishna explains that his death has saved Arjuna's life and guaranteed a Pandava victory in the end.

Additional reading: The rivalry between Arjuna and Karna is one of the main themes of the Mahabharata, and this comic book explains how Karna came to possess the Shakti weapon: Karna. 

Guide: Abhimanyu

This is a guide to Abhimanyu: Star-Crossed Prince (Volume 533). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Call Number PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.533

See detailed notes below:

In the commentary below, I have provided links so that you can compare the comic book version with other accounts of the story and/or important background information. Make sure you read BOTH the comic-book version AND the additional reading listed below, and then you will be ready to write your Diary post. Doing the reading and writing the blog post will take 1-2 hours.

~ ~ ~

Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna (pp. 1-4). Prince Abhimanyu is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, Krishna's sister, so Abhimanyu is a descendant of the Pandavas (sons of Pandu, including Arjuna) and the Yadavas (Krishna's people). The Pandavas' cousins send the Pandavas into exile; Abhimanyu and his mother remain in the royal city, and as he grew up, he vowed to avenge the wrong done to his father Arjuna and the other Pandavas.

Additional reading: You can find out more about Arjuna and Subhadra at Wikipedia, and there is also a long article about Abhimanyu.

~ ~ ~

Abhimanyu and Uttara (pp. 5-7). The Pandavas spend the thirteenth year of exile in the court of King Virata, and they reveal their identity to him. Virata offers his daughter Uttara to Arjuna, and Arjuna proposes that she marry Abhimanyu. Virata agrees and Abhimanyu and Uttara get married. Krishna attempts to make peace between the Pandavas and the Kauravas now that the time of exile is over, but the Kauravas want war.

Additional reading: In Sanskrit there is a long "a" letter ("ah") and a short "a" ("uh") letter, but in English, we have only one letter "a," which can lead to some confusion with transliterated Sanskrit names. For example, Uttarā (the mark over the "a" is sometimes used to indicate a long a) is the feminine name; Abhimanyu marries Princess Uttara (Uttarā). Her brother, meanwhile, is named Uttara (short a), the masculine form of the name.

~ ~ ~

The battle begins (pp. 8-13). On the first day of battle, Abhimanyu bravely attacks Bhishma, general of the Kaurava army. The battle goes back-and-forth for days. Arjuna kills Bhishma, and Drona becomes the Kaurava general. In Arjuna's absence, Drona attacks in a special formation that only Abhimanyu knows how to break. Abhimanyu explains that he knows how to break into the formation but not how to get back out again, and Yudhishthira promises that the army will be able to protect him if he can just break the formation.

Additional reading: There is a great story about why Abhimanyu only has this partial knowledge of the formation: he learned about it while in his mother's womb as his father, Arjuna, was speaking about it. But Arjuna did not explain all the details, so, as a result, Abhimanyu knew only how to break through the formation, not how to exit it (see Wikipedia for the story). The name of Drona's special formation is Chakravyuha, from the word "chakra" which means a circle or a disk because it looks like a circle from above; the warriors on the ground experience it as a labyrinth. Here is an illustration from the Wikipedia article: Padmavyuha - Chakravyuha.

~ ~ ~

Abhimanyu battles alone (pp. 14-19). Abhimanyu rides out in his chariot to confront Drona's massed troops. Much to Drona's surprise, Abhimanyu is able to break through the formation, but Jayadratha closes the breach, cutting Abhimanyu off alone. Abhimanyu fights bravely, and then Duryodhana, eldest of the Kauravas, charges him. Drona fears for Duryodhana's life and manages to rescue him, and then Drona and his men attack Abhimanyu.

Additional reading: This is the same Jayadratha who attempted to abduct Draupadi when the Pandavas were living in the forest. You can read more about Jayadratha at Wikipedia; he is married to Duhshala, the one sister to the one hundred Kaurava brothers.

~ ~ ~

The death of Duryodhana's son (pp. 20-25). Abhimanyu continues to defend himself, even managing to wound the great warrior Karna and also Shalya. Shalya's brother attacks, but Abhimanyu smashes his chariot. Drona is impressed, which angers Duryodhana, and Duryodhana's brother Duhshasana vows to kill Abhimanyu himself, but fails. Karna makes another attack, and Abhimanyu counters his attack also. Next, Duryodhana's son Lakshmana attacks, and Abhimanyu kills him. Duryodhana is enraged.

Additional reading: Don't confuse this Lakshmana with the famous brother of Rama in the Ramayana, also named Lakshmana. There is a wonderful folktale about Lakshmana and why he vowed to never take a wife; you can read that story in the Wikipedia article about him: Lakshmana Kumara; the story if also told in the article about Revati and her daughter Vatsala.

~ ~ ~

The death of Abhimanyu (pp. 26-32). Then use their arrows to slice through the reins of Abhimanyu's horses, shatter his bow, and slay his chariot driver. Abhimanyu then fights on foot, using his sword, until Drona and Karna shatter both his sword and his shield. He then grabs the wheel of his chariot and uses that as a weapon. When the wheel shatters, Abhimanyu grabs a mace and fights with Duhshasana's son, and it is Duhshasana's son who strikes the fatal blow. The Kauravas dance with joy around Abhimanyu's body... but in the end they will all perish in the war as Arjuna and the Pandavas vow to avenge Abhimanyu's death.

Additional reading: At the time of Abhimanyu's death, his wife Uttara is pregnant with their child; it is that child, Parikshit, who will be the only survivor to carry on the family line, inheriting the throne of Hastinapura.

Guide: Karna

This is a guide to Karna: Brave, Generous, Ill-Fated Prince (Volume 531). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.531

See the detailed reading guide below.

Kunti and Surya (pp. 1-3). King Kuntibhoja adopts his niece Pritha as his own daughter, giving her the name Kunti. When the sage Durvasa, renowned for his bad temper, stays with the king for a year, Kunti's gracious behavior impresses him and he gives her a mantra that allows her to invoke a god and bear that god's son. She tries out the mantra by calling on Surya, the sun-god, just out of curiosity to test the mantra. Kunti doesn't want a son, but the power of the mantra cannot be stopped, and she gives birth to a baby, Karna, who has kavacha (armor) and kundalas (earrings) from the Sun, his father.

Additional reading: The word "kundala" means "coil," and you can see the same root in the word kundalini, the energy "coil" in the spine according to yoga theory. You can read more about the irascible sage Durvasa at Wikipedia: Durvasa; it is Durvasa who is responsible for Lakshmana's death in the Ramayana: Durvasa, Rama, and Lakshmana.

~ ~ ~

The Young Karna (pp. 4-7). Kunti sets the baby adrift in a basket in the river and a charioteer named Adhiratha, finds him. He brings the baby home to his wife, Radha, and they call him Radheya, the son of Radha. Meanwhile, Kunti, now the co-wife of King Pandu along with his other wife, Madri, uses the mantra so that the childless Pandu can have sons. Kunti has three sons (Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna), and Madri has twins (Nakula and Sahadeva). After Pandu dies, Madri casts herself on his funeral pyre, and Kunti is left to raise all five boys. The sons of Pandu, the Pandavas, are rivals of their cousins, the Kauravas, and young Karna often sees them fighting. Drona taught the Pandava boys and the Kauravas, and he was also Karna's teacher, but his favorite pupil was Arjuna.

Additional reading: The rivalry between Karna and Arjuna is one of the most important themes of the whole epic; you can read more about Arjuna at Wikipedia: Arjuna.

~ ~ ~

Curses (pp. 8-15). When Drona refuses to teach Karna the Brahmastra weapon because Karna is not a kshatriya (warrior) but only the son of a charioteer, he goes to the great guru Parashurama to learn the secret. Parashurama hates the kshatriya (warrior) class and accepts only brahmins (priests) as his pupils, so Karna disguises himself as a brahmin. Parahsurama becomes Karna's teacher. One day, Karna allows an insect to dig a hole in his flesh rather than disturb his guru. Parashurama realizes that the boy must be a kshatriya and curses him so that his knowledge of weapons will fail him when he most needs it. Karna accidentally shoots a brahmin's cow, and he is cursed again: Karna will be killed like that cow, unable to defend himself.

Additional reading: The Brahmastra is one of the most powerful of the supernatural weapons called astras. Parashurama (Rama-with-an-axe) is considered to be one of the avatars of Vishnu, and you can read about his epic hatred of the kshatriya class at Wikipedia: Vengeance Against the Kshatriyas.

~ ~ ~

Prince of Anga (pp. 11-16). Karna returns to live with his mother. He hears about a tournament and wants to compete. Arjuna seems to be the winner, but then Karna comes on to the field and accomplishes all the same feats as Arjuna. Duryodhana is thrilled to find someone with skills to match those of his hated cousin. Karna wants to duel with Arjuna, but another of the royal gurus, Kripa, insists on knowing Karna's lineage. Karna does not know what to say, but Duryodhana declares him to be Prince of Anga. At that moment, Adhiratha the charioteer enters and embraces Karna. Bhima is outraged and mocks Karna for being the son of a charioteer, but Duryodhana embraces and comforts him, and Karna is absolutely loyal to Duryodhana in the years to come when they prepare for war with the Pandavas.

Additional reading: You can read more about Duryodhana, the oldest of the Kaurava brothers, at Wikipedia: Duryodhana. 

~ ~ ~

Before the War (pp. 17-20). The god Indra, Arjuna's father, is worried about the threat that Karna poses and plans to deprive Karna of his armor and earrings. Surya, the sun god, warns Karna in a dream, but when Indra, disguised as a brahmin, asks Karna for alms, Karna gives in because of his generous nature. Indra is impressed and gives Karna the Shakti weapon, but on condition that he can only use it once. Krishna, meanwhile, decides it is time for Karna to learn the trust of his birth. Krishna urges him to come over to the side of the Pandavas, but Karna is loyal to Duryodhana. He asks Krishna to keep the secret of Karna's birth until he dies. Kunti also speaks with Karna, hoping to prevent the war. He still remains loyal to Duryodhana but promises that, of the Pandavas, he will kill only Karna so that, no matter what, Kunti will have five sons.

Additional reading: Indra's weapon is also known as the Vasava Shakti (the Shakti of Indra, Lord of the Vasus = Vasava), and the word Shakti itself means "power." Shakti is also used as the name for the divine feminine force; you can read more about the goddess dimension of Shakti at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

The War (pp. 20-24). Karna, angry that Bhishma is leading Duryodhana's army, refuses to fight at first, but when Bhishma falls on the tenth day of battle, Karna seeks and receives Bhishma's blessing. Bhishma also knows the secret of Karna's birth, but he acknowledges that it is Karna's Dharma to be loyal to Duryodhana. Karna agrees that Drona should be general. As the battle rages, Karna has the chance to kill Bhima, but he spares him because of the promise he made to their mother. At night, Bhima's rakshasa son Ghatotkacha comes out to fight. Without thinking, Karna uses the Shakti weapon to slay Ghatotkacha, instead of reserving it for Arjuna.

Additional reading: You can find out more about Kunti's son Bhima, his rakshasi wife Hidimbi, their son Ghatotkacha at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

General Karna (pp. 25-32). When Drona falls on the fifteenth day, Karna becomes general. He has the chance to kill Nakula in battle but again lets him go. He asks Duryodhana to appoint Shalya as his charioteer so that he can confront Arjuna, whose charioteer is Krishna. On the next day Karna spares Yudhishthira's life, but he still plans to kill Arjuna. Karna's wheel gets stuck in the mud, and then he cannot remember how to use his powerful mantras. He jumps down to release the wheel from the mud, and Arjuna kills him. The curses of Parashurama and the brahmin thus both come true. Kunti reveals the secret of Karna's birth to the Pandavas after the battle. The Pandavas are deeply moved and arrange for Karna's funeral as one of their kinsmen.

Additional reading: To find out more about the life of Karna and his role in the Mahabharata, see Wikipedia: Karna.

Guide: Uloopi

This is a guide to Uloopi: The Naga Princess who Fell in Love with Arjuna (Volume 629). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.629

See the detailed guide below.

Arjuna and Uloopi (pp. 1-7). The story begins with Arjuna going into exile. When bathing in the sacred Ganges, he is pulled down into the river and wakes up in a palace. Uloopi watches him, the daughter of Kauravya, the naga king of this underwater city. She wants to marry him and promises to return him the next day. They enjoy their hours together, then Arjuna returns to the world above the water.

Additional reading: The offense Arjuna committed was breaking in on Yudhishthira while he was with Draupadi, so this is an exile where he is on his own, without his brothers. For more about the snakes known as nagas, see Wikipedia: Naga. The article contains a list of notable nagas, including Ulupi. This comic book does not mention the son of Ulupi and Arjuna; he is Iravan, and you can read about him at Wikipedia: Iravan.

~ ~ ~

Arjuna and Chitrangada (pp. 8-11). Arjuna journeys east to Manipur, and in the palace gardens he sees a beautiful woman, Chitrangada, daughter of the king. Arjuna is drawn to her and tells the king he wants to marry her. Chitrangada and her father are delighted by this proposal. Arjuna and Chitrangada have a son: Babhruvahana. After a year, Arjuna leaves. Uloopi, who misses Arjuna, concludes he does not love her, but she decides to go be with Chitrangada and Babhruvahana.

Additional reading: Manipur is located in far northeastern India; you can learn more at Wikipedia: Manipur. For a different take on the story of Arjuna and Chitrangada, see Rabindranath Tagore's play: Chitra. 

~ ~ ~

King Babhruvahana (pp. 12-14). In Manipur, Uloopi announces herself as Chitrangada's cowife and she embraces Babhruvahana as her son also, promising to visit often. She urges him to excel in archery, telling him stories about Arjuna's greatness. When he grows up, Babhruvahana becomes king of Manipur.

Additional reading: Arjuna's feats as an archer were legendary; you can read more at Wikipedia: Arjuna.

~ ~ ~

The Curse of the Vasus (pp. 15-17). During the Battle of Kurukshetra, Arjuna slays the great Bhishma, son of the goddess Ganga. The gods in heaven see this happen, and the Vasus want to punish Arjuna by sending him to hell when he dies. Uloopi overhears all this and wants to save Arjuna; her father Kauravya asks the Vasus to relent. They agree on the condition that Babhruvahana kills Arjuna in battle. Uloopi prepares to intervene when the time comes.

Additional reading: Bhishma was the son of the goddess Ganga who came to earth to give birth to the Vasus in human form; one by one as they were born, she drowned them to return them to their heavenly existence. Only the last of the reincarnated Vasus lived his full life as a human; this is Bhishma. You can read more at Wikipedia about the Vasus and about Bhishma, the incarnation of the Vasu named Prabhasa.

~ ~ ~

The Duel of Arjuna and Babhruvahana (pp. 18-24). When King Yudhishthira performs the horse sacrifice, it is Arjuna's job to travel with the horse and protect it from the kings of the countries through which the horse passes. When he reaches Manipur, he hopes his son the king will fight with him like a true kshatriya, but instead Babhruvahana greets him kindly. Arjuna rebukes him. Uloopi also urges him to fight. Arjuna is pleased when Babhruvahana challenges him on the field of battle, and so they duel. Babhruvahana finally shoots Arjuna through the heart.

Additional reading: You can read more about the horse sacrifice at Wikipedia: Ashwamedha.

~ ~ ~

The Gem of Life (pp. 25-32). Uloopi watches this all happen. Chitrangada rushes to the battlefield when she learns Arjuna has been killed. She doesn't understand why Uloopi is not grieving, and Babhruvahana is also grief-stricken and vows to die also. At this point, she summons the gem of the snake people (nagas). She explains to Babhruvahana why he had to kill his father, and then he uses the gem to revive Arjuna. Arjuna thanks Uloopi for having saved him, and she is content.

Additional reading: Nagas are associated with the elixir of life, amrita, in the famous story of Garuda and his quest to steal the elixir from the nagas. You can read more about that at Wikipedia: Garuda. The cobra is supposed to have a life-giving jewel in its forehead, jiva-ratna, a life-jewel. It is also sometimes called a naga-ratna, naga-jewel, or naga-mani, naga-gem. Compare also the legend of the wish-granting jewel: cintamani.

Guide: Pareekshit

This is a guide to Pareekshit: Son of Abhimanyu (Volume 762). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.762

See the detailed Reading Guide below.

King Parikshit and the Sage (pp. 1-10). Pareekshit, King of Hastinapura, goes hunting. He enters the hut of a sage who has taken a vow of silence. When the sage does not speak to him, Pareekshit drapes a dead snake over the sage's shoulders. A young brahman priest reports this to the sage's son, Shringi. Shringi curses Pareekshit, saying that the snake Takshaka will kill Pareekshit in a week. To try to save himself, Pareekshit builds a palace at the top of a pillar surrounded by guards where he can spend the week.

Additional reading: Pareekshit is the son of Abhimanyu, who is the son of Arjuna, one of the five Pandava brothers. Parikshit is thus from the only surviving line of descent among all the heroes who fought in the Battle of Kurukshetra. The comic book does not give the name of the sage: it is Shamika. You can learn more about the nagas (snakes) at Wikipedia also.

~ ~ ~

The Poison Antidote (pp. 10-14). A poor brahman priest, Kashyapa, is on his way to Hastinapura; he knows an antidote that will work even for Takshaka's poison. He meets Takshaka in human form and proves how his antidote works. Takshaka bribes the priest to go home.

Additional reading: You can find out more about Takshaka at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

Takshaka and Parikshit (pp. 11-19). Takshaka summons more snakes who take the form of brahmans carrying fruit, and then he disguises himself as a worm in one of the fruits. The guards let the priests in to see King Pareekshit. Pareekshit takes the fruit with the worm in it. Takshaka reveals his true form as a giant snake, kills the king, and leaves through the window.

Additional reading: The naga Takshaka was a master of disguise; you can read another story about him here — Uttanka — in which he disguises himself as a brahmin in order to steal some earrings from Uttanka.

~ ~ ~

King Janamejaya's Revenge (pp. 20-24). Janamejaya, Pareekshit's young son, becomes king. When he grows up and learns how his father died, he vows revenge on Takshaka and declares that he will kill every naga in the world. He orders his priests to perform a sarpasatra snake sacrifice which will summon the snakes and compel them to jump into the fire.

Additional reading: You can read more about Janamejaya at Wikipedia. Janamejaya was a direct descendant of the Pandavas, and he was also the king to whom the Mahabharata itself was first recited by the sage Vaishampayana, a pupil of Vyasa, who was a character in the Mahabharata himself, father of both Pandu and Dhritarashtra, making him Janamejaya's great-great-great-grandfather (Vyasa-Pandu-Arjuna-Abhimanyu-Parikshit-Janamejaya).

~ ~ ~

Astika (pp. 24-27). The priests call upon the snakes one by one, and Agni, the fire god, consumes them. Because he is protected by the god Indra, Takshaka does not come. Indra promises that Astika, son of a human father and naga mother, will stop the sacrifice. Vasuki, king of the nagas, and tells Astika about the sacrifice, but the priests refuse to let Astika near the altar.

Additional reading: See Wikipedia for more about the gods Agni and Indra. There is also a detailed article about Vasuki, along with an article about Astika. The name Astika is also seen in the compound Su-Astika, which gives us the word swastika in English, meaning "lucky, fortunate." 

~ ~ ~

Peace (pp. 28-31). The priests summon both Indra and Takshaka who are dragged towards the fire. Indra flees, and Takshaka begins to descend into the flames. Astika commands Takshaka to halt in midair, and then he calls out to King Janameyaja who tells the priests to let Astika come in. Astika asks Janameyaja to make peace with the nagas. At first the king refuses, but then he agrees to stop the sacrifice, and there is peace and happiness among both the humans and the nagas.

Additional reading: See the Wikipedia article on Swaha to understand p. 28 where the priests are shouting "Swaha!"

Guide: Mahabharata

This is a guide to Mahabharata: The Great Epic of India (Volume 582). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.582

Summary: Believe it or not, this single comic book provides an overview of the entire epic! It starts with the boyhood rivalry of the Pandavas and Kauravas, then the Pandavas' successes followed by their losing the game of dice and the years of exile (including the Gandharvas' defeat of Duryodhana and the story of Duryodhana's failed cattle raid).

The second half focuses on the great war, including Bhishma's fall, Arjuna's revenge for Abhimanyu, the death of Drona, the duel of Karna and Arjuna, and the final Kaurava defeat followed by Ashwatthaman's night raid, with Yudhishthira being crowned king in the end. You can read about all the main characters of the epic at Wikipedia.

Guide: Draupadi

This is a guide to Draupadi: The Dusky Firebrand (Volume 542). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.542

Summary: The story begins with the birth of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna from the fire and then the swayamvara in which she becomes the bride of the five Pandavas, including the story of her past life when she asked Shiva five times to grant her a husband. The next episode is the infamous game of dice, when Draupadi must call upon Krishna for protection from the Kauravas. Draupadi goes into exile with her husbands, and Bhima saves her from Kichaka when they are living in disguise at Virata's court. The story concludes with the downfall of the Kauravas, the fulfillment of Draupadi's destiny as foretold at her birth. You can read more about Draupadi at Wikipedia.

Guide: Jayadratha

This is a guide to Jayadratha: Retold from the Mahabharata (Volume 653). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.653

Summary:  The story begins with Dushala, the only daughter of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, who is married to Jayadratha, king of Sindhu. He tells her how her brother Duryodhana won a gambling match and forced the Pandavas and Draupadi into exile. Jayadratha resolves to kidnap Draupadi, but the Pandavas catch and punish him. Jayadratha vows revenge, and is eager to fight the Pandavas in the great war as Duryodhana's ally, but when Jayadratha helps to engineer the death of Arjuna's son Abhimanyu, Arjuna swears that he will kill Jayadratha before sunset. The story ends with Arjuna's supernatural revenge. You can read more about Jayadratha at Wikipedia.

Guide: The Pandava Princes

This is a guide to The Pandava Princes: Pandu's Five Brave Sons (Volume 626). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.626

Summary: The story begins with the Pandavas growing up in the wilderness with their mother, Kunti. They then go to live in Hastinapura, where their cousins, the Kauravas, resent them; they even try to kill Bhima. When Karna (Kunti's abandoned son) shows up for Drona's contest, Duryodhana befriends him. The Pandavas escape Duryodhana's plan to burn them in their home, and the comic book includes the Pandavas' adventures while in hiding from Duryodhana. Draupadi becomes the wife of all five brothers, and the story ends with Yudhishthira's installation as emperor in the rajasuya ceremony at his palace in Indraprastha. [It does not go on to include the Great War in which the Pandavas defeat the Kauravas.] For more about the Pandavas, see Wikipedia.

Guide: Bheema and Hanuman

This is a guide to Bheema and Hanuman: The Sons of Vayu, The Wind God (Volume 527). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.527

Summary: The Pandavas and Draupadi are in their forest exile, and Arjuna has gone to look for celestial weapons. Lonely without Arjuna, they decide to relocate to a new forest (with the help of Bhima's rakshasa son Ghatotkacha). Seeking flowers for Draupadi, Bhima wanders into the grove where Hanuman lives. Hanuman teaches Bhima a lesson about humility. After further adventures involving rakshasa and the god Kubera, Bhima returns to his brothers and Draupadi with the flowers. You can read more about both Bhima and Hanuman at Wikipedia.

Guide: The Pandavas in Hiding

This is a guide to The Pandavas in Hiding: Outwitting a Wily Enemy (Volume 593). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.593

Summary: After losing the game of dice, the Pandavas go into forest exile for twelve years followed by a thirteenth year in hiding. Duryodhana's spies seek them everywhere. The death of Kichaka in Virata's kingdom rouses Duryodhana's suspicions, so he joins a raid on Virata's cattle. Arjuna, disguised as the dancing teacher Brihannala, rides with Virata's son Uttara into battle, much to everyone's surprise, and of course they are victorious! You can read more about Arjuna at Wikipedia.

Note: The "thakka dimmi" of Arjuna the dancing teacher is a way of marking rhythm in Indian classical dance. You can read more about that here: Tattu Mettu.

Guide: Tales of Yudhishthira

This is a guide to Tales of Yudhishthira: Justice for the Pandava (Volume 703). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.703

See the detailed Reading Guide below.

THE ENCHANTED LAKE

The Pandavas in the forest (pp. 1-6). A brahmin priest would use shami sticks to light the fire for a sacrifice, or yagna, and then hang them from a tree. One day the sticks get entangled in the horns of a deer, and the brahmin chases the deer into the woods, but the deer gets away. The brahmin goes to the Pandavas, living in exile in the forest, for help. Yudhishthira and his brothers promise to help. They chase the deer, but it vanishes. Now thirsty, they look for water.

Additional reading: You can read about shami wood at Wikipedia, and also about the yagna sacrifice with its ritual fire.

~ ~ ~

The voice in the lake (pp. 7-11). Nakula reaches the lake first, and the lake says that he must answer some questions before drinking. Nakula cannot see who spoke the words, so he ignores them and drinks, and he dies. Sahadeva arrives next; he thinks Nakula must have died of thirst before he got to the water, so he ignores the voices drinks, and he also dies. Then Arjuna comes, finds both bodies, and when the voice of the lake speaks, Arjuna gets angry, takes a drink, and he also dies. Bhima arrives, suspects it is the work of a rakshasa or yaksha, and he too ignores the voice and dies. When Yudhishthira arrives at last, he sees all four brothers dead.

Additional reading: Remember that Nakula and Sahadeva are the sons of Madri, while Arjuna, Bhima, and Yudhishthira are the sons of Kunti. You can also read about rakshasas and yakshas at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

Yudhishthira and the yaksha (pp. 12-15). The voice also speaks to Yudhishthira, saying, "I am the crane who owns this lake." Yudhishthira knows this cannot be a mere bird, and a yaksha then reveals himself. Yudhishthira agrees to answer the questions, which are riddles that test Yudhishthira's wisdom. When he answers them correctly, the yaksha offers to let him bring back one brother. Yudhishthira chooses Nakula, explaining that their father, King Pandu, had two wives, and it is only right for a son of Madri to also live (Yudhishthira is a son of Kunti). The yaksha is impressed and revives all four brothers.

Additional reading: The list of questions that Yudhishthira must answer is VERY long and really fascinating; you can see the entire scene in English here: Vana Parva 311.

~ ~ ~

Yudhishthira and Yama (pp. 16-17). The yaksha then reveals himself as the god Yama, also called Dharma, Yudhishthira's divine father. He returns the shami sticks to Yudhishthira, explaining that it was all a test. Since Yudhishthira passed the test, the god grants him one more wish. Yudhishthira asks to be devoted always to righteousness (Dharma), and the Pandavas then go back to where the brahmin awaits them, and they give back his shami sticks.

Additional reading: You can read about the god Yama at Wikipedia, and there is also an article about the principle of Dharma (truth, justice, righteousness — it is hard to translate with just one word in English). Yama is the lord of Dharma, and he is Yudhishthira's father in the sense that Kunti invoked the god Dharma with her mantra in order to give King Pandu a son; Yudhishthira was the first son that Kunti and Pandu had in this way.

~ ~ ~

THE LAST COMPANION

The Pandavas depart (pp. 18-20). This story begins after the great war, as Yudhishthira mourns the many who died, but he agrees to be king, and the people are happy under his rule. The sage Narada informs him that his mother Kunti and his uncle Dhritarashtra along with his wife Gandhari have died. News also comes that Krishna, his brother Balarama, and all the Yadavas (Krishna's people) are dead. The Pandavas and Draupadi decide the time has come to leave this world. Yudhishthira places Parikshit (son of Abhimanyu, who was the son of Arjuna) on the throne, and they then leave Hastinapura, marching towards Mount Meru to seek heaven.

Additional reading: Mount Meru is the sacred center of the world in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmology, and this story of the journey to Mount Meru comes from the Mahaprasthanika Parva of the Mahabharata, the Book of the Great Journey (Maha-prasthanika).

~ ~ ~

The Pandavas fall (pp. 21-23). As they climb the mountain, they begin to fall, one by one: first Draupadi (because she loved Arjuna more than her other husbands), then Sahadeva (because he lacked humility), then Nakula (because he was proud of his good looks). Only Arjuna, Bhima, and Yudhishthira are left, along with a dog who has started to follow them. Arjuna then falls (he was proud of his bravery), and then Bhima (because he was greedy). Yudhishthira then sees a flying chariot approaching him and the dog, the only ones left.

Additional reading: The Sanskrit word for dog is "shvan," you can read more about the role of the dog in Hinduism at Wikipedia: Shvan.

~ ~ ~

Yudhishthira and Indra (pp. 24-25). It is the god Indra, and he offers to take Yudhishthira to heaven, but Yudhishthira will not go without his wife and brothers. Indra assures him they are already in heaven. Yudhishthira then says the dog also much accompany him, but Indra is outraged: a dog cannot go to heaven. Yudhishthira insists that he will not abandon the loyal dog. The dog then reveals himself as the god Yama, who was testing Yudhishthira again. Yudhishthira is then allowed to enter heaven in his human form, riding with Indra in his chariot.

Additional reading: You can read more about the god Indra at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

THE FINAL TEST

Heaven and hell (pp. 26-29). When Yudhishthira enters heaven, he is surprised that Duryodhana is there. Narada assures Yudhishthira that Duryodhana earned his place in heaven. Yudhishthira then looks for his brothers but cannot find the Pandavas or Draupadi or Karna. He wants to go to them, and so a messenger takes Yudhishthira on a terrible journey into a foul place of rotting corpses. Yudhishthira hears their voices crying out to him, asking him to stay to comfort them as they are tortured. Yudhishthira vows to stay with them, no matter what.

Additional reading: In Sanskrit, heaven is svarga, and the word for hell is naraka. There is also a word for the underworld in general: patala. This story comes from the book of the Mahabharata called Svargarohana, the Ascent to Heaven. You can see how the books of the Mahabharata are arranged in this useful table of contents at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

Return to heaven (pp. 30-31). At that moment, the gods appear and praise him, explaining that for their sins, they needed to experience hell, if just briefly. The god Yama explains that this was yet another test. Yudhishthira bathes in the celestial Ganga river and acquires a divine form. Indra and Yama take him to heaven, and this time he finds his brothers there.

Additional reading: For more about the idea of the celestial Ganga (as opposed to the earthly Ganges) and the goddess Ganga, see Wikipedia: Ganga. 

Guide: Krishna and Jarasandha

This is a guide to Krishna and Jarasandha: Krishna Outsmarts His Fierce Adversary (Volume 518). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.518

See the detailed Reading Guide below.

Birth of Jarasandha (pp. 1-4). King Brihadratha of Magadha has no son, but the sage Chandakaushika gives him a mango to give to his wife in order to get a son. Brihadratha has two wives, so he divides the mango between them. Each wife then gives birth to half a son! They cast the half-infants away in the forest, where the rakshasi Jara finds them. She plans to carry them away and eat them, and to make them easier to carry, she ties the half-boys in a bundle. The halves unite to form a child. The king hears him crying and Jara gives him the baby; he names the baby Jarasandha (Jara-joined) in her honor.

Additional reading: A rakshasi is a female rakshasa; you can find out more about these creatures at Wikipedia: Rakshasa. 

~ ~ ~

Jarasandha and Krishna (pp. 5-10). Chandakaushika predicts Jarasandha will be a mighty king, and the prophecy comes true. King Jarasandha marries his daughters to Kamsa, king of Mathura. Kamsa, meanwhile, fears the prophecy that his nephew Krishna will kill him, so he attempts to kill Krishna, but Krishna kills Kamsa instead. Jarasandha's daughters are now widows, and he vows revenge. When Jarasandha attacks Mathura, Krishna and his brother Balarama defend the city with weapons that arrive in celestial chariots. They defeat Jarasandha in battle, but spare his life. Jarasanda launches seventeen more attacks, and each time he is defeated.

Additional reading: You can find out more about the evil Kamsa at Wikipedia: Kamsa.

~ ~ ~

King Kalayavana (pp. 10-15). When another king, Kalayavana, boast of his great power, the sage Narada tells him that Krishna and Balarama are the greatest warriors on earth. Kalayavana then mounts an attack. Unable to defend against both kings at once, Krishna causes the city of Dwaraka to rise up from the waters of the western sea, and then with his supernatural powers he relocates the people, cattle and wealth of Mathura to the city of Dwaraka. Krishna, Balarama and a small army remain in Mathura to confront the attackers. In his divine form, Krishna leads Kalayavana away into the cave where the sage Muchukunda lives. Kalayavana kicks the sleeping sage, thinking he is Krishna, and then Muchukunda burns Kalayavana to ashes with the power of his gaze.

Additional reading: You can find out more about Kalayavana and the
Yavanas at Wikipedia. There is also an article about the sage Muchukunda.

~ ~ ~

Escape to Dwaraka (pp. 16-19). Balarama, meanwhile, is fighting the Kalayavana's army. When Krishna returns with news of Kalayavana's death, the army despairs; Balarama and Krishna kill them all, but then Jarasandha and his army arrive. Krishna and Balarama flee to Dwaraka, with Jarasandha in pursuit. When Krishna and Balarama climb a mountain, he sets fire to the mountain. They manage to leap to safety and escape to Dwaraka, but Jarasandha thinks he has killed them.

Additional reading: For more about the city of Dwaraka, see Wikipedia: Dwaraka.

~ ~ ~

Jarasandha and the kings (pp. 19-21). Next, Jarasandha vows to capture the kings who are loyal to Krishna and to kill them in a sacrifice. King Yudhishthira, meanwhile, is planning to declare himself emperor with a rajasuya ritual, but he knows he will need to defeat Jarasandha. Krishna urges him to kill Jarasandha and free the imprisoned kings. Bhima and Arjuna, Yudhishthira's brothers, decide to kill Jarasandha, with Krishna's help.

Additional reading: For more about Yudhishthira and the Pandavas, see Wikipedia, and there are detailed articles about Bhima and about Arjuna. There is also an article about the rajasuya.

~ ~ ~

Bhima and Jarasandha (pp. 22-31). Krishna, Bhima, and Arjuna disguise themselves as brahmins. Jarasandha suspects they are not really brahmins, but he agrees to grant their petition. Krishna asks for him to fight one of them in single combat, revealing their identities. Jarasandha decides Bhima is the most worthy opponent, and they duel with maces. After they break their maces, they wrestle for twenty-seven days. Krishna decides to reveal the secret of Jarasandha's birth so that Bhima can defeat him at last. Bhima then kills Jarasandha by ripping him in two. Krishna installs Jarasandha's son on the throne, and Yudhishthira's rajasuya sacrifice can proceed.

Additional reading: The mace is Bhima's weapon of choice. For more about the mace as a weapon, see Wikipedia: Mace, which has a special section on maces in India, along with a separate article on the Gada, which is the Sanskrit word for a mace or club.

Guide: Subhadra

This is a guide to Subhadra: Beloved Sister of Krishna and Balarama (Volume 758). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.758

See the detailed Reading Guide below.

The Pandavas and Draupadi (pp. 1-7). Subhadra is the sister of Krishna and Balarama. Balarama teaches the art of using a mace in battle, and Duryodhana, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, is his favorite pupil; he hopes that Subhadra will marry him. Later, Duryodhana's cousin, Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five Pandava brothers, is named heir apparent, and Duryodhana tries to kill Yudhishthira and his four brothers. They escape, and later Yudhishthira's brother Arjuna wins Draupadi as his bride at a swayamvara. Without knowing what Arjuna won, Pandavas' mother, however, tells them that whatever he has won must be shared, and so Draupadi becomes the wife of all five brothers. The brothers decide that when one brother is with Draupadi, the others must respect their privacy; to break this rule means twelve years of exile. When Arjuna has to go fetch his weapons in a room where Draupadi and Yudhishthira are staying, he agrees to the punishment of exile and embarks on a pilgrimage.

Additional reading: You can read more about Arjuna's  in this article at Wikipedia: Arjuna's Tirtha-yatra, and you can also find out more about Balarama and about Subhadra.

~ ~ ~

Arjuna and Subhadra (pp. 8-16). Arjuna visits the holy places, and finds himself near Dwaraka, where he hears people talking about Subhadra's betrothal to Duryodhana. He vows that he will win her instead. He disguises himself as a sanyasi (a holy man), and thus enters Dwaraka. Balarama realizes this is no ordinary sanyasi, but he does not recognize Arjuna. Balarama invites the sanyasi to the palace, where Krishna does recognize him. In private, Arjuna tells Krishna why he is there. He then sees Subhadra for the first time and is struck by her beauty; she also falls in love with the mysterious sanyasi at first sight. Krishna suggests that Arjuna run away with her; an elopement is proper for a kshatriya (royal warrior). When Arjuna overhears that Subhadra prefers the sanyasi to Duryodhana, he seeks Yudhishthira's permission and then proceeds with Krishna's plan.

Additional reading: You can read more about the holy men of India at Wikipedia: Sannyasa. There is also an article about the swayamvara ritual and about the kshatriya varna.

~ ~ ~

The Elopment (pp. 17-26). Arjuna rides up in Krishna's chariot and grabs Subhadra when she is on her way home from the temple. The warriors of Dwaraka are called into action and assemble in the court room. They are ready to ride in pursuit of the sanyasi, but Balarama tells them they must ask Krishna's advice first. Krishna then reveals the sanyasi's true identity, and he also explains that Subhadra is in love with Arjuna and prefers him to Duryodhana. Krishna urges them to send a party in pursuit to congratulate the couple and bring them back peacefully.

Additional reading: You can also find out more about Krishna here: Wikipedia: Krishna. In some folktales and other more modern variations on the story, it is Subhadra instead who kidnaps Arjuna and drives the chariot; see Wikipedia: Alternate Story.

~ ~ ~

Subhadra in Indraprastha (pp. 27-32). The search party find Arjuna and Subhadra resting beneath a tree. Balarama tells Arjuna to come back and marry Subhadra in Dwaraka. When Arjuna's years of exile are over, he wants to return to Indraprastha (the Pandavas' royal city) together with Subhadra, but she fears Draupadi will not accept her, and her fears prove true: Draupadi is not happy about Arjuna's Yadava wife (the Yadavas are Krishna's clan). Arjuna presents Subhadra to his mother, Kunti, and she tells him to take Subhadra to meet Draupadi. Subhadra bows before Draupadi and salutes her as her elder sister. Draupadi relents and embraces Subhadra, caling her sister and speaking kindly.

Additional reading: Notice that you can see Arjuna and Subhadra playing a dice game which you might know as parcheesi. The word "parcheesi" is a borrowing from Hindi; you can read more about the word and the game here: Parcheesi. Subhadra and Arjuna go on to have a son, Abhimanyu; you can read about him in this comic book: Abhimanyu, Star-Crossed Prince.

Guide: Drona

This is a guide to Drona: Valiant Archer, Supreme Teacher (Volume 565). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.565

See the detailed Reading Guide below.

Drona and Drupada (pp. 1-4). Drona means "pot," and this son of the sage Bharadwaja was born in a pot. Bharadwaja is friends with the king of Panchala, and so Drona becomes the playmate of the king's son, Drupada. Drona then goes to study with the rishi Agnivesha, as does Drupada. Drupada promises that when he becomes king of Panchala, Drona can make his home in the palace.

Additional reading: The comic book does not provide the details of Drona's birth, but you can find out more at Wikipedia: when Bharadwaja was performing ablutions, he saw a beautiful apsara and ejaculated; he gathered the fluid in a pot, and Drona grew inside that pot. The sloka (verse) that Drona recites while Drupada washes their clothes is the "Ishavasyamidam" which goes like this:

Ishavasyam idam sarvam yat kinch jagatyam jagat;
Yena tyaktena bhunjitha ma graha kasyasvit dhanam.

Know all that moves in this moving world as enveloped by god, and find enjoyment through renunciation, not through greed of possession (translation by Rabindranath Tagore).

~ ~ ~

Drona Vow Revenge (pp. 5-9). After their studies end, Drupada does become king while Drona lives in an ashram. He marries Kripi and they have a son, Aswatthaman, whom they adore. Drona hears that the great sage Parashurama is giving away his wealth, so he goes to ask for a share, and Parashurama gives him his weapons, powered by mantras. Meanwhile, Aswatthama asks one of his friends for a taste of milk; the boys trick him with powdered rice in water and mock his poverty. Drona decides to go to Drupada for help, but Drupada spurns him. Drona vows revenge.

Additional reading: You can read more about Parashurama (Axe-Rama) who, like Drona, is a brahmin with great military skills, here at Wikipedia: Parashurama.

~ ~ ~

Drona and the princes (pp. 10-14). Next they go to Kripa, Kripi's brother and a guru to the Pandava and Kaurava princes. He takes them in and promises to keep Drona's military skills a secret. One day, the princes are playing ball and lose the ball in a well. Drona retrieves the ball with blades of grass, and the princes are amazed. They tell their great-uncle Bhishma, who realizes this must be Drona. Drona explains that he seeks pupils who will eventually help him get his revenge on Drupada, and Bhishma is glad to have him teach the princes. Drona explains what they must do for him after they complete their studies, and Arjuna agrees most eagerly. He became Drona's best and favorite pupil.

Additional reading: You can read more about both Bhishma and Kripa at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

Ekalavya (pp. 15-17). Ekalavya, a prince of the Nishada people, asks to become Drona's pupil. Drona refuses because he is a Nishada and also because he fears Ekalavya might excel Arjuna. Ekalavya goes into the forest, makes a statue of Drona, and practices in its presence. When the princes see Ekalavya's archery skills in action, he tells them Drona is his teacher. Drona then demands his guru fee: the thumb of Ekalavya's right hand. Ekalavya complies, and thus he could not become an archer to rival Arjuna.

Additional reading: The Nishadas were forest dwellers who did not belong to the caste system; you can read more at Wikipedia: Nishada kingdom, and you can also read more about Ekalavya and the terrible guru dakshina (guru fee) that Drona demands from him at Wikipedia: Ekalavya. Dronacharya is a contraction of "Drona Acharya," and an acharya is a scholar or teacher. 

~ ~ ~

King Drona (pp. 18-24). When the princes finish their studies, Drona demands a fee from them also: to attack Panchala and capture King Drupada. Arjuna and his brothers let their cousins, the Kaurava princes, lead the attack, but they flee when Drupada counterattacks. Arjuna then leads his brothers in an attack, and he captures Drupada. Drona then tells Drupada that Panchala belongs to him, but he gives half back to Drupada, asking again for his friendship now that they are both kings. Drupada agrees but he secretly longs for revenge.

Additional reading: You can find out more about the ancient kingdom of Panchala at Wikipedia: Panchala.

~ ~ ~

Drupada's Revenge (pp. 25-29). Drupada now wants to have a son who will kill Drona for him. Out of the sacrificial fire emerges a young prince and also a beautiful princess, Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi. Draupadi becomes the wife of all five Pandavas who eventually go to war with their cousins, who are led by Duryodhana. Drona fights in Duryodhana's army, while Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna ally themselves with the Pandavas. As general of Duryodhana's army, Drona fights fiercely, and Drona kills Drupada in battle.

Additional reading: You can read more about both Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna at Wikipedia.

~ ~ ~

"Aswatthaman is dead" (pp. 30-32). Dhrishtadyumna is now even more determined to kill Drona. Krishna, friend to the Pandavas, advises them to proclaim that Drona's son Aswatthaman is dead so that Drona will be paralyzed by grief. Yudhishthira does not want to tell a lie, so Bhima kills an elephant named Ashwatthaman and shouts that Ashwatthaman is dead. Drona does not believe him, so he asks Yudhishthira to tell him the truth. Yudhishthira tells him that Aswatthaman is dead, barely whispering "the elephant" as he replies. Hearing this, Drona lays down his arms and gives up his spirit; he is already dead when Dhrishtadyumna strikes him with his sword.

Additional reading: For more about the terrible vengeance that Aswatthaman then seeks after his father's death, see Wikipedia: Aswatthaman.

Guide: Gandhari

This is a guide to Gandhari: A Mother Blinded by Love (Volume 644). You can find it at Amazon.

Bizzell Reserves call number: PN 6790 .I443 A437 v.644

See the detailed Reading Guide below.

Gandhari's blindfold (pp. 1-5). Princess Gandhari, daughter to King Subala of Ghandara, receives a blessing from Lord Shiva: she will have a hundred sons. Bhishma proposes a marriage between Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, who is the king of the Kurus in Hastinapura, but he is blind. To share her husband's life, Gandhari blindfolds herself, and her brother Shakuni takes her to Hastinapura.

Additional reading: You can read more about Dhritarashtra and why he is blind in the story of his birth: Wikipedia: Dhritarashtra's Birth. You can also read more about Gandhari's brother at Wikipedia: Shakuni.

~ ~ ~

Gandhari's sons (pp. 6-13). The maharshi (great rishi) Vyasa confirms the blessing of one hundred sons, but before she has any children, Dhritarashtra's brother, Pandu, has a son by his wife Kunti: Yudhishthira. When Gandhari gives birth, it is to a shapeless lump. Vyasa tells her to prepare a hundred jars of ghee for the sons, and at Gandhari's request he orders one more jar for a daughter. Vyasa cuts up the lump and puts a piece in each jar and tells Gandhari to wait two years. The children take shape in the jars, with Duryodhana the eldest son, but he brays like a donkey when he is born, a bad omen, and Dhritarashtra's brother, Vidura, urges him to abandon the baby. Dhritarashtra refuses and they keep the baby.

Additional reading: You can read about clarified butter, or ghee, at Wikipedia: Ghee. You can also read about Gandhari's only daughter, Wikipedia: Duhshala.

~ ~ ~

Duryodhana's jealousy (pp. 13-15). When Dhritarashtra's other brother, Pandu, dies, his widow Kunti and the five Pandavas (sons of Pandu) come to Hastinapura: Yudhishthira is the eldest, and also Bhima, Arjuna, and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. Gandhari and Kunti love one another and each other's children, but the cousins do not get along. Duryodhana tries to poison his cousin Bhima, but Bhima survives. When Yudhishthira is named to be Dhritarashtra's heir, Duryodhana is furious and his uncle Shakuni helps him to plot against the Pandavas.

Additional reading: You can read the story of Duryodhana's attempt on Bhima's life here: Bhima and the Nagas.

~ ~ ~

The game of dice (pp. 16-20). Duryodhana tries to burn the Pandavas in their house, but they escape. When the Pandavas take Draupadi, princess of Panchala, to be their wife, Dhritarashtra gives them half the kingdom and they build a palace at Indraprastha. Shakuni and Duryodhana win the palace and possessions of the Pandavas when Yudhishthira loses a dicing match, and Yudhishthira also gambles away his brothers, himself, and Draupadi. When Duryodhana tries to strip Draupadi in front of everyone, jackals howl: another bad omen. The priests chant "Swasti," and Gandhari realizes that her son is evil. She urges Dhritarashtra to return the winnings to the Pandavas, so he asks Draupadi what she wishes and at her request he restores the Pandavas' kingdom.

Additional reading: These words of good luck — su + asti (swasti — are the same words you see in the noun "swastika," an ancient sign of good luck. You can read more about the ancient swastika at Wikipedia: Swastika. Here is a modern depiction of the good luck sign in modern India:  Sanskrit Word in English: Swastika.

~ ~ ~

Preparations for war (pp. 20-24). Duryodhana is furious and proposes another game. This time Yudhishthira loses again, and the Pandavas must go into exile. Arjuna vows revenge, and Gandhari realizes that the situation is hopeless. When Draupadi and the Pandavas leave, Kunti stays behind with Gandhari. After the years of exile are over, Gandhari and Dhritarashtra urge Duryodhana to seek peace, especially since Krishna is on the Pandavas' side, but he refuses. Gandhari foresees that Bhima, the second eldest of the Pandavas, will kill her son. Duryodhana also rejects Krishna's mission of peace. Gandhari cannot bless her son's side in the war; she can only bless the side of the righteous. Duryodhana's side, the Kauravas, suffer heavy losses.

Additional reading: For more about Krishna and his role in the war, see Wikipedia: Krishna: Kurukshetra War.

~ ~ ~

After the battle (pp. 25-31). In the end, of all the sons of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari die in the war. Vyasa attempts to calm Gandhari's anger. When she meets the surviving Pandava brothers, she is torn between grief and rage. From beneath her blindfold, the burning fire of Gandhari's glance burns Yudhishthira's toe. Despite the blindfold, her spiritual insight allows her to see the dead corpses all over the battlefield and her daughters-in-law grieving over her dead sons. Krishna, whom she addresses as Lord Janardana, accompanies her. When she finds Duryodhana's corpse, she rebukes Krishna for not having stopped the bloodshed. She curses Krishna, calling down the destruction of his people, the Yadavas, and Krishna's own death. He accepts her curse, and Gandhari then goes to the river Ganga to perform funeral rites for her sons.

Additional reading: For more about the importance of the goddess Ganga and the river Ganga (Ganges) in the Hindu tradition, see Wikipedia.