Cakrabartī - The Penguin companion to the Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is called the fifth Veda. Of all the epics ever composed, the Mahabharata is the longest and, without doubt, the greatest.

Scholars are not unanimous about the date of composition of the Mahabharata. According to some, Vyasdeva wrote it in 3000 BC. Others think it was composed before that.

The Mahabharata is divided into the following eighteen episodes:

1. Adi Parva (The First Episode)
2. Sabha Parva (The Assembly Episode)
3. Aranyaka Parva; also, Vana Parva or Aranya Parva (The Forest Episode)
4. Virata Parva (In the Land of Virata)
5. Udyoga Parva (Getting Ready)
6. Bhishma Parva (The Bhishma Episode)
7. Drona Parva (The Episode of Drona)
8. Karna Parva (The Episode of Karna)
9. Shalya Parva (The Episode of Shalya)
10. Sauptika Parva (The Episode of the Night Battle)
11. Stri Parva (The Episode of the Wives)
12. Shanti Parva (The Episode of Peace)
13. Anushasana Parva (The Episode of Instructions)
14. Ashwamedhika Parva (The Ashwamedha Episode)
15. Ashramavasika Parva (Living in the Ashram)
16. Mausala Parva (The Episode of the Mallet)
17. Mahaprasthanika Parva (The Final Journey)
18. Svargarohana Parva (Ascent to Heaven)

Vashishthas wish-cow Kamdhenu was not to be found. The Ashtavasus had stolen the cow and hidden her. The Ashtavasus were the eight sons of Vasu, the daughter of King Daksha. The sage Vashishtha was furious and cursed them, saying, You will be born on earth.

What a calamity! We have to be born on earth! The Ashtavasus ran to Ganga, saying, Mother, help us!

Oh my dears, do not worry! Ganga assuaged their fears. I will take birth as your mother. As soon as you are born I will throw you into my waters and you can return to heaven. You will not have to spend much time on earth.

One day, Shantanu, son of Pratip, the king of Hastinapur, was walking along the banks of the river Ganga. Suddenly, he saw a beautiful young woman rising out of the waters of the Ganga. Is this a goddess or an apsara? Such beauty, such youth! I must have her!

Who are you, goddess? Will you marry me? Shantanus voice was pleading, his eyes were beseeching.

It is a great honour to be the life partner of the great king Shantanu; but I have two conditions, o king.

I am willing to comply with all your conditions. Shantanu was beside himself with emotion.

The first condition is that you will never want to know who I am. The second condition is that you will never question my actions. If you break your word I will disappear.

As you wish. Come, my goddess, take refuge in my embrace. I am willing to give up my life for you, Shantanu beseeched.

One after another, Ganga sacrificed seven children into the waters of the Ganga. Thunderstruck, Shantanu bore all this in silence as he was afraid of breaking his word.

But with the eighth child, the barriers of his patience broke. Stop! Who are you? You must tell me the reason for your cruelty and madness.

As Ganga revealed all, Shantanu calmed down. Ganga said, I am taking this boy with me. He will come back to you in good time. He was the main culprit who stole Nandini so he will have to stay longer on earth. In his previous birth, he was the eighth Vasu.

As she had promised, Ganga returned the boy when he was thirty-six years old to Shantanu. She had taught him all he needed to know to become the ideal king. He was called Devavrata. Shantanu celebrated the coronation of Devavrata as the crown prince.

Earlier it was Ganga; this time it was Yamuna.

Satyavati, the daughter of the king of fishermen, King Dasa, was crossing the ferry on the river Yamuna. She glowed with beauty. Shantanu was infatuated again by beauty.

King Dasa said, If you marry Satyavati, her son must become king. No! No! I will not hear of it. This is impossible! But Satyavati? How will I live without her? Troubled, Shantanu gave up food and sleep.

When he heard what had happened, Devavrata rushed to King Dasa. Please save my father. he said. I promise that Mother Satyavatis son will be king.

King Dasa said, You can withdraw your claim to the throne; but what about your sons? What certainty is there that they will give up their claims to the throne?

I promise that I will not marry. I will remain single all my life. The gods, sages and apsaras showered flowers on Devavrata. This was a difficult, or bheeshan, promise; hence his name became Bhishma.

What a sacrifice for ones father! Shantanu said. I give you a boon; you will die only when you want to die.

Shantanu got Satyavati. He had two sons by her, Chitrangad and Vichitravirya. Shantanu died before his sons grew up.

Bhishma, who was supposed to have worn the crown himself, placed, ironically, the royal crown on Vichitraviryas head.

Chitrangad died an untimely death, killed by a gandharva king, also called Chitrangad. Vichitravirya was too young, so Bhishma began to look after the royal affairs as his guardian. When he became an adult, Vichitravirya became king.

When it was time for the king to get married, elder brother Bhishma forceably picked up the three beautiful daughters of the king of KashiAmba, Ambika and Ambalikafrom their own swayamvar gathering. His objective was to marry his brother to the three girls.

But Amba had other plans. She had wanted to marry the king of Shalva, but when she saw Bhishma, she expressed her love to him.

Bhishma was shocked. This is an impossible proposition. I have vowed to be single forever. he said.

Spurned, Amba cursed Bhishma, You are pushing me to my death. Well, I curse you that I shall be the cause of your death in your next life.

Amba sacrificed herself to fire. In her next life she would be reborn as Shikhandi and would cause Bhishmas death, although his death was coveted by him as per the blessings of his father.