Hari OM All,
This week we started our class with prayers and this was followed by Sri MahaLakshmi Ashtakam. We learnt to chant verse 5-6 and a few of the students in the class chanted all 6 verses together. Please ask your children to continue practicing this at home.
This was followed by a continuation of the recap of Mahabharata - we covered Vana Parva.
- As the citizens of Hastinapura mourned the exit of the Pandavās, many including the Brahmins followed them into the forest. Even after multiple requests by the Pandavās, some of the Brahmins continued to stay by their side.This worried Yudhisthira, as they decided to stay at Pramanavata. He did not know how he was going to feed additional mouths with no means to do so. The Pandavās' mentor Dhaumya asked him to pray to Surya, the Sun god and ask for a solution. Surya, pleased with his devotion, gave Yudhisthira an Akshayapātra, a vessel that would never run out of food.
- Meanwhile in Hastinapura, Sage Maitreya visited the palace to admonish Dhritarashtra and the court elders of their heinous actions. But it was Duryodhana's nonchalant attitude that angered him, reiterating Draupadi's curse that Duryodhana would die when his thigh got broken by Bheema. This sent Dhritarashtra into deeper despair. He requested Vidura to provide him consolation but Vidura also chided him for his inaction. Upset with the turn of events, he sent Vidura away, guilty of having to face his nagging conscience. Vidura took the opportunity to spend some time with his favorite nephews in the forest. Dhritarāshtra, even sadder at having turned his wise brother away, requested him to come back. Vidura returned, his sense of duty and loyalty taking priority.
- While still at Kāmyaka, Sri Krishna visited the Pandavās along with Dhrishtadhyumna, Dhrishtaketu and a few allies. He was determined to set the course right after the atrocities. Yudhisthira, on the other hand, patiently listened to his cousin and told him that having accepted the banishment, he was not going to go back to fight before the term ended. His Dharma would not allow him to act in such an unrighteous manner. Even Draupadi's constant weeping and Bheema's boiling rage could not convince him otherwise.
- After Sri Krishna's departure, the Pandavās decided to go to Dwaitavana, inhabited by learned scholars and rishis. They were welcomed heartily, and Yudhisthira felt most peaceful in the company of the learned. While there, Sage Mārkandeya visited. Sage Mārkandeya, as we know, was an immortal, blessed to stay 16 eternally. He told Yudhisthira that he reminded him of Sri Rama - unswerving in his Dharma, exiled for many years and overcoming every obstacle with patience.
- Five years passed in peace, and Sage Vyāsa visited the Pandavās. He talked of the might of Duryodhana's army - Bheeshma, Rādheya, Drona and his son Ashwattāma, Bhoorisrivas (King Shantanu's brother Bāhlika's grandson) and his brother among other strong kingdoms who were looking to support the Kauravas, when a war erupted. He told Arjuna to go North and get the Paśupata astra from Lord Shiva and also receive the other astras from the other gods, as promised.
- As Arjuna headed North towards Himavan, the other Pandavās and Draupadi headed back to Kamyaka. Arjuna reached Indrakila, beyond Himavan and meditated upon the Lord. Deep in meditation, Arjuna heard hooves pounding towards him. Mooka, in the form of a boar, was heading his way. He instinctively picked up his bow and arrow to shoot the boar. Just then he heard a voice asking him to stop. Unable to do as commanded, Arjuna released the arrow, piercing the boar. Simultaneously another arrow also pierced the boar, killing it instantly. A hunter and huntress came into Arjuna's view, rebuking him for killing their prey. After much arguing, Arjuna and the hunter decided to use their weapons to fight it out. Exhausted, Arjuna fell and prayed to the Lord for help. He gathered some dust and made a Shivalinga and a garland with the flowers of a nearby plant. When he placed the garland around the Shivalinga, it disappeared, only to magically appear on the neck of the hunter. Recognizing the divinity of the hunter, Arjuna fell at his feet and asked for forgiveness. Lord Shiva, pleased with Arjuna's bravery and prowess, awarded him the Paśupata astra, and the other celestial beings also conferred their divine weapons on him. This pleased Indra immensely and he took Arjuna with him to Indraloka.
- In Indraloka, while Arjuna relaxed watching the dancing apsaras, and spending time learning music and dance from Chitrasena (Gandharva king), Urvashi, one of Indra's apsaras, fell in love with Arjuna and wished to be his. Arjuna was horrified at the thought as he respected her, as he would a mother. Humiliated, Urvashi cursed him to be a eunuch for the rest of his life, but with Indra's intervention it was reduced to a year. (As we would see in Virāta Parvā, that was Arjuna's disguise in his 13th year of exile). Arjuna used his skills in warfare to defeat the Nivatakavachās and Kālakeyās who were a source of constant trouble for Indra.
- The Pandavās, minus Arjuna, decided to go on a teerthayatra, taking Sage Lomasa's advice. They traveled far and wide, and also visited Prabhāsa where they spent time with Sri Krishna, and Sri Balarama. There was considerable excitement, with only two years left of their exile. They then headed towards Himavan and climbed the peak of Gandhamadana with the help of Ghatotkacha, to reach Badarikāsrama, the ashram of Sage Badarika. Once Draupadi had found the most sweet smelling flower, Saugandhika and wished to have many more. Bheema, in his search for the flower, found himself in a deep dense forest. He encountered a monkey lying in his path with its tail blocking his way. He asked the monkey to move its tail, but the old monkey said he was unable to move due to age. When Bheema tried lifting its tail, he couldn't. After learning that the monkey was none other than Sri Hanuman, his brother, his joy knew no bounds. Taking his blessings and the promise that Sri Hanuman will support them in the war (by residing on the flag of Arjuna's chariot), Bheema continued his search for the elusive flower. Suddenly he chanced upon a magnificent palace with beautiful gardens lined with the same flowers. In his joy, he went about collecting as many as he could. The guards standing by attacked him for plucking the flowers without permission, but he was able to overpower the entire lot. Kuberā, the deva, was in his palace when he heard of Bheema's rampage. He told his guards to stand back and let Bheema pick the flowers.
- With time going by quickly, Arjuna decided to return to his brothers. Indra's charioteer Matali drove Arjuna to Badarikāsrama, where all his heroic tales, his embarrassment with Urvashi and also his friendship with Chitrasena were regaled. The Pandavās decided to start finding their way back to Kāmyaka, and stopped at Sage Vrishaparvā's ashram on their way down south.
- One day Bheema went hunting by himself after informing Yudhisthira. Suddenly he was trapped in the grip of a mighty python. Unable to free himself, he realized that the python was no ordinary being. Soon he learned that the snake was King Nahusha who had been cursed by Sage Agastya, and could only be redeemed with Yudhisthira's blessings. Yudhisthira was worried that Bheema hadn't returned, and went in search. He found him in the grip of the python and agreed to answer all the questions posed by the accursed snake to free his brother. With all the questions answered, the snake resumed his original form and ascended to heaven. With that, the brothers decided to return to Kāmyaka and devoted the 12th year preparing themselves for the war.
- In Hastinapura, Duryodhana kept hearing of all the tales of the Pandavās and their heroic acts. He wished to see them embarrassed, and hatched a plan to visit a Goshala near Kāmyaka. While nearing Kāmyaka, Duryodhana wished to relax by the lake with Rādheya and Dusshāsana, but it was occupied by a Gandharva who refused to leave. Angered by this, Duryodhana started attacking the Gandharva who managed to capture Duryodhana with the help of the Gandharva King Chitrasena. An attendant quickly went to Kāmyaka and sought Yudhisthira's help. Despite the enmity, Yudhisthira helped free Duryodhana. This compassion on Yudhisthira's part made Duryodhana feel pitiful and depressed.
- To give himself more confidence and also show his allies his strength, Duryodhana decided to perform the Rājasuya yagna and Rādheya helped bring him more allies. When Duryodhana sent his invitation to the Pandavās, they politely refused stating that they weren't allowed to re-enter Hastinapura before the exiled period was done.
- As they neared the end of the 12th year, the Pandavās, one day, set off hunting, leaving Draupadi behind. Jayadratha was out in the forest when he saw Draupadi and fell in love. Despite her pleas, he tried kidnapping her. Yudhisthira, sensing danger, returned with his brothers. Upon seeing their wife in danger, they rushed to rescue her and humiliated Jayadratha by disfiguring him.
- Once, as they lost track of their surroundings while chasing deer, they fell exhausted, thirsty and tired. Yudhisthira sent Nakula to find water. He went in search and discovered a lake, and immediately jumped to take a drink of water. A loud voice asked him not to drink the water as it was poisonous. Nakula did not pay heed, drank the water and died on the spot. Yudhisthira then sent Sahadeva, who also met the same fate. Arjuna and Bheema also did not listen to the voice and died. Finally Yudhisthira came to the spot, and was shocked to see his brothers, lifeless. Just then a Yaksha emerged from the lake and told Yudhisthira that he had warned the brothers but they did not listen. Yudhisthira asked how he could help bring them back and the Yaksha said he would test Yudhisthira with some questions. If satisfied he would bring one of them back. Yudhisthira answered all the questions, and asked for Nakula to be revived. The Yaksha was surprised and asked why he didn't ask for Bheema or Arjuna who would be more valuable. Yudhisthira replied that while Kunti' s one son is alive, one son of Mādri should also survive. Pleased with his answer, the Yaksha revealed himself to be Lord Yama and also revived all the brothers.
This was followed by a discussion on Navratri. We will send a short fun homework activity to the parents via WhatsApp - please ask your children to complete it in the next two weeks. This was followed by a presentation on some famous verses from the Bhagavad Gita and our Sages that remind us on how to attain Moksha. We also discussed the value of Satsang. This was followed by chanting verses 3-4 from Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 2. We concluded the class with Pledge.
Reminder: Our next class is on Nov 1 (to celebrate Navratri at home, we will not meet next 2 Sundays).
Pranaams!
Krishna and Nivedita
