Dear Parents,
This was our packed schedule this week...
Opening Prayers:
* Om Sahanā vavatu śloka
* Om Sree Ganeśaya Namaha, Sree Saraswatyai Namaha, Sree Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
* Daily prayers (as suggested in the 'My Prayers' book)
Ślokās: Mahalakshmyaśtakam - first two verses were rehearsed and the next two chanted. The bhajan Ambā Parameśwari was also taught.
While the city of Ekachakra rejoiced, a Brahmin travelled busted the house of the Brahmin where the Pāndavās were staying. He recounted his travels and the far and distant lands and cultures that he encountered. He also spoke of how the demise of the great Pāndavās has created a sense of gloom in Hastinapura. As he was departing he spoke of Kampilya's big event - the Swayamvara of the most beautiful Panchala princess Draupadi. This perked up the Pāndavās who then decided to proceed towards Kampilya, with their mother and her blessings.
In Kampilya, they were greeted with grand decorations all over the city, the sound of music, laughter, and celebration. They proceeded to the swayamvara hall, looking very odd in their Brahmin disguise. Seated in the grand hall were kings like Krishna, Balarāma, Jarasandha, Śiśupāla, Śālya, and many more. Dhrishtadhyumna announced the competition - the one that pierced the dead center of the fish's eye will be the winner of Draupadi's hand in marriage. One by one all kings failed. Even Radheya missed it by a hair's breadth. Finally Arjuna stood and accomplished the task. While the other kings complained of him being a Brahmin and not a Kshatriya, Dhrishtadhyumna put them all in their place.
Draupadi garlands Arjuna and they take her to meet Kunti at their residence in Kampilya. They jokingly announced that Bhiksha had been brought home, to which Kunti responded with a 'Share it amongst yourselves'. Upon glancing at their 'bhiksha', Kunti was shocked at her own words. The Pāndavās always took their mother's word very seriously, and decided that they would all marry Draupadi.
Krishna and Balarāma secretly followed the 'brahmins' back to their cottage and discovered to their delight, that their cousins, the Pāndavās were alive and well. Dhrishtadhyumna, having followed them, and discovering that the 'Brahmins' are none other than the Pāndavās, was elated beyond belief. Drupada invites them all back to the palace for the wedding, but is stumped that all five Pāndavās were planning to marry his daughter. Yudhisthira then explains how Sage Jatila married seven husbands - the Saptarishis. Veda Vyāsa also arrives then and tells him of Draupadi's blessing in a previous janma that she would receive five husbands who would, collectively, have all the qualities that she asked for in a husband. Drupada agrees and the marriage takes place.
Meanwhile the Kauravās in Hastinapura are enraged that their plot failed, the Pāndavās were still alive, and they were the 'Brahmins' who had won Draupadi as well. The elders told Dhritarāshtra that it was time to bring the Pāndavās back and give them their half of the kingdom. Dhritarashtra agreed and gave the Pāndavās one half - Khandavaprastha. The land was barren and uncultivable. With Krishna's blessings and Indra's planning, Khandavaprastha was transformed into a glorious and beautiful kingdom. It was renamed Indraprastha, as a tribute to Indra.
The Pandavas, each had their own palace, with an agreement to share Draupadi for a year each, starting with Yudhisthira. There was also a clause that none of the other brothers should disturb the brother (in his own palace) while Draupadi resided with him. The glorious days of ruling a prosperous kingdom were aplenty. Till the day when a Brahmin came running asking Arjuna to help trace his lost cows. Arjuna, agreed to help, without realizing that the weapons room was in Yudhisthira's palace, where Draupadi still stayed. After much insistence from the Brahmin, Arjuna decided to violate the rule, went to Yudhisthira's palace and eventually decided to go in a year long teerthayatra as punishment.
On the teerthayatra, he fell in love with Ulupi and had a son Iravan, married King Chitrasena's daughter Chitrangadha and had a son Babruvahana. The last leg of his journey took him to Dwaraka, where his cousin and dearest friend Krishna resides. But the purpose of his visit was to marry Subhadra, Balarāma's sister. Although Balarāma wanted her to marry Duryodhana, she fell in love with Arjuna and eloped with him. Arjuna, Krishna and Balarāma brought Subhadra to Indraprastha for the wedding.
Krishna wishes to spend more time with his cousins and decided to stay on in Indraprastha. One day he asked Arjuna to join him on a walk towards the Khandava forest by the river Yamuna. While nearing the river, a Brahmin came running and requested to be fed. Arjuna agreed immediately, upon which the Brahmin revealed himself to be Agni, the fire god. He then asked Arjuna and Indra to help him burn down the Khandava forest, an act that was always thwarted by Indra for the sake of his friend Takshaka, a snake king. With weapons provided by the Devas, Arjuna and Krishna fight off Indra while Agni burned down the forest.
**At this point ends Adi Parvā**
Maya, an asura who managed to escape from the Khandava forest, and given a new lease in life was asked to make a unique hall in Indraprastha, one which was named Maya Sabha in his honor. It was at this time that Narada visited the Pāndavas and admired their beautiful palaces while also talking of his travels. He spoke of his time in Indraloka when King Harischandra sat with Indra on the throne . Wanting to know more about that, Yudhisthira asked how one was given such an honor. Narada responded that the Rajasuya yagna would ensure a good place for his ancestors, and his family. After killing their biggest obstacle, the evil Jarasandha, they managed to get support from all over, for the yagna.
The yagna took place in a grand manner, and Krishna was chosen to be the honored guest. While Śiśupala was furious over that, he lost all the (promised) chances, leaving him decapitated by Krishna's sudarshana chakra.
After the yagna, while most kings left, the Kauravas stayed on. One day while walking in the Mayasabha, Duryodhana accidentally slipped on water, thinking it was glass. That provoked a huge laugh from Draupadi.
Humiliated, Duryodhana stalked off, vowing revenge on the Pandavas and Draupadi. Śakuni, his uncle, came up with another plot to get the Pandavas out of the way. Inviting them over to Hastinapura to see a new sabha at Jayanta was a ploy to use Yudhisthira's weakness for gambling. In a game that was always meant to favor the Kauravas (because of Śakuni's dice made of his father's bones), the Pandavas lost their kingdom, riches, and ended up enslaving themselves and their wife. With much anger it was Draupadi who cursed a terrible end for those that insulted her, an innocent victim. Dhritarashtra, afraid for his sons, agreed to return it all to the Pandavas. But alas, a curse given cannot be undone.
As the Pandavas left to return to their Kingdom, they were asked to come back for just one game - all or nothing. The result was as expected. And the wager required the Pandavas to forfeit everything and be exiled for 13 years, with the last year in incognito. With heavy hearts, and the angered citizens of Hastinapura following them, the Pandavas left Hastinapura dressed in simple robes and the determination to win it all back.
Bhagavad Gita: This year we will be doing the first 30 verses of Chapter 2 in the Bhagavad Gita. The first two verses were taught and rehearsed this week, following our Swamiji, Swami Shantanandaji's chanting video. The videos have all been shared on the class WhatsApp group.
With this, we complete Sabha Parva. We will finish the review next week with Vana Parvā.
Please have the children do their daily prayers regularly and also practice the ślokas and Gita chanting.
Thank you! Wish you all a safe week and see you on Friday Oct 9, 2020.
Pranāms,
Viji Lakshmi and Nivedita
Friday Grade 6 sevikas
