Hari Om All,
Summary of Dec 20, 2020 Class.
We did a recap with Kahoot questions and reviewed the answers.
We continued this week with the episodes from pandavas in exile. The thirteenth year was the year in exile. They all decided to stay in king Virata's kingdom. Yudhishtara became Kanka. Bheema became Vallabha. Arjuna became Brihannalla, Nakula became Granthika, Sahadeva became Tantrika and Draupadi became Sairandhri.
Keechaka was a strong arm in the kingdom who was feared by all the neighboring kingdoms. He is killed by Bheema when he attempts to bother Draupadi (Sairandhari). We reviewed the "Cause & Effect" scenario of how Keechaka gets tempted to do wrong things and gets punished as a result.
Soon after Keechaka's death, Kauravas suspect that there is a chance of pandavas to be in the Virata kingdom. So, the Kaurava army is split into two groups. Susharma's army attacks from the south first. Virata and his armies get ready to face them. Later, the rest of the Kaurava army attacks from the North. Uttara Kumara (King Virata's son) takes Brihannala to face this part of the Kaurava army. In the battle, Brihannala reveals himself to the Kaurava army and puts them under the spell of Sammohana astram. Later, the true identity of Pandavas is revealed to king Virata.
When the pandavas want their share of kingdom or atleast 5 towns, the Kauravas refuse. Duryodhana does not even want to give land that occupies the tip of the needle. The war was imminent now. Arjuna and Duryodhana both go to Shri Krishna to ask for his and his armies help. We discussed the episode where Arjuna stands waiting at Krishna's feet and Duryodhana is at Krishna's head. Krishna asks for Arjuna's choice first since he saw him first. Arjuna asks only for Krishna to Duryodhana's glee. Duryodhana gets all of Krishna's armies.
The battle began soon after.
We did some shlokas from Yaksha Prashna. The students will have a quiz on Yaksha prashna before this year's sessions ends.
We continued the session with the happenings in the war. Bheeshma on the 8th day destroyed a large chunk of the Pandava army. Krishna then advises Pandavas to go and see the blessings of Bheeshma. Bheeshma blesses pandavas to be victorious. Bheeshma then narrates that he will not fight a woman. Under Krishna's advice, Shikandi was kept in front of Arjuna and Arjuna shot a shower of arrows at Bheeshma. Bheeshma fell down on the battlefield. Arjuna then gives him a head rest with arrows and quenches the thirst by shooting an arrow in the ground. At this point, Bheeshma narrates Vishnu Sahasranamam.
We talked about how Abhimanyu negotiated the chakravyuha but could not come out. He died valiantly. Krishna helps Arjuna to kill Jaydratha soon after to keep his vow.
Drona was very attached to his son Ashwathama. Bheema kills an elephant called Ashwathama. Yudhishtara then says a half-truth that Ashwathama has been killed. Drona is made to think that his son is dead. Drishtadyumna then kills Drona.
The battle continues till Kauravas are killed. When the battle ends, Gandhari curses Krishna. She thinks he is the cause of all the destruction. Krishna explains that this was because of the bad upbringing that made Duryodhana an evil person. And she was responsible for this.
Kunti then revealed that Karna was her son.
We did a number of analyses with respect to cause and effect analysis on these topics covered. Some of them are Reverence to elders and Grandfather's secret (with respect to Bheeshma), Gandhari's Curse etc.
Pranams,
Partha & Nikhita
