Reading Notes: Part B Mahabharata

Part B of the Mahabharata finally got into the meat of the conflict between the two sets of cousins. In particular, I enjoyed reading some of the stories of Arjuna after he was exiled. Arjuna's name is very prominent among Indian boys, especially as Arjun, so it was interesting to read some of his feats. One aspect of the story that really caught my attention was how much importance was placed on gambling. It seems almost hard to believe how the warriors were forced to gamble or be shamed. Perhaps it was an aspect of Indian culture back then, but it does seem gambling ultimately might what causes the Great War between the cousins. Part B also included more stories on swayamwaras which were also prominent in the Ramayana. Like Rama, Arjuna also had to prove his worth with a bow and arrow, this time having to hit a target rather than breaking the bow of Shiva as Ram did. The last story was also interesting to read, specifically about the swastika. We are so ingrained to consider the swastika as an evil symbol as it was used and represent such with the Nazis, but in reality, its origins were actually good and fortuitous. Part B of the story also brought Krishna into the limelight, and I look forward to seeing his role and impact on the war in the later parts of the epic. Overall, Part B of the Mahabharata was more enjoyable to read as I finally could remember and distinguish the many characters I was introduced to Part A. Although there was no real battles, I am interested in seeing how the Pandavas respond after being exiled.

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)

Untold Story of Shakuni of Mahabharat, King of Gambling and Greed - HINDU MYTHOLOGY - The Hidden Truth

The gambling match where Yudhishthira lost everything

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