Epics of India

When Krishna had come to Indraprastha, he had his finger cut due to a glass piece. Draupadi quickly comes and tears a piece from her saree and ties it on Krishna’s finger.

Krishna then says:

I give you a boon that you will receive sarees counting  upto  a ten thousand times of the no. of threads in this piece of saree.

“But what use is it to me?” said Draupadi

Krishna laughs and gets silent.

Many years later when the Pandavas lose everything, Draupadi is dragged by Dussasana and is bought to the hall.

Duryodhana orders to remove her robes. She, at that time, was on a single robe. Dussasana pulls it off till there was a tuck. Draupadi says, “Lord, save me” and faints.

The Dussasana pulls the robe but the tuck never untucks. He keeps on pulling it but she still remains dressed. At last he is tired and faints. Then Duryodhana pulls and gives up.

Thus Draupadi’s deeds saved her.

Devavrata in his previous birth was Dyu , one among eight vasus (a class of heavenly demigods ) who were cursed by great sage Vashistha to be born on earth as ordinary mortal . However , even curse of great brahmana like Vashistha , who is naturally kind to everyone , was a blessing in disguise and helped him to come out of enjoying mentality.

As a reaction of this curse , Devavrata was born from the womb of mother Ganga (whose origin is sacred feet of Lord Vishnu ) . Mother Ganga took his son Devavrata to heavenly planet for his initial education in the ashrama of sage Vashistha . Devavrata was equal to Brihaspathi himself in terms of knowledge of Vedas . Also in military science he was no less than great and powerful Parashurama.

Devvrata also took a life-long vow of celibacy and this was rare occurance among kshatriyas . Kshatriyas usually have many wives and sometimes hundreds of children . Because Kshatriya were in mode of passion (Refer Bhagwat-Gita As It Is, verse 14.12) this was almost impossible for them to control sex desire . They therefore took many wives and maintained them in great opulence . Thus, the name Bhishma was given to him , meaning one who has taken almost impossible vow to carry all trough his life.
By keeping the seminal fluid within, a man increases in strength , memory, intelligence, and duration of life . This was one reason why Bhishma was destined to become the most powerful of the great warrior.

Devavrata , because of his great devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord Krishna , was able to make a life-long celibacy vow , rejecting the feminine beauty of this world . Infact , he is one of the mahajana ( authority in science of devotional service to the lotus eyed lord Krishna ) . And when Bhishma was about to leave his mortal body , The Lotus Eyed Lord himself stood infront of him so that his mind can remain completely absorbed in him and he can return back home back to Godhead , the Spiritual World to lead a life of eternity , knowledge and bliss (Refer Bhagwat-Gita As It Is ,verse 8.5) .

These are the names of the 100 sons of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Gandhari also gave birth to a daughter Dusshala.

Duryodhana (Suyodhana)
Dushasana
Dussahana
Dussalan
Jalagandhan
Saman
Sahan
Vindhan
Anuvindhan
Durdharshan
Subaahu
Dushpradharshan
Durmarshanan
Durmukhan
Dushkarnan
Vikarnan
Saalan
Sathwan
Sulochanan
Chithran
Upachithran
Chithraakshan
Chaaruchithran
Saraasanan
Durmadan
Durvigaahan
Vivilsu
Vikatinandan
Oornanaabhan
Sunaabhan
Nandan
Upanandan
Chithrabaanan
Chithravarman
Suvarman
Durvimochan
Ayobaahu
Mahaabaahu
Chithraamgan
Chithrakundalan
Bheemavegan
Bheemabalan
Vaalaky
Belavardhanan
Ugraayudhan
Sushenan
Kundhaadharan
Mahodaran
Chithraayudhan
Nishamgy
Paasy
Vrindaarakan
Dridhavarman
Dridhakshathran
Somakeerthy
Anthudaran
Dridhasandhan
Jaraasandhan
Sathyasandhan
Sadaasuvaak
Ugrasravas
Ugrasenan
Senaany
Dushparaajan
Aparaajithan
Kundhasaai
Visaalaakshan
Duraadharan
Dridhahasthan
Suhasthan
Vaathavegan
Suvarchan
Aadithyakethu
Bahwaasy
Naagadathan
Ugrasaai
Kavachy
Kradhanan
Kundhy
Bheemavikran
Dhanurdharan
Veerabaahu
Alolupan
Abhayan
Dhridhakarmaavu
Dhridharathaasrayan
Anaadhrushyan
Kundhabhedy
Viraavy
Chithrakundhalan
Pramadhan
Amapramaadhy
Deerkharoman
Suveeryavaan
Dheerkhabaahu
Sujaathan
Kaanchanadhwajan
Kundhaasy
Virajass
Yuyutsu(He survived the war).

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Note:This post is taken from my previous site.It was written when I was 12,so there are a lot of grammatical errors.Please bear with me.I will proof-read as soon as I get time.

One day after 16 years , Shantanu once again went to the banks of Ganga ,as he often did to remember his wife (Goddess) Ganga. Then to his great surprise there he saw a boy shooting arrows so precisely that actually he was able to control the flow of the largest river in India according to his wish.

Soon after he saw his wife Ganga standing near him smiling at his astonished face. Then she said to him, “Do not be surprised my lord, it is your own son Devarata , who equals Parashurama( a great warrior-god) in archery. He is learned in the Vedas (Ancient Hindu Scriptures). Now it is time for you to take him back to your Kingdom as your successor.” With these words she disappeared.

After four years, Devarata became the Yuvraj or the next king. Then suddenly trouble arouse when King Shantanu fell in love with the daughter of the king of the fishermen.

He asked her father’s permission , who indeed cleverly, told the king that the heir to Shantanu’s kingdom or Hastinapura should be the son of Shantanu and the fisherman’s daughter(Satyavati).

Devarata then realized from his father’s face that something was wrong. So he asked his father’s charioteer what was troubling Shantanu (his father).
The charioteer though unwillingly told Devarata all that happened between the fisherman and Shantanu.

So Devarata setout to the fisherman’s house and told him that the son of Satyavati and Shantanu will be the next king. Yet the power-hungry fisherman told Devarata that he would have to stay as a bachelor so that there was no chance of his desendants ascending to the throne.

Devarata vowed never to marry in this life to the fisherman due to his love for his father. The heavens applauded in appreciation and they chanted his new name Bhishma(one who never breaks a promise).

Although, Shantanu was first happy about marrying the beautiful Satyavati ,but afterwards he felt pity and sadness for his dear and devoted son, Devarata. Anyways,the couple spent some enjoyable years together and had two sons : Chitranganda and Vichitravirya.

After few years ,King Shantanu died. Then Bhishma had to rule for Chitranganda since he was too small.

Finally when Chitranganda took the throne ; he was killed by a gandharva. Then again Bhishma had to rule for young Vichitravirya who was much younger than Chitranganda.

Note:This post is taken from my previous site.It was written when I was 12,so there are a lot of grammatical errors.Please bear with me.I will proof-read as soon as I get time.

In Ancient times in India, there was a king called Shantanu with his capital named as Hastinapura which is located near the Ganga River (Ganges).This king was hunting one day when he saw a beautiful woman near the banks of the river. He was so overwhelmed by the woman’s beauty that he asked her to be his wife or queen.

The woman replied, “Iam Ganga ( a Goddess) and from the moment I saw you;I knew I had to marry you.”

King Shantanu was filled with joy and they soon got married. The king was very pleased with Ganga since she was loving and caring.

For seven years in a row they had seven children and all of them were drowned by their mother in front of their father, who remembered the promise he had given her about not questioning her about anything she does. But when the eighth son was about to be drowned, King Shantanu asked Ganga how she could drown her own children. And he asked her to leave the eighth son to him.

A sad smile was on Ganga’s face and she told him that he had broken his promise. Then she promised him that the eighth child would be called Devarata and that would live for a long time.

Finally, Ganga explained to King Shantanu that she fell in love with him in the courts of Indira(King of the Gods.) The other gods didn’t approve so she was sent to earth to marry him. Then she told him that their eight children were Eight Vasus (gods) who were cursed to be born on earth.

So she released them from this life by drowning them all. She told him that the eighth Vasu will live a long life and that she will take him to the heavens to train him properly for the King’s throne and status.

With these words she disappeared while King Shantanu was struck with grief thinking about spending rest of his life without her.

Note:This post is taken from my previous site.It was written when I was 12,so there are a lot of grammatical errors.Please bear with me.I will proof-read as soon as I get time.

When Vichitravira was old enough to get married ; Bhishma went to the swayamvara ( a marriage custom in which princesses married the best prince present by placing a garland on his neck) of the princesses of Kasi.Although the other kings initially welcomed Bhishma’s arrival.They soon realized that Bhishma was securing all three princesses for his brother Vichitravira . When Bhishma found out that all the kings opposed his presence; he challenged them all and beat them all including the King of Salva ,whom Amba, one of the princesses ,had accepted as husband by mind.

Before the amazed and overwhelmed court, Bhishma asked Vichitravira to marry all three princesses. Suddenly everyone was staring at the princess called Amba, who was now weeping in silence. Then Bheeshma broke the pin-drop silence by asking Amba ,sternly, the reason behind her silent weeping. Amba explained to him that she had accepted Salva as husband before Bhishma fought and defeated Salva and the other kings to secure the three princesses.

At once, Bhishma gave her leave and sent her with proper gifts to Salva since it was considered wrong in those days to forcefully marry a princess who had accepted another king or prince as her husband.

Salva ,who was grudging his defeat against Bhishma, told Amba that Bhishma should marry her since it was he who had justly won her in a battle. So Amba ,although, ashamed went to Bhishma and told him to marry her as Salva had advised. Bhishma although moved replied that he couldn’t since he had taken an oath to not to marry. Then Bhishma went to Vichitravira and asked him to marry her.

Vichitravira replied, ” Even though I wouldn’t refuse your advise; this time there is no choice but to refuse your advise since I will never marry a girl whose mind has already given to another man.”

Amba tried to take revenge against Bhishma and prayed to the almighty Lord Shiva, who granted her a garland which if put on by that person will help in killing his enemy. Even though Amba asked many kings to put on the garland and fight Bheeshma; none were brave enough.

So, Amba dived into a roaring fire and died since she was eager to be born as the daughter-afterwards- son of Drupada. Before commiting suicide she placed the garland around Drupada’s pillar. Due to Lord Shiva’s boon or blessings, Amba then Sikhandin in the next life remebered flung the garland around her neck. Dhrupada was worried, but didn’t react. Because of the blessings of one Deva (gods) Sikhandin( Amba’s reincarnation) became a man.

When everything seemed right in Hastinapura, Vichitraveera fell sick and nothing could save him. Satyavati his mother was worried that there would be no heir to the throne. Satyavati asked Bheeshma, who totally refused, to marry the two young widows.

Then finally she asked Vyasa the writer of this book to marry them. He agreed and Ambika had a blind son since Ambika shut her eyes towards the rishi unable to bear his ugly presence.
However, Ambaalika had a pale but wise son because Ambaalika didn’t shut her eyes but was frightened by the rishi’s presence so she was pale and sickly towards him. And the maid had the wisest son because she served him very well. “

well done!definitely phenomenal!