Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part A
Public Domain Edition of Mahabharata by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.
Vyasa and Ganesha:
Vyasa is the author of the Mahabharata and ordered god Ganesha to write down this story, which contained all the information that needed to be known about Earth and heaven. He set in stone that Ganesha would record everything effortlessly and he ordered told Vaishampayan, who performed the sacred snake sacrifice subsequently. This was conducted by the King of Hastinapura, Janamejaya, who is related to Vyasa.
The story of Vyasa’s birth:The King of Chedi, Uparichara, was very powerful; so powerful, the gods feared he would conquer them. They ordered Indra to gift him a one-of-a-kind flying crystal car. One day, while the king was flying in the skies, a droplet of his semen fell into the river. A fish swallowed this, which gave rise to a boy and girl. The girl was left with the fisherman to be raised. Later named Satyavati, this girl strangely smelled of fish. She helped the fisherman with his ferry rides to people across the river and during this one day, she met her soon-to-be rishi, Parashara, who was love-struck by Satyavati. He tried to seduce her but Satyavati wanted to remain a virgin. Parashara convinced her that if she accepted his advances, she would remain a virgin and he would rid her of her pungent smell. Satyavati agreed and then conceived a child with Parashara. Born on the island, that child was known to be Vyasa.
Vyasa and Ganesha:
Vyasa is the author of the Mahabharata and ordered god Ganesha to write down this story, which contained all the information that needed to be known about Earth and heaven. He set in stone that Ganesha would record everything effortlessly and he ordered told Vaishampayan, who performed the sacred snake sacrifice subsequently. This was conducted by the King of Hastinapura, Janamejaya, who is related to Vyasa.
The story of Vyasa’s birth:The King of Chedi, Uparichara, was very powerful; so powerful, the gods feared he would conquer them. They ordered Indra to gift him a one-of-a-kind flying crystal car. One day, while the king was flying in the skies, a droplet of his semen fell into the river. A fish swallowed this, which gave rise to a boy and girl. The girl was left with the fisherman to be raised. Later named Satyavati, this girl strangely smelled of fish. She helped the fisherman with his ferry rides to people across the river and during this one day, she met her soon-to-be rishi, Parashara, who was love-struck by Satyavati. He tried to seduce her but Satyavati wanted to remain a virgin. Parashara convinced her that if she accepted his advances, she would remain a virgin and he would rid her of her pungent smell. Satyavati agreed and then conceived a child with Parashara. Born on the island, that child was known to be Vyasa.
King Shantu and Ganga:
King Shantanu was married to the beautiful goddess Ganga, who gave birth to their child, Devavrata, but deserted them to depart to the Ganges river.
King Shantanu and Satyavati:
Many years later, King Shantanu became weary and old after Ganga departed for the Ganges river. He decided to walk along the Yamuna river, where Satyavati was attending to the ferryboat with her father figure, the fisherman. He was incredibly attracted a sweet scent, which is revealed to be that of Satyavati’s. The king was love-struck as soon as he met the divine maiden, memorable for her luminous, black eyes. He requested Satyavati’s hand for marriage but the fisherman refused, explaining he would not accept the marriage unless Satyavati’s son, Vyasa, would be promised heir to the throne instead of Devrata. King Shantanu was devastated but did not consent to this agreement and turned away Satyavati.
King Shantanu was married to the beautiful goddess Ganga, who gave birth to their child, Devavrata, but deserted them to depart to the Ganges river.
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| King Shantanu and the beautiful goddess Ganga before departing for the Ganges river. Source: Wikipedia. |
Many years later, King Shantanu became weary and old after Ganga departed for the Ganges river. He decided to walk along the Yamuna river, where Satyavati was attending to the ferryboat with her father figure, the fisherman. He was incredibly attracted a sweet scent, which is revealed to be that of Satyavati’s. The king was love-struck as soon as he met the divine maiden, memorable for her luminous, black eyes. He requested Satyavati’s hand for marriage but the fisherman refused, explaining he would not accept the marriage unless Satyavati’s son, Vyasa, would be promised heir to the throne instead of Devrata. King Shantanu was devastated but did not consent to this agreement and turned away Satyavati.
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