Tiny Tales: Traditional Stories in 100 Words: Book: Mahabharata

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Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata

Welcome to Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata. This is a retelling of the Mahabharata using two hundred episodes that are each 100 words long.

PDF - EPUB - MOBI - HTML - TXT - Audio - Kindle - Print - Website

Creative Commons. This work is released with a Creative Commons license: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. That means you can remix and reuse individual stories or the contents of the whole book with attribution for non-commercial purposes, provided that you release your work with the same license. Find out more.

Attribution: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata by Laura Gibbs.

Version: January 22 2021.

You can access the book in a variety of formats, along with individual stories here at the blog (see story title list and links below).

Pressbooks. This is a web-based presentation of the book with all the stories on one page, chapter by chapter.

Audiobook. There is a free audiobook at SoundCloud. I've also made the mp3 files available for download if you prefer not to use SoundCloud and/or if you want to repurpose the audio (which is also released with the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license).

EPUB. You can use this epub file for ebook readers like Nook, etc. (I'm a fan of the app ReadEra.)

MOBI. You can download this free mobi file to load onto your Kindle. (Here's how to add a free MOBI file to your Kindle.)

Kindle. There is a Kindle version of the book for 99 cents from Amazon.

Print. There is a paperback version for $6.25 from Amazon (free Prime shipping).

Text file. This is a plain text file, no special characters. This option might be useful if you want to repurpose the entire book with your own formatting; see Creative Commons licensing CC BY-NC-SA above.

HTML. This is a super-simple very vanilla HTML version.

PDF. You can download a PDF copy of the book.

Website. The website has illustrations for all the stories, along with additional notes. The reading is broken up into four parts (my students read two parts per week, finishing the book over a two-week period).

~ ~ ~

TINY TALES FROM THE MAHABHARATA

A Book of Two Hundred 100-Word Stories

ABOUT THIS BOOK

The Mahabharata tells of the war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, cousins who conceived a deadly hatred for one another. The epic begins with the story of King Shantanu, the Pandavas' great-grandfather, and ends with King Janamejaya, the Pandavas' great-grandson. You will meet Draupadi, the heroine who is married to all five of the Pandava brothers, and you will also meet Krishna, the human avatar of the god Vishnu who sides with the Pandavas in the war. For first-time Mahabharata readers, I've included a list of characters in an appendix to the book, and you'll find additional notes at:

Mahabharata.LauraGibbs.net

The paragraph you just read about the Mahabharata is 100 words long, as is this paragraph, and that's also the length of each episode in this book. The episodes go fast, but you can slow down when you find one you like. Read it again. Let it sink in. You might even write your own versions of your favorite episodes, using your imagination to add more details. Meanwhile, if you get confused by a particular episode, don't get bogged down; just keep reading! You can find more 100-word stories from the Mahabharata, along with a "Tiny Tales" Ramayana, at:

100Words.LauraGibbs.net

THE STORIES

1. Vyasa Seeks a Scribe
2. King Shantanu Gets Married
3. The Story of Mahabhisha
4. King Shantanu Confronts the Queen
5. The Story of the Vasus
6. Devavrata Departs and Returns
7. Shantanu Sees Satyavati
8. The Story of Satyavati
9. Devavrata Swears an Oath
10. King Shantanu Marries Satyavati
11. Bhishma Goes to the Swayamvara
12. Amba Pleads with Bhishma
13. Amba Goes to Parashurama
14. Amba Prays to the Gods
15. How the Sons of Satyavati Died
16. Vichitravirya Leaves Two Widows
17. Another Story of Satyavati
18. Satyavati Summons Vyasa
19. Three Sons are Born
20. The Story of Mandavya
21. The Brothers Get Married
22. Pandu Goes Hunting
23. The Story of Kunti's Mantra
24. Kunti and Madri Have Sons
25. Dhritarashtra Has a Son
26. Gandhari Has Sons
27. Pandu Cannot Resist
28. A Story about Pandu
29. Duryodhana Plots against Bhima
30. Bhima Meets the Naga King
31. Drona Comes to Hastinapura
32. Drona Arranges an Archery Contest
33. A Crocodile Attacks Drona
34. Ekalavya Seeks a Guru
35. Drona Demands Payment
36. The Princes Display Their Prowess
37. Karna Becomes King of Anga
38. The Story of Karna and the Two Curses
39. Karna Becomes Parashurama's Disciple
40. The Story of Drona and Drupada
41. Drona Gets Revenge
42. Drupada Prays for Children
43. Shikhandin Gets Married
44. Shikhandin Meets a Helpful Yaksha
45. Kubera Confronts Sthuni
46. Kunti's Elephant Ritual
47. Queen Satyavati Departs
48. The Kauravas and Pandavas Trade Insults
49. Bhishma Imprisons Subala
50. King Dhritarashtra Sends the Pandavas Away
51. Duryodhana Plots against the Pandavas
52. The House in Varanavata Burns
53. The Pandavas Escape
54. Bhima Fights a Rakshasa
55. Bhima Fights Baka
56. The Pandavas Meet a Gandharva
57. Drupada Holds a Swayamvara
58. Krishna Recognizes the Pandavas
59. Arjuna Competes in the Swayamvara
60. The Pandavas Must Share the Alms
61. King Drupada Receives the Pandavas
62. The Story of Nalayani
63. Shiva Fulfills a Woman's Prayer
64. Draupadi Marries the Pandavas
65. King Dhritarashtra Deliberates
66. The Pandavas Go to Khandavaprastha
67. Khandava Forest Burns
68. The Story of Sunda and Upasunda
69. Draupadi Becomes a Mother
70. Arjuna Violates the Agreement
71. Arjuna Comes to a Deadly Lake
72. Arjuna Meets Ulupi
73. Arjuna Elopes with Subhadra
74. Duryodhana Visits Indraprastha
75. Shishupala Insults Krishna
76. King Yudhishthira Makes a Vow
77. Duryodhana Plots with Shakuni
78. Duryodhana Invites the Pandavas to Hastinapura
79. The Pandavas Enter the Gambling Hall
80. The Game Begins
81. Duryodhana Summons Draupadi
82. Dushasana Brings Draupadi into the Assembly
83. Duryodhana Seeks to Disrobe Draupadi
84. Bhima Makes a Vow
85. King Dhritarashtra Grants Draupadi a Boon
86. Duryodhana Demands a Rematch
87. Yudhishthira Gambles Again
88. The Exile Begins
89. The Story of Kurukshetra
90. The Story of Rama
91. The Story of Nala
92. The Story of Savitri
93. The Rishi Maitreya Curses Duryodhana
94. Jayadratha Comes to the Forest
95. The Pandavas Stop Jayadratha
96. Bhima Searches for Lotuses
97. A Python Captures Bhima
98. Vyasa Advises Yudhishthira
99. Arjuna Encounters a Hunter
100. Arjuna Visits Indra's Heaven
101. The Pandavas Are Reunited
102. Duryodhana Fights the Gandharvas
103. The Pandavas Look for Water
104. Yudhishthira Answers the Questions
105. The Yaksha Revives the Pandavas
106. The Pandavas Go to King Virata
107. Kichaka Pursues Draupadi
108. Draupadi Seeks Protection
109. Bhima Kills Kichaka
110. Duryodhana Searches for the Pandavas
111. Duryodhana Attacks Virata
112. Prince Uttara and Arjuna Ride into Battle
113. Arjuna Faces the Kauravas in Battle
114. King Virata Boasts about Prince Uttara
115. The Pandavas Reveal Themselves
116. Yudhishthira Hopes for Peace
117. Dhritarashtra Sends an Envoy of Peace
118. Dhritarashtra Seeks Advice
119. Arjuna and Duryodhana Go to Dwaraka
120. Whose Side Will Balarama Join?
121. King Shalya Makes an Alliance
122. Duryodhana Insists on War
123. Krishna Consoles the Pandavas
124. Dhritarashtra Learns of Krishna's Coming
125. Krishna Comes to Hastinapura
126. Krishna Addresses the Assembly
127. Krishna Speaks with Karna
128. The Armies Assemble
129. The Story of the Lakes at Kurukshetra
130. The Story of Vishnu and Bhudevi
131. Kali Demands a Sacrifice
132. Iravan Watches the Battle
133. Arjuna Arrives at Kurukshetra
134. Krishna Reveals Himself to Arjuna
135. Yuyutsu Chooses a Side
136. The War Begins
137. The Pandavas and Kauravas Clash
138. Arjuna Attacks Bhishma
139. Duryodhana Attacks with Elephants
140. Barbarika Joins the War
141. Shikhandin Confronts Bhishma
142. Bhishma Lies on the Bed of Arrows
143. Kunti Comes to Karna
144. Indra Visits Karna in Disguise
145. Bhima Pursues the Sons of Gandhari
146. Duryodhana Plans to Capture Yudhishthira
147. Abhimanyu Enters the Maze
148. Arjuna Vows to Avenge Abhimanyu
149. Duryodhana Seeks Gandhari's Blessing
150. Bhima Fights Karna
151. King Bhagadatta Attacks Arjuna
152. The Rakshasas Attack
153. The Pandavas Plan Drona's Death
154. Drona Hears Word of Ashwatthama's Death
155. Ashwatthama Launches the Narayana-Astra
156. Ashwatthama Makes a Vow
157. Bhima Finds Dushasana
158. Karna Duels with Arjuna
159. The Duel Continues
160. Karna Forgets the Mantra
161. Krishna Tests Karna's Generosity
162. Yudhishthira Confronts Shalya
163. Duryodhana Despairs
164. Duryodhana Hides in the Lake
165. Duryodhana Duels with Bhima
166. Duryodhana Summons Balarama
167. Duryodhana Addresses His Son
168. Draupadi Greets the Victorious Pandavas
169. Barbarika Settles an Argument
170. Ashwatthama Makes a Final Vow
171. The Kauravas Raid the Camp by Night
172. Ashwatthama Returns to Duryodhana
173. The One Hundred Kauravas
174. Krishna Curses Ashwatthama
175. Kunti Searches the Battlefield
176. The Pandavas Honor Karna
177. Gandhari Searches the Battlefield
178. The Pandavas Return to Hastinapura
179. Gandhari Curses Krishna
180. The Pandavas Mourn the Dead
181. Yudhishthira Becomes King of Hastinapura
182. Bhishma Instructs Yudhishthira
183. Bhishma Departs This World
184. Dhritarashtra Stays in the Palace
185. The Elders Go into the Forest
186. The Yadavas Quarrel
187. The Story of the Reeds
188. Balarama and Krishna Depart the World
189. Krishna Tells Jara a Story
190. The Pandavas Depart
191. The Pandavas Climb Mount Meru
192. Yudhishthira Must Choose
193. Yudhishthira Finds the Kauravas in Heaven
194. Yudhishthira Descends to Naraka
195. Parikshit Is Cursed
196. Parikshit Hides in the Tower
197. Janamejaya Conducts a Snake Sacrifice
198. Astika Confronts Janamejaya
199. Janamejaya Hears the Mahabharata Story
200. You Reach the End

STORY SOURCES

For story-specific sources, see the links above.

Ganguli, Kisari Mohan. The Mahabharata. [Available online.]

Narayan, R. K. The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version.

Pattanaik, Devdutt. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata.

GLOSSARY. See the website for a glossary of characters and terms.

Errata. I will record errata here as I find them.

~ 92. The Story of Savitri ~

Laura Gibbs · 92. The Story of Savitri

Maitreya then told another story. "King Ashwapati's daughter Savitri chose to marry Satyavan, a prince living in poverty in the forest, supporting his blind father, a king who had lost his kingdom. Even worse: the royal astrologer predicted Satyavan would die in one year. But Savitri loved him, and when Yama took Satyavan to the land of the dead, she followed. 'You cannot follow!' Yama said, but Savitri persisted. Impressed, Yama granted her a wish. 'I want to bear Satyavan's children,' she said. Thus Yama had to restore Satyavan's life, thanks to Savitri."

"I like that story," said Draupadi, smiling.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 185.

Yama and Savitri

~ 91. The Story of Nala ~

Laura Gibbs · 91. The Story of Nala

"There was also King Nala," Maitreya continued. "He lost his kingdom in a gambling match with his own brother, who then exiled Nala to the forest. Nala's loyal wife, Damayanti, accompanied him. Feeling ashamed, Nala abandoned her in the forest to live out his exile alone. Damayanti spent years searching for Nala but couldn't find him anywhere. Damayanti's father organized a swayamvara for her to choose a new husband, and Nala arrived, serving as charioteer to one of the kings seeking a bride. Damayanti recognized him, and together they won back Nala's kingdom and ruled again as king and queen."

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 195. There are many great twists and turns in Nala and Damayanti's story, which you can read about at Wikipedia.

Damayanti and Nala

~ 90. The Story of Rama ~

Laura Gibbs · 90. The Story of Rama

"Has any king suffered more than I?" Yudhishthira asked the rishis.

"Listen to Rama's story," the rishi Maitreya told him. "Rama was blameless, but his father, King Dasharatha, exiled him at the behest of a jealous queen. For fourteen years, Rama lived as a forest hermit with his brother, Lakshmana, and his wife, Sita. Then the king of the rakshasas, Ravana, kidnapped Sita, and Rama had to wage a war to rescue her. He had no human allies, but with an army of monkeys, including the monkey-god Hanuman, he defeated Ravana. Only after all those hardships did Rama become king."

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.

Notes: This story is on p. 164. You can read the complete story of Rama's adventures here at Ramayana.LauraGibbs.net. There are various rishis who do the storytelling in the Mahabharata, but I focused on Maitreyi because of the story of how he cursed Duryodhana later.

Rama's coronation

~ 199. Janamejaya Hears the Mahabharata Story ~

Laura Gibbs · 199. Janamejaya Hears the Mahabharata Story

Astika spoke to Janamejaya about King Kuru and his ancestors, about the Pandavas and Kauravas, and about the war they fought.

"God himself was there," Astika said.

Janamejaya did not understand. "How could God be there?"

"God took the form of Krishna," said Astika. "Bring the rishi Vaishampayana here, and he will tell you everything. Vaishampayana heard the story from Vyasa. Vyasa was part of the story himself, and he was also an author of the story, the Mahabharata."

So Janamejaya summoned Vaishampayana, who recited the Mahabharata as he heard it from Vyasa, and Janamejaya became enlightened. He knew dharma.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 7.

Janamejaya

~ 198. Astika Confronts Janamejaya ~

Laura Gibbs · 198. Astika Confronts Janamejaya

"Who dares interrupt my sacrifice?" shouted Janamejaya.

"I am Astika," the young man replied. "My father is a rishi, and my mother is a naga. I see both sides, human and snake. For the sake of both humans and snakes, stop this sacrifice! Takshaka sought revenge for your great-grandfather Arjuna burning Khandava forest, which was home to many nagas. Now you seek revenge for your father. Then there will be snakes seeking revenge against you for this sacrifice. The revenge must stop. We need peace, not fire. Not winners and losers. The world needs dharma."

"Tell me more," said Janamejaya.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 5.

snake sacrifice

~ 197. Janamejaya Conducts a Snake Sacrifice ~

Laura Gibbs · 197. Janamejaya Conducts a Snake Sacrifice

Janamejaya was grief-stricken at his father's death. "The snakes will pay for this!" he shouted. "I'll kill them all!"

He convened the brahmin priests of Hastinapura and ordered them to conduct a Sarpa Satra sacrifice which would kill all the snakes of the earth. The priests built a huge bonfire, and they chanted the words that summoned the snakes. Swarms of serpents came slithering across the ground and flying through the air, plunging themselves into the fire where they burned to death in their thousands and millions.

Then a stranger appeared. "Stop!" the young man shouted. "This sacrifice must stop!"

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 4.

snake sacrifice

~ 196. Parikshit Hides in the Tower ~

Laura Gibbs · 196. Parikshit Hides in the Tower

King Parikshit climbed the tower and shut himself in the highest room. Guards stood around the tower and at every door. They searched everything and everyone, making sure no snake could find its way inside.

As the seventh day drew to a close, King Parikshit finally relaxed. He enjoyed his evening meal. Then, for dessert, he bit into a fruit.

There was a worm in the fruit.

The worm transformed into Takshaka, a mighty naga.

Takshaka then plunged his fangs into the king's flesh, and seconds later the king was dead.

He didn't even have time to call for help.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 4.

Takshaka and Parikshit

~ 195. Parikshit Is Cursed ~

Laura Gibbs · 195. Parikshit Is Cursed

King Parikshit had a son: Janamejaya.

One day when King Parikshit returned from hunting, Janamejaya saw he was dismayed. "Father, what troubles you?" he asked.

"I am cursed to die within seven days of snakebite," Parikshit replied. "In the forest, I entered a rishi's house. I greeted him, but he said nothing. That made me angry, so I draped a dead snake over his shoulders. The rishi's son saw me do this and cursed me."

"No!" Janamejaya said. "We will protect you."

They locked the king high in a tall tower. No snake could reach him, or so they thought.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 3.

Parikshit

~ 194. Yudhishthira Descends to Naraka ~

Laura Gibbs · 194. Yudhishthira Descends to Naraka

In the darkness, Yudhishthira heard shrieks and groans. He recognized his brothers' voices. "Help us, Yudhishthira!"

And then he heard Draupadi. "Husband, help me!"

"Are you ready to return to Amravati now?" the gods asked Yudhishthira.

"Don't leave us!" his brothers cried.

"Stay with me!" Draupadi begged.

"I must remain here," said Yudhishthira, angry and confused.

Then he had a vision of God. He saw the Allness of God: everything, every being, all life, all possibilities. The killers and the killed, creation and destruction. Everything.

Enlightened, Yudhishthira ascended to the highest heaven, beyond Amravati. He entered Vaikuntha, God's own home.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 337.

Yudhishthira in Naraka

~ 193. Yudhishthira Finds the Kauravas in Heaven ~

Laura Gibbs · 193. Yudhishthira Finds the Kauravas in Heaven

As Yudhishthira entered Amravati, he saw the Kauravas mingling with the gods. Duryodhana was there, and Dushasana, happy and radiant in the light of heaven. They smiled when they saw Yudhishthira. "Welcome, cousin!" Duryodhana said.

"How can this be?" Yudhishthira cried in dismay.

"Duryodhana, Dushasana, all the Kauravas died in battle on the sacred land of Kurukshetra," said the gods. "All warriors who fall on that field ascend to Amravati."

"But where are my brothers?" cried Yudhishthira. "Where is my wife?"

"They are in Naraka," said the gods.

"I must go there!" said Yudhishthira.

So Yudhishthira then descended into hell.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 335.

Devaloka: heaven of the gods

~ 192. Yudhishthira Must Choose ~

Laura Gibbs · 192. Yudhishthira Must Choose

At last, Yudhishthira came to Amravati's gate, where the devas greeted him. "Welcome, Yudhishthira! You may enter heaven's gate, but not your dog."

"What dog?" asked Yudhishthira, surprised. Then he turned and saw a dog who had followed him all the way from Hastinapura.

"The dog made the ascent," Yudhishthira protested. "His devotion is perfect! He too should enter heaven."

"No," said the gods. "You must come alone."

"If so," replied Yudhishthira, "I won't come."

Next, the dog vanished. Yama, god of dharma, appeared; Yudhishthira's father was testing him. "You have done well," he said, and Yudhishthira then entered Amravati.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 334.

Yudhishthira and the gods

~ 191. The Pandavas Climb Mount Meru ~

Laura Gibbs · 191. The Pandavas Climb Mount Meru

As the Pandavas and Draupadi climbed the snowy slopes of Mount Meru, seeking to attain heaven, Draupadi was the first to fall, but the Pandavas did not stop walking.

Then Sahadeva fell, and Nakula. No one stopped.

Arjuna. Then Bhima.

Alone, Yudhishthira kept on walking up the mountain.

As he walked, he reflected on the flaws that made them fall.

Draupadi had not loved all her husbands equally; she preferred Arjuna.

Sahadeva was proud of his knowledge, and Nakula of his beauty.

Arjuna had been envious, and Bhima gluttonous.

And so Yudhishthira kept walking, wondering if he too would fall.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 333.

Yudhishthira

~ 190. The Pandavas Depart ~

Laura Gibbs · 190. The Pandavas Depart

The sons of the Pandavas died in the war, but one grandson survived: Parikshit, the son of Uttara and Abhimanyu, who was the son of Arjuna and Krishna's sister Subhadra. Ashwatthama had launched a weapon to kill Parkishit while still in his mother's womb, but Krishna saved him, and Parikshit later became king in Hastinapura.

Then, after Parikshit's coronation, Yudhishthira, his brothers, and Draupadi resolved to climb Mount Meru, seeking heaven. After the loss of Krishna and Balarama, they no longer had any desire to remain in this world.

Dressed in clothes of bark, they departed on their final journey.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 333.

Pandavas depart

(and Draupadi falls)

~ 188. Balarama and Krishna Depart the World ~

Laura Gibbs · 188. Balarama and Krishna Depart the World

After the Yadavas slaughtered one another, Balarama resolved to leave the world. As he meditated, his life-force emerged in the form of a white snake, which then vanished.

After Balarama departed, Krishna too was ready for his life to end. He went into the forest, sat under a banyan tree, and waited.

A hunter named Jara, mistaking Krishna's foot for the ear of a deer, shot Krishna with an arrow.

Jara had found the arrowhead in the belly of a fish, and it was made of the same accursed iron which had killed the Yadavas.

Gandhari's curse was now fulfilled.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 329. The snake alludes to the legend that Balarama was an incarnation of the great Naga, Shesha.

(death of Balarama)

~ 187. The Story of the Reeds ~

Laura Gibbs · 187. The Story of the Reeds

Long ago, Krishna's son Samba wanted to trick the forest rishis, so he dressed up as a pregnant woman. "Is my baby male or female?" he asked.

The angry rishis replied, "You bear no baby but an iron bar that will destroy the Yadavas."

Samba tried to laugh it off, but an iron bar eventually emerged from his thigh. Horrified, Samba ground the bar into dust which he threw into the sea.

The sea cast the iron dust back onto the shore, and it grew into the reeds with which the Yadavas destroyed themselves years later, arguing about the war.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 328.

Samba and the rishis

~ 186. The Yadavas Quarrel ~

Laura Gibbs · 186. The Yadavas Quarrel

Time passed.

Then, a fight began in Dwaraka: some Yadavas defended the Pandavas, while others defended the Kauravas.

"The Kauravas ambushed Abhimanyu!" shouted the Pandava allies.

"The Pandavas deceived Drona!" retorted the Kaurava allies.

Back and forth they argued.

Fearing violence, Krishna and Balarama hid every weapon, but the quarreling citizens of Dwaraka then grabbed reeds from the seashore. These were no ordinary reeds: their edges were as sharp as any iron weapon.

Thus the Yadavas destroyed themselves.

Satyaki and Kritavarma, who had both survived the war, killed one another in that fight.

Such was the power of Gandhari's curse.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 328.

Yadavas quarrel

~ 184. Dhritarashtra Stays in the Palace ~

Laura Gibbs · 184. Dhritarashtra Stays in the Palace

Dhritarashtra continued to live in the palace, advising his nephew Yudhishthira, who was now king.

Bhima, however, didn't make it easy. When the family ate together, Bhima would crack his knuckles and reminisce about killing the Kauravas one after another. Whenever anybody broke open a bone to eat the marrow, Bhima would shout, "That reminds me of the sound Duryodhana's thigh made when I smashed it!"

Dhritarashtra's brother Vidura urged him to renounce the world. "Brother," he said, "It's time to go live in the forest!"

Dhritarashtra wanted to go, but he was attached to the luxuries of palace life.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 325.

Dhritarashtra and Gandhari

~ 182. Bhishma Instructs Yudhishthira ~

Laura Gibbs · 182. Bhishma Instructs Yudhishthira

The mighty Kaurava generals were all dead... except one: Bhishma. Fatally wounded, he was still alive, lying on the bed made by the arrows that pierced his body.

Bhishma had the power to choose when to die, and he was waiting until after the winter solstice: he wanted to die on the first day of Uttarayana, when Surya turns north.

Bhishma thus waited fifty-eight days, the days growing ever shorter.

Yudhishthira came, and Bhishma instructed him in the ways of kingship, telling him stories of long ago.

Bhishma also taught Yudhishthira to chant the Sahasra-Nama, the Thousand Names of God.

Inspired by: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Notes: This story is on p. 312.