Mahabharata: the Ancient Indian Epic

Summary

The Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic, is a sprawling tale of succession, war, and morality, centered around the Kurukshetra War. Composed by sage Vyasa, it's a narrative 10 times longer than Homer's Iliad and Odyssey combined. Key characters include the virtuous Pandavas and the power-hungry Kauravas, whose conflicts culminate in a devastating war. The Bhagavad Gita, a significant Hindu scripture, is a philosophical discourse within the epic, where Krishna advises Arjuna on duty and righteousness. The story concludes with Yudhisthira's test of loyalty, highlighting the themes of virtue, loyalty, and the human condition.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world, composed by the sage Vyasa.
• 🌟 The Bhagavad Gita, a significant Hindu scripture, is a part of the Mahabharata.
• 🏰 The story revolves around the Kurukshetra war, which may have been a historical event.
• 👑 The epic begins with King Shantanu and his marriages, leading to a complex royal lineage.
• 🔥 The Kuru kingdom's succession is contested between the Kauravas and Pandavas, leading to conflict.
• 🏹 Arjuna, a Pandava, is a central character known for his exceptional archery skills.
• 🎯 The story includes a famous archery contest to win Draupadi's hand in marriage.
• 🃏 A game of dice leads to the Pandavas' exile and sets the stage for the Kurukshetra war.
• ⚔️ The war lasts for 18 days, resulting in the deaths of most of the warriors on both sides.
• 🐕 Yudhisthira's loyalty and humanity are tested by a divine gatekeeper at the gates of heaven.

Q & A

What is the Mahabharata and why is it significant?

The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world, believed to have been composed by the sage Vyasa. It is significant as it contains the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most important Hindu scriptures, and its story is still popular in India today.

Who is considered the protagonist of the Mahabharata?

Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, is considered the protagonist of the epic.

What is the Bhagavad Gita and how does it relate to the Mahabharata?

The Bhagavad Gita is a section of the Mahabharata and is a philosophical discourse where Krishna advises Arjuna about the importance of duty and the right path, which occurs before the war begins.

How does the story of the Mahabharata begin?

The epic begins with King Shantanu of Hastinapur who marries the goddess Ganga, and later Satyavati. Their descendants lead to the Kurukshetra war, which is the central event of the story.

What is the significance of the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata?

The Kurukshetra war is the central event of the Mahabharata, symbolizing the conflict between good and evil, and leading to the eventual victory of the Pandavas.

Why did Bhishma renounce the throne?

Bhishma renounced the throne to ensure his father, Shantanu, could marry Satyavati, as her father's condition was that Shantanu's children with Satyavati would inherit the throne.

How does the story of Draupadi become intertwined with the Pandavas?

Draupadi becomes the common wife of the five Pandava brothers after Arjuna wins her hand by performing an archery challenge, leading to a series of events that escalate the conflict with the Kauravas.

What is the significance of the dice game in the Mahabharata?

The dice game is a pivotal event where Yudhisthira, the Pandava king, loses his kingdom, wealth, and even his wife Draupadi to the Kauravas, leading to the Pandavas' exile and setting the stage for the war.

Why does Arjuna hesitate before the war, and how does Krishna respond?

Arjuna hesitates because he sees his relatives and teachers on the battlefield and is reluctant to fight. Krishna, as his charioteer, delivers the Bhagavad Gita, a discourse on duty and the importance of fighting for justice.

What is the outcome of the Kurukshetra war?

The war results in the death of almost all the Kauravas, including Duryodhana, and the Pandavas' victory. Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapur and later abdicates the throne.

How does the Mahabharata end for Yudhisthira and his dog?

In the end, Yudhisthira is tested by a gatekeeper at the gates of heaven who denies entry to his dog. Yudhisthira's loyalty and humanity are tested, and upon his refusal to enter without his dog, he is revealed to have passed the test and is welcomed into heaven.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to the Mahabharata

The video introduces the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, which is the longest epic poem in the world. It is believed to have been composed by the sage Vyasa in the 4th century BCE or earlier. The epic is significantly longer than Homer's Iliad and Odyssey combined and contains the Bhagavad Gita, a key Hindu scripture. The story revolves around the Kurukshetra War, which may have been a historical event but has become a legendary narrative over time. The epic begins with King Shantanu of Hastinapur and his marriages to Ganga and Satyavati, leading to the birth of Bhishma, who renounces his claim to the throne. The narrative then follows the complex family dynamics that lead to the division of the royal family into the Kauravas and the Pandavas, setting the stage for the war.

05:02

🎭 The Rise of the Pandavas and the Kauravas

The narrative delves into the lives of the Pandavas and Kauravas, the two branches of the royal family. The Pandavas, led by Yudhishthira, and the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana, are the central figures in the epic. The story highlights the moral ambiguity of the characters, with Arjuna emerging as the protagonist and Duryodhana as the antagonist. The escalating tensions between the cousins over the succession to the throne of Hastinapur are explored, including Duryodhana's plot to eliminate the Pandavas by burning them in a flammable palace. The Pandavas' escape, their subsequent adventures, and the swayamvara of Draupadi, where Arjuna wins her hand, are also detailed. The video also touches on the unique arrangement of Draupadi being the common wife of the five Pandava brothers.

10:04

🃏 The Game of Dice and the Exile of the Pandavas

The story continues with the infamous game of dice between the Pandavas and Kauravas, where Yudhishthira gambles away his kingdom, wealth, and even Draupadi. The humiliation of Draupadi and the subsequent vow of Bhima to avenge the insult are highlighted. The Pandavas are exiled for 12 years, with an additional year of living incognito. During their exile, Arjuna acquires celestial weapons and skills from the gods. The Pandavas' return, the failed peace negotiations, and the inevitable march towards war are also covered. The Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical discourse between Arjuna and Krishna, is introduced as Arjuna questions the morality of the impending war.

15:07

⚔️ The Great War and the Aftermath

The video concludes with the description of the Kurukshetra War, an 18-day battle that results in the deaths of nearly all the warriors on both sides, including Duryodhana and the Kauravas. The Pandavas emerge victorious, and Yudhishthira becomes the king of Hastinapur. The narrative then follows the Pandavas and Draupadi's journey to the Himalayas, where they face various trials and eventually ascend to heaven. The story ends with Yudhishthira's test of loyalty and humanity, as he refuses to enter heaven without his dog, symbolizing his commitment to those who have been loyal to him. The video invites viewers to reflect on the similarities between the Mahabharata and other ancient epics.

🌐 World History Encyclopedia and Conclusion

The final paragraph serves as a call to action for viewers to visit the World History Encyclopedia website for more content and to support the channel. It also mentions the availability of merchandise featuring the host's shirt design. The video ends on a note of gratitude for watching and an anticipation for future videos.

Keywords

💡Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic poem, considered one of the longest in the world. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for the narrative. The video discusses its composition by the sage Vyasa and its significance in Hindu scriptures. It also touches upon the Bhagavad Gita, a part of the Mahabharata, which is a key Hindu scripture. The script uses the Mahabharata to explore themes of succession, war, and morality.

💡Kurukshetra War

The Kurukshetra War is a central event in the Mahabharata and is the focus of the video's discussion on the epic's narrative. It is described as a historical event that has been embellished over time, similar to the Trojan War in Homer's Iliad. The video uses the war to illustrate the conflicts between the Kauravas and Pandavas, leading to a discussion of the moral ambiguity of the characters involved.

💡Bhishma

Bhishma is a character in the Mahabharata who plays a significant role in the story. He is known for his vow of celibacy and renouncing the throne, which is a key point in the video's exploration of the epic's succession issues. Bhishma's character is used to highlight the complexities of duty and personal sacrifice in the narrative.

💡Pandavas

The Pandavas are five brothers who are central characters in the Mahabharata. The video discusses their lineage, their exile, and their eventual triumph in the Kurukshetra War. The Pandavas represent the protagonists of the epic, and their story is used to explore themes of justice, loyalty, and the struggle for power.

💡Kauravas

The Kauravas are the cousins of the Pandavas and serve as the antagonists in the Mahabharata. The video describes their conflict with the Pandavas over the throne of Hastinapur, leading to the Kurukshetra War. The Kauravas are used to illustrate the darker aspects of power and ambition in the epic.

💡Dharma

Dharma, or duty, is a recurring theme in the Mahabharata and is central to the video's discussion of the characters' moral choices. The video uses the concept of dharma to explore the decisions made by characters like Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War, particularly in the context of the Bhagavad Gita.

💡Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is a section of the Mahabharata that is considered one of the most important Hindu scriptures. The video discusses the philosophical discourse between Arjuna and Krishna, where Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of duty and the transient nature of life. This dialogue is a key part of the video's exploration of the epic's moral and philosophical themes.

💡Draupadi

Draupadi is a central female character in the Mahabharata and the common wife of the five Pandava brothers. The video discusses her role in the epic, particularly her marriage to the Pandavas and the subsequent events that lead to the Kurukshetra War. Draupadi's character is used to explore themes of loyalty, humiliation, and the consequences of war.

💡Exile

Exile is a recurring motif in the Mahabharata, particularly in the video's discussion of the Pandavas' story. The Pandavas' exile is a key event that leads to their eventual return and the Kurukshetra War. The concept of exile is used to explore themes of loss, perseverance, and the eventual triumph of justice.

💡Avatar

An avatar, in the context of Hinduism, is an incarnation of a deity on earth. The video discusses Krishna, who is revealed to be an avatar of Vishnu, one of the most important gods in the Hindu pantheon. The concept of avatar is used to explore the divine intervention in the epic's narrative and the significance of Krishna's role in guiding the Pandavas.

💡Heaven

Heaven, or 'Swarga' in Sanskrit, is a concept in Hinduism that represents the afterlife or the abode of the gods. The video concludes with the story of Yudhisthira and his dog, where Yudhisthira's loyalty is tested at the gates of heaven. This concept is used to explore themes of morality, loyalty, and the ultimate reward for virtue in the epic.

Highlights

The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world, composed possibly as early as the 4th century BCE by the sage Vyasa.

The epic is about 10 times the length of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey combined.

The Bhagavad Gita, a section of the Mahabharata, is considered one of the most important Hindu scriptures.

The story revolves around issues of succession, the lead-up to the Kurukshetra war, and its aftermath.

The Kurukshetra war may have been a historical event, but it has been embellished over time to its current legendary form.

The epic begins with King Shantenu of Hastinapur and his marriage to the goddess Ganga, unbeknownst to him.

Bhishma, son of Shantenu, renounces the throne to ensure his father's lineage continues through his stepmother Satyavati.

Vyasa, born to Satyavati and her previous husband, becomes a surrogate father to continue the royal lineage.

The royal family splits into two factions: the Kauravas under Dhritarashtra and the Pandavas under Pandu.

Pandu is cursed to die if he ever has sex, leading to the birth of his sons through his wives' prayers to the gods.

Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, plots to eliminate the Pandavas, leading to a series of conflicts and the eventual war.

Arjuna, a Pandava, wins Draupadi's hand in marriage by performing a nearly impossible archery feat.

Draupadi becomes the common wife of the five Pandava brothers to maintain harmony.

Yudhisthira, the eldest Pandava, is tricked into gambling away his kingdom and his brothers' wife, Draupadi.

The Pandavas go into exile for 12 years and live incognito for another year to reclaim their kingdom.

Arjuna receives celestial weapons and divine knowledge during his exile, preparing for the inevitable war.

The war between the Pandavas and Kauravas lasts 18 days, resulting in the death of nearly all the warriors on both sides.

Yudhisthira's test of loyalty to his dog at the gates of heaven, which ultimately leads to his acceptance into paradise.

Transcripts

did you know that a dog once decided the

fate of a hero in the ancient indian

epic the mahabharata stick around and

you'll hear all about it

[Music]

hello and welcome to world history

encyclopedia my name is kelly and

today's video is all about the ancient

indian epic the mahabharata don't forget

the easiest way to support us is by

giving this video a thumbs up

subscribing to our channel and hitting

that bell icon for notifications so you

don't miss out on our new uploads

world history encyclopedia is a

non-profit organization so if you'd like

to support our work you can head to our

patreon via the link in the top corner

of the screen or via the patreon link

down below

[Music]

the mahabharata is the longest epic poem

in the world and is believed to have

been composed as early as the 4th

century bce or even earlier by the sage

vyasa who was also a character in the

story

as a whole the mahabharata is about 10

times the length of homer's iliad and

odyssey put together and the bhagavad

gita which is only one section of the

whole epic is considered one of the most

important hindu scriptures the story is

still popular in india today and

children are still named after the

characters from the epic

the poem is all about issues of

succession and the lead-up to the

kurukshetra war and then the war itself

and the aftermath

much like the trojan war from the iliad

the kurukshetra war may have actually

been a historical event but through time

it has been embellished to the current

form which is now considered a legendary

narrative

okay let's get on to the story

the epic begins with the king shantenu

who is the king of hastinapur in the

region of kuru he marries a woman named

ganga who is actually a goddess but

shantanu doesn't know that at the time

and they have a son kudevaprant

later down the road shantenu falls in

love with a woman named satyavati

however he would only be allowed by

satyavati's father to marry her if he

was to be succeeded not by his son from

his first marriage but by a son that he

had with satyavati

thinking that this wouldn't be fair to

devafrant shantanu declines the offer

that when devrant hears about it he

rides to satsiavati's house and says

that he will renounce the throne and

remain celibate so that they could be

rest assured he would have no children

from then on he was known as bhisma

shantanu and satyavati have two sons and

when shantanu dies while his sons are

still children satyavati and bhisma deal

with the kingdom's affairs

once the boys are adults the eldest son

has died and so the younger son vittitra

virya becomes the king he ends up dying

childless and leaving the two princesses

he had married satyavati has another son

vyasha from her previous marriage and so

to keep the family line from dying out

vyasa could be used as a surrogate

father as part of the neo-custom and so

he sleeps with the widows of vichitra

virya

vyasa and the elder queen ambuka have a

son named rita rashtra who was born

blind and with the younger queen

ambalika they have a son named pandu who

was healthy but very pale they also have

a half-brother named vindor

at this point the royal family has split

into two the kauravas under

diritarashtra and the pandavas under

pandu

it is between these cousins and their

children that war will be waged once the

three boys are all adults one of them

has to become king because duritharastra

is blind he is bypassed even though he

is the oldest and pandu is made king

turitarashtra marries a woman named

gangari who always keeps her eyes

covered so she could experience the

world like her husband and pandu is

married to both kunti and madhuri

in a turn of events pandu is cursed to

die if he ever has sex because when he

was off hunting he killed two deer that

were mating and these deer weren't dear

at all but the wise man rishi and his

wife for this pandu and his wives are

exiled to the forest this becomes a

common event in the epic and

becomes the king

while in exile kunti prays to the gods

for help and she ends up having three

sons and madhuri has twins all without

killing pandu with the curse the sons

are born through the custom of nyog

yudhisthira

the god of justice

behemo the god of the wind arjuna by

indira the god of thunder and the twins

nakula and sahadeva which were madhuri

sans by ashvin's the gods of medicine

during this time dritarastra and gangari

had 100 sons with the eldest being judy

odhana

at this point it might be prudent to

mention that although the pandavas are

considered the good guys and the

cordovas the bad guys the characters in

the epic are all far more morally

ambiguous but overall arjuna of the

pandavas is thought to be the

protagonist of the epic and judy odana

the antagonist okay back to the story

now that there are 105 potential heirs

to the throne of hastinapur both tension

and hostilities between the cousins grow

over who would be named the heir julio

dana or yudistera

all of the boys are entrusted into the

care of a teacher first creeper and then

drona other boys are also attracted to

the school one in particular by the name

of karna from the suta clan becomes a

close friend of julio dana

to keep the peace tritarastra names

udistera as the heir

[Music]

unsurprisingly judy ordana is not happy

that yudistera is named as the heir

since he thought he should be the next

king since he is the son of the de facto

king and so naturally he plots to get

rid of the pandavas once and for all how

does he do this well he gets his dad to

send kunti and the pandavas away

tricking them into thinking that they're

setting off for a fair

the palace they are to be staying in is

entirely flammable and so julio dana

plans on burning it down with the

pandavas in it

luckily the pandavas are alerted to this

plan by their other uncle vindu remember

him who has already dug an escape tunnel

under their chambers

one night the pandavas give a huge feast

and feed a forest woman and her five

sons so much that they can't walk and

fall asleep in the palace then the

pandavas set fire to the castle

themselves and escaped

when duryodhana sees the bodies he

thinks he has succeeded in ridding the

world of the pandavas

the pandavas and kunti then go into

hiding moving around every few weeks for

a different village to stay in during

this time the second oldest and the

largest of the lot bohima kills two

demons marries a demon s and has a demon

child

whilst living in hiding as a poor family

they hear of a swayamba which is a

ceremony used to choose a suitor and

this one was for the princess of panchal

draupadi the five brothers set off for

the food or money which was given to

poor people at these events and then

they stayed to watch the fun

the conditions to win the princess are

difficult there's a long pole in the

ground which has a circular contraption

spinning at the top of it with a fish

attached to it

at the bottom of the pole there's a

shallow urn with water in it a person

has five arrows to use to pierce the

spinning fish using the mirrored water

to see only an extremely skilled archer

could pass this test such as the

presumed dead arjuna

some can't string the bow or even pick

it up and when kana steps up he isn't

even allowed to compete because draupadi

the princess doesn't want to marry

someone from the suta clan

arjuna gives it a go and pierces the

fish's eye with each of the five arrows

which he shot all at once and wins

draupadi's hand

the boys all dressed as poor men take

her to the hut they are living in but

draupadi's brother wasn't happy that the

princess was to be a commoner's wife so

he follows them as does krishna and

balarama who are of the yadava clan and

figured the man who won the challenge

must have been arjuna

the two men are related to the pandavas

since their father was kunti's brother

but they had never met before vyasa is

also there too and so the hut is full of

happy cries

just a quick note here krishna the

cousin of the pandavas is an avatar of

vishnu one of the most important gods in

the hindu pantheon to be an avatar of a

god basically means that krishna is an

incarnation of the god on earth

okay back to the story so draupadi

becomes the common wife of all five

brothers because when the five of them

enter the hut they yell ma ma come and

see what we've brought back today and

their mother yells whatever it is share

it amongst yourselves and so they do

they are all married and then invited

back to hass singapore where

duritarastra pretends to be happy to see

them

he gives the pandavas some land to rule

over which they transform into a

paradise with yudhisthira on the throne

and they call it indraprastha

you may be thinking how could one woman

be married to five men well they made a

deal to make it work each brother would

get to be married to her for one year at

a time and they would take it in turns

but if she is in a room with her husband

of that year and one of the other

brothers entered it they would be exiled

for 12 years

this happens to arjuna who during his

exile marries three princesses

[Music]

so obviously in true duty odana fashion

remember judy ordana is the son of

durietarashtra the king of hastinapur

he is not happy that the pandavas have

such power and prosperity so he invites

yudhisthera for a game of dice and has

his uncle shakuni play in his place

shakuni just keeps winning until

yudhisthira has nothing left to gamble

he has gambled his kingdom his riches

and even durability the koravas insults

draupadi and even try to remove her

clothes at this point bohima one of the

five brothers gets angry and vows to

kill every one of them

turitarastra unwillingly intervenes and

gives the pandavas back their kingdom

and their wife

once again judy ordana is not happy and

so he invites yudistada to another game

of dice where the loser would have to go

into exile for 12 years and then live

one year incognito if they're discovered

during their incognito year they have to

do the whole 12 years exile one year

incognito again

udistada agrees they play and once again

your dister are losers

[Music]

off they go into exile again this time

they left their aging mother behind to

stay with fendur for 12 years they live

and hunt in the forest yudhisthira asks

arjuna to head up to the heavens and get

some celestial weapons since it was

clear that they would have to fight for

their kingdom after the exile

arjuna returns with weapons and

techniques learnt from the gods and the

skills of singing and dancing in their

year of incognito they live in the virat

kingdom and they all get jobs at the

palace they aren't discovered during

this year and when they reveal

themselves the virat king is overwhelmed

and offers his daughter a marriage to

arjuna

since he had just spent that last year

teaching the king's daughter how to

dance he also sees her more like a

daughter and instead has her marry his

son abimanu at the wedding pandava

allies come up with war tactics and

emissaries are sent to hastingapur to

demand indraprastha back even krishna is

sent to foster peace but they all fail

judy ordana refuses to give away any of

his land and so war becomes inevitable

just before the war begins arjuna looks

around and sees all these people

teachers his great grandfather and

cousins and brothers and his resolution

begins to waver he doesn't want to kill

any of these people and what kind of

kingdom would it be beginning with so

much death he says all this to krishna

who is arjuna's charioteer following

this comment is the philosophical

discourse known as the bhagavad-gita

where krishna tells arjuna about how

fleeting life is and about the

importance of following through on one's

duty and sticking to the right path and

so arjuna picks up his bow and arrows

and war commences the battle goes on for

18 days the pandavas have seven akshaya

hinis and the koravas have eleven one

akshahini is a military unit made up of

21 870 chariots 21 870 elephants 65 610

horses and 109

350 foot soldiers there are many deaths

on each side but ultimately the pandavas

win duryodhana and all of the koravas

die as do all of the menfo from

duraopathy's family and all of her sons

she had with the pandava brothers

kana also dies and at this point it's

revealed that he was kunti's son from

her first marriage before pandu

in only 18 days almost three whole

generations of men are lost

after the war yudhisthira becomes king

of hastin the poor and indraprastha

he rules for 36 years and then abdicates

the throne to his grandson parikshi the

son of abhimanyu

the pandavas and draupadi head to the

himalayas and plan to live the rest of

their lives climbing the slopes towards

the heavens

one by one they die and their spirits

ascend to heaven until only yudhisthira

and his faithful dog are left

when they reach the gates of heaven the

gatekeeper tells yudistada that he is

welcome but his dog is not

you dis that out rejects this telling

the gatekeeper if his dog who has been

faithful to him throughout his life is

not welcome he will not enter heaven

the gatekeeper reveals himself as the

god vishnu and tells you this that

that was only a test of his loyalty and

humanity which he has passed he is then

welcomed into paradise with his dog and

is reunited with all he thought he had

lost

can you see any similarities between the

mahabharata and other ancient epics and

stories let us know down in the comments

below if you enjoyed this video make

sure to give it a thumbs up and

subscribe to our channel so you don't

miss out on our new videos every tuesday

and friday

this video was brought to you by world

history encyclopedia for more great

articles and interactive content head to

our website via the link below if you

like my shirt you can find this design

and a bunch more on our shop at

worldhistory.store or you can find the

link for it under our merch tab down

below thank you so much for watching and

we'll see you soon with another video

[Music]

you