Indian Epics

Gandhari listened on from the main hall as her father and Bhishma. She knew they were talking about her and from the sounds of it she had just received another marriage proposal. “But he’s a prince!” Bhishma insisted. “My daughter can’t marry a man like that.” Her father replied angrily. A man like what? Ghandari wondered as she continued to listen on for clues as to whom they were talking about. Suddenly she heard a loud band as the door to her father’s office flew open. She tried to act natural, pretending to be engrossed in a book that had been open in her lap. “Daughter, Bhishma has a proposal for you. The prince Dhiritarashtra, from Kuru. The only problem is he’s blind. I understand if you don’t want to have to live with this for the rest of your life. Say the word and I’ll send him away.” Ghandari was shocked that her father would think she was that shallow. She rolled her eyes as she thought about it. People in the kingdom were always calling her stuck up and selfish. If on...

This part starts with the Pandava's exile in the forest. Arjuna goes away to find weapons.Duhshasana and Duryodhana plan to stage an attack to kill them. Hidimbi is sent to kill them but falls in love with Bhima, and makes herself beautiful. He falls in love with her too and kills her brother. They get married and have a son who's a magician. Her and her son leave to a different world. Vyasa tells the Pandava's to visit wise men. He intervenes when Duryodhana threatens them. Film Adaptation of Mahabharata Bibliography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EENh1hxkD6E&t=0m5s Title:   The Mahabharata Director : Peter Brook Scriptwriters:   Jean-Claude Carriere and Peter Brook Year:  1989

This week I continued to watch Brook's Mahabharata. This second part picks up before the game of dice. Krishna tells the Pandavas and Draupadi that Yudhishithira will be king. Dhiritarashtra gives the Pandavas a piece of his kingdom which angers Bhima. Duryodhana wants war. He visits the Pandavas palace and runs into invisible walls. The Pandavas mock him which makes him even more angry. The game of dice begins and Shakuni, a cheater, plays in Duryodhana's place. Yudhishthira gambles away his brothers, himself, and Draupadi. Duhshana tries to remove Draupadi's clothes but she prays and the Sari extends endlessly.Draupadi asks for her husbands freedom. Yudhisthira goes back for another round.They lose and are exiled for 12 years. Film Adaptation of Mahabharata Bibliography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EENh1hxkD6E&t=0m5s Title:   The Mahabharata Director : Peter Brook Scriptwriters:   Jean-Claude Carriere and Peter Brook Year:  1989