The Mahabharata is an epic narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kauravas and the Pandava princes. While many are familiar with its grand battles and moral dilemmas, there are lesser-known tales woven into its vast tapestry that are just as compelling. Today, we unravel four such secrets that add even more depth to this legendary saga.
The Blindfold of Gandhari
One of the most poignant aspects of Mahabharata is the story of Gandhari, the wife of Dhritarashtra. Respected and regarded as an epitome of virtue, Gandhari chose to blindfold herself for life to share her husband’s blindness. But this was not just an act of empathy; it was steeped in mysticism and intricate politics of the time.
It is lesser known that Gandhari’s blindfold granted her powerful energies through years of focused tapasya (austerity). These powers played a crucial role in the fortification of her son, Duryodhana, in the Kurukshetra War, briefly making him invulnerable.
The Unusual Birth of Dhritarashtra and Pandu
A captivating yet less discussed story is that of the birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Following the premature death of her husband, Vichitravirya, their mother, Queen Satyavati, summoned the sage Vyasa to father her grandchildren through Niyoga – an ancient practice of surrogacy.
Vyasa’s extraordinary appearance frightened the queens Ambika and Ambalika during the Niyoga, resulting in the birth of Dhritarashtra, who was born blind, and Pandu, who was pale and weak. A clever maid who maintained composure gave birth to the intelligent Vidura. These events set the stage for the challenges that faced the Kuru dynasty.
The Mysterious Deaths of the Pandavas
The Pandavas, hailed as heroes, met with an ambiguous end post-war. The lesser-known part of their story is how they met their demise, an event preceded by a strange incident involving a yaksha (Celestial Being) and a lake.
During a sojourn in the forest, the Pandavas, overcome with thirst, ignored the yaksha’s condition that they could only drink from his lake after answering his questions. One by one, four of the brothers perished after drinking the water without heeding the yaksha’s warning. Yudhishthira, the eldest, known for his adherence to dharma (righteousness), engaged the yaksha in conversation and answered his questions successfully, leading to the revival of his brothers. This episode highlighted his wisdom and the importance of upholding dharma.
The divine Krishna, known for his omniscience and omnipotence, showcases his human attributes through his toleration and eventual slaying of Shishupala. Shishupala’s demise was foretold to occur at the hands of Krishna after a fixed number of offenses.
The turning point came when Shishupala, filled with vitriol towards Krishna, overstepped his bounds. Krishna’s use of the Sudarshan Chakra ended Shishupala’s life, bringing justice and reinforcing the theme of good prevailing over evil.
These tales from the Mahabharata are mere glimpses into a vast and intricate world of stories yet to be explored. The courage and complexity of its characters, coupled with morality tales embedded within each anecdote, continue to astonish and inspire us.
