Mahabharata, by Epified on YouTube
- The visuals of the narrator drawing along with the descriptions is a feature of this channel’s videos I have noticed and really enhances the viewers understanding of the scenes.
- Also helpful is a short sentence about the next video in the playlist line up. It makes for a nice transition to the topic of the upcoming video.
- It is an account of how Karma functions; through this lens of karma, each event is more easily seen as a chain of cause and effect.
- Puts in perspective the motive behind Ganga killing Shantanu’s 8 children in the Ganges river in order to “free” the celestial spirits from the curse of living mortal lives for a crime committed at a time prior. This also makes sense why she made Shantanu promise that if they were to wed that he would resist ever questioning her choices.
- Hastinapur retrieved its long-lost prince Devarat, King Shantanu’s son who was trained and taught by some of the wisest and most skilled in war. At the sight of his father’s romantic advances being denied by Satyavati, he decides to go reason with her himself. When he could not convince her fisherman father, he took an oath that he would never marry nor procreate and was henceforth known as Bhishma—“he of the terrible oath”.
- His father’s response is what gave rise to his boon that he would be able to choose the time of his own death.
- After Chitrangad dies, Vichitraveerya becomes King and Bhishma goes to Kashi and kidnaps three women—Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika. This story is sad because it shows the sexism of a society that shuns women who are taken like these princesses were. Poor Amba was rejected by the man she loved since her having been taken against her will somehow meant she belonged to Bhishma. No one should be shamed under these circumstances. It’s sad that the Sage Parshuram couldn’t fulfill his commitment of defeating Bhishma for Amba.
- After Vichitravirya died having had no children to succeed him, Satyavati told her secret that she had bore a child before she met Bhishma’s father, King Shantanu, named Vyasa. He was meant to give the widows of Vichitravirya children, but the shock and grief along with his not so pleasant looks made them hesitant. Due to this fear, it was said that her closing her eyes during the act would result in a child that was born blind. The second sister’s paleness would result in a child born with bad health. The third woman who was sent in the place of Ambalika, a servant, welcomed him with an open mind and heart.
- Ambika had Dhritarashtra, who was blind. Ambalika had Pandu, who was pale. The servant had Vidura, who grew to be one of the wisest and knowledgeable and was known as an avatar of Yama, the God of truth and death. These three boys grew up under their Uncle Bhisma’s care. The rivalry between the first two boys, Dhristarashtra and Pandu. With this many contenders for the Hanstinapur throne, it of course was sure to stir feathers. Though Dhritarashtra was on the throne with his brothers presiding over the kingdom, who “called the shots” was unanimously understood to be Dhritarasthra’s brothers.
- These brothers (Dhritarashtra, Pandu, Vidura) children would be major players in the war of the Mahabharata.
Author: Epified
Title: Epified: Mahabharata, Part A (Playlist)
Source: YouTube
(Image Source: Epified, YouTube Channel)
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