The Complete Mahabharata Story

myNachiketa
2 days ago
3 min read

This story teaches us the importance of duty, righteousness, and the power of truth."

The Complete Mahabharata Story

A long time ago, in the kingdom of Hastinapur, there lived a wise king named Shantanu. After he passed away, his son Vichitravirya became king, but he died young without children. To continue the family line, two princes were born to his wife Ambika and Ambalika from the sage Vyasa: Dhritarashtra and Pandu, respectively. Dhritarashtra was born blind, so although he was the elder brother, he could not become king. Pandu, who was younger but strong and capable, became the ruler of Hastinapur.

Dhritarashtra married Gandhari; she later became the mother of one hundred sons, known as the Kauravas, with Duryodhana as the eldest. Pandu married Kunti and Madri, and his wives had five sons, called the Pandavas - Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. Pandu died early, so the Pandavas grew up in Hastinapur under Dhritarashtra’s care.

The story begins with Duryodhana, who was very ambitious and wanted to rule the kingdom all by himself. On the other hand, the Pandavas were known for their nobility and righteousness.

As they grew older, the brothers engaged in many games and competitions. This is when the game of dice played a crucial role. Duryodhana, wanting to eliminate the Pandavas, tricked them in a game of dice. Through cheating, he made the Pandavas lose their kingdom and forced them to live in the forest for thirteen years: twelve years of exile and one year of living in disguise.

After completing this punishment, the Pandavas asked for their kingdom back. But Duryodhana proudly said he would not give them even as much land as the tip of a needle. Krishna Bhagwan, who loved the Pandavas and stood for truth, went to the Kauravas as a messenger of peace. He asked Duryodhana to be fair, but Duryodhana refused. Krishna then stood by the Pandavas to guide them.

This led to the evolution of a great war known as the Kurukshetra War. When the war was about to begin, Arjuna became sad, seeing his own family on the opposite side. Krishna, who became his charioteer, taught him the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita - to always do one’s duty with a pure heart and to stand for righteousness. Encouraged by Shri Krishna’s words, Arjuna fought the war bravely. Bhagwan Krishna delivered his wisdom through the Bhagavad Gita, teaching Arjuna that one must fulfil their duty without attachment to outcomes.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।

मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥

Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana

Ma karma phala hetur bhoor ma te sango stvakarmani

Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 2, Verse 47

You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.

This lesson emphasizes that we should focus on our duties and work sincerely rather than getting anxious about the results.

During the war, the Pandavas were ultimately victorious, but the war cost many lives, including some of their own dear relatives. This highlights a critical message of the Mahabharata that the pursuit of dharma, or righteousness, often leads to difficult choices and consequences.

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In the end, Yudhishthira emerged as the king, but he was deeply saddened by the destruction caused by the war. His journey led him on a path to self-realization, understanding that true victory lies in compassion and wisdom.

The Mahabharata is filled with moral lessons. Each character’s journey teaches us the values of honesty, courage, loyalty, and respect for duty. The Mahabharata reminds us that life is a mix of joy and sorrow, victories, and losses. It teaches us to cherish our values and relationships and to work towards harmony and understanding in the world around us.

Shloka: Bhagavad Gita