Glimpses from Mahabharata # 18 - Curse to Karna

Parshurama is one of the 10 main incarnations of lord Vishnu. Kshatriya (worrier) killed his parents. As revenge he killed all the Kshatriya 21 times from the earth and donated the earth to Brahmans.

He also pledged not to educate arming them. When Dronacharya refused to impart training to him, he decided to try Parshurama, as he was the teacher of Dronacharya. He dressed up as Brahman and took permission to live in his ashram and take training.

He was an extraordinary student very soon he achieved place nearer to the Guru, the teacher. Parshurama gave him the knowledge of not only normal armory but Devastra (weapons of Semi Gods) and Divyastra (Weapons of lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) like Brahmastra etc.


Once he was sitting supporting his lap as pillow for his guru. One spider came and set on his led. He ignored the spider so that it does not disturb sleep of his Guru. Spider bates on his lap and it started paining.

The bite was such terrible that blood came. Karna hold the breath and kept ignoring pain sot that his Guru does not disturbed. Parshurama felt something and woke up. He saw the scene. He was stunned.

He asked with anger that who is he? Brahman can not bear such pain. He is not a Brahman. Angry Parashuram said, "If you will not tell immediately, I will kill you."

Karna did not know about his origin. He knew only that his father is a simple Sarthi (Driver of kings Vehicle). He accepted that he is not a Brahman and he want to learn fighting. That is why he lied.

He also put other arguments but angry Parashuram did not listen and curse him that as he got this all knowledge with abusing the believe and love of the teacher that is why when he will be needing the most his teachings he will forget them.

Glimpses from Mahabharata # 17 - Ganga's curse on Amba

When even Parasurama could not vanquish Bhishma, a dejected Amba who wanted revenge against the person who had forcibly abducted her and then left her in the lurch, did severe penance in several holy places.

When she performed her penance on the banks of River Ganga, the goddess appeared before her and asked what she wanted.

Amba narrated her tale to Ganga and asserted her desire to kill Bhishma.

The River Goddess became furious on hearing Amba’s words and cursed her, “Your thoughts are crooked. May you be born a crooked river, infested with crocodiles and unfit for the performance of religious rites.”

When Amba reached the holy spot called Vatsabhumi, half her body became a crooked river, filled only during rain, inaccessible and full of crocodiles.

It was thanks to the merits she had accumulated by her penances that the other half of her body helped her retain her maiden form.

Glimpses from Mahabharata # 16 - Eklavya

Once when Dronacharya was teaching use of different weapons to their royal students one urban boy came. He bowed him and said 'O' respected teacher I am son of Hiranyadhanu, king of Nishada. I will be very grateful if you teach me I will be your the best student in archery.

Dronacharya looked upon him he was well built confident and obedient looking boy. "Son of Nishada king, Nishada are born hunter. If I will teach him he will definitely be the best archer in the whole country. But I promised Arjun that he will be the best archer in the whole country. Thus I can not teach him".


"No, I do not teach accept royal blood and Kshatriya students". Eklavya smiled and said respected teacher who is that boy learning archery among those princes. "He is Ashvtthama, My son" Drona replied. He is neither prince nor Kshatriya.

Disappointed Eklavya returned with heavy heart. He then made a statue of Drona in mud and installed it at the place where he usually practiced archery. Everyday he prostrated before the stature and practiced archery. His concentration was so high that he could gain mastery over archery. He acquired immense knowledge about it also.

One day, Drona took his pupils to the forest to teach them hunting. It was the same forest where Eklavya practiced archery. Inside the forest Drona observed bow marks on the tree barks indicating archery practice. Just then, a hound standing near Drona stated barking.


Within the moment the hound's mouth was covered by seven arrows. Drona was astonished to find that someone had used his bow in the right direction and the exact place just by listening to the barking sound. Drona was therefore very curious to now more about this archer who had even excelled his own disciple.

Arjun who was standing next to Drona was baffled " I will ensure that none can equal to you in archery" was Drona's assurance to Arjun. But was he teaching someone else secretly wondered Arjun.

Both Drona and Arjun went in search of the archer. They saw Eklavya and introduced themselves to him. Eklavya was delighted. He felt as he had found a treasure and putting down the bow, prostrated before his Guru. Drona was immensely pleased. He asked Eklavya "son, you are an excellent archer. Who is your Guru"?

His Guru was right in front of him. But instead, Eklavya took Drona to the statue and said "Sir, My Guru is none other than Dronacharya, an expert archer and an unparalleled warrior. I have prepared his statue out of mud and imagining his physical presence, I practice archery" replied Eklavya in a humble voice.

Drona then recalled Eklavya's earlier request to teach hi, archery. He instructed the boy to exhibit his talent. Eklavya obeyed his instructions and demonstrated his skill with the bow and the arrow. All the princes present there were astonished with his skill.

Drona too could not believe his own eyes. He admired such an achievement by a tribal. He called Eklavya to come nearer and said "Son! I am Drona, I am the Guru you are talking about. Since you say that you learnt from me, shouldn't you pay me my Gurudakshina (fee offering to Guru)?"

Eklavya in reply said " Respected Sir, I am at your bidding. Whatever you want, I will give it to you". Drona wanted to impair Eklavya's capability to use the bow and the arrow. This would also remove any challenges to Arjun's supremacy over the skill. He therefore said "Eklavya, Cut your right thumb and offer it to me as your fee".

Eklavya realized Drona's intentions, but without any hesitation, he chopped his tight thumb and willingly offered it to Drona. Drona was immensely pleased with Eklavya's devotion and after complimenting him about this returned to the palace along with his disciples.

Glimpses from Mahabharata # 15 - Garuda

The sage Kashyapa had two wives, Kadru and Vinata.

To Kadru was born the snakes of the world and to Vinata was born a splendid kite. The bird was so enormous that as he flew in the sky, the shadow from his wings engulfed wide areas in darkness.

Kadru had tricked Vinata into becoming her slave. When the bird came to know of this, he negotiated with the snakes to free his mother from bondage.

The snakes agreed to free her if the kite could bring to them the nectar which was churned from the milky ocean but was now in the possession of the gods.

Vinata’s son immediately left on his mission to obtain the nectar. He knew that this task required great strength. So he swallowed 10,000 Nishadas (a tribe of hunters).

Even then he felt that he lacked the necessary strength. His father, Kashyapa, saw his plight and advised him as follows. ”My son, do not despair. I shall show you a pond where there live a gigantic elephant and an equally big tortoise. These two are in fact two brothers who were sages who had fallen out with each other over a matter of property. They have turned into these animals to try and kill each other. Catch these animals and eat them. You would become strong.”

The bird followed his father’s directions. Catching the two animals by his claws he took off to find a place where he could sit and eat them.

He observed a big banyan tree and descended towards it. But the flapping of his wings caused so much disturbance that a big bough broke away from the tree.

The bird quickly observed that there was a row of sages, Valikhilyas, who were hanging upside down in the bough and performing penance.

Because of his great respect for ascetics, the bird caught the bough in his beak and started flying. He now had an elephant and a tortoise hanging from his legs while the bough with the sages was held by his beak.

The sages observed this admirable feat and told the bird, “Thou art truly a great carrier of heavy weight, Garuda.”

Garuda found a safe place to leave the bough with the sages and another place where he could sit and eat the elephant and the tortoise.

Glimpses from Mahabharata # 14 - Mantara or Kooni

Here is a background to how Mantara or Kooni of the Ramayan fame was born.

The ten-headed Ravana became all-powerful due to the boon he received from Brahma.

The gods rushed to Brahma and sought relief from the demon.

Brahma told them that only the Supreme God, Vishnu, could slay Ravana.

Accordingly Vishnu was born to Dasaratha as Rama, and Sakra was sent to earth to beget monkeys and bears to help him.

All the other gods were asked to choose their roles in the drama to be played.

Brahma asked a Gandharvi (demi-god), Dundhubi by name, to be born as Manthara.

Her mission? To create confusion and trouble.