This week, I finish up reading the Mahabharata. The story heats up more as we move from the exile portion of the story to the battle side, and the families begin to settle things on the battle field. Though this is reminiscent of other stories there are stark differences as well.
The family ends the story with a battle when they return home. Which doesn't sound at all too foreign when we think about an amazing warrior that has been aided by the gods and comes home to a large battle for their own homeland, this is reminiscent of the Odyssey by Homer. Arjuna returns home and wages war against the opposing family along with his family, and this brings up the question: how is this even a contest? In the previous story, we learn how Arjuna has gained many different magical weapons, and how the Gods favor him, so why do they and the magical weapons that they had bestowed upon him abandon him in the hour of need? This stands in contrast to the Odyssey where Odysseus fights against the will of the gods for a decent part of the story. Instead of being opposed, Arjuna was helped, but it is confusing as to why he is abandoned.
As the battle wages on, the sides try to play tactically and honorably, but they begin to resort to dishonor and poor tactics as the war wages on. This is not too surprising, and instead, it might be more surprising that the Gods decided not to intervene. They intervene during the exile in the forest, so it seems odd that they do not even wage a proxy battle during the more important parts of Indian history. Eventually, Arjuna's side emerges victoriously, and they regain claim to their home, but with all stories, there is a resolution plot that involves snakes.
The God Yama visits the different members of Arjuna's family, showing them the heavens and the Underworld, and after Arjuna's grandson is bitten by a snake and dies, his son becomes so furious that he appears to sacrifice all snakes at once in a snake sacrifice. This is reminiscent of the Bible where snakes are considered to be a large factor in human sin.
Overall, the Mahabharata illustrates an interesting tale of a family as a whole and their journey. It illustrates an entire group overcoming hurdles as opposed to just one character like the Ramayana.
The family ends the story with a battle when they return home. Which doesn't sound at all too foreign when we think about an amazing warrior that has been aided by the gods and comes home to a large battle for their own homeland, this is reminiscent of the Odyssey by Homer. Arjuna returns home and wages war against the opposing family along with his family, and this brings up the question: how is this even a contest? In the previous story, we learn how Arjuna has gained many different magical weapons, and how the Gods favor him, so why do they and the magical weapons that they had bestowed upon him abandon him in the hour of need? This stands in contrast to the Odyssey where Odysseus fights against the will of the gods for a decent part of the story. Instead of being opposed, Arjuna was helped, but it is confusing as to why he is abandoned.
As the battle wages on, the sides try to play tactically and honorably, but they begin to resort to dishonor and poor tactics as the war wages on. This is not too surprising, and instead, it might be more surprising that the Gods decided not to intervene. They intervene during the exile in the forest, so it seems odd that they do not even wage a proxy battle during the more important parts of Indian history. Eventually, Arjuna's side emerges victoriously, and they regain claim to their home, but with all stories, there is a resolution plot that involves snakes.
The God Yama visits the different members of Arjuna's family, showing them the heavens and the Underworld, and after Arjuna's grandson is bitten by a snake and dies, his son becomes so furious that he appears to sacrifice all snakes at once in a snake sacrifice. This is reminiscent of the Bible where snakes are considered to be a large factor in human sin.
Overall, the Mahabharata illustrates an interesting tale of a family as a whole and their journey. It illustrates an entire group overcoming hurdles as opposed to just one character like the Ramayana.
The snake sacrifice. Source: Wikipedia
Bibliography: Mahabharata, Public Domain Edition, Link.
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