Week 9 Reading Notes: The Princes of Elephant City - Part B

 The Pandavas went under disguise for a year after their 12 years of exile 

After their exile, the burning of Sairandhri (Draupadi) on Kichaka's funeral pyre. 

Thankfully, Bhima rescued her and the opposing Kaurava's were utterly astounded. This left them with fear and confusion. 

After a quick battle, which had no fatalities, the Pandava's reveal themselves from their disguise. 

Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu marries Uttara, the princess. 

One of the Pandava brothers, Yudhishthira, wants to make a truce with King Dhritarashtra, but Duryodhana persuades his father to ignore the offer and make them spend another 12 years in exile. 

This leads to the battle between the Pandavas and Kaurava's. Bhima renewed his vow to break Duryodhana's thigh, which was done to revenge the humiliation of Draupadi. 

The war was commenced on the field of Kurukshetra. 

The side of the Kaurava's consisted of Bhishma, Drona, and Karna. 

Arjuna hurts Bhishma so badly that he is on bed rest for the rest of the war. Draupadi's brother, Dhristadyumna, wants revenge against Drona. Dhristadyumna tricks Drona by making him think that his son is dead. Because of this, Dhristadyumna is able to behead Drona. Now, Drona and Bhisma are both out of the war. This makes Karna command for an army for war. Karna and Arjuna are also battling in chariots. 

Side note, in the PDE Mahabharata, Karna also fights Arjuna in a chariot, which is also being driven by Krishna. 

Arjuna is able to slay Karna when Karna's chariot gets stuck in a pot hole. Soon after, Bhima is able to drink Duhshasana's blood, just how he vowed. 

After all of this scandal, the only Kauravas left are Aswatthaman, Duryodhana, and their allies, Kripa and Kritavarman. 

Now, it was Duryodhana's turn to experience the lavish torture of the Pandava's. Duryodhana was beneath a lake, just like the PDE of the Mahabharata. He insisted on staying underwater, but he finally agreed on a one on one combat with Bhima. Bhima breaks his thigh, succeeding the vow he took. The rest of the Kaurava side infiltrate the Pandava camp during night time. Unfortunately, they were able to slay Dhrishtadyumna and all of the Pandava army. The news was returned to Duryodhana and dies right after. Only the Pandava brothers and Krishna are the only survivors of the Pandava family. Draupadi's, Arjuna's, and Dhritarashtra's sons have all died. Dhritarashtra, who is blind, was in anger from the death of his entire sons. He attempted to strangle Bhima, but he grabbed a statue instead.

Duryodhana in the lake that he was beneath. The Pandava's are spotted in front of him before they persuade him to take on Bhima in a one on one. This image is from Wikipedia. 

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata - The Princes of Elephant City by C. A. Kincaid. 1921