The Epic Battle Of God Vs Evil

The story begins with the birth of the Kuru princes, who are the descendants of King Bharata. The Kuru dynasty is divided into two branches - the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The Pandavas are the sons of King Pandu, while the Kauravas are the sons of King Dhritarashtra.

King Pandu, however, was cursed that he would die if he ever engaged in sexual intercourse. Therefore, his wife, Queen Kunti, prayed to the gods and received a boon that allowed her to call upon any god and bear a child. She gave birth to Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna, who were known as the Pandavas.

King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari, on the other hand, had a hundred sons, led by Duryodhana. These were known as the Kauravas.

The Pandavas grow up and are trained in warfare by their uncle, Bhishma. However, Duryodhana is jealous of the Pandavas and plots against them. He tries to poison Bhima, but Bhima survives. Duryodhana then tries to kill the Pandavas by setting their palace on fire, but the Pandavas manage to escape.

The Pandavas go into exile and spend thirteen years in the forest. During their exile, they meet various sages and learn important lessons in life. Meanwhile, the Kauravas become more powerful and become the rulers of the kingdom.

One day, while the Pandavas were on a hunting trip, King Pandu was overcome with lust and broke his curse by having sexual intercourse with his wife, Madri. However, he died immediately afterwards due to the curse. Queen Kunti and Madri were devastated and decided to burn themselves on his funeral pyre, but Vidura, their uncle, convinced them not to.

Dhritarashtra, who was blind, was crowned king, and he appointed his eldest son, Duryodhana, as his heir. However, he also made sure that the Pandavas were given an equal share of the kingdom and sent them to rule over a small village.

The Pandavas built a new city there, called Indraprastha, which became prosperous and renowned for its beauty. They invited Duryodhana and his brothers to visit them, hoping to reconcile with them, but Duryodhana was filled with envy when he saw the splendour of Indraprastha.

Duryodhana then invited the Pandavas to a game of dice, hoping to humiliate them and win back their kingdom. Shakuni, his uncle, was a master of the game and helped him cheat, causing the Pandavas to lose everything, including their kingdom, wealth, and even their wife, Draupadi.

Duryodhana and his brothers then tried to disrobe Draupadi in front of the entire court, but the Pandavas managed to prevent it. Duryodhana then insisted that the Pandavas and Draupadi should go into exile for twelve years and spend a thirteenth year incognito. If they were discovered during this time, they would have to spend another twelve years in exile.

The Pandavas and Draupadi went into exile, and during their time in the forest, they faced many challenges and had many adventures. They learned new skills and made alliances with different tribes and kingdoms.

Meanwhile, Duryodhana became more and more tyrannical and refused to give the Pandavas their kingdom back even after the twelve years of exile had passed. The Pandavas then decided to go to war with the Kauravas to regain their rightful kingdom.

Lord Krishna, who was a close friend of the Pandavas, also joined them and played a crucial role in the ensuing war.

The war, known as the Kurukshetra War, lasted for eighteen days and was one of the bloodiest battles in human history. It involved large armies and featured many famous warriors on both sides, including Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Arjuna.

The two sides met on the battlefield, and the war began. The first day saw a single combat between Arjuna and Karna, which ended in a stalemate due to the intervention of the sun god. The next few days of the war were marked by fierce battles, with both sides suffering heavy losses.

Karnan was the son of Kunti, who had abandoned him as a baby, and was adopted by a low-caste family. Karna was a skilled warrior and a loyal ally of the Kauravas, particularly Duryodhana, who had treated him with kindness and respect.Karna was initially hesitant to participate in the war, as he had learned about his true lineage and realized that he was fighting against his own brothers. However, his loyalty to Duryodhana and his sense of duty ultimately led him to join the Kaurava army.

On the ninth day of the war, Bhishma, the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army, fell in battle. He was a respected and powerful warrior, and his death was a significant blow to the Kauravas. Drona then took command of the Kaurava army and led it for the next few days.

As the war progressed, both sides used a range of strategies and tactics, including deception, diplomacy, and guerrilla warfare, to weaken their opponents. Lord Krishna played a crucial role in guiding the Pandavas and advising them on their strategies.

On the 13th day of the war, the Kauravas launched a massive attack on the Pandava camp, hoping to kill the Pandavas and end the war. However, the Pandavas were prepared for the attack, and they managed to repel it with the help of their allies.

On the 16th day, Karna faced off against Arjuna, his half-brother, in a fierce battle. Despite Arjuna's skill, Karna managed to hold his own and even wounded Arjuna, earning the admiration of both sides.

On the 17th day, Karna fought against several other Pandava warriors and managed to defeat them all. However, he was eventually confronted by his own brother, Yudhishthira, who challenged him to a duel. Karna agreed to the fight but was overcome by a sense of mercy and hesitated to strike Yudhishthira down.

Karna's hesitation was his downfall, as Arjuna took advantage of the opportunity and fired a fatal arrow at him, which struck him down. Karna died on the battlefield, and his death was a significant blow to the Kauravas.

In the subsequent days of the war, the Pandavas gained the upper hand, thanks in part to the guidance and support of Lord Krishna. They used a range of strategies and tactics, including deception and diplomacy, to weaken the Kauravas and gain the advantage.

The war reached its climax on the 18th day, with a final showdown between Arjuna and Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas. The battle was fierce, but Arjuna emerged victorious, killing Duryodhana with an arrow to his thigh.

The aftermath of the war was devastating, with countless casualties and widespread destruction. The Pandavas emerged as the victors, but they were left with a bitter legacy of pain and loss that would haunt them for years to come.

Here are some of his most famous sayings from the Mahabharata:

"Do your duty and be detached from its outcome, do not be driven by the fruits of your actions." This quote emphasizes the importance of focusing on doing what is right, without being overly attached to the outcome.

"The mind is everything. What you think you become." This quote highlights the power of our thoughts and the importance of cultivating a positive mindset.

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." This quote emphasizes the importance of living a life that is in alignment with our values and beliefs.

"It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection." This quote encourages us to embrace our own unique path in life and to avoid comparing ourselves to others.

"The true mark of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." This quote highlights the importance of creativity and innovation in our lives.

Overall, Krishna's words of wisdom continue to inspire people to this day, offering guidance and insights into how to live a life of purpose and meaning.