WORDS OF WONDER!: Recent Episodes
Jairam Seshadri
The life of Sri Ramakrishna in the greatest possible detail written - of one who is regarded as an incarnation of God.
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is the greatest hagiography ever written of one who was considered an incarnation or a manifestation of the One who took birth to teach mankind spiritual life.
Krishna passes away. And Yudhisthira is tested again before he is reunited with all his brothers in Swarga
Yudhisthira rules for 15 years when Dhritarashtra with Gandhari and Kunti retreat to the forest.
In these three chapters Drona assumes command and falls into the trap of pledging to capture Yudhisthira alive at Duryodhana’s request. But the Pandava forces remain strong.
The see-saw battle rages on with Dhritarashtra getting an account of each day’s battle from SANJAYA.
Bhishma exhorts his army to inspired action. This is when Krishna teaches Arjuna although this chapter has none of those teachings.
The supreme commanders of the two opposing armies are appointed. The two armies are arrayed on the battlefield ready for war. And BALARAMA wants no part in this war and he walks away wanting nothing to do with it.
Yudhisthira loses all, and then is banished with his brothers for 13 years to the forest v
Dhritarashtra gives in to Duryodhana’s machinations and invites Yudhisthira for a game of dice.
Sisupala insults Krishna at the Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhisthira and is slain by Krishna.
Yudhisthira is persuaded to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice and assume the title of ‘Emperor’.
Dhritarashtra follows the advice of the elders and establishes peace by giving half the kingdom to the Pandavas.
Duryodhan’s cup of suffering playing second-fiddle to his cousins is full and he carries out a plan to rid himself of his cousins forever.
Drona becomes the Guru of the Pandava and Kaurava princes and shows a vengeful and wily side of him!
Karna, one of the most noble characters in history, presents himself for combat with Arjuna.
The sowing of the seeds of hate and acrimony between the Kauravas and the Pandavas was done early in their respective lives which conflagrated inexorably into a lasting and bitter rivalry.
The five Pandavas are born in the forest and King Pandu falls prey to the curse that spelt doom if ever he broke his abstinence.
Kunti Devi, who was given a boon to invoke any god and be blessed with a child, marries King Pandu.
The many pieces of the jigsaw slowly fit into the whole. Vidura, incarnation of Dharma, is born a mortal and will be appointed by Bhishma as the Counsellor to Dhritarashtra later.
The story of King Yayati and his quest to quench his sensual desires through indulgence and more indulgence is instructive. Wisdom oozes from this chapter.
The story of how the Asuras were deprived of the secret of Sanjivini, the art of bringing the dead back to life, the secret which was only known to Sukracharya, the preceptor of the Asuras.
BHISHMA’S vow of renouncing not only his right to the throne but also his vow to lead a life of unbroken chastity just so his father King Santanu can marry the woman he wished to is the stuff of gods!
The first chapter is the story of King Santanu and his marriage to Ganga and the birth of one of the most revered characters in the Epic, Bhishma.
PROLOGUE. This episode gives a bird’s-eye-view of the grand epic in very sketchy detail. It begins with how the great Sage Vyasa, the original author of this epic, ‘roped’ in Ganapati to be Vyasa’s amanuensis, thereby recording the epic in written form for posterity. A NOTE TO LISTENERS LISTENING TO THIS EPIC FOR THE FIRST TIME: The names and events are at times confusing for those who have not grown up listening to this grand epic. But please persist and let the names and events wash over you. In time they will click and will form a rock-like wisdom in your being as the tale grows in you.