PANDU, DHRTARASTRA

1
PANDU, DHRTARASTRA VIDURA bros

• Pandavas and Kauravas

2
HASTINAPURA

• DHRTARASTRA Blind King
• GANDHARI - Queen
• BHISMA Old uncle protector of throne
• VIDURA - Kings brother (son of maid) counselor

3
KAURAVAS

• DURYODHANA
• DUSHASANA Disrobes Draupadi( wife of 5
  Pandavas)
• VIKARNA stands up for Draupadi

4
PANDAVAS

• YUDHISTHIRA (DHARMA/ JUSTICE)
• BHIMA (Arnold S Physical prowess )
• ARJUNA (skilled archer)
• Twin horsemen NAKULA SAHADEVA

5
PANDAVAS

• INDRAPRASTHA (Capital)
• KUNTI (Mother) had child (KARNA) before she was
  married, let drift in a basket like Moses. KARNA
  adopted by charioteer (Radheya)

6
SAKUNI / SAUBALA

• Queen GANDHARIS brother
• Uncle to KAURAVAS
• Skilled dice player
• What is his motive in seeking the downfall of the
  Pandavas?

7
BHISMA VIDURA

• Reluctant supporters of Duryodhana
• Bhisma has vowed to protect the throne of
  Hastinapura even took a vow of celibacy to do so
• Older man, hence older traditional values but
  fair and honest doesnt have an answer for
  Draupadis challenge

8
VIDURA

• Perhaps the most objective person in the part we
  read
• Follows orders but does not cringe from speaking
  his mind
• Look at his opinion on why Draupadi is not a slave

9
Krsna Vasudeva

• Brother of Kunti
• Arjuna also married to Subhadra (Krsnas sister)
• Incarnation of preserver God Vishnu
• Hindu mythology has 3 main Gods creator Bramha,
  preserver Vishnu, and destroyer Shiva

10
Why does Yudhisthira play?

• Temporary peace through division of Kuru kingdom
  Hastinapura (land full of elephants)
• Indraprastha (land where Indra resides
  beautiful and)

11
Yudhisthiras reasons

• Hates gambling but has to accept challenge
• Cannot refuse elders request
• Has to believe what the elders are doing are for
  the best

12
Dhrtarastras dilemma

• Weakness for son
• Awareness of his won blindness older, should
  have ruled, but blind condition made him less
  qualified and hence Pandu became king( now ruler
  by default)

13
Draupadis challenge

• Saubala Sakuni cannot play for Duryodhana
• Stake cannot be mentioned by opposing player
• Since Yudhisthira has lost himself first, he is a
  slave and hence cannot own anything

14
Bhismas response

• Pg 974 lines 96-100
• As the law is subtle, my dear I fail/To resolve
  your riddle the proper way/A man without
  property cannot stake anothers-/But given that
  wives are the husbands chattel?