Reading Notes: Mahabaratha, Part C

Spy (Wikipedia Commons)

I think the part of the Mahabaratha when the Pandavas have to be in hiding for a year is the most difficult part of the exile. While it is somewhat easy to go to another city or the forest and live life elsewhere, it is more difficult to live in hiding in the same city that you are from. If the Pandavas were discovered, they would have had to restart their entire exile from the beginning. I think if I were to create a story from this reading, I would make one in which someone has to live in hiding in the city that they are from; maybe a spy. However, I would make it to where the spy takes down a super-evil organization from the inside. This would be similar to how the Pandavas work for King Virata's kingdom during their year of hiding.

Bibliography: R.K Narayan, Mahabarata, Reading Notes

Reading Notes: Mahabaratha, Part B

Shakuni playing dice (Wikipedia Commons)

One of the common themes in many of the stories that I have read has been exile, especially in the Ramayana and the Mahabaratha. However, in both of these stories, the exiled are sent afar for a lengthy period of time, though they have really done nothing wrong. Rama and the Pandavas were honestly punished for the good morals that they possessed. However, foreshadowing the end of the Mahabaratha, good triumphs over evil, like in the Ramayana. I think the other major aspect of this story was the result of the first dice game when Draupadi's sari is unnecessarily pulled away. However, I think the important part of this section was to show the power of Draupadi's prayer to Krishna. As her sari is being pulled away, more and more cloth appears. This also signifies how the "good" are being punished when they have not done any wrong. Tying this back to a story, I think it would be interesting to write a story told in the present of someone that is sent to exile but is a valued member of society.

Bibliography: R.K Narayan, Mahabarata, Reading Notes