Connection between Dharma and Destiny: Mahabharata

1306 Words3 Pages

When it comes to literature the world has a lot to offer. From novels to poems history has given us plenty to read and learn from. Some literary works are more than just for reading purposes such as the great epic of Mahabharata. In Hinduism Mahabharata is one of two major factors that led to the creation of the religion, the other being Ramayana. Around 3000 BC Mahabharata was told in the form of stories or gossip between gods, kings, and common people. “It presents sweeping visions of the cosmos and humanity and intriguing and frightening glimpses of divinity in an ancient narrative that is accessible, interesting, and compelling for anyone willing to learn the basic themes of India's culture” (Fitzgerald 5). This shows why Mahabharata is more than just apiece of literature, it teaches us the connection between destiny and dharma and how one can get lost in the mist of finding out which is the right path.
The 90,000-verse epic consists of a hero and a villain both being from the same bloodline. The hero is Yudhishthira, the leader of the Pandavas and son of Dharma. Pandavas consist of him and 4 of his younger brothers: Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. All of the Pandavas were born through a boon that was given to Pandu’s first wife Kunti. Pandu was cursed after he accidently killed a sage and his wife that he would die is he had intercourse, so he couldn’t have children. Kunti had a boon to have kids from different gods, which she gave the boon of two kids to Pandu’s second wife Madri. Kunti gave birth to Yudhishthira (son of Dharma god of righteousness), Bhima (son of wind god Vayu), and Arjuna (son of sky god Indra); while Madri gave birth to the twins Nakula, and Sahadeva (sons of Ashwini gods). The villain of Mahabha...

... middle of paper ...

...verything that life has to offer, that’s why the Pandavas were always happy just to have one another no matter of the situation that destiny has put them in. Destiny will always be sealed no matter what we do to empower it, all we can hope for is to follow our dharma and let fate do the rest.

Works Cited

Fitzgerald, James L. "A Brief Description of the Mahabharata." A Brief Description of the Mahabharata. N.p., 09 May 2009. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

Kini, MD. "Sense, Non-Sense and Common Sense." Mahabharata: A Story of Dharma. N.p., 03 Mar. 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

"Bhartiya History." Mahabharat. The Vedic Foundation, Jan. 2006. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

Buck, William. Mahabharata. 1'st ed. CA: University of California, 2000. Print.

Pattanaik, Devdutt. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata. N.p.: Penguin India, 2011. Print

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