Reading Notes, Mahabharata Videos, Part A

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King Shantanu and Ganga.
(Source)

  • Interesting idea of karma I didn't catch in the first reading. Everything is cause and effect.
  • It would be fun to tell the story of king Shantanu falling in love with Ganga from a more personal perspective, either hers or his.
  • Go deeper into vasus story, why they were cursed, what they are, how they came to be, etc.
  • Devavrat plays matchmaker so much to varying degrees of success.
    • Gets the fisherman's daughter for his dad, takes vow of chastity.
    • Kidnaps princesses for his brother who is in poor health, to make an heir to the throne.
  • Amba's love not accepting her because she's been kidnapped by another man is reminiscent of Sita's story.
  • Women were treated as such property, tokens, pawns to be manipulated.
  • I get that these stories are a product of their time, but they're all super sexist and ableist. Also I struggle to keep lineages straight, or like heirs to the throne. But I'd like to write a story in which the blind bride is rewarded for her faithfulness to her husband. Maybe becomes an oracle or something. I like the idea of her giving up sight for a greater, broader sight.
Bibliography: The Mahabharata, By Epified.

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