Reading Notes, Mahabharata Part A.2

(Image courtesy of Giphy.)

     I had to read the first part of the reading twice.  There are a lot of characters that are introduced and a lot of back story that is rushed through.  Here's a rundown:

King Succession line:

Santanu

Should be Devaratha, son of Ganga, but it isn't

Chitrangada, son of Satyavathi

Vichitravirya

Should be Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika and Vyasa (but considered son of Vichitravirya) but   

       abdicates the throne 

Pandu, son of Ambalika and Vyasa (but considered son of Vichitravirya)

Dhritarashtra ascends the throne after Pandu dies

Dead by Chapter 2:

may Santanu, it is unclear if he died or if he just retired.

Chitrangada

Vichitravirya

Pandu

Pandu's second wife Madri

Pandu's children that were actually fathered by gods:

Birthed by Kunthi

Karna- son Surya, of the Sun God (sent floating down the river and was adopted by a charioteer and 

     his wife)

Yudhistira- Son of Yama,  God of Death and Ultimate Justice

Bhimasena- Son of Vayu, God of Wind

Arjuna- Son of Indra, Chief of Gods

Birthed by Madri

Nakula and Sahadeva- Twin Sons of the Aswins, Twin brothers who are sons of Surya.

Set-up for Chapter 2:

King Dhritarashtra and his uncle Bhima (formerly known as Devaratha) have taken in Kunthi and her five demigod children.  

Dhritarashtra's wife Gandahari somehow has managed to give birth to one hundred boys.  The poor woman.  

Bibliography

Narayan, R.K. The Mahabharata, 1978. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

Currently Reading:

A Raisin in the Sun

by Lorraine Hansberry