In Indian mythology, we find mention of stories which are not only interesting, but also serve a message/ purpose. Mahabharata is one such epic, where we find these types of topics in abundance. Here are seven captivating stories from the epic Mahabharata.
Arjuna as an eunuch
In Indralok, Arjuna was propositioned by apsara Urvashi, but Arjuna addressed her as ‘mother’, Urvashi was annoyed with the rejection and cursed him that he would become a eunuch. When Indra came to know about the curse, he told Arjuna that the curse would serve him as a boon during the one year stay in hiding and after spending that period he would regain his masculinity.
This proved to be significant in the war of Kurukshetra. After spending 12 years in forest, Pandavas spent the 13th year of exile in cognito, in the court of king Virat. Arjuna made use of the curse and lived as a eunuch named Brihannala.
Amazing books on Mahabharata
Five golden arrows
As Kauravas were losing the battle of Mahabharata, Duryodhana approached Bhishma one night and accused him of not fighting the Mahabharata war to his full strength because of his affection for Pandavas.
Bhishma greatly angered, immediately picked up 5 golden arrows and chanted mantras declaring tomorrow he will kill 5 pandavas with the 5 golden arrows. Duryodhana not having faith in his words asked Bhisma to give custody of 5 golden arrows saying that he will keep them and will return them next morning.
There was twist in the tale. Long back before the Mahabharata war, Pandavas were living in exile in a forest. Duryodhana placed his camp on the opposite side of the pond where Pandavas were staying. Once while Duryodhana was taking bath in that pond, the heavenly prince Gandharvas came to take bath Duryodhana could not tolerate this and had a fight in which Gandharva captured him. On request of Yudhisthir, Arjuna saved Duryodhana and set him free. Duryodhana was ashamed but being a kshatriya, asked Arjuna what benediction of boon would he like Arjuna replied he would ask for the honour gift later when he needed it.
Duryodhana again went to Bhisma and requested for another five golden arrows. To this Bhishma laughed and replied this is not possible and will of Lord is Supreme and undeniable and whatever happens tomorrow in the Mahabharata war is written long before.
Birth of Drona
In Mahabharata, we find strange ways of people being born (see related article). Drona was not gestated in a womb, but outside the human body in a droon (vessel). Bhardwaja went with his companion to the Ganga to perform his ablution. There he beheld a beautiful apsara named Ghritachi who had come to bathe. The sage was overcome by desire, causing him to produce reproductive fluid. Bhardwaja captured the fluid in a vessel called a drona and Dronacharya sprung from the fluid thus preserved. Drona would later boast that he had sprung from Bhardwaja without ever having been in a womb. Drona was the teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas and later fought the Mahabharata war from Kauravas side.
Krishna broke his promise
Before the battle of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna promised that he will not pickup any weapon. On other hand, Grandsire Bhishma promised Duryodhana that he will fight like a lion and will kill Arjuna or will make Lord Krishna breaking his promise. There was an intense battle between Arjuna and Bhishma and Arjun being powerful still was no match for Bhishma.
When Bhishma shot arrow which cut Arjuna armour and his gandiva bow. Arjuna was helpless before the wrath of Grand sire. As Bhisma was about to kill Arjuna with his arrow Lord Krishna could not tolerate his devotees plight and he immediately threw down the chariot rein and jumped off the chariot onto the battle field and lifted a chariot wheel and charged Bhishma determined to send him to death. Arjuna tried to stop Lord Krishna but Lord says that in order to protect my devotee, I must break my own promise.
Eighteen days of Mahabharata War
How Shri Krishna ended up on Pandavas side in Mahabharata war
Duryodhana and Arjuna both went to Dwarka to meet Krishna in order to seek his support for Mahabharata. Duryodhana was first to reach Dwarka. Satyaki informed that Krishna was asleep. Both Duryodhan and Arjuna entered Krishna’s bedroom. Duryodhana who was first to enter the room sat on a seat at the head of the bed on which Krishna was asleep. Arjuna went to the foot of the bed and stood there with hand folded. When Krishna got up he saw Arjuna first who was standing at his foot. Duryodhana said that as he came first so it was fair that Krishna should join Kauravas.
On this, Krishna smiled and said as he saw Arjuna first when he got up so it is also fair that he should help both Kauravas as well as Pandavas. So on one hand was his famous Narayani army, and on other hand was he himself alone and shall not yield any weapon. Then he added that dharma demands that the younger should have the first choice. So Arjuna was given the first chance, he fell at the feet of Lord Krishna with tears in his eyes he chose him. Duryodhana was very happy with the decision. Shri Krishna later became the Arjuna’s sarathi during the war of Mahabharat.
Yudhishthir firm adherence to truth
Yudhisthir was very well known for his firm adherence to truth. But, in the battle of Mahabharata, Drona, who was Kauravas commander was killing thousands of Pandavas warriors Krishna made a plan to tell Drona that his son Ashwathama has died, so that Drona would give up his arms and could be killed easily.
The plan was set in motion when Bhima killed an elephant named Ashwaththama and loudly proclaimed that Ashwaththama was dead. Drona approaches Yudhisthir for confirmation because he was the only person who could tell him the truth. Yudhisthir who could not make himself tell a lie inspite of the fact that if Drona would continue fighting pandavas and the cause of dharma would have been lost.
Yudhisthir added ‘praha kunjara ha’ which means he is not sure whether man of elephant has died. Krishna knowing this that Yudhisthir would be unable to tell lie, had all the warrior beat war drum and cymbals to make as much noise as possible so that the words ‘praha kunjara ha’ were lost. Drona was disheartened and laid down his weapons. He was later killed by Dhristadyumna. After speaking this half lie, Yudhisthir feet and chariot descended to the ground.
End of Jayadrath
Jayadrath has a boon by Lord Shiva to hold the pandavas brother at bay for one day in battle – except for Arjun who was protected by Lord Krishna. In Mahabharata war, Jayadradth was fighting from Kauravas side. He uses his boon to stop Pandavas from entering the near-impenetrable chakra viyuh battle formation.
Only Arjuna son Abhimanyu knows how to enter this Vyuha. When Abhimanyu enters the formation he was trapped inside and brutally killed. Arjuna vows to kill Jaydradth the very next day and if he failed he would kill himself. Arjuna killed an entire akshauhini during the day’s battle. At a climatic moment the sun had nearly set and thousands of warrior still separates Arjuna and Jayadrath. Seeing his friend’s plight, Lord Krishna sends his Sudarshan chakra to mask the sun creating a solar eclipse thus faking a sunset.
The Kauravas warriors rejoiced over Arjun defeat and his imminent suicide exposing Jaydradth from his hiding for a crucial moment. Upon the Lord’s urging Arjun shot a powerful arrow that decapitation Jaydradth. Jaydradth father was a sinful king he had pre cursed the killer of his son that anyone who caused Jaydrath’s head to fall on ground would suffer by having his own head exploded.
When Arjun recapitulated Jaydrath he faced death but Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to shoot his arrow in such a way that would carry Jaydradth’s head to his father’s lap when he was sitting meditating in his ashram.
Arjuna complies and shot three arrows which carried Jaydrath’s falling head to his father’s lap. when he got up after meditation he didn’t see the head in his lap but caused it to fall on the ground so his head exploded as a result.
Mahabharata: How Well Do You Know the Characters and Story?
This ends the article on Seven interesting, untold and unknown facts of Mahabharata.
- Seven great warriors and how they died in Mahabharata – in pictures
- Mahashivaratri – Interesting story behind this festival
- Lord Nataraja
- Why Is Lord Shiva Known As Kalantaka?
- Lord Shiva’s blue throat
- Do you know when Lord Shiva was a servant of his disciple
- Untold incidents from Mahabharata Pandavas exile
- Seven little known facts from the Mahabharata (2)
- Seven unknown facts from the Mahabharata (4)
- Seven unknown facts from Mahabharata
- Seven occasions when Lord Krishna saved Pandavas
- Pandavas after Mahabharata war
you've done a great job at this one mausi, i didn't know half of these!
Thanks! for sharing unknown facts.
there are other stories regarding five golden arrows however other six less kown stories are well told.
must read
must read
good
good job…………
this posts seems to be very knowledgable one who want to know more about Krishna must read this thanks a lot for providing information about our lovable god Krishna here are some amazing facts about little Krishna http://hotwinds.net/some-amazing-facts-about-the-little-krishna/.
Krishna did not pickup chakra to solely protect his devotee..
It was because Bhishma knowingly provoked lord Krishna by repeatedly hurting him.. when Arjun was setting up chord on Gandiv..moreover Krishna was frustrated to see massive killings by Bhishma and both Arjun and Bhishma not taking a decisive step ahead in the war.
Only after that Bhishma told Arjun how to.kill him and end this round massive killings
Yes , Bhishm Pitamah was killed by arrows of warrior Arjun not by our Lord Krishna..
Good
wao……
Very Good
Very good Facts
Mind blowing..very…awasome…..
Amazing facts
Unknown fact that i know today … Thanks for knowledge sharing
My Dear Friend , Krishna didn't Broke his Oath. He Said that he will not pick up any "Shastra " in the Battle. In the battle he picked the "Wheel" because Arjun was not trying to Kill "BHisma " (because he Adored him very much). That's why Bhagvan got Angry and said if you will not kill him i will Kill him. MOST INTERESTINGLY .. The Wheel Neither comes under "Astra" Or "Shastra". You can refer to Mahabharat . So this way Krishna handled the situation very intelligently and ingeniously.
What the F**k . How many times we want to prove Krishna is "god" he is the ultimate .. this is getting boring . God do not kill anyone. God do not provoke humans to start war. God do not take help of lie to kill warrior like drona . God do not break the rule of war (Krishna told arjuna to kill karna when he was trying to put the wheel of chariot. Krishna never told pandava that "they are actual responsible for droupadi'd insult" ) …. these are not characteristics of god . Krishna is not god, He will be god if he choose the higher path. The path of love . Not the path of war .
india can be pro palestine,pro kashmiri,pro islamic but it cant be pro hindus because of secularists like u..we hindus cant tolerate insult on the great great krishna..who ever insults us in not acceptable to us..stop using bull shit words like ‘****’ n all..
f*** it.u secularists kep ur own view to ur self..dnt try to insult our hindu religion..u secularists find hindu religion a soft target coz it doesnot have blasphemy laws…if u really dare tell like this about the minority religion of india..they will show u.
Shubhro Roy Idiot I never insult any religion . I told the facts which is already happen . Do not change the topic uneducated person .
hey mister u r showing education to a IITian????whats ur pedigree???u come to IIT kharagpur n check out…student 1stnyr..huhhh..mujhe education dikha raha hay.kaha kaha se a jata hai.
Koushik Pal ji Phir toh Aapke sihaab se SHRI RAM bhi god nahi hoge because unhone bhi toh RAVAN ke sath yudh kiya tha – phir SHIV JI bhi god nahi manoge kyonki unhone bhi toh kai yudh kiye AUR phir aake hisab se kisi ki bhi DEATH nahi honi chaheye HAR KOI jitha rahna chahiya aisi VIWASTHA karni chahiye GOD ko – ab kya aur kaise GOD karna chahiye yeh na vichar kare toh accha !!!
Dearest kaushik pal….not by an insulting tone…I would like you to introspect your self and your comments..you say that Krishna was not a god.Right I know he was theophany of lord Vishnu..I would love if you would go through the Vedas Upanishads..if uh want take help of scholars or best internet…listen try to ponder over what I said…if uh have questions please do ask…thank you…
Kaushik, your thoughts clearly suggest that you are siding adharma. If it is it not so, you have not understood the exact purpose of Mahabharat. Krishna was the God. I repeat Krishna was the GOD. He could have killed everyone but he did not want it. There was a purpose….his intension was …."people will believe the one who sides Dharma will win…" He sided Dharma (Yudhishthir). Dharma did not side Krishna. But that was also possible being an ultimate god. Try to understand this EPIC and you will realize its greatness. And for someone's dharma can be adharma for someone else. Now you have to keep picking right things to live a life of a religious person if you want to be. Rest all are siding adharma. Life is a process of cleaning your self not thinking of pleasures all the time. This is why even Karna was nowhere near Arjun. Arjun once attempts suicide when he realized he insulted Ram. Just a matter of verble insult and once he go into 12 year exile when he broke the rule of not disturbing any of the rest four brother when he will be with Draupadi. He was aware of the punishment but still broke the rule in order to protect a brahaman. But you will never understand these things because you are already dead.
vishalbulbule
So keep "dharma" alive and to destroy "Adharma" Let' s see what was the role of krishna in Kurukshetra War. Nobody describe why kaurava known as adharma. Can any one of you describe this facts , how krisna decides that kauravas are adarma . On which point he decided that ????
AND YOU MR VISHALBULBULE …. can you please put any point on how you came to conclusion that Pandavas are dharma and akuravas are adharma .Krishna take side of pandavas . Is it the reason ??? agar ye baat hain … to "YOU ARE ALREADY DEAD ####"
**********Krishna's role in Kurukshetra War************
1.Krishna had been causing weather problems since the beginning of the war. Sometimes he hid the sun with clouds. Basically hide and seek.
2.Krishna told the Pandavas to use Shikhandini against Bheeshma.
3.Krishna sent his Sudarshana Chakra to cause a solar eclipse which helped in killing Jayadratha.
4.Krishna alerted Arjuna that Bhurishrava was going to kill Satyaki which made Arjuna attack Bhurishrava from behind.
5.Bhagdat was also killed on Krishna's suggestion.
6.Krishna launched the plan to kill Dronacharya by telling the Pandavas to spread the false rumor of Ashwatthama's death. And accordingly Yuddhisthir lied and Dhristadhyumna beheaded a weaponless Drona.
7.Using Ghatokacha in the war was also a plan to make sure Karna uses his Vasavi Shakti weapon against the demon, which he received from Indra. Thus, he protected Arjuna once again.
8.Krishna also suggested Arjuna to attack Karna when he was weaponless and lifting his chariot which was stuck in the wheels.
9.Krishna ordered Bheem to hit Duryodhan below the waist which lead to Duryodhan's death.
10. Krishna cursed Ashwatthama for eternity and snatched away the gem he wore on his forehead.
…. If this is the activity of God . Then it is time to change the definition of God …
Koushik Pal ji, kaurava known as adharma because –
1. Duryodhan try to kill Bheem( by giving poision at childhood).
2. Duryodhan try to kill Arjun, on the main enterence of RAJMAHAL, when they first time come from GURUKUL.
3. Duryodhan try to kill all PANDAVAS in LAKHSHA GRAHA.
4. Duryodhan abuses DRAUPADI.
5. Duryodhan Teasing all people.
& more…
that's why kaurava known as adharma.
satya ko bhi asatya par jeet k liye saam daam dand bged ka sahara lena padta hai… jeet jaise bgi ho sachai ki honi chahiye…. aur chahe jitna bhi acchha insaan kyun na ho burai k paksh m…usse haar hi naseeb hogi…
Geeta me krishna ne kaha hai ki bure logo ko maarne me koi paap nahi…
Aur jab jab dharti pe paap badhega me avtaar lunga..
So for ur kind information drona and all the people that were on kaurvas side were culprits as during dyut sabhaa what they did was wrong…pandavs were also wrong although but they got punishment in form of 13 year vanvaas
it was all the wish of god. dont waste ure time boys. pal go to your mother and learn like a baby.
I was not aware of most of these facts. Well written and documented.
Thanks, hope you read more and like even more.
dear koushik u r rit god don't kil any one but he has the right to save dharma frm adharma so he saved the humanity frm sisupal n kansya,and now tak about mahabharata it is just not a epic it is the total description of human life it shows the difrent part of life relationship the love truth hate n how to concure al this with the help of dharma,sri krishna in mahabharata didn't act as a superpower if he wanted to kil drona n bhisma then he didn't ned any arjuna or pandavas he himself is enough but he acted as a human n taught us how to deal wit evils to defect it wit human power,just imagine a sage kindhearted person bliv in peace but supose he infront of a tiger n it's ready to pounce on then that sage shud act as a wariror to protect himself,this is wat actuly lord want us to understand that it's not necesary to act same n usual for the same reason.
You’ve done a grat job, i love to read about Mahabharata
While reading Mahabharatam accurately we get some ideas, Management of Krishna is well built in this epic. I love it.
Nice article. It is quite amazing to know that there are so many facts and stroies in Mahabharatha that many are not aware of. This story is a perfect example. Adding one more story, Many are aware that Krishna did not participate in the Mahabharatha war but there are 4 tales when Krishna saved the Pandava brothers from defeat.
These are really very amazing facts about Mahabharata. Only a few people know about these. The pictures on every fact make it more amazing and interesting. Liked it a lot .
HII sir
This is nice story .. thank u so much 🙂
There are lot of mis-interpretations about Goddess Draupadi (Mahabharathi – the heroine of Mahabharath) )on the web, maybe because of the individual’s assumptions or what they think polyandry is. In fact, She cannot be compared with anyone/ anything, nor do we have that standard to comment on Her. Please read the content in this URL and I hope you will understand who She is.
“Draupadi Amman Thunai” – Meaning, may Goddess Draupadi’s Blessing be on you all, always.
http://blog.thitherwards.com/draupadi/
Know more about one of the diving shrines/ temples of Goddess Draupadi in KONDAL village, near Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu.
There are many shrines for Goddess Draupadi, spread in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. One of the shrines, where She is a Grama-Devatha and Kula-Devatha to many, is located in one of the small villages of Tamil Nadu.
The village is named KONDAL, Mayiladuthurai Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Nidur P.O, Tamil Nadu.
There are more details about Goddess and way to the shrine at:
http://blog.thitherwards.com/draupadi/
Draupadi Amman Thunai
May Her blessing be always on you all!!
Different People, Different Thoughts. One cannot know who their biological mother and/ father is until & unless told by her. My point is we cannot ignore or object our Puranas, unless and until we have any solid proofs/ points to defend our statements. Personal opinions/ assumptions would mostly be baseless and cannot be trusted up on or considered for further arguments.
Nevertheless, if you got time, patience and willingness to know about ‘Draupadi’, you can visit my blog and comment.
In fact, there are many shrines for Goddess Draupadi, spread in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. One of the shrines, where She is a Grama-Devatha and Kula-Devatha to many, is located in one of the small villages of Tamil Nadu.
The village is named KONDAL, Mayiladuthurai Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Nidur P.O, Tamil Nadu.
Draupadi Amman Thunai – May you all be BLESSED by HER grace!!