Bhagwad Gita - Chapter 1

Dhritarashtra asked Sanjaya, what was happening in the battlefield.
Sanjaya said -
Seeing the Pandava army, Duryodhana went to Drona and said There are many mighty warriors in the Pandava camp.
Drona assured him and said they were no less.
At that point all started blowing their conch shells.
Arjuna asked Krishna to take the chariot between the two armies.

Seeing the vast armies comprised of friends and relatives, Arjuna was scared. He said - My hands are shaking. My mouth is dry. I do not not want victory, I do not want to kill anyone.

Saying this, Arjuna sat down on his chariot.

The bird and the brahmans

Arjuna once told Yudhistira the tale of the brahmana and Indra.
Once, a large number of young brahmins decided to leave their homes and become ascetics. Indra assumed the form of a golden bird and approached them. He said he was pleased with the actions they had taken.
The brahmins felt proud. The bird said he was not prasing their actions.
The brahmins wanted to know what was good.

The bird said - Among the animals, the cow is regarded the most. Among metals, it is Gold. Among words, the best is a mantra and among people, the brahamana is regarded as the supreme. The mantras regulate a brahman's life. The Vedic mantras decided his journey.
The one who regards the soul as supreme and worships it, is on the path of success.
Domestic mode of life is scared as it leads to cultivation of life. One of little understanding, foresakes all when he sees he has no wealth and takes up the life of an ascetic.
Worship of Gods, Study of the Vedas and paying respect to the departed is regarded as great service.
I am telling you to go back and lead a domestic life. COme back when you have learned and are ready.

The brahmins hearing the bird, said there was nothing to learn and went back to their families.

Untold tales - Karna masters weapons.

There are some tales that are in Vyasa's epic but not referenced by Kasidasa. I will put some here.

A child was born to Kunti when she was not married. This child, who was destined to be a great warrior, was born with great energy. At a young age, he became a friend of Duryodhana. Seeing that Arjuna had mastered the weapons, the child, who was Karna, went to Drona and saod he wanted to learn the secret of the weapons, especially the weapon of Brahma.
Drona was partial towards Arjuna. He said he would only teach one who was a brahmana.
Hearing this, Karna left and went where Parashurama lived. He knew Parashurama hated Kshatriyas. He went to the sage and said he was a brahmin and wanted to learn the weapons. Parashurama, glad that a brahmin was interested in the art of the weapons, and agreed to teach him.

Karna began living with the sage and began his learning. He would go around and practice the weaponry in the wild. One day, when he was practicing, Karna accidentally killed a cow that belonged to a brahman.  Knowing that he had committed a sin, Karna went and told the brahman about this. In anger, the brahman cursed him, saying that when he was near the person he wanted to fight dearly, the erath would swallow the wheel of his chariot and would also would be the time of his death.

Dejected, Karna returned back to Parasurama.

Karna lived with the sage, serving him. From Parashurama, Karna learnt about the weapon of Brahma and many other celestial weapons.

One day, Parashurama was feeling faint, having fasted the whole day. He wanted to lie down. Karna sat of the ground and asked the sage to place his head on Karna's lap. Suddenly, Karna saw a worm about to bite Parashurama. Karna managed to deviate the worm, which came and stung Karna on his thigh. Karna was in great pain but he kept quiet, fearing that Parashurama may wake up. Soon the insect bite began bleeding and the blood touched Parashurama. The sage got up and saw what had happened.  He wanted to know who Karna really was. Parashurama said a true brahmana would not have been able to bear the pain of the insect bite. The worm then changed itself and became a rakshasa. He said the touch of Parashurama had relieved him. Parashurama asked him who he was. The rakshasa said - He was an asura named Dansa. He had raped the wife of sage Brighu had been thus cursed to become a work and live on filth till the touch of Parashurama would relieve him. Saying this, the rakshasa bowed his head and left.  
Parashurama then said to Karna - A brahmana would not be able to bear such pain. Who are you really?
Karna said He was a son of a Suta (charioteer), called Karna, who knew Radha as his mother. As he was desiorous of learning the skill of great weapons, he had come to the great sage in the guise of a brahmana.
Parashurama said - You have learnt the art of wielding the weapon of Brahma but it will not work for you when you really want this. Please leave.

Karna left, and going back to Duryodhana he said - I have mastered all weapons.

The great tale ends - greatness of Mahabharata

Vaishampayana said to Janmajeya - Listening to the Mahabharata removes all sins. The sin of killing of a brahmin is now gone. See the darkness go and light emerge.

The Gods started showering flowers from the sky. The narration of the Mahabharata was over.

Janmajeya then worshiped the sage, making offerings of flowers and water at his feet. He said I am blessed to listen to you. Your tale will help many people on the earth.

Vaishampayana then left for his ashrama.

Janmajeya then went and bathed in the waters of the holy pilgrim places and gave many gifts to the brahmins.

With a renewed energy, Janmajeya ruled over his kingdom wisely.

One who listens with devotion, is blessed. The tale is equal to listening to the four vedas.
Yudhistira is the tree and Arjuna is the trunk of the tree. The branches is Bhima. Nakula is the fruit and Sahadeva is the flower of that tree. Krishna is the root of the tree.

The wild tree is Duryodhana. Shakuni is the branch and Karna the stem. Dushshasana is the fruit and the flower and Dhritarashtra is the root.

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In the village of Siddhagram, in the family of Sudhakar Das was born Kasiram Das. Lost in his devotion to Krishna, Kasiram composed the Mahabharata in the panchali (song) form.

Even though this is a song, the greatness of the epic still remains.

Thus ends the great tale of Mahabharata.

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This not the end. More will follow.

Yudhistira praises Vishnu

Pleased, Yudhistira said - Who can understand your game, O Lord. You are the lord of three worlds, the creator and destroyer of all.
As a fish you rescued the Vedas from the waters.
As a tortoise, you saved the earth.
As a boar, you held the earth in your tusks.
As Narasimha your killed Hiranyakashipu.
As the dwarf, you pushed Bali into the nether world and took over the three worlds with your feet.
As Rama, you killed Ravana.
As Parasshurama, you killed all Kshatriyas.
As Balarama, you married the daughter of Surya. (Revati, wife of Balarama, was a girl of the solar dynasty).
As Buddha you show compassion and as Kalki you will get rid of evil. (This seems to be an addition specific here, as Vyasa's epic has no mention of Buddha. Buddha was born much after the Mahabharata was composed.)

The sages try to reach you but are unable to. The Vedas are in your control.

Hearing this, Vishnu embraced Yudhistira, and Yudhistira lived in the heaven, with his near ones.

Yudhistira united with all

Vaishampayana said to Janmajeya - Listen to me while I tell you about the sin of Yudhistira.
In the great war, Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. Bhishma was killed by placing Shikhandi. Aftre Bhishma, the commander of the army was Drona. Drona's son was Ashwatthama. Seeing that Drona was not getting killed Krishna thought of winning over Drona cleverly. He had the elephant called Ashwatthama killed and then it was announced that Ashwatthama had died. When Drona had asked Yudhistira, Yudhistira said said Ashwatthama is dead and slowly he had said elephant. Drona hearing this, put down his weapons. This was Yudhistira's sin.
Janmajeya asked - What happened to Yudhistira in hell?
The sage said -
When Yudhistira asked Vishnu, he said Abhimanyu looked at you like his father. You told him to kill Drona, a brahmin. That was a sin.
Yudhistira asked How will I get relief from this?
Vishnu then called Garuda and asked him to take Yudhistira to the white island, Shwetadweep. With his large wing span, he was able to quickly take Yudhistira there.
Yudhistira saw a beautiful stream in which many celestial beings were bathing. He saw many sages praying on the banks.
Yudhistira stepped into the water and offered prayers to his departed ancestors. As soon he stepped out of the water, he was also transformed into a celestial and was no longer human.
Garuda brought him back where Vishnu was.
Vishnu said You look so different. You look refreshed and also you are not casting a shadow. You are no longer human.
Yudhistira said It all because of your grace, O lord. You have helped me a lot as Krishna. You take birth in different incarnations to help your devotees.
Vishnu took Yudhistira to another place. He said See there you see your father Pandu, sitting with Kunti, Madri, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Karna is there with them. The hundred sons of Duryodhana are also there. The five sons of Draupadi are also there. Along with Draupadi you can also see your four brothers.
Yudhistira looked around, amazed.

Yudhistira enters heaven

Yudhistira was surprised to see all the Gods there. He bowed down to all. Indra, sensing this, asked Matali to come with a chariot adorned with flowers.
While this was happening, Indra and Yama started decking and dressing Yudhistira.
Then with the Gods, Yudhistira climbed up on the chariot.
He was taken to the court of Indra, where he was offered a seat and the choicest of food and drink.
Indra said It is because of your deeds that you have been able to come to heaven in your mortal form. Yudhistira said he wanted to see Krishna.
Indra said he would arrange for a chariot for him, to be taken to Vaikuntha.

On his way, he saw Brahma sitting in his place, his four heads reciting the scriptures. He bowed down to Brahma, who blessed him. From there, Yudhistira went to the abode of Shiva, at Kailasha. There Yudhistira saw Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, along with Nandi and Bhringi.  Yudhistira bowed down there. Shiva hugged him and said Yudhistira was indeed fortunate, that he was able to come to heaven in his mortal body.

From there, Yudhistira went to Vaikuntha. He saw the marvelous part of the heaven which was here Vishnu lived. Vishnu seeing Yudhistira, got up and greeted Yudhistira. Yudhistira said he was coming there with wife and brothers, but they had perished on the way.
Vishnu said there were already there. Yudhistira said he wanted to see them. Vishnu come with me.
Saying this, Vishnu took him northwards and opened a door.
It was dark inside. Yudhistira was unable to see a thing. He then started hearing voices. He heard the dead ones calling out to him, including his brothers. They said you are great and have reached heaven. We were not that great sinners, but we have to be in hell.
Yudhistira could only hear voices but could not see a thing. He asked Vishnu what was this? He thought he was in the abode of Yama and not in heaven.

He asked Krishna - Why am I seeing hell?