Reading Notes: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu (Part A)

 Source: The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu

By Richard Wilson

The story begins with Pandu and his five sons: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula (twin with) and Sahadeva.

Pandu then dies, and his blind brother Dhritarashtra becomes king with 100 sons (eldest Duryodhana)

    His sons are trained by Drona

Drona sets up duels for the cousins, Bhima and Duryodhana fight too fiercely and were forced to stop

    Arjuna shows his skills in archery

    Arjuna challenged by Karna, who is unable to proclaim lineage and becomes king of Huga

    Duryodhana defends Karna's skills despite humble background

Yudhishthira is to become king, Duryodhana is furious and tries to burn the brothers with their mother (Pritha), but they escape

Karna tries to win the archery contest for princess Draupadi's hand, but is refused even after stringing the bow

Arjuna, as a hermit, then strings the bow and hits the target

Arjuna calls Draupadi a prize

Pandavas have an aliance with king Drupada

Krishna is the guest of honor at Yudhishthira's crowing

Duryodhana is jealous Yudhishthira is king

Yudhishthira loses the kingdom in a rigged game of dice against Duryodhana

Dhritarashtra decides the brothers will go in exile rather than be slaves

    Draupadi asks to go in exile with the brothers

Duryodhana wants to rub exile in the brothers' face, but ends up needing them to save him

The brothers then stay in Virata's kingdom in the following disguises:

Yudhishthira: brahmin priest

Bhima: cook

Arjuna: dance master

Nakula: stableboy

Sahadeva: cowboy

Draupadi: queen's hairdresser

Duryodhana steels king Virata's cattle

    Pandavas battle him to get them back

Arjuna reveals their true identities, and Duryodhana runs away

    The Pandavas get the cattle


I really enjoyed this story because it focuses solely on the adventure of the Pandavas and leave out most of the romance or backstories of relationships. I had not thought of just focusing on one aspect of a story yet and tried to work and relate everything. I will definitely try this writing style in some of my stories. 

Save the Cattle!


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