Mahabharata is retold by Suta Pauranik in Shaunaka’s Satra

Once, Ugrashrava, the teller of ancient tales and the son of Lomaharshana, arrived into an assembly of ascetic Brahmin sages gathered during a recess at the 12-year long sacrifice organized by Shaunaka in the woods of Naimisha (Naimisharanya). As soon as he reached there, the sages surrounded him, eager to listen to the mysterious stories of the past. He greeted them with folded hands and inquired about the progress of their sacrifice. Once all the Brahmins sat down, Ugrashrava took the seat offered to him. Seeing him comfortably seated, one of the Brahmins asked:

“Ugrashrava! Where are you coming from? Where were you before you arrived here?”

Ugrashrava said:

“I was at the Snake Sacrifice of the great royal sage Janamejaya, son of Parikshit, where I heard Vaishampayana recite the various stories composed by Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa. From there, I visited the sacred fords including the famous Samantapanchaka where, in the past, the Kurus and Pandavas, along with all the kings of the world had fought a great war. Desiring to see you all, I journeyed here. You all appear to have bathed and have finished the daily prayers and offerings. What kind of stories do you want to listen? Do you want me tell you the ancient tales of dharmic teachings or you want to listen to the stories of the great ascetic sages and kings?” The Brahmin sages wanted to hear the history of the Bharatas, composed by the great sage Dvaipayana and revered by the Gods themselves. With a prayer to lord Vishnu, the primordial person who is the beginning of all, Ugrashrava started re-telling the most excellent work of Vyasa - the son of Parashara and Satyavati.

When it was without light and nothing existed, there was this endless vast egg, cause of all and covered in all sides with darkness. This divine egg is considered to be the prime cause for the beginning of time. This cause of all is called the Truth, the ancient Brahma of light. This equally spread, wonderful, unimaginable is the micro cause of all that is and not. From this sprang the Prajapati Pitamaha Brahma, Sthanu, Manu, Parameshti, Prachetas, Daksha and his seven sons, as well as the twenty-one Prajapatis. From the same cosmic egg appeared the unmeasurable Purusha, Vishvedevas, Adityas, Vasus, and  the Ashwins. Later came the Yakshas, Sadhyas, Pishachas, Guhyakas, Pitris, as well as the Brahminic and Royal sages. The Water, Sky, Earth, Wind, and the directions all came from this egg. From this appeared, one by one, the Year, Month, Fortnight, and the Day and the Night as well as all that can be seen.

All that is seen in this world – the moving and the non-moving -become one at the end of Time. All that is seen at the beginning of time gets destroyed at its end similar to the characteristic features of a season at its beginning end with that season. Thus in this world of no beginning and end, the wheel of birth and death turns eternally.

As per the suggestion of his mother Satyavati and Ganga’s son Bhishma, Krishna Dvaipayana fathered three great sons – Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura – in the widows of king Vichitravirya, and returned to his Tapas. He told this tale to the human world after his sons died of old age. When repeatedly urged by King Janamejaya during the snake sacrifice did he instruct his disciple Vaishampayana to narrate the story of the Bharatas. Earlier, he had instructed this story to his son Shuka, and two of his disciples. Narada narrated this story to the Gods, Rishi Asita-Devala to the Pitris and Shuka to the Gandharvas, Yakshas and Rakshasas. Originally, Vyasa had composed this tale in 100,000 verses in 100 Upa Parvas or Sections organized in 18 Maha Parvas or Books.

Interested in hunting, Pandu, after winning all the kings of the world through his valour, was camping in the forest with his men. Once while hunting, he brought upon himself a great curse, due to which the birth of his sons and their initial Samskaras had to happen in the forests. The two mothers begot sons from the Gods – Dharma, Vayu, Indra and the Ashwins – as laid out in ancient scriptures. The children grew up in the sacred ashramas deep in the woods, amidst the ascetics and protected by their mothers. Those ascetic Munis themselves brought the children, dressed as ascetic Brahmacharis to Dhritarashtra and disappeared saying “these disciples of ours are the sons of your brother Pandu”. The Kurus, their followers and the townspeople were all very happy to see Pandu’s children deposited by the ascetics of the forest. While some wondered – “How did Pandu beget children? These could not be his!” the others were happy to accept them as Pandu’s children and felt themselves fortunate to see and welcome his children. These cacophonic debates were settled when the Beings Unseen displayed miracles to welcome Pandu’s sons: the flowers rained, fragrance filled the air and the countless conches and drums were heard. Belittled by none and revered by all, the Pandavas studied the entire Vedas and the various Shastras. Everyone was pleased with the righteousness of Yudhishthira, strengths of Bhima, courage of Arjuna, Kunti’s service to the elders, and the humbleness of the twin brothers. As the time rolled, Arjuna performed an impossible task and obtained princess Krishna as his reward. Then onwards, he was respected by the world’s bowmen as the most accomplished archer, who, like the Sun God, couldn’t be beheld in the battle field. Arjuna conquered all the kings of the earth and their mighty armies and assisted Yudhishthira’s great Rajasuya sacrifice. Based on Vasudeva Krishna’s good counsel and the strengths of Bhima and Arjuna, Yudhishthira slayed Magadha king Jarasandha and the Chaidyas and concluded the Rajasuya sacrifice grand with wealthy gifts and celebrations. On that occasion, seeing the vast wealth of the Pandavas – their golds, silvers, pearls, jewels, and the numerous cattle, elephants and horses – Duryodhana was possessed with jealousy and anger. After seeing their assembly hall – built by Asura Maya as a gift for saving his life – Duryodhana further suffered from the flames of jealousy. To add to his fury, he was humiliated by Bhima when, by illusion, he slipped and fell down. Soon, Dhritarashtra realized that his son was loosing colour and weight despite enjoying the good food and exquisite jewels. Owing to his love for the son, he ordered the gamble. Hearing this, Vasudeva Krishna was greatly angered. Not wanting to cause arguments, he silently accepted and tolerated the gamble and the atrocities committed. Dhritarashtra, not heeding to Vidura, Bhishma, Drona and Kripa, caused the mutual destruction of Kshatriyas in a terrible war. Hearing the unpleasant news of Pandavas’ victory over Duryodhana, Karna and Shakuni, Dhritarashtra thought for a while and told Sanjaya – his charioteer:

“Sanjaya! Don’t think that I am solely responsible for all that has happened! I had not signed up for this destruction of the Kurus. I didn’t even wish for it! I didn’t see any difference between my children and those of Pandu. My sons who were treading a wrong path, despised this wretched blind old king in me! But due to the love of a father, I tolerated all that! Whenever my beloved son Duryodhana was unhappy, I too wasn’t happy. Seeing the radiant wealth of the Pandavas at Rajasuya and being humiliated during the tour of the assembly hall, Duryodhana was unsure of winning them in a war. To make their wealth his own, he plotted, along with Shakuni, to invite them for the gamble, the game unsuitable for the Kshatriyas. If I tell you what happened before and after this, you will realize that I too have the eyes of a wise man!

Sanjaya! The Pandavas have succeeded in getting back the empire that is unparalleled. But I am concerned about Gandhari, who has lost her sons, grandsons, father and brothers. I feel it hard to say that of the 18 akshohini armies, only 10 persons – 3 of ours and 7 or theirs have survived the war! My mind is anxious! I seem to have lost the ability to think! Darkness is overpowering me!” Saying this, the grief-stricken Dhritarashtra fell unconscious. Recovering his consciousness after sometime, he again told Sanjaya: “I want to end my life! There is no meaning in living!”

The wise Sanjaya consoled the lamenting king thus:

“King! You have heard what Vyasa and Narada had to say about the many courageous and righteous kings of the past. Millions of kings have come and gone; however accomplished, courageous and righteous were these kings, they all have died. Numerous kings of the past, born in great royal families, great and righteous warriors, conquered many kingdoms in great wars, performed many grand sacrifices, became famous in the three worlds and ultimately vanished from this earth dead, subject to the turn of Time! Just like your sons, thousands of great kings who are remembered in Puranas, have long back gone dead. But your sons were wicked; burning with anger and greed. No need to lament over such sons! King! You know the scriptures, you are intelligent and wise. Those who follow the scriptures do not lament like this.

You know what Fate does and doesn’t. Fate had already determined whatever you tried to protect your sons from. There is no point in lamenting on things that had to happen. Who can prevent Fate through his intelligence? It is impossible for anyone to deviate from the path set for each by the Fate. What happened and what did not happen, happiness and sorrow, all are born out of Time. Time creates and destroys all that is. Time alone burns all that is born, and it also extinguishes that fire. Time gives birth to all the auspicious and inauspicious things in these worlds. Time destroys all that it has created and repeats the creation. Time works eternally in all that is. It is not right to lament and exert oneself, knowing very well that all the happenings of the past and the happenings in the future are created by Time…”"

Repeated at the same place…

Brahmins! Isn’t it interesting that the destruction of Kshatriyas culminated at the same place – Samantapanchaka – twice? In the cusp of Treta Yuga and the Dvapara Yuga, Parashurama, son of Jamadagni, massacred numerous kings, out of his anger against the Warrior class. Radiant like Agni, he created five lakes of the blood of the Kshatriyas he slayed. We hear that consumed in wrath, he stood at these lakes and gave Tarpan of blood to his ancestors. Then, Richika and his other Pitris appeared and asked him to pardon them, thus putting a full stop to this massacre. The place where he created these blood lakes is famous as Samantapanchaka, the name denoting the essential characteristics of the place. At this same place, the war between the Kurus and the Pandavas occurred during the cusp of the Dwapara and Kali Yuga (the Fourth Age). At this very same place, devoid of all Doshas, did the 18 Akshohini battle-ready armies had gathered. Making the Kauravas as an excuse, the Time – the doer of great wonders – gathered all the very same Kshatriyas who were massacred by Rama at the cusp of previous two Times at the same place and caused their destruction. The great wielder of weapons Bhishma fought for 10 days. Drona protected the Kuru armies for 5 days. The tormentor of enemy armies – Karna – fought for 2 days. Shalya fought for half a day and the great fight with maces took place during the other half of that day. On the night of the same day, Drona’s son Ashwatthama, Acharya Kripa and Hardikya Kritavarma massacred Yudhisthira’s remaining armies that were sleeping."