Let's get right back into it!! When we left, Yudhistira had just lost all the Pandavas had for a second time in a game of dice. . .
A bunch of followers decided to stay with the Pandavas and live with them in poverty, loyal even though their supposed leader had gambled away all of their homes. Which means all of the Pandavas' followers must be either totally crazy or saints--because the normal reaction would be to slap Yudhistira, yell at him for hours, then probably beat him to a pulp. (Not that I'm violent, or anything, but seriously.)
But of course as long as you're already respected, just recite the 108 names of the Sun God and he shall save you from your mistakes. By forcing someone who is not you to hold a bowl for an indeterminate amount of time so that everyone can eat. Basically, the only effort you need to expend is in reciting a few titles, and other people will do the rest. Seems fair.
And once again Dhritarashtra shows that he ignorantly cares more for his son than he does for everyone else put together. And that he really isn't that regretful. But I'm sure that he would love to hear that in Vidura's estimation he is equated with a young girl; could've been a lot worse, haha.
And again Dhritarashtra immediately takes back his orders. Do you think he's realized yet that he has foot-in-mouth disease? And do you think everyone in his kingdom realizes that they just need to ignore him? . . .
What is it with the Indian epics and banishment/poverty for fourteen years? Why fourteen? I want to knowwwww.
Now we know that Draupadi is a woman with a violent temper and a desire for vengeance. And I like her even more for it, hah.
To Yudhistira, I say: it's easy to be forgiving and demand forgiveness from others when it was your own fault that left an entire kingdom of people in poverty.
It's odd to find in an ancient epic, but it almost seems as if Draupadi's argument talks of a monotheistic religion and that she does indeed indicate that the world would be better off without any God. The first agnostic/atheist! And a woman! And an intelligent and well-spoken woman at that! Say whatttt!!
Also, her secondary argument seems almost Socratic/Platonic--that the essence and virtue of each thing lies in it functioning well. Overall, Draupadi just seems like an inquisitive philosopher ahead of her time. Again, go strong women!!
Odd that in the Mahabharata, thirteen years is emphasized as a long stretch in time, whereas in many of the other tales we have read thousands of years pass without mention.
And now we wait while the Pandavas gather a veritable catalog of divine weapons and pray everywhere possible. . .
And the low-level nature deities/Indian singers take out Duryodhana's entire army; he clearly does not have skilled men at his beck and call. But at least he comes out of the skirmish wiser--not that that would be very hard to do based off of his previous judgment.
Another deceitful/harmful deer. I think I'm sensing a pattern. . .
Yama!!! How I missed you! But people really need to learn to listen to you. . . Though at times, you view disobedience as courage, so you are sending some mixed messages. Perhaps we cannot blame the Pandavas after all.
If you didn't have to live in the woods while in exile, why wouldn't you have just settled in a city to begin with?! Gahhh.
Gamblers never do quit, do they?
The vicious warriors secretly desire to be. . . a cook? and a neuter? Ummmmm, okay. Cook is kind of understandable, but to have a favorite hobby of being a neuter? I literally have no words. . .
Onward to Virata!! (And now to speed up/be more brief--)
Draupadi's beauty is apparently indescribable and impossible to resist. Obviously meant to match with the intelligence. ;)
". . . he was hugged by Bhima, and disposed of quickly." Most inconspicuous and understated murder scene ever, haha.
Again with the wretched number thirteen!!
Clap your hands for the Kauravas, making war, stealing cattle, and taking advantage of impaired kingdoms everywhere!
I wish I could just go pluck a tree from the ground and use it as a weapon. No one would ever bother me ever again. . . *sigh* Ah, well.
The Prince Uttara is a wimp. 'nough said.
"A well-matched, sophisticated fight ensued." What does that even mean? How can a fight be sophisticated if it is fought with physical weapons and blows? Like, what??
We won the cattle! Hurrah!! Mooooo!!
Dice make such terrible weapons, haha. And of course any blood spilled must be collected in a vessel. The ground is unworthy of a Pandava's lifeblood, obviously.
"Warning Shots." How intriguing. . .
I thought it was war and peace. Silly me.
So much discussion of troops and battles and wars, but no actual confrontations. I'm getting impatient!!
He somehow "did not mind this advice"?! Did you really think that after 125 pages of supporting his demonic sons that Dhritarashtra would suddenly turn against them and do the just thing? Seriously?
Just blame your weak-willed decisions on fate. Whatever. I don't care. Really, I don't. You can go to Yama for all I care.
I wish I could summon people with a thought. Texting is just too labor-intensive.
And now that Dhritarashtra finally realizes that his doom really is coming, we can anxiously wait for the face-off to begin!! Ttfn!
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