of the family, known as the Kauravas and Pándavas, CHAPTER I. which led to the migration of the latter. 3rd. The marriage of the Pándavas and colonization of Indraprastha. 4th. The quarrel between the rival branches at a gambling-match, which led to the ruin and exile of the Pandavas. 5th. The war of extermination, which culminated in the slaughter of the Kauravas, and final triumph of the Pándavas. The old domestic life at Hastinápur may be easily realized if the probable surroundings are first taken into consideration. A large village seems to have been constructed of mud and bamboos on the bank of the upper stream of the Ganges. This was known as the city of Hastinápur. It was probably inhabited by the cultivators of the neighbouring lands, and all the dependants and retainers of the colony; whilst the Raja, with his family and immediate kinsmen, dwelt in a so-called palace or fort, which was most likely built in a rude square, with a council-hall and inner quadrangle after the fashion of Hindú forts. The Aryan colony at Hastinápur was not, however, without its neighbours. Amongst others was a Nága people, who dwelt in cities, and Aryan colonists had perhaps attained a certain stage of civilization, and Bheels." Moreover, some tribes of mountaineers dwelt in the neighbourhood who were known as Bheels, who possessed no culture at all; they had a trusting faith in the power of the Vedic Aryans, but were nevertheless kept under strict subjection. amongst Nágas dents. An old Raja, named Santanu, dwelt in this fort, Family inci and had a son living with him who had attained to manhood. Like many other old Rajas, he desired CHAPTER I. to marry a certain young damsel; but her parents refused to unite her to the old man, as he had a son already living to inherit the Raj; urging that if the damsel bore any sons to the Raja, they would ultimately become the mere servants or dependants of his successor. At this juncture the son came forward and sacrificed himself for the sake of his father. He took a solemn vow that he would never inherit the Raj, nor marry a wife, nor become a father. All chance of contention was thus removed. The damsel married the old Raja, with the assurance that if she bore a son he would inherit the Raj. Meantime the son was respected as a model of filial piety; but his self-sacrifice was regarded with so much horror by the Hindús, that henceforth he was known as Bhishma, or "the dreadful," because of his dreadful vow. Marriage by capture. Raja Santanu became the father of a son by his young wife, and then died. Bhishma, who was henceforth the faithful patriarch of the family, placed the infant son upon the throne, and trained him in the use of arms and all the accomplishments of the Kshatriyas. When the boy was old enough to be married, Bhishma carried off the two daughters of a neighbouring Raja, according to the law of capture, and gave them as wives to his younger half-brother.19 But scarcely was the young prince married, when he sickened and died, leaving no children, and no prospect that one would be born to him after his decease. Under such circumstances it was the custom amongst the ancient Kshatriyas, as it was 19 This law of capture, as already stated, required that a warrior should completely defeat and subdue the parents and kinsmen of a damsel before he attempted to carry her away. gards childless amongst the ancient Hebrews, that the nearest CHAPTER I. kinsman should take the widows, and raise up sons Custom as reand heirs to the deceased. The usage was a bar- widows. barous one. It originated in the intense desire to prevent a landed inheritance from going out of the family. Bhishma could not interfere because of his vow; but another kinsman, named Vyása, ultimately became the father of a son by each of the widows. These two sons subsequently became the fathers of the men who fought in the great war of Bhárata. The eldest was a blind man, named Dhritarashtra; and he became the father of the Kauravas. The younger was a white-complexioned man, named Pandu; and he became the father of the Pandavas. the white-com Raja Dhrita blind. dependants. Whilst Dhritarashtra and Pandu were still Raja Pandu, young men, Bhishma trained them as carefully plexioned. as he had trained his half-brother; but it became a rashtra, the question as to which of them ought to succeed to the Raj. So a council of all the kinsmen and Kinsmen and retainers was held in the durbar hall, and the matter was discussed by all present; and it was decided that as Dhritarashtra was blind he could not be accepted as Raja; and consequently the younger brother Pandu was placed upon the throne. But Pandu did not care to rule as Raja. Accordingly he left the Raj in charge of Dhritarashtra, and went out into the jungle and spent his days in hunting; and after a while he died in the jungle, leaving a widow named Kuntí, and five sons, who were known as the Pandavas. Meantime Dhritarashtra governed the Raj in spite of his blindness. He had married a wife named Gandharf, and became the father of several CHAPTER I. sons known as the Kauravas. Accordingly when Raja Pandu died in the jungle, the five Pándavas returned to the old fort at Hastinapur with their mother Kuntí, and took up their abode with their uncle Dhritarashtra, and their cousins the Kauravas. Bhishma was now too old to undertake the training of a third generation. A skilled warrior, named Drona, was entertained for the purpose, and married to a kinswoman of the family. Drona thus became the preceptor of both the Kauravas and Pándavas, and trained them in the use of every kind of weapon, as well as in the art of taming lions and elephants, and in a knowledge of the stars. But Rivalry between a rivalry sprung up between the Kauravas and and Pandavas. the Pándavas, which broke out on all occasions, and especially during the martial exercises; and it was soon evident that the Kauravas and Pándavas could not continue to dwell together much longer in the old ancestral home. the Kauravas Individual cha racter of heroes Before proceeding further with the story it may and heroines. be as well to realize the several characters who have been brought upon the stage. The blind Raja Dhritarashtra was a man without any force of character, whose chief object was to keep things pleasant, and prevent any open breach between his sons. and nephews. His wife Gandharí is a pleasing type of a Hindú wife and mother. When she heard that she was to be married to a blind husband, she bound up her eyes with a handkerchief, so that she might not possess any advantage over him. Her sons were collectively named Kauravas, but their exact number is uncertain, and it will suffice to mention Duryodhana the eldest, and his brother Duhsásana. Duryodhana was a brave and skilful warrior, but bitterly jealous, and easily mortified. CHAPTER I. Duhsásana was a more taunting and spiteful character, and drove his enemies nearly frantic by his insolence and reviling. The Pandu family comprised the widow Kuntí, who is generally kept in the back-ground; and the five Pándavas, of whom only three require special mention, namely: Yudhishthira, the eldest, who was renowned for his patience and self-command; Bhíma, the second, who was a giant in strength, but stupid and barbarous; and Arjuna, the third brother, who was famous for his skill in archery, and regarded as a young and gallant hero. The old members of the family were Bhishma the patriarch, and Drona the preceptor. A young warrior, named Karna, the son of a charioteer, was maintained in the household as a sworn friend of Duryodhana and the Kauravas; and although his birth was doubtful, he was well skilled in the use of arms, and proved a loyal and faithful adherent of the Kauravas to the last. There was also a kinsman, named Sakuni, who was uncle to the Kauravas, being the brother of their mother Gandharí. He was, however, a notorious gambler, and skilled in the use of loaded dice; and in other ways was an evil genius of the family. the Pandavas The breach between the sons of Dhritarashtra Migration of and the sons of Pandu soon widened into an open to old Delhi. quarrel. At one time when Bhíma was stupefied with liquor, he was thrown into the Ganges by Duryodhana, and was only saved from drowning by the interposition of some Nágas, which led to his residing for a while in the city of the Nágas. Again, at a mock combat during a public exhibition |