Extra Credit Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part D

Public Domain Edition of the Mahabharata, Part D

By:Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore

Reading Notes - Character Analyzation:

• The following were notes on the scenes that I thought were particularly important to analyze the character Arjuna:
• Revolted against the idea of fighting against Shikhandin.
• Arjuna loved Shikhandin as a child so the idea of fighting against him was brutal.
• Arjuna and Bhishma fought in war.
• Arjuna's arrows pierced Bhishma which lead to Bhishma's death.
•  Arjuna was told that his son was slain.
• Rightly so, this news really hurt him as he wept for his slain son.
• He then cursed the murderers of his son. 
• He said that he never wanted to reached heaven if he did not kill Jayadratha (who he believed killed his son) the following day.
• Jayadratha was told of Arjuna's vow and became fearful.
• Many people tried to fight Arjuna and the two men who accompanied him (Bhima and Satyaki) before he could reach Jayadratha, including:
• Duryodhana
• Karna
• Bhurishrava
• Many others fought Arjuna and his men but did not succeed.
• Finally, Arjuna beheld Jayadratha who was guarded by warriors. 
• Arjuna easily killed Jayadratha.
• This killing caused a right of continuous fighting by men who really had no reason to fight.
• Arjuna asked for a truce and the warriors agreed. 
• Yet again, Arjuna is in another fight. This time he is in a fight with Susharman when Karna fought against the Pandava army.
• In my opinion, it seems like Arjuna is a very good, effective, and skilled warrior but he is in too many battles.
• Arjuna battled against Karna. 
• This is a close battle because both are seen as mighty.
• During battle, Arjuna asked Karna to pause the fight because his bow-string was severed.
• Karna obviously did not care and dismissed Arjuna's request. 
• Then the opposite situation occurred: Karna asked Arjuna to pause in battle because his chariot sunk into the ground.
• Differently, however, Arjuna did pause in battle.
• Krishna pointed out that Arjuna did as Karna asked when he needed it but Karna did not do the same. 
• As Krishna said this, he spoke the name of Arjuna's son.
• This triggered Arjuna which caused him to be outraged and shot at Karna's head.
• Arjuna defeated and killed Karna.

(Image Source)

By analyzing Arjuna, he seemed to be a great warrior, as he defeated many. I believe this image really shows this aspect of the character analyzed.

Bibliography: Public Domain Edition of the Mahabharata, Part D Multiple Authors from Various Sources: Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore