Storytelling: Game of Dice - Week 9

I was not one to turn down a challenge. Backing down from a challenge is a sign of weakness, that of which I am not.
After all, I am the king of this great kingdom. What kind of king would I be if I did not step forward in the face of confrontation. I am a kshatriya. I do not cower; I am elite.
Sure, I am not be en expert in the game of dice but that is no reason to retreat. Expertise is overrated. I will win this challenge due to my relentless bravery and power.

Vyasa came to warn me of bad omens he foresees. I believe these are merely dreams. I will have to show him there is no reason for concern.

Here we go.

*Hours later*

How is this possible?
I have lost everything I own.
Could Vyasa have been right? Were my bad omens foreordained?
What am I to gamble next? Myself? My dear bothers? My wife?
I cannot stop now, that would be a sign of weakness. I have to continue. Surely my brothers will understand why I must put them on the line. Surely they would be willing to be at risk for the sake of dignity.

*Hours later*

This cannot be happening.
I have lost not only my freedom, but my families'...and now my wife's.
How dare Duryodhana treat her that way. He sees her as merely an object.
I will not let him know of my disfavor. I must stay calm. Stay calm.
It is not too late to turn this around. If he challenges me to another game, I will accept. I can win all of our freedom back. I will win all of our freedom back.

Oh there is a light! Draupadi has wished for our freedom and Duryodhana has granted it. I will return to my kingdom and prepare for the next challenge.

The stakes are higher this time. We face exile. Still, I will not back down. I do not back down! This time I will win. The omens are wrong this time.

Bhima is very angry. He is declaring revenge on Duryodhana. Stay assured my dear brother. I am a kshatriya. I will hold power over all. All will be well in the end....I just need some time.

Dice: Google Images

Authors Note:

I did my story based off of Yudhishthira and the dice challenge. I wrote what I thought would be going through his head before and during the game. I thought that he would very confident in his status and wary of showing fear. However, I added a little bit of concern throughout the dialogue because it gave him a little more personality.

Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

Reading Diary B: The Game of Dice - Week 9

Duryodhana finds out the Pandavas are still alive.
Bhishma and Vidura urge him to make peace.
He ends up inviting the Pandavas back and gives them part of his kingdom.

They build a city called - Indraprastha.

Arjuna is sent into exile for interrupting Yudhishthira and Draupadi and ends up marrying Ulupi and Subhadra.

Yudhishthira is crowned king of Indraprastha.

Duryodhana challenges the Pandavas to a game of dice in his palace.
Yudhishthira gambles away himself, his brothers, and Draupadi.
Duryodhana ends up setting the brothers free, on account of Draupadi's wishes.

A second game begins.
The stake is thirteen years of exile: twelve years in poverty, followed by one year in disguise.
The Pandavas lose.

They gather weapons as time goes on.

Reading Diary A - Week 9

This week we begin Narayan's Mahabharata. (pg:1-39)

Shantanu- king who rules from Hastinapura
He marries a women with the promise to not question her actions.

She drowns each of their children.
He finds out that she is the river Ganga reincarnated.
She takes the eight child into the river and returns when he is grown.

His is known as Bhishma.

The king then falls in love with Satyavati (fisherman's daughter)

Bhishma renounces his claim to the throne and his right to have children of his own.

Chitrangada and Vichitravirya- Satyavati and Shantanu's sons

Chitrangada dies after ruling for a brief time.
Bhishma finds women for Vichitravirya to marry. 

Ambika and Ambalika- wives of Vichitravirya - daughters of neighboring king
Amba- other daughter who is sent away to marry another king. However, he rejects her.
Ambra declares revenge on Bhishma.

Vichitravirya dies without any sons.

Vyasa- Satyavati's son

Dhritarashtra- Ambika and Vyasa's son
Pandu- Ambalika and Vyasa's son
Vidura- Ambalika's maid and Vyasa's son

Dhritarashtra marries Gandhari
Pandu marries Kunti and Madri

Karna- son of Kunti and Surya (sun God) 

Pandu's 5 children:
Yudhishthira- son of Kunti and Yama (God of Death) 
Bhima- son of Kunti and Vayu (God of wind)
Arjuna- son of Kunti and Indra (storm-God)
Sahadeva and Nakula- sons of Madri and Ashwins (twin-Gods)

Kauravas- Dhritarasthtra's one-hundred sons

Pandu dies making love to Madri, who goes with him.
Kunti is left alone to raise the 5 children.

Kunti and the sons move to Hastinapura to live with the Kauravas and Dhritarasthtra. 

Drona- Royal guru for all the children; he trains them.

The Pandava's (Pandu's sons) move to live in the House of Joy built by Purochana (agent of Duryodhana)

They set the house of fine and leave, making everyone think they've died.
They retreat to the forest with Kunti.

Ghatotkacha- son of Bhima and Hidimbi (sister of the rakshasa)

King Drupada holds a contest for his daughters (Draupadi) hand in marriage.
Arjuna wins.

She ends up marrying all 5 brothers because they always share what they have.