Reading Diary A: Starting Buck's Mahabharata

For my reading diaries in week eleven I will be using Buck's version of Mahabharata. Buck immediately introduces many characters into his version of the story. From the beginning we see reference to Vishnu, Krishna, Arjuna, and Saraswati. Also, he introduces the origins of the Mahabharata with the composer, Vyasa, and his scribe, Ganesha. We learn that Vyasa composed the entire story in his head without writing it down. When he needed a way to write it down he recited the entire thing to Ganesha to put it on paper. Ganesha was the son of Shiva, he also had an elephant because when he was younger Shiva got mad at him and ripped it off. He then chose to replace his human head with one of an elephant. After the lesson of the origins Buck continues on to the Mahabharata. It begins with the ocean being milk before it turned to salt. Vishnu wanted the gods to churn the ocean to get out the nectar of immortality. While doing this they churned out many things including: Lakshmi, Rambha, Airavata, and the wish giving cow. However, there was also poison that came out and Shiva had to swallow it in order to save the world. Later on, Bhisma obtains three wives for Vichitravirya. The three women were Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika. Amba, however, has already vowed herself to a king. Vichitravirya unfortunately dies before being able to have children with the other two wives. Visa then goes to father children with the two women. This results in Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhisma appoints Pandu as king. Panda then marries Kunti who had already obtained the ability to have a son with a god. This resulted in Karna but she sent him away down the river. The next big development is the introduction of the Pandavas, the five sons of Pandu.

Pandu and Kunti 

Source: Wikipedia