Hari Om!
Here is the class update for last week.
Stotram: We started learning the Mahishasura Mardini stotram, and we already have a few "experts" in class who are happy to teach the stotram to their friends. Looking forward to the children learning this stotram together!
Bhagavad Gita: We learnt verses 17 and 18 of Chapter 3.
Mahabharata: The war begins. On Day One, the Pandavas suffer heavy losses at the hands of Bhishma, losing Uttarakumara. Yudhishtra is pained at this loss. On Day Two, Arjuna chooses the Krauncha vyuha and Bhishma the eagle formation. Drona and Drishtadyumna face off and Drona emerges victorious. The roles were reversed on this day and the Kaurava army suffered heavy damage at the hands of the Pandava army. On Day Three, Bhishma attacked the Pandava army with renewed vigor and used celestial weapons. Arjuna was unable to prevent him from demolishing the Pandavas' army and this infuriated Krishna. Despite promising to never raise a weapon and fight in the war, Krishna picked up a chariot wheel and proceeded towards Bhishma ostensibly to stop him from killing off the Pandava army. Seeing this form of Krishna, Bhishma smilingly welcomed him, but Arjuna begged him to come back and be his charioteer. He promised Krishna to do his utmost to prevent Bhishma from causing further damage. He managed to hold off the Kaurava assault and keep the Pandava army victorious that day. Day Four saw the slaughter of eight of Duryodhana's brothers. Distraught, at the end of the day, he went to Bhishma and lamented that the Pandavas, in spite of having a smaller army, were not only holding their own, but managing to cause serious damage to the Kaurava forces. Bhishma replied that the Pandavas had Dharma on their side and hence were strengthened. He advised Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas and stop the war.
Disregarding Bhishma's advice to make peace with the Pandavas, Duryodhana continued the war. Days 5 through 9 of the war saw much bloodshed, with the armies exchanging victory and defeat evenly. There were many spectacular battles - between Satyaki and Drona, Shikhandi and Ashwattama, Drona and Virata, Duryodhana and Dhrishtadyumna. Abhimanyu, Iravan and Ghatotkacha left no doubt that they were as valorous as their fathers. As proud as he was of his sons' valor, Arjuna soon faced the tragedy of losing Iravan on day 8 of the battle. While Arjuna bereaved at the death of his son Iravan, he was reminded by Vidura's words that both sides would experience terrible grief. At that moment he understood why Yudhisthira was fine with just 5 villages, a graceful tactic to avoid such unbearable loss of kith and kin. Ghatotkacha, angered that Iravan had fallen, ferociously attacked the Kauravas, targeting Duryodhana. A javelin meant to grievously wound Duryodhana was intercepted, killing an elephant. Fearing for Duryodhana's safety, Drona sent warriors to his side, while Yudhisthira sent Bheema to help his son. Tortured by the fact that the Pandava army was still holding its own in spite of being smaller in size, Duryodhana, on Karna's advice, even went so far as to request Bhishma to retire so Karna could aggressively take the war to the Pandava camp. Bhishma swore to cause maximum damage to the Pandava army the very next day. As a result, the Pandava army was severely damaged on Day Nine. At a loss as to the tactics that would defeat Bhishma, Yudhishtra and Arjuna, at Krishna's behest, went to Bhishma and enjoined him to let them know how he could be defeated in war. Bhishma gently reminded them he would not fight a woman in war. Realizing that Shikhandi was born a woman and turned a man due to boon, Arjuna decides to put Shikhandi in front and fight Bhishma on Day Ten.
It was a phenomenal battle, but with Shikhandi facing him, Bhishma did not directly attack him. Arjuna was able to thwart his defences, and break his weapons. Bhishma also mentally prepared to leave the world. Having chosen his time of death, Arjuna's arrows were but an apparent cause of his fall. Pierced all through his body by arrows, the great Grandsire, the very foundation of the Kuru dynasty, fell on the sacred ground of Kurukshetra. He calmly requested a pillow for his head and Arjuna fittingly gave him the support of his arrows. To quench his thirst, Arjuna shot an arrow in the ground and Mother Ganga sprang through in an instant for her beloved son. Both armies were shocked and stunned at the fall of Bhishma. Karna visited Bhishma later at night, and paid his respects. Bhishma spoke well of him and mentioned that he knew well that Karna was Kunti's son and that he should fight with the Pandavas. Karna said that he could not desert Duryodhana and he would fight for him.
Sanjaya hastened to Hastinapura to narrate the events of the war and the fall of Bhishma to Dhritarashtra.
We are also practicing the play in class, please remind the children to learn their lines well!
Regards
Keerthi Kobla
Abhirami Shrinivas