Status Updates From Mahabharata: A Modern Retel...

“‘We are one being, you and I,’ said Krishna.
‘Anyone who hates you hates me; your people
are my people too. You are Nara,
I, Narayana, come from another world
for the good of this one. I am you.
You are me, Arjuna. There is no difference’” (219)

Reminds me very much of David and Jonathan (1 Sam. 20:42).

“Draupadi said, ‘As I am stained with blood,
so, thirteen years from now, Kaurava women
will be smeared with the blood of their slaughtered sons
and offer up oblations for their dead’” (207)

Absolute banger line from Draupadi

He said the line!

“‘Yudhisthira,’ said Krishna with a smile,
‘time flows on, day by day, and waits for no one.
We do not know when we will meet our death.
To hesitate, to turn away from dharma,
never prolongs life. But it costs a man
his honor — and that loss is worse than death.
Do not divide your mind against itself
through doubt and paralyzing cogitation.
The great man acts, as time demands of him’” (160)

“As his boon, Krishna asked that Arjuna should be his friend lifelong, both in this world, and in worlds to come. Indra gladly blessed the friendship which had been ordained by heaven” (152)

Really, really enjoying this retelling so far. Incredible quote on page 32:

“Did the wise and far-seeing Vyasa,
even as he granted her this boon,
know the sorrow that would come of it,
as though he had just cursed her, not wished her joy?
Perhaps. But with his insight he could see
all that had to happen, and how. And why.
He understood the business of the gods;
his task, to be their earthly emissary.”

It's always so funny to me to read about the mental gymnastics within the Mahabharata for justifying Draupadi's polyandry