Sabha Parva

[chandrahasa]

The second volume of Mahābhārata is probably the most important of all its volumes. It covers all the actions and inaction that lead eventually to get great war at Kurukshetra. The volume is much shorter than the first(almost half in length) and covers the story from the building of great "Maya Sabha" till the banishment of the Pandavas to exile.

Comments

[sunson]

"The idea that all these great people knew their destiny and walked the path of Dharma or Adharma depending on the role they played is simply beautiful."

Tell me, who knows their destiny besides these characters in an imaginary book?

[chandrahasa]

That would depend on how you define "Destiny", wouldnt it. It can be a person's destiny to become a great leader or to write a book. People can realize their destiny based on events that happen to them or by unusual event that cant be explained.

Someone might say that its your destiny to do something, but if (s)he hadnt said it you might never even think about doing it. Then again maybe it was their destiny to lead you to your path :)

Destiny has got more to do with belief than anything, yet I think it cannot be trivialized by science thru some psychological experiment.

I can tell you that I know people who knew their destiny and fulfilled it, but I know I wont be able to prove it to convince you :)

[inspirethoughts]

Yet they fell to petty crimes

Aint that what every great person also falls for.!

What is the questions nad what is the answer? I am curious to know that.

[chandrahasa]

Draupadi asks Yudhishthira after he loses her in the game of dice if he lost himself first or her. Considering that he lost himself first that means he has no property and hence could not place her as a wager.

When he as no response she asks Beeshma. Beeshma is also unable to say if Draupadi is a slave or a free woman.

After a lot of arguments Vikrama, brother of Dhuryodhana says that Yudhishthira could not have put her as a wager as she is the wife of all his brothers too. Hence she is not a slave of the Kauravas.

[inspirethoughts]

I C.

But I always thght that Draupadi was also sold, that is why she gets brought to the court and stripped of her clothes. I guess she was not sold then, yet Duryodhana had done that to her. Man!