Mahabharata: revealed by Brahma, recited by Vyasa, written down
by Ganesha (broke a tusk for a stylus).
Kingdom of Bharata; city of Hastinapur.
King Shantanu marries fisher-girl, Satyavati (miraculous origin),
whose son is Vyasa.
Satyavati’s sons must succeed; Shantanu’s son by first wife, Ganga,
Bhishma, vows celibacy/loyalty to throne.
Bhishma wins 3 princesses for King Vichitra-virya, but he dies
heirless, so Vyasu fathers the royal sons, Pandu (pale) and
Dhritarashtra (blind) because one princess turned pale, one closed
her eyes when they saw the repulsive Vyasa.
Pandu accidentally kills a rishi + wife, and can not father children.
| Previous slide | Next slide | Back to first slide | View graphic version |