Week 9 Story: Ved Vyasa

Ved Vyasa
Source: Wikipedia

Vichitravirya died suddenly and left the world childless and unfortunately, left Hastinapur without an heir. Chaos struck the palace. No heir, left no one in life for the throne and without a king, Hastinapur was at risk. The obvious solution was to have Bhishma father children, but he refused, holding up his vow of celibacy. The next solution was brought up by Bhishma's and Vichitravirya's mother, Satyavati. Satyavati revealed to Bhishma that before she was wed by his father, she had a child out of wedlock. He was raised as a sage in the forest and he would come to her whenever she called, his name was Ved Vyasa. Her idea was to have him come to father the children of Ambika and Ambalika. Bhisma agreed and Satyavati called upon Vyasa.

When Ved Vyasa arrived in the palace, everyone was frozen in awe. They could not believe their eyes. Ved Vyasa was the most beautiful man anyone had laid eyes on. He was tall, muscular, and had the a perfectly chiseled face. It seemed that Ved Vyasa had been made by the god of beauty. Every women in the castle was struck speechless just by once glance at Ved Vyasa. Word eventually reached the two young queens, that Ved Vyasa had arrived and he was the best looking man anyone had ever seen. Both the queens, being excited to meet the man who would father their children, dressed in their best clothing and jewels and went to greet him.

Just like all the other women that had laid eyes on Ved Vyasa, both Ambika and Ambalika were speechless upon first look at Ved Vyasa. They gathered themselves and approached him. Both were eager to meet him and perhaps were too strongly influenced by his looks. Their first encounter with Ved Vyasa was wonderful. They treated him to a four course meal and wine, and showed him to the best room in the castle.

You see, Ved Vyasa was the perfect man. He was kind and has amazing looks but this caused a feud between the two young queens. Both argued constantly over who he would take into his embrace first. When Ved Vyasa went to Ambika first, he could see the greed in her eyes. He then told that her child would be born greedy. When Ved Vyasa took Ambalika into his embrace, he could tell she was angry and told her that her child would be born angry and mean.

Not wanting another child with a certain condition, the next time that Ved Vyasa entered her chambers, Ambika sent a servant in her place. When Ved Vyasa entered and the servant did not woo over his looks and he could see in her heart that his looks did not affect her, he took her into his embrace and told her that her child would be born a great wiseman.The three children were born just as Ved Vyasa had said they would.

Author's Notes: The original story was very similar to this one except for one fact. In the original story, Ved Vyasa was not beautiful. In fact, he was the complete opposite. His looks were so bad that when he took the two queens in his embrace, Ambika closed her eyes, so her son was born blind, and Ambalika was pale with fear, so her son was born pale, the servant however, did nothing and he said no fear was in her heart and her child was born wise. I wanted to change this story to the opposite and make Ved Vyasa so beautiful that it would cause a feud between the queens. I thought this was a nice twist. My original idea was to just put this in the perspective of one of the queens, but I liked the idea of completing changing the story to the opposite and have Ved Vyasa being a man worth fighting over.

Bibliography: "Sons of Vyasa" from the video Mahabarata Episodes by Epified.

Week 9 EC Reading: Part A of Mahabharata Videos: The Sons of Vyasa

The Sons of Vyasa:

• Vichitravirya died and Bhisma refuses to father children. Satyavati calls upon her son, Bhisma's half brother, Ved Vyasa and asked him to father Hastinapur's next king (apparently he was really bad looking). As per his mother's request, he paid Ambika a visit, but she could not contain her fright. She did not resist when the sage took her into his arms, but she did close her eyes. He then told her that her son would be born blind. Ambika warned Ambalika, since Vyasa was to visit her next, to keep her eyes open and so she did. While in Vyasa's embrace however, she turned pale with fear. He then told her that her son would be born pale and afraid. Vyasa then went back to Ambika but instead, he was greeted with one of her servant, who did not greet him with fear. Instead she accepted him. The three women gave and birth and just as Vyasa had said, Ambika's son was born blind, Ambalika's son was born pale and afraid (grew up to be an archer), but the servants child was born wise. 
• My ideas: My idea is to put this in either Ambika or Ambalika's perspective. More than likely Ambalika. I feel like if we were able to explain why they feared him so much, then that would make more sense. I mean, I know looks are a main factor at play here, but why was her love for country not more than a man's looks. Did she not want her heir to be the next king? I just want to give some explanation. Also, I may change the story to where Ambalika accepts Vyasa and her child is born and named heir of the throne.
• Bibliography: "Sons of Vyasa" from the video Mahabarata Episodes by Epified.

Ved Vyasa
Source: Wikipedia

Week 9 Reading B: Eklavya's Story

Eklavya's story:

• In a trip to the forest the Pandava's discovered Eklavya. As they were walking in the forest, one of the dogs that they had sent out in front of them had been shot by arrow. He was not shot in just anyway however, the arrows were filling his mouth. The dog had not been hurt, but its mouth was full of arrows. This was definitely a surprise. Arjuna was then struck with grief because he knew that he was not the best archer in the world. He confronted the man who had shot the arrows. He was simply a hunter. Arjuna was angry and he and demanded to know who was his guru and who he had learned his skills from. To Arjuna's surprise he said it was Drona. Arjuna immediately went back and asked Drona if he had been Eklavya's guru and he said he had not. Drona went to Eklavya and Eklavya told his story. He had once gone to Drona and asked him to teach him but Drona had refused. Eklavya was determined to learn, and learn he did. He taught himself and used an image of Drona to motivate himself. Drona wanted to praise Eklavya's dedication, but instead, he ordered him to cut off his right thumb. Drona knew this would end his archery career. Eklavya did as his guru said and cut off his thumb. Drona always wondered what the legend Eklavya could have been apart of.
• My ideas: To change this story, I could go a few ways:
• My first idea is to change the story altogether. In this version, Drona would have been teaching Eklavya all along, but in secret. 
• My second idea is just to change the ending and have Drona stand up for Eklavya and maybe even hide him from Ajuna.
• Finally, I could put this story is Eklavya's perspective. Maybe make it a retelling of the story of how he lost his right thumb.
• Bibliography: "Eklavya's Story" from the video, Mahabharata Videos, Part B by Epified.

Eklavya cutting off his thumb as requested by Drona.
Source: Ritsin