The Mahabharata Podcast

Here is explained by the Sage Vaisampayana, details of the daughters of the Prajapati, one of the great progenitors of living entities, to the inquisitive monarch Janamejaya. Amongst his daughters, there are those married to Dharma, the god of justice, as well as the great sage, Kashyapa Muni. Music Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.chosic....

Sage Vaisampayana describes in response to King Janamejaya’s question on the birth of different living entities, the role of Lord Brahma as creator, and progenitor of several prajapati’s, or progenitors of living entities and their races. Music Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY...

The events of Kurukshetra had a long history, not only in matters of this world, but the other worlds. King Janamejaya inquires about the hidden identities of the scores of personalities, who were at loggerheads since their births, who would again confront each other on Earth, including the Supreme Personality, Vishnu. Music Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com Music promo...

Sage Vaisampayana, knowing of the spiritual as well as material value to the Mahabharata to an individual and the world, before narrating, informs the monarch, Janamejaya of these great glories of the epic story of the Bharata. Music Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https...

The Moghuls called the Mahabharata, the “Book of War.” It is clear that without disunion, the stories prominence, would not be the same. King Janamejaya, on seeing his great great grandfather, Sage Vyasa, asks a very pointed question, what was the cause of disunion amongst his great ancestors. To this, Vyasa appoints Sage Vaisampayana, who would be known as the Mahabharata Acharya, or master of th...

As Janamejaya’s curiosity to hear of his ancestral fued deepens, Sage Vaisampayana describes to him the stories behind the characters beginning with Sage Vyasa, and eventually with the host of characters from Pandu, to Vidura, to Shikhandi. Music Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Attribution 4.0 International (CC...

After the personality who would stop the snake sacrifice of King Janamejaya had been born; that effulgent Astika, Suta Goswami narrates on how the story of King Parikshit’s passing at the hands of Takshaka the snake, was told to King Janamejaya, to incite him to revenge. This episode describes the causes for the sacrifice, the sacrifice itself, as well as its being halted. Music Traditional Indian...

The liberator of the snakes prophesied by the great Brahma, would be born to the Sage Jaratkaru. This episode describes the circumstance giving rise to his birth; those of circumstances involving a sage who preferred a life of solitude than one of household domesticity. His ancestors urging him to have a child, little would they know, would also lead to the salvation of the snakes. Music: Forest W...

The Grandson of Arjuna, King Parikshit, despite being one of the most noble of monarchs to have sat on the throne of Hastinapura, happened to do so at a time of transition. Transition of the ages, into the Dark Age. As a result, destiny would have it that he would come across a peaceful sage, and exhibit anger towards him; which would be punished harshly by the sages young and immature son. The ep...

In anticipation of the great snake sacrifice feared by Vasuki and his snake brothers, that would be instigated by the future King Janamejaya, Suta Goswami in this episode describes the context of the resent towards snakes after events involving the father of Janamejaya, King Parikshit, and his events with Sage Shamika and his son Sringi that would lead to him being cursed to die upon being bitten...

As the curse of Kadru, condemning her snake sons to be annihilated in the great snake sacrifice to be conducted by future King Janamejaya, Vasuki calls a counsel for solutions. The variegated thought processes perusing sustenance of the race, end up turning to understanding what has been fated rather than the engineering of their own preferences. Music: Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://...

Shesha is one of the most prominent amongst the snake race, the Nagas. This episode shares the background behind him becoming the force holding together the Earth, after leaving his family given the moral and ethical disagreements stemming from his mothers conspiring to put his step mother into slavery, and his step-brothers cooperation with such a plan. Music Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | h...

The Warrior Class, is the most heavily featured class in the Mahabharata. This episode breaks down the warrior class, from the morphology of the Sanskrit word Kshatriya, to the opinions of the likes of Arjuna, Bhima, Karna & Duryodhana on the heart, mindset and role of a warrior. Artwork Partially created with Adobe firefly Music Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com Mu...

After hearing about how Rama is used by Sages and the Pandavas to give encouragement to one another on their journey to the throne, this episode highlights the citation of Rama as God in the Mahabharata. Music Track: "Tame Tide" Music provided by https://slip.stream Free Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/qdhjQ7 Art of silence by uniq https://soundcloud.com/uniqofficial/ Attribut...

This episode describes how Rama is cited in the Mahabharata in order to inspire a character in many ways similar to himself, the noble Yuddhistira, to continue on the path to victory, and overcome the various tribulations he faced along with his brothers and wife. Music Track: "Tame Tide" Music provided by https://slip.stream Free Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/qdhjQ7 Ascension by Scot...

Ayodhya features in the Mahabharata both dependently and independently of Rama. Many Kings have come and gone, both in the line of Ikshvaku, and also not; not least during the Moghul rules, but also in the Indo-Aryan ages. The grand example of devotion in Tulasidas in the 1600s, at also a time of intersection with the Moghuls, reveals much about just how intervowen the devotional spirit spurred by...

Many an era of the Vedic times, are covered in the Mahabharata in some form; whether through a narration by a Sage, or a comparison with a character from the past; the Ramayana, Ayodhya and Rama are no exception. 13 of the 18 Parvas cite these, and there is much to be learned on how the Pandavas and others of Hastinapura looked back on the times of the great Rama of Ayodhya. Music Yugen - Emotiona...

The Eagle has captivated the minds of generations of civilisations all over the world. This episode explores the background of Garuda across multiple contemporary cultures to this day, and explains how Garuda came to prominence through his prolific adventures, including those with the gods, and Vishnu. Music: Forest Walk by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://w...

Garuda is one of the opening paintings by the Moghuls in their depictions of the Mahabharata from the 18th century. This episode tells the stories behind their famous paintings also. After hearing of the prowess of Garuda in terms of his presence, strength and virtuousness described in the prayers to him by the host of gods, Garuda finds his mother and himself in a circumstance of slavery to his a...

This episode describes the deceit that took place between the two sisters and co-wives of the Sage Kashyapa called Kadru and Vinata based on a gamble on the colour of the tail of a celestial horse. And it continues with the birth and adventures of the Eagle carrier of Vishnu, the son of Vinata, called Garuda. It ends with the terrible dilemma faced by the Sun god, and how Aruna, the brother of Gar...

As the story begins to explain the advent of Garuda & the Snakes, prior to the great snake sacrifice, the introduction is made to Sage Astika, the saviour of the snake race. In the stories of Vinata and Garuda, features the celestial steed Uchchaisravas, who appeared after the churning of the ocean. The churning of the ocean led to Shiva drinking the poison that emerged, as well as the advent...

This episode begins at the backdrop of the Battle of Kurukshetra, the pinnacle of the epic, and specifically when Yuddhistira is showing his doubts over the chances of a Pandava victory against the likes of Bhishma. Arjuna and Krishna take the reigns, explaining the role of righteousness in victory, and the episode then centres around the prayers offered by Arjuna, to Durga, for the Pandava victor...

This episode describes the nine principal forms of the Devi, or Durga, the feminine energy of the Supreme, as is introduced by none other than the Mahabharata, and also featured in other derivative literature including the Srimad Bhagavatam. The episode aims to clarify the descriptions and stories behind the nine forms, providing a segue into a key part of the Mahabharata where Durga, has an encou...

After the kidnapping of Pauloma, and the cursing of Agni, the Suta continues on the nexus with the snake race, by describing the biting of the orphan Pramadvara, and her union with her lover Sage Ruru. Finally, this episode introduces Sage Astika, the saviour of the snake race at the sacrifice of King Janamejaya. Music: a promise by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Music promoted b...

This episode tells the story of Sage Bhrigu’s wife Pauloma, and her abduction by the demon also named Pauloma, in the presence of the fire deity. Bhrigu goes on to curse fire, and then unfolds the redemption of fire by the Grandsire of the Universe, Brahma. Music: Moon Dock by Verbovets | https://lesfm.net/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https:/...