Reading Notes: The Princes of Elephant City, Part A

The Princes of Elephant City, Part A
Mahabharata Reading Notes 

Characters:

King Bharata (M) "legendary Emporer" ancestor of the Pandavas and Kauravas

Vichitravirya (M) "marvelous heroism" son of queen Satyavati & king Shantanu & grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas

Dhritarashtra (M) "he who supports/bears the nation" King of the Kuru Kingdom

Pandu (M) "Father of the Pandavas" King of Hastinapur

Yudhishthira (M) "the one who is steady in the war" eldest son of King Pandu

Bhima (M) "the strongest Pandava" son of King Pandu

Arjuna (M) "protagonist" son of King Pandu & skilled archer married to Draupadi

Kunti (F) "mother of the Pandava brothers (King Pandu's wife)" beautiful and intelligent protagonist

Nakula (M)  "most handsome in the lineage" fourth of the five Pandava brothers

Sahadeva (M) "the wisest Pandava" the youngest of the five Pandava brothers

Madri (F) "Princess of the Madra Kingdom" married Pandu & birthed Nakula and Sahadeva

Gandhari (F) "Goddess of mother and a loving wife" devoted and loyal

Duryodhana (M) " Crown Prince of the Kuru Kingdom" antagonist

Drona (M) Pandavas and Kaurava's teacher

Drupada (M) "King of Panchala" son of King Prishata

Draupadi (F) "most beautiful woman of her time"

Purochana (M) "architect in the kingdom of Hastinapura" a minister under the Kauravas

Vidura (M) "prime minister of the Kuru Kingdom" uncle of the Pandavas and Kauravas

Places:

Hastinapura "the princes of elephant city" city in the Meerut district

The Kuru Kingdom "modern-day India" formed as a result of the alliance between Bharata and other Puru clans

Plot:

The Pandava brothers were the smartest in their classes taught by Drona, which led to the envy of the Duryodhana. This jealousy triggers an attack on King Drupada; he hoped he would be able to escape any harm cast upon him from his enemies (Bharatas). As Duryodhana's jealousy increases, the more anger flows in and he planned to kill the Pandavas and Kunti, but they were forewarned by Vidura and escaped their assassination. In the end, Duryodhana was told that the dead bodies found were the Pandavas and Kunti and he became joyful for the wrong reasons. 

Image Information: Pandava Draupadi. Flickr.

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata - The Princes of Elephant City by C. A. Kincaid (1921). Source.