This week I am going to be reading the online public domain for the Mahabharata. However, for today, I read part A and was introduced to the various characters that will be making up this story. From my reading, I found two stories that I particularly enjoyed. The two stories are The Contest and The Arrival of Karna by Donald A. Mackenzie. I liked these two stories for a couple of reasons. For one, I enjoy the action and flaunts that are demonstrated by the warriors. I also enjoy the surprise and suspense that is demonstrated when two brothers (who do not know each other) have to compete.
In the story The Contest, Bhima and Duryodhana engage in a competition by battling with one another, demonstrating their abilities with the bow and so forth. However, a new contender soon enters the contest by the name of Arjuna. Now Arjuna is a prince and a great warrior. As Arjuna takes the contest, he walks onto the battlefield with golden armor and demonstrates perfect aim with his bow. He hits every single target, big or small. The crowd cheers for him. Everybody thinks he is going to win the contest.
In the story The Arrival of Karna, just as everybody thinks Arjuna is going to win the contest, a new contender arrives by the name of Karna. He is godlike, wearing golden armor and carrying a colorful bow. He portrays himself as somewhat cocky. Saying that whatever Arjuna has demonstrated today will be no match for what he can show everyone if they will allow him. At this time, Arjuna and Karna do not know that they are brothers that were born from Kunti. Karna does everything that Arjuna does on the battlefield and is praised. Arjuna is very mad at this point and challenges Karna. They almost begin to fight, while the fathers of the two warriors prepare to help their son, their same mother was torn between her sons fighting. However, the situation is de-escalated and they do not fight.
I will be changing the characters of this story. I may potentially write a story from the mother's perspective of how she feels about her two sons being angry and wanting to fight one another.
Arjuna vs. Karna: flickr
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