All of us are aware, that Mahabharat, the great war was vital for the world. It established the definition of Karma in this country. But do you know, that the Mahabharat was a result of a curse from Mahadev? This is rather very unknown story. So, buckle up, and get ready for this fantastic tale. Prepare to delve into the hidden depths of mythology as we unravel the divine curse that ignited the epic battle of Kurukshetra, in our blog, Divine Curse: The Untold Story of Mahabharat.
Mystery of the Lotus
Once upon a time, all the Gods gathered on the sacred banks of the Ganga to perform a grand Yadnya. One day, after the ritual, they decided to bathe in the holy river. As they relaxed on the riverbank, they were suddenly captivated by the sight of a lotus drifting gracefully on the waters of the Bhagirathi. Intrigued and astonished, the Gods watched the lotus in awe. Indra, the mightiest and bravest among them, resolved to uncover the mystery of the enchanting flower.
With determination, Indra made his way upstream towards the source of the Ganga, known as Gangotri, where the divine waters flow eternally. As he approached this sacred birthplace, he was met with a mesmerizing sight: a young woman, radiant and luminous like fire, stood before him. Indra’s heart was filled with wonder and curiosity as he gazed upon her ethereal beauty.
सा तत्र योषा रुदती जलार्थिनी गङ्गां देवीं व्यवगाह्य व्यतिष्ठत् ।
तस्याश्रुबिन्दुः पतितो जले य-स्तत् पद्ममासीदथ तत्र काञ्चनम् ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
-The young girl approached the sacred banks of the River Ganga, her steps hesitant and her heart heavy with sorrow. As she entered the crystal-clear stream, she stood still, tears streaming down her face. Each tear that fell into the river transformed miraculously into a golden lotus, illuminating the water with an ethereal glow.
Drawn by this extraordinary sight, Indra, the mighty wielder of the thunderbolt, descended from the heavens. He approached the weeping girl with compassion and curiosity. “Dear lady,” he began gently, “who are you, and what sorrow brings such tears to your eyes? Please, tell me your story, for I wish to know the truth behind your pain.”
त्वं वेत्स्यसे मामिह यास्मि शक्रयदर्थं चाहं रोदिमि मन्दभाग्या ।
आगच्छ राजन् पुरतो गमिष्ये द्रष्टासि तद् रोदिमि यत्कृतेऽहम् ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
-The girl looked up at Indra, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and determination. “Devraj Indra,” she began, her voice trembling, “I am but an unfortunate and helpless woman. If you wish to understand my plight, follow me. I will lead you to the source of my tears.”
Without another word, she turned and began to walk, her steps purposeful despite the weight of her grief. Intrigued and moved, Indra followed her, the path leading them higher and higher into the majestic peaks of the Himalayas.
Upon reaching a secluded mountaintop, Indra’s eyes widened in surprise. There, in the serene stillness, he saw a strikingly handsome young man seated in a perfect Siddhasana posture. Beside him, a young woman laughed and played, her presence radiating joy. The scene was one of carefree delight, the two immersed in their own world, oblivious to the insult that had brought Indra to this place.
The Mystery Couple
तमब्रवीद् देवराजो ममेदं त्वं विद्धि विद्वन् भुवनं वशे स्थितम् ।
ईशोऽहमस्मीति समन्युरब्रवीद् दृष्ट्वा तमक्षैः सुभृशं प्रमत्तम् ।।
क्रुद्धं च शक्रं प्रसमीक्ष्य देवोजहास शक्रं च शनैरुदैक्षत ।
संस्तम्भितोऽभूदथ देवराज- स्तेनेक्षितः स्थाणुरिवावतस्थे ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
-The young man was completely absorbed in his playful reverie, oblivious to everything else around him. This careless indifference sparked a fire of anger in Devraj Indra. “O great one!” he thundered. “This entire world bends to my will, obeys my commands. I am the sovereign of this universe!”.
The divine man, amused by Indra’s arrogance, let out a soft, mocking laugh. He slowly lifted his eyes and fixed his gaze upon Indra. In an instant, Indra’s body froze, paralyzed by the power of that look. He stood as still as a statue, his limbs stiff and unresponsive.
When the divine couple finally ceased their frolic, the young man turned his attention to the weeping goddess. “Bring Indra to me,” he commanded gently. “He must be rid of his pride.”
As the goddess approached Indra and laid a gentle hand on him, the paralysis broke. Indra’s limbs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, trembling. The fierce and radiant Lord Rudra then spoke, his voice resonating with authority. “Indra, never let pride overtake you again. You possess great strength and valor, yet even you must learn humility. Remove the great mountain that blocks this cave’s entrance and step inside, where many Indras, as radiant as the Sun, reside.”
Indra, regaining his composure, heaved the mountain aside, revealing a vast cavern. Inside, four other Indras, equally illustrious, sat in serene meditation. A pang of fear and sadness gripped Indra’s heart as he pondered his fate. “Will I too suffer the same plight as these?”
Mahadev, who lay in tranquil repose on the mountain, opened his eyes and glared at Indra with an intense, fiery gaze. “Shatakrato!” he admonished. “You have insulted me with your foolish pride. Enter this cave and learn your lesson.”
Indra, trembling with fear and sadness, felt his strength ebb away. His limbs quivered like a peepal leaf in the wind. With a reluctant heart and hands folded in supplication, he approached the cave’s entrance.
Upon receiving permission from the formidable Rudra, Indra spoke with a voice full of reverence and fear. “Jagadyone! You are the primordial being, the creator of the world.”
Rudra, his fierce brilliance undiminished, laughed once more. “Those who are modest do not seek favors here. These others were once as proud as you. Enter this cave, and sleep, for such is your fate.”
With these words echoing in his ears, Indra, humbled and subdued, stepped into the cave, ready to embrace his destiny alongside the others who had come before him.
तत्र ह्येवं भवितारो न संशयो योनिं सर्वे मानुषीमाविशध्वम् ।
तत्र यूयं कर्म कृत्वाविषांबहूनन्यान् निधनं प्रापयित्वा ।।
आगन्तारः पुनरेवेन्द्रलोकंस्वकर्मणा पूर्वजितं महार्हम् ।
सर्वं मया भाषितमेतदेवं कर्तव्यमन्यद् विविधार्थयुक्तम् ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
-There in the future you are definitely going to be like this – all of you will have to enter the human form. In that birth you will perform many difficult deeds and kill many people and then again come to Indraloka (The divine abode of Indra), which is already inhabited by virtuous souls through your good deeds. You will have to do everything that I have said. Apart from this, many other works with different purposes will be accomplished by you.
पूर्वेन्द्रा ऊचुःदेवास्त्वस्मानादधीरजनन्यां थर्मो वायुर्मधवानश्विनौ च ।
अस्त्रैर्दिव्यैर्मानुषान् योधयित्वाआगन्तारः पुनरेवेन्द्रलोकम् ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
The first four Indras, their voices echoing through the cavern, spoke in unison, their tone reverent. “Lord Rudra,” they began, “we accept your command to descend from Devlok to Manushyalok, where the rare means of attaining salvation are within reach. However, we request that Dharma, Vayu, Indra, and the Ashvinikumars place us in the wombs of our mothers. There, armed with divine weapons, we will battle human warriors and, after our deeds are done, return to Indraloka.”
Listening to their words, Indra, the bearer of the thunderbolt, turned once more to Mahadev, the greatest of gods. “Lord,” he declared with determination, “I will dedicate a part of myself to the work of the gods. From my essence, I will create another being, who will join these four. He will be the fifth among them, born from my own seed.”
Mahadev’s intense gaze softened slightly as Indra continued, “Their names will be Vishwabhuk, Bhootdhaama, the glorious Indrashibi, the tranquil Shanti, and the radiant Tejaswi. These five will carry out their divine missions on Earth and ultimately return to their rightful place in Indraloka.”
तेषां कामं भगवानुग्रधन्वा प्रादादिष्टं संनिसर्गाद् यथोक्तम् ।
तां चाप्येषां योषितं लोककान्तांश्रियं भार्यां व्यदधान्मानुषेषु ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
-Lord Rudra, the fierce archer, bestowed his blessings upon the four Indras, promising the fulfillment of their noble wishes. Their saintly nature had endeared them to him, and he granted their request, ensuring that their path to salvation would be illuminated with divine favor. Additionally, he appointed the beautiful young lady, the goddess of wealth from heaven, to be their wife in the human world, binding their destinies together.
Having set their fates in motion, Mahadev turned his attention to a greater cosmic alignment. Accompanied by the four Indras, he sought out Lord Narayana—the infinite, immeasurable, un-manifested, unborn, ancient, eternal, and universal deity. In the presence of this supreme being, Mahadev conveyed the divine orders, ensuring that every detail of their mission was sanctioned by the highest authority.
With Narayana’s blessings, the divine plan was complete. The four Indras, along with the essence of Indra himself, descended to the earthly realm. As they took human form, their divine purpose and celestial origins imbued their mortal lives with a profound sense of destiny. United by the blessings of Rudra and Narayana, they embarked on their journey, ready to fulfill their roles in the grand tapestry of the cosmos.
स चापि केशौ हरिरुद्वबर्ह शुक्लमेकमपरं चापि कृष्णम् ।
तौ चापि केशौ निविशेतां यदूनां कुले स्त्रियौ देवकीं रोहिणीं च ।।
तयोरेको बलदेवो बभूव योऽसौ श्वेतस्तस्य देवस्य केशः ।
कृष्णो द्वितीयः केशवः सम्बभूव केशो योऽसौ वर्णतः कृष्ण उक्तः ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
-At that time, Lord Narayana plucked two hairs from his head—one white and the other black. These two hairs entered the wombs of two women from the Yadu dynasty: Devaki and Rohini. From Rohini, who received the white hair, came Baldev, embodying the serene essence of Lord Narayana. The black hair, entering Devaki, manifested as Lord Sri Krishna, representing the boundless energy of the divine.
Thus, through these two miraculous births, the divine essence of Lord Narayana took human form, destined to shape the course of history and uphold righteousness in the world. Baldev and Krishna, brothers bound by divine origin, would grow to fulfill their destinies, guided by the sacred purpose instilled in them from the moment of their conception.
ये ते पूर्व शक्ररूपा निबद्धा-स्तस्यां दर्यां पर्वतस्योत्तरस्य ।
इहैव ते पाण्डवा वीर्यवन्तः शक्रस्यांशः पाण्डवः सव्यसाची ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
-The four brave Pandavas, who had once been confined in the northern Himalayan caves as incarnations of Indra, are now present here. The fifth individual, destined to embody a part of Indra himself, is Savyasachi Arjun, the son of Pandu.
Birth of Draupadi
In a secluded hermitage, there lived a daughter of a revered sage. Despite her virtues and beauty, she had yet to find a suitable husband. Determined to fulfill her wish, she undertook rigorous penance to appease Lord Shankar. Her devotion was so profound that Mahadev himself appeared before her, his divine presence radiating grace.
“Ask for the boon you desire,” Lord Shankar said to the sage’s daughter.
With unwavering sincerity, she requested, “I wish for a husband who embodies all virtues.”
Pleased with her request, Lord Shankar granted her wish with a divine smile, saying, “Bhadra, you shall have five husbands.”
The daughter, still hoping for a single, virtuous husband, respectfully appealed again, “O Shankar Ji, I seek only one virtuous husband.”
Mahadev, recognizing her earnestness, honored her devotion. Thus, her future was destined to be intertwined with five great heroes, each embodying the qualities she desired, shaping her path in ways she could not yet foresee.
तां देवदेवः प्रीतात्मा पुनः प्राह शुभं वचः । पञ्चकृत्वस्त्वयोक्तोऽहं पतिं देहीति वै पुनः ।।
तत् तथा भविता भद्रे वचस्तद् भद्रमस्तु ते । देहमन्यं गतायास्ते सर्वमेतद् भविष्यति ।।
-Aadiparva, Mahabharat.
Seeing her earnestness and devotion, Lord Mahadev, the sovereign of all deities, spoke with a heart full of grace. “Noble lady,” he said, his voice imbued with divine warmth, “you have repeated your plea for a husband five times. Therefore, the boon I have granted—having five husbands—will indeed come to pass. However, this will only be realized when you take on a new form”
With these words, Mahadev assured her of his blessing, knowing that her future would unfold according to his divine plan, in a new life yet to come, as Queen Draupadi, with the five husbands as Pandavas. Rest what happened, is a history, called Mahabharat.
References:
1. Aadiparva, Mahabharat, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India.
2. Philadelphia Museum of Art 88435
3. Philadelphia Museum of Art 57806
4. Philadelphia Museum of Art 70158
5. Philadelphia Museum of Art 57810
6. The Metropolitan Museum of Art 825669
