Mahabharata Reading - Part A

PDE Mahabharata: Vyasa and Ganesha

Source. The Mahabharata, A Summary by John Mandeville Macfie (1921)

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/pde-mahabharata-vyasa-and-ganesha.html

Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata, he was very specific that no one on Earth was worthy to write it down. Instead, Brahma told him Ganesha would be his scribe. Vyasa agreed but only if Ganesha would not stop writing until it was complete. 

PDE Mahabharata: Bhishma at the Swayamvara

Source. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914)

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/pde-mahabharata-bhishma-and-amba.html

Similarly to how Rama won Sita, this story discusses how Bhishma takes three daughters from the king of Kashi. He was an amazing archer and used his arrows to shower those surrounding the daughters until they admitted defeat. Then he took them back to Hastinapura so that they could be brides to Satyavati's son, Vichitravirya, the king. 

PDE Mahabharata: Kunti and Her Son

Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)

http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/pde-mahabharata-kunti.html

King Pandu married Kunti (chief) and Madri (who he loved the most). Kunti had a son by the god of the sun, Surya. His name was Karna and he had eyes of a lion and shoulders of a bull. She was shameful and sent her baby down a river in a basket. He was found by Radha and Adhiratha and they raised him. 

Bhishma obtains the three daughters
Source: http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/pde-mahabharata-bhishma-and-amba.html