Reading Notes: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata - The Princes of Elephant City Part A

 C. A Kincaid: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata - The Princes of Elephant City 

http://iereadingguides.blogspot.com/2014/05/reading-guide-week-1-kincaid-mahabharata.html

(Image Information: Bhima and Hidimba; https://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_mythology_stories/bhima_and_hidimba.htm)

-A long time ago, there existed a king named Vichitravirya in Hastinapura long after the reign of King Bharata. He had two sons: Dhritarashtra, the older and blind son, and his brother Pandu, who became the next king. 

-The teacher of the two boys were named Drona and the Pandavas were his best students and aroused the jealousy of Duryodhana.

-Duryodhana grew even more jealous when his father decided that Yudhishthira would be the heir to his throne, which caused Duryodhana to make a plot to kill the Pandavas and the mother, Kunti.

-After finding out Duryodhana's plot to kill and take over, Vidura who is the half-brother of Pandu and Dhritarashtra warned the Pandavas and they escaped the first through a hidden tunnel. 

-The Pandavas and Kunti ran away to the forest disguised as brahmins but as Bhima watched over the members of his family sleeping, the monster Hidimba and his sister Hibimbi made a plan to eat them. However, Hidimbi falls in love with Bhima when she sees him. She warns Bhima about her brother and Bhima fights with Hidimba and kills him. 

-Duryodhana learns that the Pandavas are still well and alive and that they are allied with King Drupada. Bhishma who is the son of King Shantanu and the goddess Ganga, urged Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas. 

-When Yudhishthira realized that he is not a match for Shakuni and he could not refuse, he lost everything including his brothers, himself, and even Draupadi. 

-King Dhritarashtra grans Draupadi a boon and asks that he free Yudhishthira. He granted her another boon which she asked for the freedom of Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. 

I chose this version as it is a lively and exciting version of the Mahabharata with a focus on the Pandavas as epic heroes. It was extremely easier to read and comprehend the storyline as the names were still confusing, but a hero epic story is always an easier read when it is written focused on the main heroes in action.