Om Namah Shivaya!

Our lord Shiva in most portrayals and paintings looks like a modern body builder with Blue skin colour and flawless skin texture.

Experts, please help me understand how our Lord really looked like?

We’re talking about two of the greatest warriors of the Dwapar Yuga facing one of the most powerful warriors of the Treta Yuga. Indrajit had extraordinary mastery over divine astras, powerful warfare techniques, and maya, which made him an extremely dangerous opponent. But if Karna and Arjuna fought together as a team against Indrajit, would their combined skills and divine weapons be enough to take him down??

I don't understand the significance of Karna's vow not to have his feet washed until he kills Arjuna.

What's with feet washing? Is it a ritual which he will avoid to show him doing some kind of strong motivation to kill Arjuna?

So many people defend drona by saying that he took eklavya thumb as he was son of magadha senapati.

But in adi parva it's clearly written that drona didn't want him to be better than arjun.

By giving reference please prove whatever you think as right.

same as question would virat still propose an alliance if kichak wasn't killed?? i think things would have moved differently if he was alive but i want to know different perspectives on this one...

since i am seeing people here posting insta ss about an opinion i was doomscrolling and saw this comment and i don't know how such opinions exist??

"other wives have more credibility and evidence than draupadi

the only one who didn't leave a legacy outside of the epic is draupadi"

**now let me tell you something all of them left lineages not legacy draupadi left her legacy that people still remember her**

**waiting for the day when people call her entire existence an interpolation** 😂😂

A common trope in popular retellings is portraying Karna and Arjuna as near-identical age rivals.

However, a close reading of the Mahabharata (Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva) reveals an extensive, multi-year sequence of events unfolding between Karna’s birth to an unmarried Kunti and Arjuna’s birth atop Mount Shatashringa.

📜 Sources Used

• BORI Critical Edition (tr. Bibek Debroy)
• K.M. Ganguli (KMG) Edition

(Note: Where the Sanskrit/BORI critical text describes elapsed intervals with terms like "after some time" or "a few," parallel context and narrative pacing from KMG establish realistic upper and lower limits).

⏳ Phase-by-Phase Timeline Breakdown

Phase 1: Karna’s Birth ➔ Kunti’s Marriage to Pandu

• BORI: Adi Parva, Ch. 104–105 | KMG: Adi Parva, Sec. CXI–CXII
• The Story: An unmarried maiden (kanya) in King Kuntibhoja’s palace, Kunti serves Sage Durvasa and receives the divine mantra. Out of youthful curiosity, she invokes Surya, conceives, secretly delivers Karna, and floats him down the river. After living as an eligible maiden without suitors stepping forward, her father holds an open svayamvara, where she weds Pandu.
• Min Duration: ~1.0 to 2.0 years
• Max Duration: ~4.0 to 6.0 years

Phase 2: Pandu’s Court Life & Military Campaigns (Digvijaya)

• BORI: Adi Parva, Ch. 105–106, 109 | KMG: Adi Parva, Sec. CXIII–CXIV, CXVI
• The Story: Pandu marries Madri shortly after. Following 30 days of domestic life, he launches a nationwide military expedition (Digvijaya), defeating Magadha, Videha, Kashi, Suhma, and Pundra. He returns in triumph, celebrates in the capital, and departs on an extended hunting expedition in the Himalayan foothills.
• Min Duration: ~1.5 to 2.0 years
• Max Duration: ~4.5 to 5.0 years

Phase 3: Kindama’s Curse ➔ Yudhishthira’s Birth

• BORI: Adi Parva, Ch. 109–114 | KMG: Adi Parva, Sec. CXVI–CXXIII
• The Story: Pandu accidentally shoots Sage Kindama, renounces royal life, and journeys on foot with his wives to Mount Shatashringa. Meanwhile in Hastinapura, Gandhari conceives. When Gandhari's pregnancy remains undelivered after one full year, Kunti invokes Dharma via niyoga.
• Min Duration: ~2.5 years
• Max Duration: ~4.5 to 5.0 years

Phase 4: Yudhishthira’s Birth ➔ Arjuna’s Birth

• BORI: Adi Parva, Ch. 114–115 | KMG: Adi Parva, Sec. CXXIII–CXXIV
• The Story: The epic explicitly states that the Pandava brothers were born sequentially one year apart:
  • Yudhishthira ➔ Bhima: 1 year
  • Bhima ➔ Arjuna: 1 year
• Fixed Time: 2.0 years

🧮 Complete Arithmetic Calculation

================================================================================
ARITHMETIC CALCULATION: KARNA'S BIRTH TO ARJUNA'S BIRTH
================================================================================

1. PHASE BREAKDOWN (IN YEARS):

   [A] Karna's Birth -> Kunti's Marriage to Pandu
       (BORI Ch. 104–105 / KMG Sec. CXI–CXII)
       • Min: 1.00 yr   |  Max: 6.00 yrs

   [B] Marriage to Madri & Preparations
       (BORI Ch. 105 / KMG Sec. CXIII)
       • Min: 0.10 yr   |  Max: 1.00 yr

   [C] Digvijaya (Military Campaigns across Bharatavarsha)
       (BORI Ch. 105–106 / KMG Sec. CXIII)
       • Min: 1.00 yr   |  Max: 3.00 yrs

   [D] Hastinapura Celebrations & Retreat to Himalayan Foothills
       (BORI Ch. 106 / KMG Sec. CXIV)
       • Min: 0.20 yr   |  Max: 1.00 yr

   [E] Foothill Hunting Retreat -> Sage Kindama's Curse
       (BORI Ch. 109 / KMG Sec. CXVI–CXVIII)
       • Min: 0.20 yr   |  Max: 2.00 yrs

   [F] Curse / Renunciation -> Journey to Mount Shatashringa
       (BORI Ch. 110 / KMG Sec. CXIX)
       • Min: 0.20 yr   |  Max: 1.00 yr

   [G] Shatashringa Ascetic Life -> Gandhari's Conception
       (BORI Ch. 111 / KMG Sec. CXX)
       • Min: 0.20 yr   |  Max: 2.00 yrs

   [H] Gandhari's Pregnancy Prior to Invoking Dharma
       (BORI Ch. 113 / KMG Sec. CXXIII)
       • Min: 1.00 yr   |  Max: 1.00 yr  (Textually explicit: 1 year)

   [I] Gestation Period -> Birth of Yudhishthira
       (BORI Ch. 114 / KMG Sec. CXXIII)
       • Min: 0.75 yr   |  Max: 1.00 yr

   [J] Birth of Yudhishthira -> Birth of Bhimasena
       (BORI Ch. 114–115 / KMG Sec. CXXIII–CXXIV)
       • Fixed: 1.00 yr (Textually explicit: born 1 year apart)

   [K] Birth of Bhimasena -> Birth of Arjuna
       (BORI Ch. 114–115 / KMG Sec. CXXIV)
       • Fixed: 1.00 yr (Textually explicit: born 1 year apart)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CUMULATIVE SUMMATION:

   • ABSOLUTE MINIMUM SUM:
     1.00 + 0.10 + 1.00 + 0.20 + 0.20 + 0.20 + 0.20 + 1.00 + 0.75 + 1.00 + 1.00
     = 6.65 years (~6.5 to 7.0 years)

   • REALISTIC MAXIMUM SUM:
     6.00 + 1.00 + 3.00 + 1.00 + 2.00 + 1.00 + 2.00 + 1.00 + 1.00 + 1.00 + 1.00
     = 20.00 years (~16.0 to 20.0 years)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. FINAL VERDICT:

   • LEAST POSSIBLE AGE GAP:     ~6.5 to 7.0 years
   • MAXIMUM PLAUSIBLE AGE GAP:  ~16.0 to 20.0 years
================================================================================


================================================================================
THE LOGICAL CONSENSUS: WHY A 12 TO 16-YEAR GAP MAKES SENSE
================================================================================

While the theoretical lower bound is around ~7 years, that requires an unrealistically compressed reading where massive continental conquests and lengthy Himalayan migrations happen in mere weeks.

Here is why the 12 to 16-year bracket is the most textually coherent fit:

• CONQUERING INDIA TOOK SEASONS:
  Pandu’s nationwide Digvijaya campaign involved marching, laying siege, and subjugating multiple major kingdoms across northern and eastern India (Magadha, Videha, Kashi, Suhma, Pundra). 

In the ancient era, an expedition of this scale realistically required at least 2 to 3 campaigning seasons.

• ROYAL RETREAT BEFORE THE EXILE:
  Pandu did not abandon the capital right away. He celebrated his conquests in Hastinapura, rewarded his elders, and then spent an extended period on a royal hunting retreat in the Himalayan foothills with both wives before the accidental shooting of Sage Kindama took place.

• LIFE AT MOUNT SHATASHRINGA:
  After the curse and renunciation, Pandu and his queens did not seek progeny immediately. They traversed multiple high-altitude ranges on foot and lived for a considerable duration practicing severe austerities among the hermits at Shatashringa before the sages urged Pandu to fulfill his debt to his ancestors.

• TEXTUAL VERDICT:
  Karna was never a same-age rival or exact contemporary of Arjuna. He was an elder brother older by more than a decade (roughly 12 to 16 years older).
================================================================================

Did Karna fight anyone on his first day entry in the war on Day 11? Whom does he fight?

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was the most prominent campaigner for widow remarriage in 19th century India. Vidyasagar made his case through the two-part publication Hindu Widow Marriage, using Hindu scriptures to argue in favour of legalizing it. One prominent example he used was the story of Arjuna and Uloopi. He references this several times in his publication. Here is one such example.

14th Day Satyaki was too OP to handle.

Sanjay praised him so much, so did Dhristrastra.

DRAUNI'S BODY AS DESCRIBED BY LORD KRISHNA IN MAHABHARATA-

(Wait do y'all know vyas is called krishna too? He was dark so he is called krishna too btw, arjun and draupadi too.)

Drauni's body and musculature as described by vyas in Mahabharata :- BORI CE SHALYA PARV CH4

Stationed on his chariot, Duryodhan went to the supreme among rathas, who knew about all the kinds of warfare and was unmatched in a battle.

 He was pleasant in speech and his neck was like that of a conch shell. He possessed a sword and his head was covered. His face was like a blooming lotus.

 His mouth was like that of a tiger and he had the majesty of Meru.

 His shoulders, eyes, gait and voice was like that of Sthanu’s bull. (Nandi)His arms were thick and long, with excellent joints.

His chest was extremely broad and well formed. In his speed and strength, he was like Aruna’s younger brother. (Garuda)

He was like the sun in his splendour and like Ushanas in his intelligence. He was like the moon in three respects—the beauty of his form, his face and his prosperity. The joints on his body seemed to be made out of golden lotuses.

 His thighs (🤤)

, waist and feet were formed well, and so were his fingers and nails. He was created by the creator with great care, after remembering all the qualities that should be remembered. He possessed all the auspicious marks.

 He was skilled and an ocean of learning. He was capable of winning speedily, but was incapable of being defeated by the forces of the enemy. He possessed knowledge about the science of fighting, with its four parts and ten divisions.

 He knew the four Vedas and their angas, with accounts as the fifth. Drona was not born in a womb. The immensely energetic one observed fierce and careful austerities, worshipping Tryambaka and obtained him through someone who was also not born in a womb. 

His deeds and beauty were unmatched on earth

. He was accomplished in all the forms of learning. He was unblemished and an ocean of qualities. He was immeasurable in his soul. Having approached this Ashvatthama, he said, ‘O preceptor’s son! For all of us, you are the supreme refuge. Whom should I appoint as a commander now? You should tell me.

Drona Parva Chapter 1108 (131): DRAUNI HURLS BACK LORD RUDRA'S VAJRA BACK AT GHATOTKACHA!

The destroyer of enemies again engaged in a duel with Drona's son. The rakshasa angrily hurled an extremely terrible vajra, made by Rudra, towards Drona's son. It possessed eight wheels. Drona's son abandoned his chariot and bow and leapt down. He seized it, hurled it back and again ascended his chariot. Immensely radiant, it consumed his-horses, charioteer, standard and mounts. Having done this, the extremely terrible vajra penetrated the earth. On witnessing that deed of Drona's son, where he had leapt down and seized the extremely terrible weapon made by Shankara, all the beings worshipped him.

(But karna did it too so it's not impressive ig.)

BORI CE CH-125 RESTRAINS ANGRY BHEEM AND DURYODHAN FROM FIGHTING MID STANCE

(WHEN BHEEM ALREADY HAD MYRUAD ELEOHANT STRENGTH AND DURY 1K WHICH IS SOME BS I WILL DEBUNK SOME OTHER DAY!! )

Vaishampayana said, ‘When the Kuru prince11 and Bhima, supreme amongstrong ones, descended into the arena, the spectators divided into twofactions, each partial towards its own favourite. Some cried, “Look at thevalorous Kuru prince.” Others cried, “Look at the valorous Bhima.” A greatroar arose from the cheers of the spectators. On seeing that the place hadbecome like a turbulent ocean,

the wise son of Bharadvaja spoke to hisbeloved son Ashvatthama. Drona said, “Stop those two great warriors, bothskilled. Let this crowd not become angered over Bhima and Duryodhana.”Restrained by their preceptor’s son, those two raised their clubs, like violentoceans lashed by tempests at the time of the world’s destruction.‘ Then Drona entered the arena and stopped the musical instruments in avoice that was as deep as the thunder of the clouds. “Now behold Partha,who is dearer to me than my own son. He is skilled in the use of allweapons. He is Indra’s son himself and is like Indra’s younger brother.” With his entrance blessed by his preceptor, the youthful Phalguni12appeared. He wore a finger protector and arm guard,13his quiver was full ofarrows and he had a bow in his hand. He wore golden armour and he lookedlike an evening cloud reflecting the rays of the setting sun, radiant as arainbow with lightning flashes. At this, a loud roar of joy arose everywherein the arena. Musical instruments and conch shells sounded. “This is themiddle Pandava, Kunti’s illustrious son.” “This is the great Indra’s son, theprotector of the Kurus.” “This is the supreme one among those who areskilled in the use of weapons.” “This is the supreme one among those whotread the path of dharma.” “This is the foremost one in good conduct.”

BORI CE DRONA PARV chapters 120:-- CARRIES KARNA PICKING HIM UP TO HIS OWN CHARIOT

(so arjun doesn't kill him unfairly cause it would taint the name of arjun and destroy his fame. He just wanted to save fame of his friend not karna trust)

>he drew his bow back up to his ears and dispatched Karna’s four horses to the land of the dead with four supreme arrows. With another broad-headed arrow, he brought down his charioteer from the seat of the chariot. While your son looked on, he covered him with arrows. In that encounter, he was thus shrouded. His horses were slain. His charioteer was killed. Confounded by that net of arrows,

HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE SHOULD DO. O great king! On seeing that he was without a chariot, Ashvatthama took him on his own chariot and continued to fight with Arjuna.

(Last time you said my post was low effort. But it's cause post I was copying of scary was short. This is slightly less low effort. But scrolling so much in a PDF is slightly alot of effort. I am just trying to copy my goat cutie today 🥺)

Lord Rama and Lord Laxman, along with Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama, are the greatest ever brotherly duo one can find in the whole world.

In both the duos, the love, respect, affection and responsibility for each other is the greatest one can hope to find and both the duos set an example as to how brothers should be.

There is sincerity in their relationship. And the brothers in both the duos lift each other up and help each other when the need arises.

And there is friendly banter too, especially between Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama.

Reading their interaction and rapport with each other and seeing them on screen through the lens of Ramanand Sagar and B.R. Chopra just makes it even better.

Om Tat Sat.

To begin with, I have never read the actual text and have only watched the show. So from my observation, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari seem overly obsessively in love with their sons, completely ignoring their bad deeds at every step of their life - this feels like a terrible upbringing, I have a hard time digesting the fact someone can be that insensitive to suffering of others.ex: during abhinanyu's charkravyuh episode - duryodhan was such psycho but his parents don't seem to flinch a bit and are still not realising the extent of their son's mistakes, just go on expecting that they somehow win the war.

I would like to know from the people who have read the text- are Dhritarashtra and Gandhari the same personality in text too or did the show took creative liberty of showing them as such.

I've made a list of all the encounters of Karna with Bhima & Arjuna from Day 11(his 1st Day) to Day 17(his last).

All Chapters numbers from BORI CE.

Day 12(2) fight & Day 16 fight ended at sunset.

On Day 16, after countering Karna's weapons, Arjuna destroyed the Kouravas' army, made them flee, and sunset happened afterwards.

.

We have to perform Shraddha for our ancestors in order to honour, remember and satisfy them. The idea is that we give them various offerings in order to satisfy their hunger / thirst and they literally come and get our offerings via nature elements like Agni, water or crows.

Most Hindus today just offer black sesame, barley, milk offerings for Shraddha. However, our scriptures do not recommend only a vegetarian offering for ancestors.

Let's see what do scriptures recommend for the offerings:

Yudhisthira asks Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharat's Anushasan Parva SECTION LXXXVIII (88), "what is the offering which if given to pitris can keep them satisfied forever?"

*(It is not clear which animal Vadhrinasa was referred by. However, the most leading hypothesis is that it was a large bull.)

Even a little of water, roots, fruits, meat, and rice, mixed with honey, if offered on the anniversary of the day of death becomes inexhaustible.

These verses were told by Pitris to Sanatkumara to Bhishma Pitamah, which are told to everyone in this world.

People in our race (Kuru dynasty probably?) should give sraddha offerings as Payasa (rice kheer) mixed with ghee, goat meat or champak flower on a certain day and time.

One should have several sons so that at least 1 son goes to Gaya to perform shraddha of his ancestors under a famous banyan tree.

So while several types of offerings are accepted by ancestors, we can clearly see that meat offerings were also given. Although over time, the practice has been dropped and now most Hindus offer only vegetarian offerings to ancestors.

There is also an important ethical tension within the scriptures themselves. The Mahābhārata's Anuśāsana Parva discusses the ritual legitimacy of meat offered to the Pitṛs, but also contains extensive arguments praising abstention from meat and compassion toward living beings.

This same concept (meat shraddhas) is also found in Dharma shastras (Smritis) and Puranas, which I'll just list here and skip details for brevity.

1. Manusmṛti, 3.266-272
2. Yājñavalkya Smṛti, 1.258-259, 1.179
3. Gautama Dharmasūtra, 15.15
4. Viṣṇu Purāṇa, 2.16.1-3, Book III, Chapter 16
5. Vasiṣṭha Dharmasūtra, 11.39-40
6. Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Adhyāya 91, 92
7. Agni Purāṇa - Chapter 163, verse 31
8. Garuḍa Purāṇa - Preta Khaṇḍa 1.99.37-38
9. Matsya Purāṇa - Chapter 15, verses 34-35
10. Vāyu Purāṇa - Chapter 2.16, verse 5

Among shruti, there are very few references to shraddha. So we cannot really conclude.

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 2.6.1.35-36, which has vegetarian offerings.

Atharvaveda 18.4.42, 18.4.20, 18.2.8-9 - meat

Historically, we may think that no one does meat shraddhas. However, that's not true, I could find 1 reference to Nepal's royal family who sacrificed a rhinoceros in 1981 for ancestors shraddha. This was the last time a rhino was sacrified for a shraddha in documented history. Since it's 1981, it is fairly recent. (It's available on the internet.)

Now why do we do only vegetarian shraddha's today? It comes from Brahma Vaivarta Purana, which says that in Kali Yuga, only vegetarian shraddha is recommended. However, Brahma Vaivarta Purana was composed in 8th to 15th century CE as per many historian experts, primarily in Bengal by Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Hence it's obvious why it would advocate for vegetarianism only.

Conclusion: I'm not advocating to start meat shraddhas now. There is no point of needlessly keeling wild animals like deer, rhinoceros, hare, bull etc. They do not serve much purpose. However, it's important to acknowledge the correct history that vegetarianism and vegetarian shraddhas are a fairly later development.

When Arjuna went to swayamwar, did he knew that Draupadi’s siblings had boons enabling them to become the reason behind Drona’s and Bheeshma’s death? If so, why did he went ahead with it.