I love the Mahabharata, and have read several versions over the years. I've yet to find a version that fully satisfies my curiosity, although the interpretation I've loved most is the Palace of Illusions by Chitra Devakaruni.
My curiosity is nothing compared to that of my daughter though, who's already read two kiddie versions at lightning speed. And my knowledge about the story is far more limited than I had thought, as I discovered today in the car on the way to the Music school where we're both enrolled.
'So Mama, can I ask you a question?'
I refrain from the wisecrack 'Well, you've already asked it, haven't you', and instead say 'Sure. What is it?'
Peanut asks 'So are you serious that Chhota Bheem grew up to become the Bheem in Mahabharata?'
Me: 'Erm...no...actually...Chhota Bheem is just a cartoon and...'
Peanut: And the other Bheem was real?
Me: Well, no. I mean, yes, more real than Chota Bheem.
Peanut: But you told me that it was the same Bheem.
Me: No, what I meant was that the big Bheem came first in the Mahabharata story and then some guy thought 'Hey let me make a cartoon of this guy and fool a bunch of kids into becoming his fans!' ( I say this in my Kalia-impression-voice)
Peanut (makes a face): Very funny Mama. But tell me, na, why did Bheem Shah not get killed by the arrows?
Me: Bheem Shah? (Realization) Oh, you mean Bhishma.
Peanut: Ya, Bhimsha. Why did he not killed?
Me: (struggling to keep up) So...he lay on the bed of arrows...until he chose to die. He was a great man of many powers and so he could choose when to die.
Peanut (shocked): But why didn't he just choose to live longer?
Me: (realizing this is an opportunity for some education about a topic that oft bothers us) Because not everyone wants to live together, Peanut. Bhimsha, I mean Bhishma wasn't the type to come crying into his Mom's room every night saying 'But I don't wanna DIE'. He was tired of living, maybe and just wanted to rest.
Peanut (still can't believe it): But why would he want to die?
Me: Maybe he believed in heaven? You know anything about heaven?
Peanut ( impatiently): yeah yeah, it's the sky. Okay, but Mama, can I ask you a question?
Me: Well actually...
Peanut (ignoring me): So Mama, Bhishma could also have just wanted to spend time with Pandavas, right?
Me: See, given that they were on opposite sides, it may not really have worked out.
Peanut: But he could have waited to see who won the war, and then spent time with them. Didn't he like the Pandavas?
Me: He loved them, but you don't do stuff like that...just wait to see who wins the war while lying on a bed of arrows so you can spring up and hang out with the winners...he wasn't that kind of guy...
Peanut (changing track again): But Mama, why did he fight against the Pandavas? I thought he liked them better than the Kauravas...
Me: Yeah, he did , but...( My memory fails me here and I'm thinking - yeah, why did he do that?)
Peanut (happily moved on anyway): But Mama, why did Karnaa become their brother?
Me: Karan, Karan...he was their brother because Kunti was his mother.
Peanut: So why did he go away from them?
Me: Well, because...( I don't know how to explain this but decide I can't just leave her hanging)...actually, he had a different father.
Peanut (Shocked): How can that be? How can brothers have a different father?
Me: (struggling) But...but...even the Pandavas had different mothers, right? It's okay, it happens! ( I really don't want to get into the details here)
Peanut: So then Karnaa wasn't the son of Panda?
Me: Panda? ( beginning to laugh, knowing fully well what she means)
Peanut: I mean that hugging guy, the guy who hugged his wife and died...Pandu...stop laughing!
Me: But Peanut, you're just so funny.
Peanut (accusingly): You don't know the Mahabharata!
Me ( with a sigh of relief, looking out the window): Look! We're at the music school....come on now, we're getting late...
Peanut: Okay, but Mama, can I ask you a question?
Me: ( Dragging her out of the car and propelling her towards the building) La la la la la la, come on now, chop chop
My curiosity is nothing compared to that of my daughter though, who's already read two kiddie versions at lightning speed. And my knowledge about the story is far more limited than I had thought, as I discovered today in the car on the way to the Music school where we're both enrolled.
'So Mama, can I ask you a question?'
I refrain from the wisecrack 'Well, you've already asked it, haven't you', and instead say 'Sure. What is it?'
Peanut asks 'So are you serious that Chhota Bheem grew up to become the Bheem in Mahabharata?'
Me: 'Erm...no...actually...Chhota Bheem is just a cartoon and...'
Peanut: And the other Bheem was real?
Me: Well, no. I mean, yes, more real than Chota Bheem.
Peanut: But you told me that it was the same Bheem.
Me: No, what I meant was that the big Bheem came first in the Mahabharata story and then some guy thought 'Hey let me make a cartoon of this guy and fool a bunch of kids into becoming his fans!' ( I say this in my Kalia-impression-voice)
Peanut (makes a face): Very funny Mama. But tell me, na, why did Bheem Shah not get killed by the arrows?
Me: Bheem Shah? (Realization) Oh, you mean Bhishma.
Peanut: Ya, Bhimsha. Why did he not killed?
Me: (struggling to keep up) So...he lay on the bed of arrows...until he chose to die. He was a great man of many powers and so he could choose when to die.
Peanut (shocked): But why didn't he just choose to live longer?
Me: (realizing this is an opportunity for some education about a topic that oft bothers us) Because not everyone wants to live together, Peanut. Bhimsha, I mean Bhishma wasn't the type to come crying into his Mom's room every night saying 'But I don't wanna DIE'. He was tired of living, maybe and just wanted to rest.
Peanut (still can't believe it): But why would he want to die?
Me: Maybe he believed in heaven? You know anything about heaven?
Peanut ( impatiently): yeah yeah, it's the sky. Okay, but Mama, can I ask you a question?
Me: Well actually...
Peanut (ignoring me): So Mama, Bhishma could also have just wanted to spend time with Pandavas, right?
Me: See, given that they were on opposite sides, it may not really have worked out.
Peanut: But he could have waited to see who won the war, and then spent time with them. Didn't he like the Pandavas?
Me: He loved them, but you don't do stuff like that...just wait to see who wins the war while lying on a bed of arrows so you can spring up and hang out with the winners...he wasn't that kind of guy...
Peanut (changing track again): But Mama, why did he fight against the Pandavas? I thought he liked them better than the Kauravas...
Me: Yeah, he did , but...( My memory fails me here and I'm thinking - yeah, why did he do that?)
Peanut (happily moved on anyway): But Mama, why did Karnaa become their brother?
Me: Karan, Karan...he was their brother because Kunti was his mother.
Peanut: So why did he go away from them?
Me: Well, because...( I don't know how to explain this but decide I can't just leave her hanging)...actually, he had a different father.
Peanut (Shocked): How can that be? How can brothers have a different father?
Me: (struggling) But...but...even the Pandavas had different mothers, right? It's okay, it happens! ( I really don't want to get into the details here)
Peanut: So then Karnaa wasn't the son of Panda?
Me: Panda? ( beginning to laugh, knowing fully well what she means)
Peanut: I mean that hugging guy, the guy who hugged his wife and died...Pandu...stop laughing!
Me: But Peanut, you're just so funny.
Peanut (accusingly): You don't know the Mahabharata!
Me ( with a sigh of relief, looking out the window): Look! We're at the music school....come on now, we're getting late...
Peanut: Okay, but Mama, can I ask you a question?
Me: ( Dragging her out of the car and propelling her towards the building) La la la la la la, come on now, chop chop
Funniest Mahabharata ever!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHai na? She's a funny kid :)
DeleteThat kid sure deserves a session on Bhishma and his obligation to Hastinapur which forced him to fight for the Kauravas. She also needs a session on Karna and his birth, as well as Pandu and the causes for his death.
ReplyDeleteNot to sound cheesy but some of my Mahabharata related posts on my blog can probably rejig your memories regarding this great epic and you wouldn't be so flummoxed when trying to answer her :)
Actually she doesn't need any sessions! I think these things are beyond a seven year old - especially the bit about Karna's illegitimate birth and Pandu dying in the throes of sexuality! I was struggling on how to explain them to her, not the story itself.
DeleteBut given how much the story interests me and that I clearly need a refresher, will probably take up your offer soon :) - can't ever get enough of the Mahabharata!
Too cute! I love the way she's trying to process it all. Kudos to you for valiantly keeping up. Or at least trying. Panda and Bhim Shah rock, BTW. It's what I'm calling them from now on. And to go by the newly appointed chairman of the Council for Historic Research, that discussion about whether or not the epics were real history might not be so theoretical (eye-roll!). In our home, my son had a love-affair with the Ramayan from ages 5 through 7 which has since faded though not completely: lately Star Wars minifigures have frequently been rebuilt with multiple heads. He seems to still be a Ravan supporter. :-)
ReplyDeleteLol..fun reading. .children are so inquisitive! ! My 3 year old asks so many questions now itself. .I can imagine her future :)
ReplyDeleteyaa this cute and interesting while studing this even one can this was happen like or like that this story is " AWESOME "
ReplyDelete