Topic Research: Mahabharata Birth Stories

Mahabharata Birth Stories

An image of Vyasa telling Ganesha the stories of the Mahabharata while Ganesha transcribes them. I used this photo because I am focusing on the birth stories of the Mahabharata.

Image Source: MFA Boston

The Birth of Satyavati

This story is from the PDE Mahabharata and is called Vyasa and Ganesha. Vyasa needed someone inhuman to record his stories for the Mahbharata, and is told by Bhrama that Ganesha would write for him. Vyasa's first story is about his birth, but within his birth story is another birth story about Satyavati, his mother. The text states that King Uparichara was gifted a crystal car, and while driving it over a river, some semen fell out of his car into a river where a fish ate it. Ten months later, a fisherman found the fish which had birthed two children, a boy and a girl. The King Uparichara took the boy, but left the girl with the fisherman. That girl was Satyavati. I think this is a very strange, yet fun story within a story that needs a little more explaining, which I entend to do.  

The Birth of Karna

This story is also from PDE Mahabharata and is called Kunti and Her Son. In the story, Kunti is one of two wives of King Pandu. King Pandu loved his wife Madri more than he loved Kunti, so naturally, Kunti fell in love with Surya, a celestial sun god, after having a vision of him. After the vision, Surya appeared dressed royally, and Kunti fell for him. They secretly had a son, which was not going to fly when King Pandu found out, so Kunti sent her son off in a basket down the River Aswa, so the King would not find out. I love all of the drama and complications within this story, and it reminds me of a movie I watched when I was younger, The Prince of Egypt. I also live for the love triangle angle of this story.

The Birth of Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi

This is another story from the Mahabharata called the Birth of Draupadi. In the beginning, half of King Drupada's kingdom had died due to the wrath of Drona. He honored many holy places and promised many brahmins rewards in hopes of being blessed with a child. Sages Upayaja and his brother Yaja agreed to perform a sacrifical ritual in order to give the King a child. When it was time for the Queen to recieve the children, she insisted that she was not up for the ritual at the moment, and asked for them to wait while she freshend up. Unfortunately, the supernatural ritual could not be stopped, and Dhrishtadyumna and his sister Draupadi were born. It seems as though the kids were born as full grown adults. Dhrishtadyumna was predicted to hold great power and would be able to defeat the King's enemy Drona, while Draupadi was said to become the chief of all women and would achieve godly feats. I love the supernatural aspect of this birth story as both children were born as the result of a ritual. I also see how this story could be adapted into a story in today's society.