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| G for Gandhari Google Images |
Gandhari is left with no choice when her father, the King of Gandhar makes a pact with Bheeshma to wed her to Prince Dritharashtra. Worse it yet to come, as she’s unaware that the prince who she’s going to wed has been blind since birth.
Her brother Prince Shakuni is greatly upset with his father when he gets to know the truth. “Gandhari, there is no need for you to marry a man who’s blind since birth. Allow me to send a messenger across to Bheeshma, cancelling the alliance,” pleaded Shakuni to his only sister. “I’m ready to face the consequences, even if we have to go to war with Hastinapura.”
Gandhari shook her head to say, “It’s on the part of a daughter to fulfil the wishes of her father. I will not go against the promise that our father has made to the ruler of Hastinapura. Let the wedding take place as planned.”
Gandhari decided to accept her fate. She planned to help the blind prince, heir to the throne of Hastinapura, rule his kingdom to the best of his ability. He could definitely do it. She had a strong enough vision, both literally and figuratively, to take care of his kingdom.
That’s how Gandhari married Dritharashtra and became his eyes. Impressed by her cleverness and wisdom, Bheeshma decided to crown Dritharashtra the king of Hastinapura. The king and queen of Hastinapura lived long and ruled wisely.
And they all lived happily ever after!
...THE KURUKSHETRA WAR WOULD NEVER HAVE COME ABOUT
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Ha! I like the "what if" take on this :) "What if" is a fun game to play with old stories...
ReplyDelete@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
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:D Thank you Tarkabarka Holgy. Yeah, I agree its fun
DeleteOh, I'm intrigued. Nice twist!
ReplyDeleteThank you Devika :)
DeleteNiether would Geetha. Can you see how much a decison of woman affected all our lives. It is said that Gandhari's eyes had healing powers - a boon from Krishna. For all the boons in the world, I don't think I have the will power to blindfold myself for anyone. :P
ReplyDeleteOkay you mean the Bhagavath Gita. Did wonder who Geetha is! ;)
DeleteI agree with you. I can't blindfold myself for even two minutes. Don't care for the dark.
Gandhari was one of those strong and resilient characters in the epic...Indeed, the war wouldn't have happened if she hadn't blindfolded herself, if they had continued to rule...if...
ReplyDeletegreat post!
Thank you Little Princess :D
DeleteOh yes the big What If. Perhaps if she had seen it all and slapped Duryodhana a few times he might have grown up to be a decent human being. Loved the what if aspect of the post.
ReplyDeleteSuzy at Someday Somewhere
True Suzy :-))
DeleteIf it would have happened, it would have been so exciting. I personally think it was not wise of Gandhari to keep her eyes tied, but then how would the story move forward without this plot twist.
ReplyDeleteExactly! But can't imagine something like this happening in present times :)
DeleteI don't understand how she got the will power to blind fold herself when she could have done so much good to the kingdom and also to her husband! She could have at least tried to stop her children when they did wrong! But again she kept mum! Her decision changed so many things!!
ReplyDeleteGod is a Gamer
Actually, legend has it that she tied her eyes to spite Bheeshma and Dritharashtra. But she actually spoilt her own life and her children's. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face :(
DeleteIf that was how it had ended, there would have been no Mahabharata or Gita in the first place I think! I loved the twist you have given, Sundari. It would have avoided a lot of unnecessary bloodshed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Aathira! I think so too :)
DeleteThanks for this. I am not much aware of this epics, but getting to know them more as days pass. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Sheethal. Thank you for stopping by :)
DeleteBlindfolding herself was such an unwise decision. I like your twist better. :)
ReplyDelete*Shantala @ ShanayaTales*
Yeah, seriously. Thank you Shanaya :D So happy you liked my twist
DeleteThere are two versions of Gandhari marrying Dhritrashtra and how Shakuni took his revenge. Actually we will never know what was going on in the poor lady's mind, she was just thrust into the midst of it all and had no way to come out of it. I think her tale is the saddest. She didn't gain anything and on the contrary lost everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think people those days were a stubborn lot. Like Bheeshma and his oath; Gandhari and her blind fold. There are loads more examples. They all did a lot of harm to themselves
DeleteI like this positive twist to the tale, women can do so much if they put their mind to it!! Well spun tale, you are getting super cool at short stories!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Inderpreet :D Yeah, I agree. Gandhari wasted away all her energy by blindfolding herself
DeleteIt's pure blissful and powerful narration:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Vishal :)
Delete:) Mahabharata is full of 'if onlys' and this is one of them for sure
ReplyDeleteI agree :D
DeleteInteresting "what if" Sundari :)
ReplyDelete(http://totallyinternalreflections.blogspot.sg/)
Thank you Prathima :)
Delete