MAHABHARATA
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The epic named Mahabharata is the work of Saint Vyasa.On the advice of Sage Brahma,Saint Vyasa requested Lord Ganesha to write the epic.


Story of Shakuntala and Dushyant
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The story of Mahabharata begins with Shakuntala,daughter of Menaka and sage Vishwamitra.While on a hunting trip, King Dushyant of the Puru dynasty meets the hermit-girl Shakuntala. They fall in love with each other at first sight and, in the absence of her father, Shakuntala weds the king in a ceremony of 'Ghandharva'-a form of marriage by mutual consent with mother Nature as the witness. When the time comes for Dushyant to return to his palace, he promises to send an envoy to escort her to his castle.As a fond remembrance he gives her a signet ring.One day when hermit Durvasa stops at her hut for hospitality, Shakuntala, lost in her love thoughts, fails to hear his calls.The temperamental sage turns back and curses her: "He whose thoughts have engrossed you would not remember you anymore." On the plea of her companions, the enraged sage relents and adds a condition to his curse-statement: "He can only recall you upon producing some significant souvenir."

Shakuntala and king Dushyant had a son named Bharata after whom India gets her name.Having grown up among fierce animals of the forest,Shakuntala's son was unbelievably brave and courageous.He possessed enviable dignity,charm and captivating manners.

Days roll by and nobody from the palace comes to fetch her. Her father sends her to the royal court for their reunion.While travelling, Shakuntala's signet-ring accidentally drops into the river and gets lost.

When Shakuntala presents herself before the king, Dushyant, under the spell of the curse, fails to acknowledge her as his wife. Heart-broken, she pleads to the gods for help. The spell is broken when a fisherman finds the signet ring in the stomach of a fish - the same ring that Shakuntala had lost on her way to the court. The king suffers from an intense feeling of guilt and injustice. Shakuntala forgives Dushyant and they are reunited happily.

Bharata succeeded to the throne of his father.He assumed the title of "Chakravati Samrat(a universal emperor) and so our country came to be called Bharatvarsha after his name.Of all the rulers that the Kuru dynasty had produced so far Bharata was matchless from every angle.He wanted that his dynasty could have the ablest possible rulers only if every new king came to be elected or selected on the basis of his merits.

King Bharata's sons were not worthy of succeeding to his powerful throne.He appointed saint Bharadwaj's son as the next ruler of his empire. After king Bharata's death his successor's reduced his large empire to a kingdom of
medium size. This kingdom had its capital at Hastinapur.

King Shantanu and Queen Ganga
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King Shantanu was the ruler of Hastinapur and he was known for his valour and wisdom.One day he went out for hunting to a nearby forest.Reaching the bank of Ganga he got down his chariot to have a stroll.He saw a charming damsel walking on the water's surface.

Captivated by her charm and beauty Shantanu asked her hand in marriage. She agreed on two conditions.

First condition: King Shantanu would never ask her who she was and where she had come from.
Second condition: He should never check her from doing anything or ask the reason of anything that she did.

Shantanu agreed to these conditions.Ganga and Shantanu entered into a love-marriage (gandharva vivah) then and there.In due course Ganga gave birth to a lovely male child.Queen Ganga carried the baby to the river. Shantanu was astonished when he saw Ganga drown his baby in the river.Shantanu was bound by his pledge not to question or interfere with her actions.Ganga gave birth to 6 more sons and drowned all of them in the river. Shantanu's patience was totally lost now.He made up his mind to violate his pledge. When queen Ganga bore the eighth son and marched to the river as before,the king chased her.

The king asked her the reason for drowning all his children.Hearing what king Shantanu had said,the queen remarked,"You have violated your pledge.Now I will not stay with you at all".I am taking your your eighth son with me to bring him up so that he may become potent enough to bear the afflictions supposed to befall him.When he is amply grown up,I shall come back and hand him over to you".

King Shantanu felt very disappointed and returned to his palace.King Shantanu was always in grief and often used to go to the bank of Ganga and sit there watching waves with a heavy heart.Years passed. One day when the king reached the river bank, he saw a young boy and queen Ganga emerge from the river.She said "Here is your eighth son.I have brought him up in order that he should be able to cope with what will befall him in his life on this earth. Educated by saint Vasishtha in morality,religious education,state-craft,archery and many other arts,he
equals Parashurama. I have named him Dev Vrat.

After blessing the boy Ganga disappeared.Returning to the palace,the king celebrated the advent of the prince and declared him to be his regent.

Pranam Mantra

om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-gurave namah

sri-caitanya-mano-’bhistam
sthapitam yena bhu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam
dadati sva-padantikam

TRANSLATION

I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?

Sloka 1 : BG 7.19

bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma su-durlabhah

SYNONYMS

bahunam--many; janmanam--births; ante--after; jnana-van--he possessing knowledge; mam--unto Me; prapadyate--surrenders; vasudevah--cause of all causes; sarvam--all; iti--thus; sah--such; maha-atma--great soul; su-durlabhah--very rare.

TRANSLATION

After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.