What is the Mahabharata story about ?

It is said that Mahabharat teaches about Dharma and many people even connect it with truth or lies but nowhere in any instance in Mahabharat truth or lies are defined. Each and every action of people in Mahabharat depends upon the situations in which they are in.

To predict future, astrologers depend upon constellations as during Mahabharata times there were no sun signs. Rohini was in the first place of the constellation not Ashwini.

Do you know that Foreigners were also involved in the fight of Mahabharat. The real fight was not just between Pandavas and Kauravas, forces from Rome, Greece were also a part of it.

Also it is believed that the seven maharathis of a chakravhyu were the reason of Abhimanyu’s death, but this is not the complete truth. Abhimanyu killed Duryodhan’s son, one of the seven maharathis (warriors). Angry on this, Dushasan had killed Abhimanyu

Do you know that Arjun was cursed by Urvashi an Apsara of Indralok as he was addressing her ‘mother’ and said that he would become a eunuch. On this Lord Indra told Arjun that this curse is going to serve as a boon during the one year stay in hiding and after spending that period he would regain his masculinity. And in Mahabharat after spending 12 years in forest, Pandavas spent 13th year of exile in cognito, in the court of king Virat. Arjuna used this curse and lived as eunuch named Brihannala.

Lord Krishna reminded Arjun about his unsatisfied boon i.e when Arjun saved Duryodhan’s life when they are living in a forest and said that he would ask for it in an appropriate time. So, Arjun went to Duryodhana, and asked for five golden arrows that was chanted by the mantras of Bhishma and declared that with the help of these arrows Pandavas were killed.

At the same time Duryodhana was shocked when Arjun asked for 5 golden arrows but since he had promised him he had given. Then, next morning when he went to Bhishma and asked for five more golden arrows he laughed and said that won’t be possible and added whatever will happen in tomorrow’s Mahabharat war has been written long ago and nothing can change i

In the battle of Mahabharat Lord Krishna broke his promise that he will not pick up any weapon. But when he saw that Arjun was not able to match Bhishma power, he became helpless and immediately threw down the chariot rein and jumped out in the battle field, lifted one of the chariot’s wheels and charged towards Bhishma to kill him. Arjun tried to stop Krishna but all in vain.

Do you know why Lord Krishna supported Pandavas instead of Kauravas. Actually, both Arjun and Duryodhan went to Krishna to seek his support in the war and entered his room. Duryodhan entered first in his room and sat on Krishna’s bed besides his head. Arjun went to the foot of the bed and stood there with hands folded.When Krishna woke up he saw Arjun first, smiled and said that he will support him.

Do you know why Lord Krishna supported Pandavas instead of Kauravas. Actually, both Arjun and Duryodhan went to Krishna to seek his support in the war and entered his room. Duryodhan entered first in his room and sat on Krishna’s bed besides his head. Arjun went to the foot of the bed and stood there with hands folded.When Krishna woke up he saw Arjun first, smiled and said that he will support him.

In Mahabharat, Kauravas were protected by Jayadrath. He was using his boon to stop the Pandavas entering the charavihu. As Jayadrath was granted a boon by Lord Shiva to hold the Pandavas brother for one day in the battle except Arjun who was protected by Krishna. But when Arjun’s son was killed in the chakravihu then later Arjun killed Jayadrath with his arrow.

Eklavya was reincarnated as Draupadi’s twin brother Dhrishtadyumna. As he was killed by Krishna during Rukmini’s abduction. So, in place of guru dakshina Krishna blessed him that he can reincarnate and take revenge on Drona.

Duryodhana refused to listen Bhagwad Gita saying that he already knows right or wrong. He also said that some force is not allowing him to choose the right path. If he had listened to Krishna’s words, the entire war could have been averted.

Amazing, Draupadi was Goddess Durga’s Avatar. Once in the late night, Bhima saw that Draupadi, as Goddess Durga, was asking for Bhima’s blood in her empty bowl, scared to death, he narrated the entire story to his mother, Kunti. Then she asked Draupadi never to hurt Bhima. Being a mortal, Draupadi had to promise her and in the act she bites her lip hesitantly. Kunti wiped off the blood from her lips with the edge of her cloth and promised her that Bhima will fill the bowl for her.

First things first, Duryodhana's real name was Suyodhana.
And the rest of the clan was Sushaasana, Suchala and so on and not the Dusshaasana, Dusshala etc. that we are familiar with. They were all given nicknames to suit their bad reputation.

There is a reason why Duryodhana did not participate in Draupadi's swayamvara.
It's because he was already married to the princess of Kalinga, Bhanumati. He had promised her that he would never marry another, and he kept his word. Gotta give it to him for commitment!

Not all Kauravas were against the Pandavas in the war.
Two of Dhritarashtra's sons, Vikarna and Yuyutsu did not approve of Duryodhana's actions and had actually protested against Draupadi being staked in the game of dice.

Draupadi's brother was actually a reincarnation of Ekalavya.
Originally born to Vasudeva's brother Devashrava (which by the way makes him Krishna's cousin!), Ekalavya got lost in the forest and was subsequently brought up by the Nishada king Hiranyadhanu.

He was killed by Krishna during Rukmini's abduction. However, to honour the great sacrifice Ekalavya made as guru dakshina , Krishna blessed him so that he can reincarnate and take revenge on Drona. Hence, Ekalavya was reincarnated as Draupadi's twin Dhrishtadyumna.

Shakuni's had a hidden agenda behind his evil plans.
The blind king Dhritarashtra had taken his wife Gandhari's entire family as prisoners, and treated them very badly. Obviously, the family was not pleased with this treatment. King Subala (Gandhari's father) decided that everyone would sacrifice their share of food to strengthen one chosen member who will be the reason for Dhritarashtra's downfall. Shakuni, the youngest and smartest of the lot was chosen for this task.

Barbarik, son of Ghatotkacha, had a unique power, which made Krishna ask him for his head in charity.
Bheema's grandson (Ghatotkacha's son), Barbarik was supposed to be a great warrior. By Lord Shiva's blessings, he had special arrows by which he could mark his enemies, mark the ones he wanted to save, and then destroy all his enemies respectively. Thanks to this, he could have ended the war in one minute flat. Krishna however, knew better than to let this happen. Because of an oath to his mother, Barbarik always fought for the weaker side. Krishna appeared to him as a Brahmana, and reasoned that whichever side he took would by default be stronger.

Bhishma was the only legitimate heir to the throne.
So let's rewind the story a little bit. First, there was King Shantanu, who married Ganga, who gave birth to eight sons (who were all actually Devas cursed to be born on Earth). Yes? So Ganga managed to kill the first seven, freeing them from their curse. King Shantanu intervened as she was about to kill the eighth one, saving the only remaining son, who we know as Bhishma.

Bhishma's real name was Devavrata.
When Devavrata was a young man, his father Shantanu went on a hunt, and fell in love with a local fisherwoman, Satyavati. However, Satyavati's father lay down a tough condition - he would only let him marry her if her sons became heirs to his throne. Shantanu returned to his kingdom heartbroken. Devavrata, unable to see his father in this sad state went to persuade Satyavati to marry his father, offering to step aside as the heir.

The author of Mahabharata is also a character in the epic!
Yes, yes, we all know that there was no one writer who put the Mahabharata together. But as per the story, Satyavati had a son with Sage Parashara before her marriage to King Shantanu

Bhishma pledged that he will never have children. Now here's the thing, Satyavati's two sons with Shantanu died too early. So, Satyavati was left with their two childless widows, Bhishma, and an empty throne. Solution? Satyavati called her other son Vyasa, the same Krishna-Dwaipayana-Vyasa who wrote the Mahabharata to impregnate her two widowed daughter-in-laws