Week 6 Story: The Prince and the Farmer

Once there were two very close friends. They were actually cousins who did not know each other for the first few years of their lives. One was a prince, Abhaji, and one was a farmer's son, Zhanni. The prince grew up in the palace, with a royal guard named Ramishi who was tasked to watch over him. One day, Ramishi told Abhaji that they must leave the palace due to rising tensions between the kingdom and a rival. They left the palace to live with the king's common born half-sister who had a son the same age as the prince. This son was Zhanni, the cousin and soon to be friend of Prince Abhaji.

They did not know what to make of each other at first. They had many scuffles and arguments and competitions, but they became as close as any two brothers. They spent five years together on the farm with Ramishi teaching them the ways of the sword and bow, and Zhanni's mother teaching them about courtly duties. These peaceful years ended with a message delivered to the prince. The message held news of the King's death. Abhaji and Ramishi were required to return to the palace where Abhaji would be crowned King. Then, because it was discovered that the previous king was assassinated by the rival kingdom, preparations to defend the kingdom began.

Back on the peaceful farm, Zhanni heard news of the approaching war and, wishing to help defend his friend and cousin's kingdom, decided to join the army of warriors. The army prepared to defend the kingdom and was divided up and  camped near each gate of the city. They were ready to defend the city at a moment's notice.

When news came of the rival kingdom's warriors approaching, Abhaji visited the different camps to inspect his troops and raise morale. In one of the camps, he saw a very familiar face and was shocked. However, being a king who must be in control at all times, the only sign of this shock was a slight widening of his eyes. Zhanni had seen Abhaji as well and, of course, he could read his cousin like a book. Zhanni gave a confident smile in response to the shock and worry that he saw in Abhaji's eyes. Zhanni was confident that both of them would make it out of the war alive.

The battle to defend the kingdom

(image source)

Two days after the king's visit to the camps, the kingdom was attacked. The sound of metal clashing and bow strings twanging could be heard the entire day. At the end of the fight the fields were soaked in blood from both sides, but Abhaji's kingdom was safe once again. In the aftermath of the battle the king wandered around his injured warriors and gave them thanks and encouragement and well wishes. He also kept an eye out for Zhanni in the hope of finding him alive. When Zhanni was found he was laying amongst the injured and entirely covered in blood. Abhaji rushed to his cousin's side and reached out to feel for a pulse…

Which ending would you like to read? Is Zhanni alive? Or is he dead?

Reading Notes: Mahabharata (PDE) Part B

Story: Part B of the Mahabharata by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.

Plot Notes

• Rakshasi turns against her brother to save a man she fell in love with (Bhima) and later they get married and have a son.
• Town "protected" by a rakshasa (but at a high cost) gets defeated by prince Bhima and the town celebrates.
• The 5 princes (who had helped take over half of Drupada's kingdom) are each married to Drupada's daughter. r and then they are given a portion of their home kingdom to rule over but loose everything in a game of dice and then are exiled.

Draupadi's swayamvara (image source)

Character Notes

• Draupadi - the Pandavas' wife, princess born as a boon to Drupada

Reading Notes: Mahabharata (PDE) Part A

Story: Part A of the Mahabharata by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.

Plot Notes

• Heir gives up his right to the throne for his father's happiness, but when his father passes, the older half brother gets killed in a war and the younger is too young to rule.
• A scorned princess fasts and makes penance to ask for a boon which is granted by Shiva in the form of being reincarnated as a man to defeat her enemy.
• Jealous prince (though not heir) plans the death of his cousin who is also a prince but it fails and then he comes up with another plan to get rid of all his cousins and their mother in a fire.
• Two close friends get separated because Drupada takes over his father's kingdom. Drona becomes a brahmin who teaches warriors and then had them take over half Drupada's kingdoms because he turned his back on their friendship.

The Pandavas (image source)

Character Notes

• Bhishma - original heir to throne, son of a king and a goddess, honourable, superior bowmen
• Amba - scorned princess, sees Bhishma as the cause of her situation and wants revenge
• Duryodhana - (Duru for short?) jealous and proud prince, oldest of his brothers, hates his cousins Bhima and Arjuna, will lie to further his own plans