Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Week Seven Reading Diary: The Mahabharata, Epified

Epified TV in India’s version of the epic The Mahabharata was more entertaining than the book in my opinion, which is strange for me since I generally choose reading over watching movies and videos.  What made Epified stand out is the drama and suspense that it delivers to its audience.  The music and the tone of the author’s narration enhanced the story’s tale, in addition to the drawing of the scenes which provided a visual aid. 


The Mahabharata was broken up into seventeen different sections which offer a simplistic yet detailed view of the epic.  The author’s highlighted the main points of the story including things that I particularly did not catch; such as Amika’s deliverance of her ninety-nine sons.  When I read the story, I do not remember her delivering a mass of flesh and wanting it to be sent out into the forest.  In Epified’s version, Bhisma takes the fleshy mass and breaks the mass into one hundred pieces and puts each piece into a large vase with liquid.  After time, these large pieces of flesh become children.  Because of Amika’s forsaken sight (recalled by Epified ), and Dhritarashtra’s blindness, they are unaware of the characteristics their children display.  Immediately, it is noticed by all including their uncle Bhishma that these boys are evil and show depravity.

Another difference that can be pointed out between The Mahabharata and Epified’s version is the story of Bhima.  The author’s focused on Bhima more so than Yudhistira and Arjuna, with the exception of Arjuna’s discovery of Ekalavya. Bhimas’s story was extraordinary.  With Duryodhana’s exhibit of jealous behavior and unsuccessful attempt in killing his cousin, Bhima continued to prevailed and was blessed with strength that was greater than any man. 



Bibliography: The Mahabharata written by R.K. Narayan (1978)
                     The Mahabharata narrated by Epified (2015)

No comments:

Post a Comment