Reading Notes: Tiny Tales for Mahabharata Part D

Kaurava-Pandava Battle (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

What "shocked" me the most in these stories were the 100 children of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, the blind king. I can't even imagine the community life of these 100 children. If we imagine that they all live under the same roof, they would need a mansion, I don't know, something big in any case, with several rooms. I don't know of such a large dwelling that could accommodate this number of people under the same roof. Then they could live in an apartment complex, but they would not really live under the same roof. What is also tricky for this number of children is the attention of the parents. That is to say, it is unlikely they received the same amount of attention from their parents. It is known and shown that the parents of the Mahabharata are not very affectionate with their children. It is then difficult to imagine any sign of affection and attention present between the parents and the 100 children.

I notice this by the fact that there are only four brothers who are known: Duryodhana, Dushasana, Vikarna, Yuyutsu. They are likely the favorites with their only sister, Dussala.

She is also better known and present in the stories of the Mahabharata. Since she is the only daughter who was born in the union of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, her popularity is therefore justified. A life with 100 brothers must be quite complicated and challenging or fun for her. It is not a life I want to experience; one brother is enough!

Bibliography: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata by Laura Gibbs