Snippets of Information - Epics
Mahabaratham - Characters - Bhishma
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Vyaasa maharishi was the son of Paraasara maharishi. Vyaasar gave the world the great epic of Mahabharatham.
When he got the content for the epic ready in his mind, he prayed to
Lord Brahma to suggest a suitable person to write the epic as he
narrated the story. Brahma said, Ganesha was best suited.
But Lord Ganesha put down one condition, that Vyaasar should not
hesitate or give a break during the narration. Vyaasar agreed, but
in his turn put the condition that Ganesha should understand every line
and then put it down in writing.
Thus the Mahabaratha was born. Read the story - Vinayagar wrote the Bharatham
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- Vyasa executed the compilation of the Bharata, originally in twenty-four thousand verses.
- Afterwards, he composed an epitome in one hundred and fifty verses,
consisting of the introduction with the chapter of contents. This he
first taught to his son Suka ; and afterwards he gave it to others of
his disciples who were possessed of the same qualifications.
- After that he executed another compilation, consisting of six hundred
thousand verses. Of those, thirty hundred thousand are known in the
world of the Devas ; fifteen hundred thousand in the world of the Pitris
: fourteen hundred thousand among the Gandharvas, and one hundred
thousand in the regions of mankind.
Narada recited them to the Devas, Devala to the Pitris, and Suka
published them to the Ganclharvas, Yakshas, and Rakshasas and in this
world they were recited by Vaisampayana, one of the disciples of Vyasa, a
man of just principles and the first among all those acquainted with
the Vedas.
Source: Page 6
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Vyasa was born of Satyavati through Parasara. And because he was born in an island, he was called Dwaipayana (Dwaipa or island-born). He compiled the 4 Vedas and for this he came to be called Vyasa (the arranger or compiler). Vyasar was also known as Krishna-Dwaipayana (because of his dark
complexion) & Veda Vyasa (because he had classified the four Vedas)
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Chitraangada and Vichitraviryaa, the sons of Shantanu and Satyavathi
Shantanu and Satyavati had two sons, named Chitrāngada and
Vichitravirya. Both of them died early without leaving an heir, but
Vichitravirya had two wives - Ambika and Ambalika. A widowed Satyavati
initially asked her stepson, Bhishma, to marry both the queens, but he
refused, citing his vow of celibacy. Satyavati revealed her secret past
and requested him to bring her firstborn to impregnate the widows under a
tradition called Niyoga. By this time, Vyasa had compiled the Vedas.
Sage Vyasa was unkempt because of months of meditation in the forest.
Hence upon seeing him, Ambika who was rather scared shut her eyes,
resulting in their child, Dhritarashtra, being born blind. The other
queen, Ambalika, turned pale upon meeting Vyasa, which resulted in their
child Pandu being born pale. Alarmed, Satyavati requested that Vyasa
meet Ambika again and grant her another son. Ambika instead sent her
maid to meet Vyasa. The duty-bound maid was calm and composed; she had a
healthy child named Vidura.
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