Episode 37 - While Krishna is still hanging out at the camp, the sages Narada and Markandeya show up. After some prodding, Markandeya finally opens up and gives us his take on reincarnation, sin and the afterlife. He follows that up with two stories about Brahmins, and then gives us his rendition of the Fish, Manu, and the Flood.
I also present my theory that the five Pandavas are somehow correllated with the five extremities of the human body. Yuddistira is clearly the head, while Bhima is associated with the right arm. Arjuna, the "Left-Handed Archer", seems pretty clearly to be linked with the left arm, and the twins make up the pair of legs. Since they are all incarnations of a single being-- Indra-- perhaps Indra had himself dismembered and each limb became a different Pandava.
There is also something sexual about Arjun that is different from the others. We haven't gotten to that part of the story yet, but during the year in hiding, Arjun is disguised as an hermaphrodite, Brihanala, which literally means "Woman with large penis". Much later in the story, we'll discover that of the five sons of Draupadi, it is Arjun's son and grandson who carry on the line of kings.
Markandeya is still telling stories, so we'll have more from him next time.
I also present my theory that the five Pandavas are somehow correllated with the five extremities of the human body. Yuddistira is clearly the head, while Bhima is associated with the right arm. Arjuna, the "Left-Handed Archer", seems pretty clearly to be linked with the left arm, and the twins make up the pair of legs. Since they are all incarnations of a single being-- Indra-- perhaps Indra had himself dismembered and each limb became a different Pandava.
There is also something sexual about Arjun that is different from the others. We haven't gotten to that part of the story yet, but during the year in hiding, Arjun is disguised as an hermaphrodite, Brihanala, which literally means "Woman with large penis". Much later in the story, we'll discover that of the five sons of Draupadi, it is Arjun's son and grandson who carry on the line of kings.
Markandeya is still telling stories, so we'll have more from him next time.
Is this the same Manu Lord Krishna spoke of in the Bhagavada gita?
ReplyDeleteBG ch 4.1-"The Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikshavaku."
That sounds like the guy... In this story he is called Manu Vaivasvata, which means "son of Visvavat". I sort of assume that this is also the same guy whom the Laws of Manu (Manusmrti) are attributed to. Are there other Manus?
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