Month: June 2025

After 13 years, the Kuru princes had finally completed their training under Dronacharya. To showcase their talents, Dronacharya organized a grand tournament. Everyone from Hastinapur gathered to witness the event, including Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti, and Bhishma.

Each Kuru prince had specialized in a particular weapon of warfare. Yudhishthira excelled in the use of the spear, Arjuna in archery, Sahadeva in the sword, and Nakula in the axe. Bhima and Duryodhana, excelled in the use of the mace.

One by one, the princes demonstrated their skills. Soon, Bhima and Duryodhana began a mock fight, which escalated into a serious duel, which was stopped by Ashwatthama upon Dronacharya’s order.

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The child Kunti had placed in a basket was found by Radha, the wife of Adhiratha, a charioteer, who raised Karna as their own son.
Karna was initially trained by Dronacharya alongside the Kuru princes, but Dronacharya refused to teach him the Brahmastra, the divine celestial weapon, as Karna wished to outshine Arjuna. Karna left Dronacharya’s ashram and went to Parashurama.
Since Parashurama taught only Brahmins and Kshatriyas, Karna lied that he was a Brahmin and was trained by Parashurama.

One day, while Parashurama was asleep on Karna’s lap, an insect stung Karna. He endured the pain and did not move in order not to disturb his guru while he slept.

When Parashurama woke up and saw the blood, he questioned Karna, who explained that an insect had stung him.

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This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

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Ekalavya was the son of a Nishadha chief. He requested Dronacharya to train him, but Dronacharya refused, as Ekalavya belonged to a tribe and could not be trained alongside the Kuru princes.

Determined to learn archery, Ekalavya made a clay idol of Dronacharya to supervise him during his training.

One day, while Dronacharya was bathing in a river, he was attacked by a crocodile. Arjuna shot five arrows at the crocodile, saving Dronacharya’s life. Dronacharya promised Arjuna that he would make him the greatest archer.

Later, while Ekalavya was training, a dog belonging to the Kuru princes kept barking and disturbing him. Ekalavya skillfully shot arrows into the dog’s mouth without causing it any injury.

Loved this story? Read it in the book!
This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

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All the Kuru princes had excelled in various weapons used in warfare, and Arjuna had mastered the art of archery.
One day, Dronacharya summoned the Kuru princes and challenged them to shoot the eye of a wooden bird placed on a tree.
Yudhisthira went first. Dronacharya asked him, “What do you see?” Yudhisthira replied that he could see the tree, the branch, the bird, and the surroundings. Hearing this, Dronacharya stopped him and asked the next disciple to step forward.
Each prince who came forward gave similar answers and each was sent away by Dronacharya, as he was not satisfied by the answer the princes gave.

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This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.
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Dronacharya left Drupada’s kingdom and vowed to take revenge against him. Kripacharya, the brother of Kripi and the guru of Dhritarashtra, suggested to Dronacharya that he should seek employment in Hastinapur.

Dronacharya agreed, and, along with his family and Kripacharya, left for Hastinapur.

After reaching Hastinapur, Drona encountered the Kuru princes and helped them retrieve their ball from a well by tying together stalks of grass.

When Bhishma found out about this, he was impressed and appointed Dronacharya as the guru of the Kuru princes (the Kauravas and the Pandavas).

Dronacharya agreed to train the Kuru princes on the condition that, after their training, they would defeat the King of Panchala, Drupada, as Guru Dakshina.

Loved this story? Read it in the book!
This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

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Dronacharya, the son of Rishi Bharadwaja, was trained in the ashram of Sage Bharadwaja along with Drupada, the prince of Panchala. Both youngsters became best friends, and Drupada promised Drona that he would give him half of his kingdom.

Years later, Drupada became the king and forgot his promise, while Dronacharya excelled in warfare and married Kripi, the sister of Kripacharya, who had trained Pandu and Dhritarashtra.

Ashwatthama, the son of Dronacharya, had a divine gem on his forehead. Once, he saw his friends drinking milk and wished to drink some too. His friends, playfully, gave him water mixed with flour. Dronacharya felt ashamed, as he could not even afford milk for his son.

Loved this story? Read it in the book!
This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

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Shakuni, Gandhari’s brother, hated Bhisma and wanted to avenge against him by destroying the Kuru Dynasty. He hated Bhisma because of 2 reasons, as mentioned in different narratives.

Firstly, Shakuni loved his sister dearly. Gandhari, had always been afraid of darkness, but when she married Dhritarashtra, she blindfolded herself to share his disability.

Secondly, Shakuni saw his brothers and his father die in front of him. Thus, he hated Bhisma for ruining his sister’s life and for killing his father.

After Saubala’s death, Shakuni was released upon his father’s dying request. 

Loved this story? Read it in the book!
This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

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Once, Pandavas and Kauravas, were quarrelling as usual. Bhima, in anger, blurted out that Duryodhana’s mother was a widow. Confused the Kauravas asked Bhisma for an explanation.

When enquired, Bhisma found out that Gandhari had previously been wedded to a goat, which was later sacrificed, making her a widow. The marriage was done in order to avert a prediction, that her first husband shall die within 3 months, while her second husband, shall live a long life.

Dhritarashtra felt insulted after knowing this, and Bhisma fumed with anger, as Saubala had never mentioned this, angered, he imprisoned Saubala along with Shakuni and his other sons.

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This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

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After Kunti returned to Hastinapur, she handed over the Pandavas to Bhisma who trained them well, along with Vidura, their maternal uncle.

Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, never accepted Pandavas, as he believed that, Yudhisthira, being the elder one, would be crowned as the King.

Duryodhana despised Bhima, as he was stronger than him. In an attempt to kill him, Duryodhana, poisoned Bhima’s food, and threw him into River Ganga.

Loved this story? Read it in the book!
This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

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After Bhima was born, Kunti using the mantra, prayed to Lord Indra, giving birth to a son, named Arjuna.

Madri felt dejected and envied Kunti, as she had her own children. She expressed herself in front of Pandu, who requested Kunti to share the mantra with Madri. Kunti kind-heartedly taught Madri the mantra.

Madri using the mantra, invoked the Ashwini Kumaras, giving birth to twins, Nakul and Shadeva.

Years later, on a fine spring day, Pandu forgot about the curse received by Sage Kindama, and embraced his wife, Madri. No sooner he touched her, he died.

Loved this story? Read it in the book!
This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.

To get your copy, feel free to mail me at hello@samrudhikadam.in