Reading Notes: Kincaid Mahabharata, Part A

Bibliography. The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata- The Princes of Elephant City by C. A. Kincaid (1921). Web source.

Synopsis:

1. King Vichitravirya has two sons, Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Pandu becomes king and has five sons (Pandavas: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva). When Pandu dies, Dhritarashtra becomes king. He has 100 sons with Duryodhana as the eldest ones and they are collectively called Kauravas. 
2. Drona is the trainer of the Pandavas and Kauravas. The Pandavas are his favorite which makes Duryodhana jealous. Drona uses his pupils to attack his enemy, King Drupada of Panchala. 
3. The gods gift King Drupuda with the beautiful girl Draupadi to avenge his kingdom.
4. A monster, Hidimbi, falls in love with Bhima after the Pandavas goes into exile.
5. During this exile, Baka torments the Pandavas.
6. Arjuna is able to win a contest to be a suitor for Draupadi. Due to a misunderstanding with his mother, all four brother marries Draupadi.
7. Yudhisthira loses everything including his wife Draupadi after a game of dice to Duryodhana. Duryodhana sends his brother to grab Draupadi. Bhima fights back. 
8. Pandavas go in disguise to King Virata. The queen's brother attempts to rape Drauapdi leading Bhima to kill him.

Drona and the Princes (Source: Websource)

Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this retelling of the Mahabharata. It is definitely more exciting and more straightforward with the different parts of the overall Mahabharata. The whole story is basically the same, I do not really see a difference between this Mahabharata and the one I first read. I do see how the Pandavas are seen as heroes more clearly in the story. I am interested in writing a story of the Pandavas and the Kauravas switched so essentially having the Kauravas as the hero of the story.