Reading Notes: Mahabharata PDE, Part A

Story: Vyasa

Source: Public Domain Edition: Mahabharata

Vyasa dictates to Ganesha.

For my reading notes, I want to focus on Vyasa. Being one of the Chirinjivi (immortals) I plant to add a story about him to my project.

Vyasa is the author of the Mahabharata, and he also arranged the Vedas. The Vedas are the religious texts in Hinduism which originated from ancient India. Vyasa not only composed the Mahabharata but is also one of its characters.

Here is a little of back story to Vyasa's birth:

His mother was Satyavati, or miraculous origin, born from a great Rajah and a fish. She was very beautiful and ferried pilgrims across the river Yamuna. Also, she smelled like fish. Satyavati then met the high and pious brahmin, Parashara. He thought she was beautiful, and wanted her to become the mother to his son. He promised she would remain a maiden and her smell would be gone.

The brahmin caused a cloud to fall in the boat and vanished. Satyavati was pregnant, then gave birth to her son, who grew suddenly before her eyes and became a man. His name was Vyasa. Then he told his mother that he was going away to the forest to spend his days in meditation. Before left, he said to his mother that she ever need him, just think of him, and he would come. 

Satyavati then became a virgin again and she smelled really good.