Reading Notes: Narayan's Mahabharata Part A

Bibliography:
R.K. Narayan, The Mahabharata, Reading Guide

Ch. 1 The Eighth Baby

This story of continuing the Kuru family line is dense.  Each woman and each man has their own personal story on their efforts to produce heirs and it lends itself to multiple ways to expand or revise this story.  As I was reading, it reminded me of the many efforts of European Kings and Queens to further on their family line.  It would be interesting to change the setting to European courts rather than this ancient Indian epic story and see how the setting changes the feeling of these personal stories of the Kuru family

(Ganga taking the children into the river to drown. Wikipedia.)

I have the most connection to the original story of Ganga and the 8 children.  It's unrealistic that the husband would be so in love with her and scared of her leaving to let her kill 7 of his heirs.  I would be interested in how this story would change if it were more realistic.

Ch.4
I am fascinated by the story of Nalayani and the sage Moudgalya in the section "The Lives of Draupadi".  Their life seems great, full of love, and she is loved by the sage as if she were loved by 5 men.  She loves the arrangement but the sage grows tired of it and leaves. This is very relatable to any relationship and it would be fun to write this in a present day setting.  The imagery in this is fascinating.  I am still trying to figure out how to change the story but Im excited to work with their story