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The Mahabharata is one of the two most important epics in Indian Culture. It also is the longest book in the world. It has been sized down many times to be included in this page. Page 1, 2.
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The war lasted some time, but the Pandavas managed to turn the tide of the war against their assailants without revealing their true identity. When they finally revealed their true identity, the king of the city as delighted, and offered his daughter's hand in marriage to Arjuna's son.

However, things would not be settled to easily. Once the Pandavas had finished their thirteen year exile, war was starting to brew. Alliances were quickly forged by both the Pandavas and the Kauravas, in preparation of the huge war that was about to take place. One important character in the midst of the recruitment was Lord Krishna, who was in fact the incarnation of Vishnu, the preserver, himself.

Both sides wanted his help, and eventually Krishna gave both sides the choice in way of help. The Pandavas chose Krishna alone and unarmed, whilst the Kauravas chose Krishna's army. Both sides were happy, thinking they had gotten the better deal.

While the tensions between the two parties rose, many people tried to strike a peace deal between the two parties, including Krishna himself, but time again, the peace envoys were turned down by Duryodhana, who was confident about winning the war.

The long due war had soon begun. Krishna advised Arjuna to pray to the goddess Durga, and as Arjuna did so, the goddess herself appeared before Arjuna, and granted him victory in the war, over the Kauravas. But Arjuna looked out at the battlefield, and so many people he knew on the enemy's side. He could not bear to kill any of them, and eventually refused to fight. However, Krishna eventually managed to convince Arjuna that it was in fact his duty to fight for the Pandavas, and that it was the right thing to do, and so the war began.

The battle raged on for many days without end. Many people died in the bloody war, as well as many old scores and rivalries being settled. Krishna at many points intervened to change the course of the war, but it was inevitable as the Pandavas won the eighteen day war, with Bhima breaking Duryodhana's thigh bones. That night, the Kauravas led a night attack on the Pandavas camp, killing many people there. As fate dictated, Krishna had brought the Pandava brothers to a victory celebration, saving them all from the massacre.

When the Pandavas returned, they found almost everyone they knew, and everyone whom had fought for them dead. In despair, they believed it was time for them to leave the world too. They marched to the Himalayas to the north, where the gate of heaven was. Draupadi was the first who was not able to take the strain, and she died, whilst the brothers walked on. It was not long before they could not take it too, and started to fall before reaching the peak of the mountain.

Finally, only the oldest brother, Yudhistira managed to make it to the gate of heaven, along wth his dog. The dog revealed itself to be a god, and he gave Yudhistira one last test. With all the Kauravas in heaven, and the Pandavas in hell, he was given the choice of where he wanted to go. He would rather go to hell, than desert his brothers, and therefore chose to go to hell. Eventually, he was finally told that his brothers were in fact in heaven, and that it was only a test, which he had passed, and now he would be admitted to the realm of eternal bliss.

Next: Ramayana >>