Reading Notes: Epified: Mahabharata, Part B

Kunti was adopted by a king. Durwasa visited the king and Durwasa was known for giving out curses. Kunti served Durwasa and Durwasa became delighted with Kunti and he gave her a way to summon any god she wanted to summon. Kunti then summoned Suryadev, the sun god. However, the mantra also had the sun god bring her a child who was born with golden earrings and armor. Kunti had to send her son down the river because she was unmarried.
One day while hunting, Pandu shot an arrow at a hermit who was making love with his wife. The hermit placed a curse on Pandu that he would die as soon as he had a son. Kunti told Pandu about her gift from Durwasa. Pandu told Kunti to have sons with the gods, unaware that she already had a son.
Yama, god of truth and death, was first god Kunti summoned. That child was Yudhishthira. Then she summoned Vayu, the wind god. This child was Bhima. Then she summoned Indra and had Arjuna. Then, Kunti said that she would not have any sons but Kunti summoned twin gods to come for Madri and had Nakul and Sehdev. Kunti returned from the forest and found Pandu dead because he tried to make love with Madri. Madri threw herself into the fire with Pandu and died as well.
Ghandari gave birth to a lump of flesh instead of a child. Dhritarashtra gave cut the lump into 100 pieces and put them into oil. The oldest son was Duryodhana.
Duryodhana was jealous of Bhima and challenged Bhima to a wrestling match but was brutally beaten by Bhima. Shakuni, Ghandarvi's brother, led Duryodhana to believe that the Pandavas were pretenders for the thrown. Duryodhana poisoned the food of the Pandavas and they fell asleep. Duryodhana tied the hands and feet of Bhima and pushed him into the river.
Snakes found Bhima but Bhima was able to fight off the serpents. Bhima met Vasuki, the king of the snakes and Vasuki gifted Bhima a magical potion that gave him the strength of 1,000 elephants.
While playing with a ball, Bhima accidentally threw the ball into the well. A poor Brahmin, Drona, helped get the ball out by throwing reeds with perfect aim so the boys introduced Drona to Bhishma.
Nakul and Sehdev became great with a sword. Bhima became great with a mace. Arjuna became a perfect warrior and could handle all weapons perfectly but decided to focus on archery. Arjuna and Drona's son, Ashwatthama, were taught to use the devastras, weapons that could control the weather.
Ekalavya had made a dog be quiet by filling its mouth with arrows without harming the dog. Drona had taught Ekalavya according to Ekalavya. However, Drona had not taught him. Drona had turned him down long ago. Drona made Ekalavya cut off his thumb to prove his worth.

Bhima and his mace. Image from Wikimedia

Source:
"Epified: Mahabharata, Part B" Epified. YouTube. Found online here