________________
114
Secondary Tales of the two Great Epics
bound by any religious belief ? But we shall class them as fairytales all-right. Stith Thompson may try to put the reservation, but we shall point out that the distinction between a myth and a fairy-tale often blurs and "our term is inaccurate”.
In a slightly different way, we may as well point out, even the tales of Arjuna and of Bhima are “no more than an ordinary folk-tale of wonder”, and, therefore, all, at a stroke, can be classed as fairy-tales. Of course, the atmosphere group-wise differs considerably. It is romantic in Arjuna-tales, full of awe and wonder in Bhima's tales, it very definitely becomes religiously sober in the tales of Yudhisthira. But whether pleasant or awe-inspiring or reverentially impressive, they are all tales of wonders. They are all fairy-tales.
It should be noted here that the folk-tradition of the epic has almost entirely neglected the two sons of Mādri in the sense that no secondary tales are added to the epic in their names. This is a little surprising in view of the fact that the twins are said to be the sons of Asvină who played such an important role in restoring Cyavana, an eminent Bhārgava sage, to youth and vigour. The story itself is included in the Tirthayātrā section of VanP.134 However, the Bhārgava redactors of the MBh in its final stage have nearly completely failed to reveal any interest in them. 3 Draupadi also, being a woman, is ignored in this respect, the only exception being the inclusion of the episode of her penance for obtaining a husband in her previous birth,135 but that is rather to explain away the obsolete custom of polyandry which later on came to be abhorred but which, by that time, also had become an unavoidable part of the epic-story.
The valorous aspect of Arjuna's personality is more famous than the romantic one. He is a past master in archery which requires greater concentration and more refined and accurate intelligence. This is in sharp contrast to the crude and blunt weapon of mace which Bhima holds. The sharp arrows and the blunt mace are clearly symbolic of the respective qualities of Arjuna and Bhima. The contrast can be seen throughout the epic. In the Draupadi-svayamvara-episode, Arjuna pierces the target, Bhima handles the angry host of the kings.136 In the episodes of duels with Jarāsandha 137 or Duryodhana,138 Bhima is always equal to the opponent. He can better him only after receiving some hint either from Krsna or from Arjuna. Arjuna the superb archer wins over Citraratha, 139 pleases even Lord Mahadeva in the form of Kirāta,140 deals successfully with the nivātakavacas, 141 removes the Kalikeya and
134 Adhyāyas 122-125. 135 AdiP. 189. 136 AdiP. 181. 137 SabP. 21.19-22. 138 SalP. 30. 139 AdiP. 158-159. 140 VanP. 13-42, particularly 39-42. 141 VanP, 166-169.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
