The Strange Story of Princess Mādhavī
Details
State: Public
Version: author
License: Not specified
Serval ID
serval:BIB_B25422222DE5
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The Strange Story of Princess Mādhavī
Journal
On the Growth and Composition of the Sanskrit Epics and Purāṇas. Relationship to Kāvya. Social and Economic Context (pp. 281-303). Proceedings of the Fifth Dubrovnik International Conference on the Sanskrit Epics and Purāṇas, August 2008.
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2016
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Pages
281-303
Language
english
Abstract
The strange story of princess Mādhavī is narrated in the Gālavacarita (Mahābhārata 5.104-121), on the occasion of Kṛṣṇa's embassy at Duryodhana's court. Kṛṣṇa tries to convince Duryodhana that he should share his kingdom with the Pāṇḍavas, and the ṛṣi Nārada tells him the story of Mādhavī to warn him against the dangers of excessive obstinacy and pride. I call this story strange, because, as we shall see, the way in which Mādhavī is treated and/or behaves violates practically all the rules concerning the correct treatment and behaviour of women. Yet neither Mādhavī herself, nor those who inflict that treatment on her, are ever blamed or said to act in a way that is contrary to dharma.
Keywords
Mādhavī, Mahābhārata, horse-sacrifice, rules concerning women in texts of Law, Vedic rituals in the epics.
Create date
15/04/2019 18:36
Last modification date
21/08/2019 7:10
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