Howlader |1

Depiction of War in Iliad and The Mahabharata

Nayan Howlader

Student ID: 131013030

Department of English and Humanities

Fall 2016
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Depiction of War in Iliad and The Mahabharata

_______________________________________________________

A Thesis Submitted to

The Department of English and Humanities

University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh

_______________________________________________________

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

BA in English and Humanities

_____________________________________________________

Nayan Howlader

Student ID: 111013013

Prof. Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, Thesis Supervisor

Fall 2016
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CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
I hereby declare that this thesis is the student’s own work and effort. All sources of

information incorporated here have been duly acknowledged. This thesis has been

submitted with my approval.

_________________________
(Prof. Golam Sarwar Chowdhury)

Professor

Department of English and Humanities

23-04-2015
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DECLARATION

This thesis is a presentation of my original research work. Wherever contributions of

others are involved, every effort is made to indicate this clearly, with due reference

to the literature, and acknowledgement of collaborative research and discussions.

_________________________
(Nayan Howlader)
ID: 131013030
Department of English and Humanities
23-04-2015

Acknowledgements
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This dissertation represents the closing of the undergraduate years of my life. I

would like to thank my father at first; well of course he deserves this because he is

the reason that I am doing this. I would like to thank my uncle Jahirul Haque,

without his support I would have not been able to complete my dissertation at

ULAB.

My sincere gratitude is due to the authority of the Department of English and

Humanities that provided me with the opportunity to conduct this research. I am

grateful to a number of individuals who have contributed in many ways towards the

completion of this thesis. Firstly I would like to express my profound gratitude and

respect to my supervisor Prof. Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, DEH, ULAB for giving me

the permission to work with my selected topic and constant guidance and trust on

me since the inception of the study. Without his support it was never possible for me

to work with the subject matter.

I would like to thank my friends Anik and Bikash, their support is actually essential

to complete my dissertation. Again I acknowledge those scholars whose materials I

have collected from different sources and used after certain modification in this

paper. I would like to thank my family for giving unconditional support and love

throughout my life that encourages me to go forward.

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Table of Contents

Abstract

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Introduction

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Literature Review

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Portrayal of War in

Iliad---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13

Portrayal of War in The

Mahabharata--------------------------------------------------------------------21

Similarities and differences between the both

wars--------------------------------------------------26

Conclusion

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Works Cited

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Abstract

Iliad and The Mahabharata both are great epics of the world. In this paper, I want to look

at the portrayal of war in these two epics. Though both have different origins in the world, they

have some common issue in the portrayal of war as well as differences. In this paper first I look

into the portrayal of war from both epics then I will describe the Homeric way of war in the

western countries and the Vyasa’s way of war in the eastern countries (especially in India).The

war from both epics portrays a destructive situation of human civilization. In Iliad, the war is

also a direct contribution of the gods and goddess of Olympians. In The Mahabharata, the gods

play an important role just to give the weapons to their favor. The rise of the hero and fall as a

tragic character in the battle field is one of the commonissues of these epic that I am going to

discuss in this paper.

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Introduction

An epic is traditionally a long descriptive poem that tells a story. According to dictionary

epic is also telling a story about a hero or about exciting events or adventures. Epic tells details

action of the story such a long battle scene of The Mahabharata. Like religion, war is one of the

central issues of these two epics, and there are some similarities and dissimilarities of the

portrayed of war in these epic. In this paper, I am going to look over on the portrayed of war in

Iliad and The Mahabharata and trying to find out the similarities and dissimilarities of it.

. The reason of the Trojan War is the beauty contest of the goddesses. Eris the goddess of

strife who brought a golden apple, upon which is written “For the fairest “and throw it to Hera,

Athena, and Aphrodite. They appeal to Zeus for the judgment, but he refuses to judge a beauty

contest among his wife and daughter. Zeus tells them that Paris the most handsome man of the

world will judge this contest. The goddess each promises Paris a wonderful prize: if he picked

Hera who would offer him power, Athena would offer glory and wisdom, and Aphrodite would

provide him the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife. Paris gives the apple to

Aphrodite. The problem is that the most beautiful woman in the world Helen is already married,

and she is the wife of Menelaus,who is the king of Sparta. When Paris makes a journey to Sparta
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as a Trojan Ambassador, with the help of Aphrodite he elopes with Helen from Sparta, and this is

the background the Greeks attack Troy.

The Kuru territories are divided into two parts one is ruled by Dhritarashtra with his

capital at Hastinapura, and another is ruled by Yudhishthira of pandavas with his capital at

Indraprastha.The clash start from the game of dice which Duryodhana win by deceit and forcing

their Pandava cousin to transfer their entire properties to Kauravas and they have to go exile for

thirteen years. Duryodhana, driven by jealousy, refuse to restore the Pandavas their properties

when they come back from the exile. When Krishna goes to Duryodhana with a peace proposal

with the pandavas and Kauravas, they insult him and instate of giving their kingdom back the

Kauravas threat pandavas of war.

The Mahabharata and Iliad which represent two different cultures, one is eastern and the

other western. The Mahabharata deals with the Indian culture and also known as a religious

manuscript of Hindu religion. Iliad this epic based on the Greek myth of “Trojan War.” The

details presentation of every action and scene of these two epic makes these historically and

culturally very important in the field of literature. There are many researches on this two epic

such as religious perspective, feminist perspective and also the traditional cultural perspective

but my aim is to make a comparative analysis on the depiction of war in these epic. The method I

want to use in my paper is qualitativemethod. First I would use to close read and analyze both

the text how one is different from each other and also how both textare smellier with each other.
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Literature Review

According to the dictionary war is defined as a situation in which people or

groups compete with or fight against each other. The history of human civilization is a

history of war. Both Iliad and The Mahabharata this two epic deals with two greatest

historical war of human civilization. The largest epic Mahabharata deals with the battle

of Kurukshetra in India and the Iliad deals with the description of The Trojan War.

“The Trojan War, one of the greatest wars to have ever been fought, took place when

Helen eloped with Paris from Sparta and consequently the Greeks attacked Troy”( Vivek ,2).

This is the reason of Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad, one of the greatest epic of ancient Greece.

This epic is all about the description of Trojan War and how it's going on the battle. The epic of

Trojan War is also a tale of colorful romantic and adventurous story. In this paper the author

shows that the love, kingship is not all the things about the Trojan War there are something else

like showing of the skill of the leadership is also very important for the Trojan War. From my

point of view, I agree with this statement because I find that the big heroes Achilles,

Agamemnon, Hector, Prime they always try to prove their skill to be a leader in the battle field.

According to William James “Representative Essays in Modern Thought,” the wars in

ancient Greek are purely piratical (P, 2). He also says that pride, gold, women and slaves
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excitement are their only motives. I agree with this statement, but there are also other things in it

like the glory of war and the ethnic unity. When Paris elopes with Helen from Sparta and takes

her back to Ilium, Menelaus appeals to his brother Agamemnon, and together they raise an

expedition to bring her back.

“A whole war, one which lasted for ten years, was fought over her” (Robert). Yes, this is

true that Helen is responsible for the Trojan War. The Greeks attack the Ilium just because to

bring Helen back to Sparta. Helen is the most beautiful girl who gets the attention of every man

of Sparta. Helen’s father before her marriage with Menelaus, “has all the men promise” to watch

her and her husband “no matter what.” The Spartan men are under the vow to protect Menelaus

and Helen that’s why the war began to protect Helen from the Trojan. In this epic Homer shows

everyone has a choice between a life of war and a life of peace. In Iliad most characters have

their own heroic qualities and they show it in the battlefield. War in this epic has a very

significant role to the all heroes from Trojan and also Greeks.

Srinivas says in his essay “Introduction to perpetual war” that The Mahabharata is one of

the longest literary works “is organized around the buildup to an earth-shattering war.” This

essay is all about to find out the meaning of war and peace in the literature and the performance.

In his essay he talks about the war from the age of Heraclitus to the war in Hiroshima. In this

essay he also quotes what Heraclitus says about the war. According to him “perpetuity of war is

no novel development.” He says that ancient epics normally portrayed the war as “annihilating

peoples, animals” and the “ecologies.” The war in Mahabharata is basically a fight cousin against

cousin. A war can destroy a new city and also can find a new city.

"The Ethics of War and the Concept of War in India and Europe." In this article author

says that India has produced a large number of literatures about the war and this war is different
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from the concept of war in the Europe (Torkel, 4). This articles deals with the comparison of the

concept of war in Europe and the concept of war in India. Europe has a great concept of war

from the ancient period. The ancient European writers are interested in war in literature but this

war is different from the concept of war in India. The European “are so concern” with the matter

of right authority but Hindu writers takes so little interest in this issue. Mahabharata is an Indian

epic that represent the Hindu tradition also. “Sacrificial violence is generally justified because it

is required by the Veda, whereas killing for mundane is forbidden” (quoted in Torkel,71). The

idea of sacrifices and war the Hindu world developed a new concept that called the “holy war.”

The epic Mahabharata “does not distinguish between private and public war.” This epic highly

deals with the rules of the battle field where the European deals a war with the right authority.

The portrayed of war in The Mahabharata and Iliad has some basic similarities and also

has difference. The story of Trojan War is also known as the war of Gods and Goddesses’ of

Olympia. The Gods and goddesses’ of Olympia directly involve with the Trojan War where they

frankly participate in the battle field. In The Mahabharata Gods also play their role in the battle

of Kurukshetra by providing weapons to the heroes of The Mahabharata. The meaning of the

war has some differences in the depiction of war from these two epic. Trojan War begins with the

beauty contest of the three beautiful Goddesses’ of Olympia Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. The

war in Mahabharata starts to establish “Dharma” against “Adharma.” This is also a religious

concept of Mahabharata.
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Portrayal of war in Iliad

From the very beginning of the epic the glory of war is more important over the family

life. According to Greek mythology Agamemnon sacrifices his own daughter for ritual to attack

Troy. The story begins nine years after the start of the war, as the Achaeans sack a Trojan allied

town and capture two beautiful women Chryseis and Briseis and make them maids.

Agamemnon, commander-in-chief of the Achaean army, who takes Chryseis as his reward.

Achilles, is the Achaeans’ most valuable warriors, gets Briseis. Chryseis’s father is a priest of the

god Apollo. He begs Agamemnon to return his daughter. When Agamemnon refuses, he

prayshelp to the Apollo.

Apollo sends a plague upon the Greek campthat causes the death of many soldiers of the

Greeks. After ten days of suffering, the great warriorAchilles calls an assembly in the Achaean

army camp alsorequests for a soothsayer to reveal the reasons of the plague. Achilles asks to

Calchas the prophet about the cause of the plague. The prophet Clachasreveals that it is

Agamemnon’s refusal to Chryses to release his daughter that has brought the plague to the Greek

camp. “Agamemnon insulted his priest, did not free his daughter and refused to ransom-that is

why Apollo made us suffer and will continue to do so” (Book1, 90-100). Agamemnon says that

he will return Chryseis only if Achilles gives him Briseis as compensation. Achilles feels insulted
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by this. When Agamemnon takes Briseis from Achilles, he withdraws him from fighting against

Troy.

Achilles and Agamemnon’s clash focuses the most dominant aspects of the ancient Greek value

system: the vital importance of personal honor.Agamemnon believes that, as he is the chief of the

Achaean forces, he deserves the highest available prize—Briseis. Achilles, the most vital

Achaean warrior, to secure what he believes is rightly owed to him.

Achilles' mother, silver-footed Thetis the sea nymph, comes to Achilles. She is angry as he is.

She tells him to have nothing more to do with the Greeks, and with that she goes up to heaven

and asks Zeus to give success to the Trojans. “Father Zeus, if ever I have served you well among

the gods by word or deed, grant me this wish” (Book 1, 500-510). The war by now has reached

Olympus — the gods are ranged against each other.

Aphrodite, of course, is on the side of Paris. Equally, of course, Hera and Athena are

against him. Ares, God of War, always takes sides with Aphrodite. Zeus, the supreme god, has

favor in Troy but Hera the wife’s of Zeus on the favor to Greeks. Because instead of choose Hera

Paris choose Aphrodite as the “fairest Lady.”To help the Trojansarmy, ashevowed, Zeus sends a

wrong dream to the chiefcommanderAgamemnon. WhereNestor’s figure in the form to

persuades Agamemnon that if he can take Troy if he takesoff a full-scale assault on the city’s

walls. “Off you go, destructive dream, to the Greek ships. Go to Agamemnon in his hut and

repeat to him exactly what I say” (Book 2, 9-10). The next day, commanderAgamemnon gathers

his troops toattack, however, to test their bravery, he lies and says them that he has decided to

give up the war and returns to Greece. To his sadness, they eagerly run to their ships. When Hera

sees the Achaeans fleeing, she alerts Athena, who inspires Odysseus, the most eloquent of the
 H o w l a d e r | 15

Achaeans, to call the men back. He roars words of reinforcement and insults to goad their pride

and restore their confidence. This is how the gods and goddesses are involved with this war. This

war is now a war of Olympians.

InIliadthe battle fight appears in the book 3 where The Trojan army marches from the city

gates and moves forwardto meet the Achaeans.The soldiers are standing opposed to each other,

ready for battle when they decide to a treaty, after that the entireconflict will be definite by a duel

among Paris and Menelaus.

When Menelaus comes forward to Paris, he is afraid to see Menelaus and goes back to the Trojan

army. Hector the brother of Paris and the leader of the Trojan army insults Paris for his

cowardice. “Paris you parody, with your wonderful looks, you sex-crazed seducer, you should

never have been born of married” (Book 3, 39-40).Insulted by Hector, Paris finally agrees to a

duel with Menelaus, declaring that the contest will establish peace between the Trojans and

Achaeans by deciding once and for all which man shall have Helen as his wife. Hector and

Odysseus mark off the area for the fight. Paris and Menelaus carefully dress in greaves, helmets,

and shields. Paris, who has won the lot to throw his spear with force strong enough over

Menelaus’ shield. Menelaus breakdowns his sword over Paris’s helmet; he starts to strangle Paris

with Paris’ chain strap, but it breaks.

Menelaus throws the helmet to the Achaeans, but when he turns towards Paris, he

discovers that Paris has gone. It is Aphrodite who takes away Paris from the battle with her

magic. This is the interesting things of this epic where the Olympian gods and goddesses play the

direct role in the war. Menelaus is searching for Paris, Agamemnon steps to the front of the army

and says “Trojans, Greeks, and allies, listen to me. Menelaus has apparently won. Now give up
 H o w l a d e r | 16

Helen” (Book 3, 455-460). This book is a little representation of the characters of Hector and

Paris, where the cowardly retreat of Paris from the battle indicates that he shines more as a lover

than a warrior.

The destructive action war is started by the intervention of the Olympians. Zeus argues

that Menelaus has won the duel and that the war should end as the mortals haveagreed. But the

goddess Hera, who has invested much in the Achaean cause she wants nothing less than the

wholedamage of Troy. In the end, the supreme god Zeus gives way and sends Athena to the

battlefield to revitalize the combat. Masked as a Trojan soldier, Athena convinces the archer

Pandarus to take aim at Menelaus. Athena says him “Pandarus, shrewd son of Lycano, you

should do what I say. If you could bring yourself to shoot a flying arrow at Menelaus, you would

cover yourself in glory and put every Trojan in your debt, Lord Paris most of all” (Book 4, 90-

100). Pandarus fires, but Athena, who wants to give the Greeks a pretext for combat, bouncesthe

arrow, therefore, it simplyinjuries theMenelaus.

The chief commander Agamemnon at the momentassemblies the Achaean ranks. After

that moment he encounterswith Nestor, Odysseus, and Diomedes.And heshootson them by

challenging their arrogance or recounting the great deeds of their fathers. A battle breaks out,

“The armies advanced and met in a single space with a clash of shields, spears and bronze-

armoured warriors” (Book 4, 445-450). Not a single major characters are killed or injured.

However, Odysseus and Great Ajax killsome minor Trojan numbers. The gods also become

involved; Athena is helping the Achaeans, and Apollo is trying to help the Trojans.

“The Achaean captains Antiochus and Great Ajax kill Trojans in grisly fashion. A

comrade of Odysseus is killed by the Trojans, and Odysseus kills a bastard son of Priam”
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(David). Under the Achaean attack, the Trojans are forced to back. “At this glorious Hector and

the Trojan front ranks fell back, while the Greeks gave a great shout, dragged in the bodies and

pushed forward” (Book 4, 555-560). Apollo watches the battle from above and cries out for the

Trojans to fight back, noting that Achilles is not fighting. Homer finishes the book with the

images of two deaths: Dioresis struck by a rock that is thrown by Porous and Pirous is speared as

he springs away from his murder. Numerous Achaeans and Trojans lie dead in the dust. The end

of the book it can be noticed as a small picture of the killing between Trojans and the

Greeks.Eventually, both sides end dead on the battlefield, losses of war in which they are only

minor players. In the meantime, the gods play with the fate of the armies.

The war is now continuing with the description of theindividual heroism of Diomedes

and goddess Athena assets him to attain his glory. Diomedes continues his hits on the Trojans,

acting as aforce of nature. The Trojans begin to worry. Pandarus shoots an arrow toDiomedes

thathits in his shoulder. He pulls back for a second and prays to the goddess Athena, who instills

him with the power of his father to continue combat.

The goddess also gives Diomedes the power to see the gods on the battlefield.

Diomedes charges back into the battlefieldpronounced as a lion attacking a flock of sheep. He

kills several Trojans, including two sons of Priam. Seeing Diomedes’ madness, the Trojan

hero Aeneas seeks out the mischievous Pandarus, who says Aeneas that he by this time has shot

Diomedes and that Diomedes must have a god next to him. Diomedes’ co-captain

Sthenelus notices the method of Aeneas and Pandarus. He instructs Diomedes to give ground to

them, but Diomedes rejects his advice, saying that Athena will determine the victor. Diomedes

throws his spear and kills Pandarus and Aeneas. “A hit-clean through the flank! I don’t think
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you’ll last much longer now! What a triumph you’ve given me!” (Book 5, 283-285). The first

day’s battle is a story or a scene of many killings of human and bloodshed. I know that the detail

of the battlefield is not a pleasant thing, but this is the actual picture of a war and the author

represents it in this epic very clearly.

The battlefieldcontinues between the Achaeans and the Trojans. Great

Ajax and Diomedes, kill several Trojans. Menelaus almost spares the Trojan Address’ life in

exchange for ransom, “Son of Atreus, take me alive, and you will get a ransom that will be well

worth it” (Book 6, 45-50). But Agamemnon convinces Menelaus to kill him. The Achaeans push

forward. The war is now much more destructive, thekilling of the enemies is the primary purpose

of the war. Hector reaches the gates of Troy and tells the people to “Pray to the gods.” He goes

to Priam’s palace and seeks out his mother Hecuba, who offers him wine. He refuses the offer

and tells her to prepare a large sacrifice to Athena to help turn back the Achaeans. Hecuba gives

orders to gather women and the materials for the sacrifice. The sacrifice is offered, but Athena

refuses to hear the Trojan prayers. The Trojan ally Glaucus meets Diomedeson the battlefield.

Diomedes tells Glaucus that he has never noticed him before and that he will fight him if he is

mortal. Diomedes asks him “What mortal man are you, sir?” (Book 6, 120-125).

Hector and Paris come back into battle, and start to kill Greeks soldiers. Athena and

Apollo make a plan. In the appearance of Helenus, Apollo tells Hector to challenge the Achaeans

to fight him. Again, the gods are playing their tricks on the battlefield and try to prevent further

bloodshed. Now Hector is subject to prove himself on the battlefield as a warrior.Nine Achaeans

stand up to fight with Hector including Agamemnon, Odysseus, and the Asantes. The

competitors cast lots, and Great Ajax wins.Ajax prays to the supreme god Zeus and organizes

himself for thebattle.

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The duel starts, and Hector’s throw the spear and t miss the mark to cut Ajax’ armor.

Ajax’s Spear tear Hector’s shield apart, but Hector just manages to dodge the throw. The two

then fights with lances, and Ajax hits Hector over. Apollo pulls Hector back up. Beforehand they

can continue the fight with swords, heralds from both sides separate the fighters, telling them

that night is coming on. Hector and Ajax decide to end their duel. They exchange gifts of

friendship: Hector gives up his sword, and Ajax gives up his war-belt.This is so many interesting

things of the epic, when they end up their duel they exchange their gifts.

The next day Zeus holds a council of the gods and goddesses and commands them not to

interfere in the affair of the Greeks and Trojans. The Achaeans and Trojans enter into battle once

more. Hector becomes the hero of the day. In combat, Hector accepts down on the

elderly Nestor. Nestor is hardly saved by Diomedes, who takes him into his chariot. Diomedes

slays Hector’s chariot driver, but a thunderbolt from Zeus turns them back toward the ships.Great

Ajax and the archer Teucer, work together as a team. Teucer kills several

Trojans. Agamemnon praises Teucer’s bravery. Teucer aims for Hector, but he can kill only the

men around him. “He missed, but the arrow landed on the chest of one of Prim’s strong sons”

(Book 8, 300-305). With the command of Hector, the Trojans drive the Achaeans back into their

fortification. Hera and Athena show pity on the Achaeans and curses, Hector. The Trojans are

ready to attack the next day immediately. There is no question here that with the help of Zeus the

Trojans are the strong position in the war. Hector shows his heroism with the help of the supreme

god Zeus.

Book Nine marks the turning point in the action of the epic. Nestor advises Agamemnon

to send an embassy to Achilles and make an apology to him. That is the only way to come back

him in the battle. Odysseus, Great Ajax, and the elderly Phoenix are chosen as the men who are
 H o w l a d e r | 20

going to present Agamemnon’s peace proposal to Achilles.The embassy finds Achilles in

performance the lyre in his tent with his dear friend Patroclus.Achilles offers food and drink for

the men. Odysseus presents Agamemnon’s offer, “Agamemnon is ready to make you ample

compensation the moment you relent” (Book 9, 260-265). He also says about the gifts

presentedby Agamemnon “He will give you seven women skilled in arts and crafts, women of

exceptional beauty” (Book 9, 270-275). But Achilles rejects it directly. Achilles here appears in

a new light. Achilles here is portrayed as an ideal and anhonest man. The failure of the embassy

reflects Achilles’ position as an individual hero within the Achaean army.

Odysseus and Diomedes go out to a night-time investigation mission and they kill many Trojans

and capture a Trojan spy. In the followingday, Agamemnon's bravery drives the Trojans back to

the walls of the town. The Trojans progress and attack the Greek walls. The Trojans advance still

further to where they can begin torching the Greek ships. At this point, Achilles agrees his friend

Patroclus borrow his armor and move in the battle with their contingent of militaries to help the

distressed Greeks. After a severe fight at last Patroclus killed by Hector with the support of

Apollo. “Patroclus, you probably thought you’d sack our town, make Trojan women slaves and

ship them off to the land of your father” (Book 16, 830-835).And now Achilles repents of his

anger, reconciles himself to Agamemnon, and on the following day, furnished with new and

splendid armor by Hephaestus at the request of Thetis.

The next day, Achilles dons his armor and launches into battle. The Trojans run

awayfrom the anger of Achilles and hide inside the walls of Troy. Hector alone remains outside

of the wall, strong-minded to stand fast against Achilles, but as Achilles methods, he, Hector

loses his nerve and starts to run. Achilles hunts Hector around the walls of Troy four times, but

finally, Hector turns and faces Achilles. With the assistance of Athena, Achilles kills Hector. He
 H o w l a d e r | 21

attaches Hector’s corpse to his chariot and drags the body back to the Achaean camp as revenge

for Patroclus’ death. The war in Iliad concludes with the death of Hector.

Portrayal of War in The Mahabharata

“The Mahabharata, the world’s longest literary work, is organized around the buildup to

earth- shattering war” (Srinivas, 4). The war in Mahabharata is also known as the

Kurukshetrawar. The conflict starts between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and Pandavas,

for the throne of Hastinapura an Indian kingdom called Kuru. Some ancient kingdoms

participate as allies with the two groups. The location of the battle is called as Kurukshetra in the

modern state of Haryana, that’s why the war is also known as the Kurukshetra war. The narrator

describes individual battles and the deaths of various heroes from the both sides. Military

formations, war diplomacy, meetings and discussions between the characters, and the use of the

weapons, is also describes in details.

“The Mahabharata is the story of the Puru and Yadava clans, which belong to

thekshatriya, or the warrior aristocracy of ancient times in India” (Romila, 2). According to the

Hindu religion, the kshatriyais the warrior cast. The two groups of cousins,

the Kauravas and Pandavas, they both belong to the kshatriyaand they both has the great

knowledge about the war and has the control over to play with the weapons. The war began in

Mahabharata in chapter five. After twelve years of exile, Pandavas come back to Hastinapura

and demands half of the kingdom to Dhritarashtra, but he refuses to give their kingdom back. In

a speech Yudhishthira says to Sanjaya, “And on my behalf tell Duryodhana: Give me back my

Indraprastha, of prepare for war” (Lal, 196).

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The two groups of army stands opposite of others in the battle “like two agitated oceans

at the end of a Yuga” (Lal, 211) and both of them have their alliance with their side. The war in

The Mahabharata is very well organized; there are some basic rules which are followed by the

two groups. The law of the war is avery important issue in the epic. Fighting must begin after

sunrise and end exactly at sunset, not more than one warrior can attack a single soldier. Two

soldiers may "duel," only if they carry the same weapons and they are on the same type of

powerful warrior, any solders can’t kill or injure a warrior who has surrendered. Warrior can’t

attack any woman. “No soldier would take advantage of another’s unpreparedness or panic” (Lal,

211). This is somebasic rules of the war of Kurukshetra.

The Kaurava army has 11 akshaunis or divisions of soldiers, and the Pandavas have 7,

making a total of 18. The Kurukshetra War inThe Mahabharat lasts 18 days. Before the war

begins, Krishna gives Arjuna the teaching of the Gita. On that first day Uttara, Virata's son is

killed by Shalya, King of Madra.Dushasana fight with Nakula, attempting to strike him with

many arrows, but Nakula cut down these arrows. Yudishtira fought Shalya, while Drishtadyumna

seeks Drona in battle. The King of Panchala fight with the King of Sind and the battle between

them is fierce and terrible. The day is in the favor of Kauravas. Bhishma plays a critical role the

day. Yudhishthira goes to Krishna and says about the role of Bhishma in the battle “He destroys

us like the fire destroying dry grass, like a flame licking up ghee. Help us Krishna” (Lal, 219-

220). The second day belongs to the Pandavas, this day they killed the charioteer of Bhishma.

Kauravas lost many warriors on this second day.

On the third day of the war, “the Kaurava army adopted the Garuda formation as part of

its strategy” (Lal, 220). Bhishma leads the Kaurava army. Pandavas is counter-array in the form

of a half-moon, with the right horn ordered by Bhima, Yudishtira holding the middle, and Arjuna
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managing the left horn.Bhishma kills many soldiers of Pandava army. In the afternoon Krishna

says to Arjuna fight with Bhishma, with the suggestion of Krishna Arjuna starts to fight against

Bhishma. “Wonderful, Arjuna!” says Bhishma “wonderful! Most wonderful! It is a pleasure to

fight you. Fight hard, Arjuna” (Lal 222). As the sun set the Kauravas are withdraw from the war,

Bhishma and Drona with them and the Pandavas triumph that day.

On fourth day Abhimanyu is attacked by the Kauravas. Arjuna, and Bhima helps

Abhimanyu to. Duryodhana sends a huge force of elephants against him, which Bhima disperses.

He however, kills eight of Duryodhana’s brothers on this day. After the fourth day between the

day five to eight, everyday Bhima kills six to ten of Duryodhana’s brothers. Several times Bhima

and Duryodhana fight against each other, longing to kill each other, but they are like equal in the

battle field. When Duryodhana, goes each night to his tent, and weep for his brothers. Bhishma

continuously shows his power in the battle; no one can defeat him. Yudhishthira says to Krishna

“Bhishma destroys my soldiers like an elephant trampling weeds” (Lal, 225).

In the ninth dayBhishma arrays the troops as a hollow square and wreaks much havoc

upon the Pandava army. The exhausted Pandavas goes to Bhishma at his camp at night, and ask

him how they may kill him. Bhishma says them to use Shikhandi as a armor, for he would never

raise his bow upon a woman. “Shikhandi was a woman in his previous birth” and on the tenth

book Bhishma says to himself “I am tired of killing. I have no desire to live anymore” (Lal, 226).

On this day The Pandavas send Shikhandin against Bhishma, “Let Shikhandin be the

cause of Bhisima’s death” (Lal, 226). Arjuna coming up behind him throws many arrows against

Bhishma. Pandavas surrounds Bhishma and drives off the Kauravas. Pandavas stick Bhishma

with many arrows until no space on his body.Both armies stop their battle in honor of the eldest
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of Bharatas and method him looking for his guidance. Arjuna gives him a pillow of three slides

to rest his head on and slowdowns the ground with a heated arrow to provide him with a cool jet

of sweet water.

Drona is now the new commander of the Kauravas army. Duryodhana requests him to

arrest Yudhisthara alive. Drona sets up the Trigarthas to attraction away Arjuna from protecting

his elder brother.On thethirteenth day, while Arjuna is fighting with Bhagdatta and Susharma,

Drona makes Chakravyuha formation. Nobody from pandavas knows the key to this apart from

Arjuna. Abhimanyu knows how to enter but do not know how to come out of it. Once he entire

in this, Jayadrath ensures that no pandavas follow him. Abhimanyu is trapped and kill in the

hands of theson of Dushasana, Durmashana. Abhimanyu kills Brihadbala. He also defeats

Duryodhana but lethim live because Bhima is underoath to kill him. Seeing this, Karna breaks

Abhimanyu's bow from behind while Drona kills Abhimanyu's horses and charioteer from the

front. Then all Kauravas attack him simultaneously“ Dushasana’s son ran up, shouting Wait!

Wait!, and his mace struck Abhimanyu even as Abhimanyu’s struck him” (Lal, 235). However,

Abhimanyu kills him with his own mace before dying. He also kills more than half akshouhini's

of Kaurava's that day.

After that day (fourteenth), Arjuna kills 5 Akshouhini's of Kauravas and Jayadrath. Karna

kills Ghatotkacha with Indrastra. Satyaki kills Bhurisravas.On Day fifteen, Drupad and Virata are

killed by Drona. This is indeed Drona's day, as he is decimating Pandavas's army with the help of

brahmadanda. Bhima kills an elephant, named Ashwaththama, and claim that Drona's son

iskilling. Drona drops his arms after hearing this. “Drona, hearing of his son’s death, lost all

interest in the battle” (Lal, 241). On thesixteenth day, Dushashana is killed by Bhima. On the
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other hand, Bhima slashed his arm and drank the blood from his heart. Draupadican finally tie

her hairs with the blood fromDushashana's heart.

On the day seventeenth Karna is in the hands of Arjuna. He is killed in the same way as

Abhimanyu. “ Arjuna selected a terrible arrow, and saying, may you carry Karna to the adobe

ofYama, god of death” (Lal, 256). At the early of the day, Karna spared Sahdev and Arjuna.

Nakula, the most handsome of kuru clan, kills Shakuni's son Uluka. Nakula also kills three of

Karna sons, Chitrasena, Sushena, and Satyasena. Shalya became the commander of Kaurava's

army on theseventeenth day of Mahabharat war. On thefinal day, Shalya, who act as the

charioteer of Karna, is killed by Yudhishthir. Sahdev kills Shakuni to revenge the events which

followed dice game. Seeing his well-known defeat, Duryodhana sought refuge in a lake.

Pandavas catch Duryodhana near after thatYudhisthira makes a mistake. He proposes

Duryodhana to pick any of the Pandavas for a duel.Duryodhana chose Bhima. Bhima finally

breaks Duryodhana’s thighs. “Bhima flung his mace withall his might; it hit Duryodhanas’s

things and smashed them” (Lal, 265). Incidentally, Bhima vow after the dice game that he would

break Duryodhana's thighs. Later in the night, Ashwaththama kills sons of Pandavas while they

were sleeping. He also kills Shikhandi and Dhrishtadyumna. Dhrishtadyumna is the commander

of Pandavas that day. He also attempts to kill theunborn son of Abhimanyu who is saved by Shri

Krishna. Shri Krishna later curses Ashwaththama. “You will pass through many countries, a

lonely man amid crowds of men” (Lal,280).

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Similarities and differences between the both wars

The Iliad is a Greek epic poem, and The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic poem.

This two epic are written in separate countries that have no contact with each other during this

period. There are many differences in the portrayal of war and values of war within the two

epics. However, along with these differences, there are many similarities as well that I am going

to describes now.

A lot of divine intervention in the war is the common issue between these two epics.

There are lots of examples in the Mahabharata when Bhishma is lying down in the battle field

after injured by Arjuna “Ganga, mother of Bhishma and daughter of Himalayas, sent holy men in

the forms of swans to her son” (Lal, 227). In Iliad, gods’ intervention in the war is too much

noticeable from the beginning. Zeus cares the Trojans in the war and even sends Hermes to

escort King Priam to Achilles’ camp. “Hermes, escorting men is your greatest pleasure, and you

listen to the request of those you favour” (Book24, 335-340).

“A central trope in the Mahabharata is the triple equation of the sacred order (dharma)

with sacrifice” (Tamar, 5). Both The Mahabharatain addition to the Iliad seems to celebrate war.

Characters emerge as worthy or despicable based on their bravery performance in battle.

Sacrifice in the battle is a great glory over the family life. The Greeks attack Trojan just because
 H o w l a d e r | 27

of Paris elopes with Helen, that’s why they revenge on the Trojan to sacrifice themselves in the

battle. “The wise teacher Bishma explains that battle itself is a great sacrifice” (Torkel, 70). In

Mahabharata Pandavas starts war against Kauravas just because to establish “Dharma “against

“Adharma” and sacrifice is a great element of war, it brings glorification.

The concept of heroism in the battlefield is one of the significant similarities between this

two epic. “The good and royal Yudhishthira, the tiger-waisted’ Bhima and the helmet wearing’

Arjuna are the Agamemnon, the Ajax and the Achilles of the Indian Epic” (Lal, 24). The tragic

heroes from the both epic are the Karna and Hector. Karna is killed because he performs

incorrectly. Just before he is killed, Krishna describes that he insult Draupadi in the Assembly,

which is the very reason he has no right to request for a fair combat. Hector, on the other hand, is

a tragic figure because he is selflessly fighting for his lands. Both of the heroes have a tragic

death in the battle.

The concept of fate is a common issue in these two epics, and it’s reflected in the

battlefield of Trojan War as well as the battle of Mahabharata war. Karna is aware of his fate but

still embraces it, as it’s his duty. He knows it’s impossible, but he takes the fight on his shoulders

as there’s no one else. Every time, Karna seems to emphasize that he has no choice in the matter,

fate has bounded his hands. In Iliad after killing Hector, Achilles is fated to die at Troy as well.

Troy is destined to fall, as Hector explains to his wife in Book 6.

A remarkable similarity between The Mahabharata and The Iliad is that the friendship

among Duryodhana and Radheya seems to reflect that of Achilles and Patroclus. In The Iliad,

Achilles refuses to fight for the Trojans after he is insulted by King Agamemnon. However, after
 H o w l a d e r | 28

his close friend’s death, Achilles come back to war. Duryodhana returns to the war to revenge his

much-loved friend, Radheya. He states that he cannot live without Radheya, and declares all he

wants now is death. However, the more mutualclarification is that they were simply very close

friends and the death of one had a shocking impact on other.

There are so many differences in the portrayal of the war from the both epic. In Iliad gods

and goddesses play a direct role in the war. They come in the battlefield to help their favor. For

example: Paris is saved by Aphrodite while he is in duel with the Menelaus. “Aphrodite hid Paris

in a dense mist and whisked him away” (Book 3, 380-385). Athena helps the Greeks in the battle

field. In The Mahabharata the gods just give the divine weapon to their favor but they don’t

appear in the battlefield.

The great contrast between this two epic in portrayal of is the slavery system appears.

According to William James “gold, women and slaves excitement are their only motives” (2). He

says that the Achaeans are concern about the women of the opposite allies like Trojan women to

makes them as a slave.In Iliad slavery system appears in the first book, the Achaeans sack a

Trojan ally’s town and capture two beautiful women Chryseis and Briseis and make them maids.

Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief of the Achaean army, takes Chryseis as his reward.

Achilles, one of the Achaeans’ most respected warriors, gets Briseis. In The Mahabharatawar,

we don’t see anything like this. Even there is a law in the Kurukshetra war that no one can attack

on women in the war, but the Trojan War is just opposite of this.

The exchange of gift in the battlefield in Iliad is also a different thing. In book seven

Hector and Ajax agree to end their duel. They exchange gifts of friendship: Hector gives up his

sword, and Ajax gives up his war-belt. This is so much interesting things of the epic, when they
 H o w l a d e r | 29

end up their duel they exchanges their gifts. “He gave Ajax his silver-riveted sword, which he

handed over with its scabbard and sword belt” (Book 7, 300-305).

Conclusion

Although The Iliad and The Mahabharata are from different origin and both, represent

two differentculturesthat share many similarities such as the themes and portrayal of the war and

its value. War is measured honorable and glorious, women are possessions, and all-powerful

Gods interact with humanity.

There are a lot of comparisons with Arjuna as well. Arjuna is initially reluctant to fight

the war. Achilles is as well though the reason is different. Similarly, Arjuna laments for his son

Abhimanyu after the latter's death. Achilles does the same thing for Patroclus. In Iliad we have

direct intervention and influence of Gods...., e.g., in Trojan War, Gods and Goddesses like

Artemis, Apollo and Athena have amid-battleimpact on theoutcome as their favors warriors'

skills and success depend on their views. This is different from Indian Gods' they just wait and

observe everything from the above.

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