Week 7, Story: Monty Python

PDE Mahabharata: Riddles at the Lake by Donald A. Mackenzie

The Pandava brothers have been transformed into a new era, The Middle Ages. They are confused and wish to return home to their friends and loved ones. They are unsure about how they got there and how they will get home, but they are determined to find a way. They hear news of a Holy Grail that is hidden somewhere in England that will grant wishes to the person who possesses it. They had been warned though that this Holy Grail was difficult to find and that they would have to pass a series of tests to be able to capture it. The Pandava brothers agreed that they were up for the challenge, they would do anything to be able to get home. The brothers set out on their journey across the country in pursuit of this Holy Grail asking anyone who knew anything about it. They ran into a villager who was traveling through the country selling his goods that he had made.

“I have heard of this Holy Grail before and I might be able to help you brothers, but I am very poor and am trying to sell my things for money.” Says the villager.

“If we buy something from you, will you tell us where to find this Grail?” Asks Sahadeva.

“Yes, I will tell you where to go if you buy something from my collection.”

Arjuna gives 5 pounds to the villager and is handed a book about birds particularly swallows.
The villager then tells him about the Bridge of Death that they must cross to get to the Grail. The bridge is hidden within the mountains and is guarded by a bridge keeper.
“The bridge keeper will ask you all three questions, and if you answer them correctly you will pass safely.” Says the villager. After that the brothers began their long journey through the mountain range to seek out this bridge. It took many long days and cold nights. While the brothers took turns collecting food and setting up shelter Yudhishthira read the book they were given by the villager out of boredom and he thought it may keep his brain sharp and the long nights. One day 3 weeks into there journey through the mountains they could see in the distance a bridge will a keeper at the front and they rushed toward it.

The brothers stopped before they reached the front of the bridge.

“Who will go first?” Asked Yudhishthira “I will!” responded Nakula. However Nakula was unable to answer the three questions and vanished. Next was Sahadeva but he could not answer the questions and he too vanished. Arjuna then went but he too could not answer the questions and vanished. Yudhishthira was the last to approach the bridge keeper, the first question he was asked was “What is your name?” He answered it correctly. The next question was “What is your quest?” He answered it correctly. The third and final question was “What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?” And because he read the book the villager sold to him he responded with “What do you mean African or European Swallow?” The bridge keeper did not know how to respond and he too vanished. Yudhishthira was able to cross the bridge and find the Holy Grail. He demanded the Grail to take him and his brother who had vanished back to there home in India to reunite with their loved ones. The Grail did has he wished and they suddenly appeared home. 

Authors note: This story was adapted from the Riddles at the Lake and put in the the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In Monty Python and the Holy Grail a group of soldiers are looking for a holy grail. To find it they must cross a bridge guarded by a bridge keeper. The bridge keeper asks them 3 questions to pass the bridge and only two of them are able to cross. Two of the soldiers were thrown over the bridge for not passing the test.

                                     (The Holy Grail: Image from Wikimedia Commons)