Average customer rating:
- Flat and characterless narration
- The World's Oldest Poem
- In response to Rick's Question
- Excellent introduction to the epic. I have a question.
- Mahabharata I was looking for
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The Mahabharata
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
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ASIN: 0231110553 |
Book Description
Customer Reviews:
Flat and characterless narration.......2005-10-28
Although Narasimhan has done a proficient enough job in this translation - his English is certainly much better than most full length translations currently available -- it is nevertheless a rather dry version of the great epic. If you are new to the text this will be heavy going, IMO, and you will probably soon find yourself lost in the morass of characters and their complicated relationships. He has not done much to help the reader make sense of the whole thing, unlike some other introductory versions, such as that by Krishna Dharma. It is a page turner only in the sense that you will be constantly turning backwards to remind yourself what is going on. But three stars anyway, as it is after all a faithful version of this wonderful work.
The World's Oldest Poem.......2005-09-10
Narasimhan's translation has condensed India's most famous religious poem down to about one-tenth of its original length but from what I've seen in comparison with the larger work, the author has managed to do so and yet leave very little out.
This is a wandering, unhurried epic of unknown origins, whose impact on Indian society is immeasurable. It is sometimes compared to the later Homerian works of ancient Greece, but the importance of those pieces to westerners does not come close to matching the significance of this poem to Hindus.
The Mahabharata is many things: morality fable, history, inspirational tall tale, religious discourse, literary masterpiece and national epic. It tells of the lives of members of two feuding, inter-related families, whose fortunes rise and fall over the course of many years. In its verses, gods come to earth to speak with men, heroes and villains share center stage, and in the end the largest battle ever fought on the subcontient is waged. (60,000 war elephants along with several million other assorted troops.)
I personally found this poem dismaying to my western mind but also interesting. It does have long boring stretches, especially in the Krishna sermons (in which the great battle is suspended so the blue-skinned warrior-god may speak to a single man) but its soap opera-like tales of the wavering fortunes of the characters at its heart should be sufficiently vibrant to hold the interest of dedicated readers.
In response to Rick's Question.......2005-07-26
Relationships in Indian Culture are somewhat different than in Western Culture...First Cousins are often times regarded as brothers and sisters. Similarly, Yudhistra looked to his own grandfather's half brother (Bishma), as his own grandfather.
Excellent introduction to the epic. I have a question........2003-03-31
From page 193: "Bhisma...addressing his grandson in a sweet voice..." After all the fuss about Bhisma being celebate, where did this grandson come from? If you know the answer, please let me know.
The translation is very easy to read, but you should watch the DVD first -- it helps greatly in keeping the characters straight. And you will want a separate edition of the Gita, which is here condensed into just a couple of pages!
Rick Norwood
Mahabharata I was looking for.......2002-04-11
Reading any abridgement gives me a bad feeling of missing something important, but this book deserves five stars:
- It is written in simple English, without archaic words, so I was able to read it without using my dictionary too much. It means much to me, English not being either my mother or second, but learned language.
- Every Sanskrit word is written using diacritics, so that you know how to pronounce names and places. I like to know that Pandu's brother is DhritaraSHtra and not DhritaraStra.
- All the ninety-nine chapters are self-contained, each forming a logical unit, so you can read one chapter at a time.
- It has very useful genealogical tables, glossary and list of alternative names.
Like the Mahabharata by Rajagopalachari this is a very good book for introduction to this great epic.
Book Description
What is found in this epic may be elsewhere;
What is not in this epic is nowhere else.
—from The Mahabharata
The second longest poem in world literature, The Mahabharata is an epic tale, replete with legends, romances, theology, and metaphysical doctrine written in Sanskrit. One of the foundational elements in Hindu culture, this great work consists of nearly 75,000 stanzas in eighteen books, and this volume marks the much anticipated resumption of its first complete modern English translation. With the first three volumes, the late J. A. B. van Buitenen had taken his translation up to the threshold of the great war that is central to the epic. Now James Fitzgerald resumes this work with translations of the books that chronicle the wars aftermath: The Book of Women and part one of The Book of Peace. These books constitute volume 7 of the projected ten-volume edition. Volumes 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 of the series will be published over the next several years.
In his introductions to these books, Fitzgerald examines the rhetoric of The Mahabharatas representations of the wars aftermath. Indeed, the theme of The Book of Women is the grief of the women left by warriors slain in battle. The book details the keening of palace ladies as they see their dead husbands and sons, and it culminates in a mass cremation where the womens tears turn into soothing libations that help wash the deaths away. Fitzgerald shows that the portrayal of the womens grief is much more than a sympathetic portrait of the sufferings of war. The scenes of mourning in The Book of Women lead into a crisis of conscience that is central to The Book of Peace and, Fitzgerald argues, the entire Mahabharata. In this book, the man who has won power in the great war is torn between his own sense of guilt and remorse and the obligation to rule which ultimately he is persuaded to embrace.
The Mahabharata is a powerful work that has inspired awe and wonder for centuries. With a penetrating glimpse into the trauma of war, this volume offers two of its most timely and unforgettable chapters.
Customer Reviews:
Heroic Continuation of The Mahabharata.......2007-03-18
The translator of this book and author of it's copious notes, introductions and vast amounts of other ancillary material, has done a great service to this series.
I put off buying this one after reading the first three volumes. I didn't understand why they continued the series out-of-sequence. I later learned the complex reasons why things came about this way, but will not go into it here. However, after I did finally give in and buy this volume, I was glad I did.
On the one-hand, Fitzgerald overdoes it with the supplementary material. (Being a bit of an OCD case myself, I had to read it all anyway.) And the volume is a bit over-intellectualized. (As if the first translator Van Buitenen wasn't intellectualized enough?)
In spite of the aforementioned difficulties, Fitzgerald really saves the series by doing a fantastically thorough job, if not overly-qualified, of putting the book in context, showing how it fits in to the as-yet-untranslated volumes. He sets the whole thing up so that one feels one really is continuing along without missing a beat, so to speak.
Also, he is the one doing volume 8, (he's overseeing staffs who will translate the others in due time). But Volume 8 will finish off the Book of the Peace, which is the most monstrously long of all the books of the MBH. In this way, he's ensuring the project really gets done eventually. And volume 8 is supposed to be not-to-long in the offering. By the time one reads both 7 and the upcoming 8, the other books should one-by-one, find their way to the press.
So Fitzgerald has really done the heavy lifting of taking over from where the late Van Buitenen left off. And he has done the heavy lifting by doing the hardest work himself. His effort should restore the faith of any former follower of this massive project who was confused when the thing stopped at the third volume.
Book Description
A powerful and moving tale, the Mahabharata recounts the history of the five heroic Pandava brothers. Cheated of their kingdom and sent into exile they set off on a fascinating journey.Profound spiritual themes underlie the thrilling narrative, making it one of the world'ss most revered texts. Culminating in an apocalyptic war, Mahabharata is a masterpiece of suspense, intrigue, and illuminating wisdom.
Customer Reviews:
Faithful and fascinating rendering.......2006-05-08
The Mahabharata says of itself, "What is not found here in the realms of religion, economic development, pleasure and liberation, will not be found anywhere else, and what is found anywhere else in these realms will also be found here." The original text contains a hundred thousand Sanskrit verses (although it is also said that in higher planets the text consists of a million verses), so there is certainly enough scope for this statement to be true. And having read the original several times I for one would not want to argue. The wealth of both material and spiritual wisdom found in the Mahabharata is phenomenal, truly mind-blowing to use the modern vernacular, and what is most wonderful is that it is presented in such a palatable way, through the medium of so many fascinating tales. We hear of kings and sages, of gods, demigods, nymphs and angels, and of heroes dedicated to the path of holy virtue. As we read we feel uplifted and edified, transported to some amazing ancient world where life had a purpose, where everyone understood that we are eternal spiritual beings, and that all of us are on a journey that ultimately ends in liberation, in freedom from the cycle of birth and death and all its concomitant suffering.
It would take a brave man therefore to attempt to contain all this in a single book, and Krishna Dharma is to be commended for his effort. His main aim has plainly been to convey the spirituality of the text, but he has not done so at the expense of the critical elements of the story. The narrative flows smoothly and entertainingly. Dharma's turn of phrase is stirring, elevated and often wryly humorous, which is quite in keeping with the original. Indeed, he has adhered closely to the original, as far as I can see, very much keeping the voice of the sage Vyasa - the book's original author - resounding throughout the pages. I believe this was a major concern of his, and in fact he is a disciple in a spiritual line that descends from Vyasa himself, so it is hardly surprising.
Although Dharma has used a writing style somewhat similar to a modern novelist, it has to be remembered that the Mahabharata cannot be compared to a contemporary novel. It is not a book of suspense that aims to titillate and keep us on the edge of our seats until some dramatic climax occurs. Rather it seeks to present profound spiritual truths and worldly wisdom, couched in various stories that are all woven around one central narrative. There is therefore a certain amount of repetition and Dharma has often abbreviated lengthy and repetitive sections of the original to make it more readable, but without losing the essential points. His treatment of the Bhagavad-gita is a good example. This forms one chapter of the work and consists of seven hundred philosophical verses in the original. Dharma has expertly condensed it into a fascinating narration, managing at the same time to present the core messages in an easily assimilable way.
One thing I particularly liked about this version was the way that Dharma gives insights into the inner life of the characters, which is rarely found in the original text. This is a real strength of the book, in my view. He brings the characters to life in a dramatic fashion that keeps the interest of his reader as well as any fast paced novel might do. Like one of the professional reviewers cited here, I also found that I could hardly "tear my mind away." But more than that I found myself moved on a deep spiritual level, inspired to embark on the inner journey that the Mahabharata so vividly portrays through the pastimes of Krishna and his pure followers, the Pandavas, who are the book's main characters. At the end of the day, this was the intention of Vyasa, so I would say that Dharma has succeeded in this endeavour. Certainly the best modern rendition that I have read. Highly recommended.
A good read for those who are unfamiliar with the story..........2006-04-30
But I'd say that if you already know about the Mahabharat, then this version won't do much for you. Here's what I enjoyed about Krishna Dharma's version:
It is very descriptive. He obviously enjoyed writing this piece of work. There's even a family tree in one of the appendices. The vastness of this version is largely attributed to the detailed descriptions he uses for battles. These parts are written well.
But the flaws:
He is constantly telling the reader that Krishna is God. Constantly. K. Dharma must have thought his readers had short term memory loss after every page.
He strips away the political aspects. Instead of showing a family grappling for power, he makes this is a good vs. evil story. And that is the point of view of ISKCON, I believe. So that makes sense. But it makes the entire story boring. He doesn't delve into the Kauravas motives, or Bhisma's conflicted state, or Vidur's pain of seeing his country torn. By making it good vs. evil, a lot of character development is killed. This makes the story bland.
Seriously, the best Mahabharat I've seen is the B.R. Chopra DVD set. The acting is ok, but the script is phenomenal. Characters are richly developed, and you can completely connect with each character's point of view, even the villains.
Don't buy this, borrow it. I'm still searching for a better literary version of the Mahabharat.
Krishna Biased rendering.......2006-02-13
Although this book is indeed a great read, I think it should be fully warned that this book is written by a Krishna Priest, and therefore far more Krishna oriented than e.g the beautiful rendering by William Buck and the great full translation began by Van Buitenen. I too believe that Krishna is a reincarnation of God, but I'm afraid the story doesn't get better by augmenting this point at every possibility.
NOT AVAILABLE.......2005-08-24
August 23, 2005 -- gave up waiting for Amazon to ship this book
Great Epic, good book in simplified language.......2005-01-05
I remember the first time I read the story of Mahabharata. I was 11 yrs old, and was never able to forget it, such is the story of this great epic. Then came the story of Mahabharata on TV from B.R. Chopra to refresh the memmory and further creating an everlasting impression.
It was long time now for me and I thought I forgot this epic story so got hold of 16 DVD set of Mahabharata by B.R.Chopra, and I was very intrigued by some of the facts or lets say short stories rather. I thought it is high time to verify what does original mahabharata says. I went on and found the actual 1,00,000 lines poem but alas it was in Sanskrit, I can read sanskrit but its too long to follow up. I searched for a good book which shud be written directly from the this sanskrit poem and my search ended with this bbok.
The book is written nicely, there are lot of stories that were presented pretty well here. I read it to gain more knowledge on the subject and was very satisfying to know more abt stories like Killing of Anuj Keechaks, Arjuna killed by his son, Story of Ullupi, 10 names of Arjun, Narayana Astra etc etc
Giving 4 stars because I also wanted to know more abt the Third Dice Game which is missed out everywhere. I have read it in some specific research book but dont know why it is always missed out.
Book Description
The Mahabharata, an ancient and vast Sanskrit poem, is a remarkable collection of epics, legends, romances, theology, and ethical and metaphysical doctrine. The core of this great work is the epic struggle between five heroic brothers, the Pandavas, and their one hundred contentious cousins for rule of the land. This is the second volume of van Buitenen's acclaimed translation of the definitive Poona edition of the text. Book two, The Book of the Assembly Hall, is an epic dramatization of the Vedic ritual of consecration that is central to the book. Book three, The Book of the Forest, traces the further episodes of the heroes during their years in exile. Also included are the famous story of Nala, dealing with the theme of love in separation, and the story of Rama, the subject of the other great Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana, as well as other colorful tales.
Customer Reviews:
The tragedy.......2003-08-21
The tragedy of J.A. B. van Buitenen's most excellent translation is his passing in 1979 that prevented the translation from being completed. Therefore, I warn those who read the first 2200 pages (the first three volumes) that they will have to seek out another translation (such as that by P.Lal, which, in my opinion is not of the caliber of van Buitenen's) if they wish to complete the epic tale. The only complete translation in English of The Mahabharata that I know of is that of Kisari Mohan Ganguli, published by the New Delhi publishing house Munshiram Manoharlal.
An interesting note is that James L. Fitzgerald has continued with van Buitenen's translation, although he began with Vol. 7 (van Buitenen completed the first three volumes) rather than the next volume, 4, and anticipates it will be a 10 volume set. My guess is Fitzgerald began with the most interesting volumes so if he died without completing the project someone else would have to pick up the less interesting parts!
Excellent Scholarly Edition.......2003-02-17
This book is the best scholarly, annotated English edition of the Great Indian epic. It is definitely not for beginners though. If you are already familiar with the story, and would like to know more about the historical bakcground, I highly recommend this. Of course, like most heavily annotated books of ancient scripture, this can't be read like a novel.
Very dense.......2000-12-28
I have read many many translations of the Mahabharata. This was the first one that I could not make it through. The translation was so dense and wordy. I ended up giving it to my mom who had a much higher understanding of the Mahabharata, and was able to read through it and enjoy it. Let's just say I would not purchase this as an intro book to the Mahabharata.
Product Description
About the book:Centuries ago, it was proclaimed of the Mahabharata: "What is not in it, is nowhere." But even now, we can use the same words about it. He who knows it not, knows not the heights and depths of the soul; he misses the trials and tragedy and the beauty and grandeur of life. More details: The Mahabharata is not a mere epic; it is a romance, telling the tale of heroic men and women, and of some who were divine; it is a whole literature in itself, containing a code of life, a philosophy of social and ethical relations, and speculative thought on human problems that is hard to rival; but, above all, it has for its core the Gita,which is, as the world is beginning to find out, the noblest of scriptures and the grandest of sagas in which the climax is reached in the wondrous apocalypse in the Eleventh Canto. The book's popularity is such taht it has run into forty two reprints.
Customer Reviews:
AN INSUBSTANTIAL ACCOUNT.......2007-01-07
If all you want is a brief summery of the great epic, then this one will make do. But you will not have any idea of the depth, sweep, and glory of this awesome epic. Nor will you ever really get to know the amazing characters, since their thinking processes are hardly ever revealed--we just watch them act. And the action, especially the war, is quite synoptic, greatly omitting important reasons and details.
But worst of all is the author's repeated interruptions of the story with his pontificating and sermonizing, trying show that he really understands the story. I have read other Mahabharata accounts (with commentaries) which lead me to the conclusion that this author had little, and often an incorrect, understanding of Krishna (The Supreme Lord playing the role of a warrior), and his great devotees (demigods playing the roles of warriors).
In some places, the author had the audacity to sit in judgement on the Lord's (Krishna's) instructions, often implying, by his false mundane standard, that they are immoral or unethical. If you read Krishna Dharma's Mahabharata (over 900 pages, not much higher in price, and a million times better), you will come to realize how shallow and irreverent Rajagopalacari's froth-filled commentaries actually are.
Mr. Rajagopalachari was a politician by profession, not a holy man, so it is not surprising that he tried very hard to appear like the sage that he wasn't. His book appears very much like a body without blood--lifeless! You never really get to bond with the characters in them, for they remain distant and elusive.
Unhampered by stilted translation, low production values.......2003-10-24
This book was laid out, edited, and proofed rather poorly--it is rife with typographical errors, and its glossary is rather hit-or-miss. In addition, Rajagopalachari's translation is stilted, full of phrases that were unidiomatic even when this volume was first released in the 1950's. With its repetitions, odd constructions, and the like, it reads almost as an initial draft.
The translation is definitely not a great work of literature in its own right. However, the Mahabharata assuredly is; and Rajagopalachari's translation, though strange, does not dampen its impact as much as one might expect. He does manage to get across to the reader its essentials and, as others have said, its humor and poignancy. Be forewarned that the battle scenes at Kurukshetra do suffer somewhat. Though Rajagopalachari says he will not skip over the battle, long as it is, it seems he can't help himself; the fighting is described, but only factually, and in a very condensed style. That which must have taken hours on the battlefield is often compressed into a few sentences, and the narrative continuously jumps from scene to scene. In short, there is little sense of being present in the midst of the death and destruction. In addition, Rajagopalachari's editorializing is interesting but does make the chapters seem a bit like school lessons at times. This, however, should be no surprise, considering that this Mahabharata was the first publication of Bhavan's Book University.
When all is said and done, this is not a perfect translation, but it is eminently serviceable and has a charm all its own. I might suggest picking up both this and another translation, as the Mahabharata is so rich and detailed (and long!) that what one version lacks another stands a good chance of having.
A wonderfully readable selection........2001-03-18
I'm familiar with four translations of the Mahabharata - those of C. Rajagopalachari, K. M. Ganguli, K. Subramaniam and J.A.B. van Buitenen. The first of these, that of C. Rajagopalachari (1951), contains, in its 326 pages (in my edition), a selection of over one hundred of the more interesting stories and episodes from the Mahabharata with interspersed comment.
Rajagopalachari's translation is a joy to read. The quality of his English style is on a par with that of the finest English writers, and his vivid and dynamic versions of these stories capture much of their humor and poignancy, and have a real vigor, sparkle, and human interest. Anyone approaching the Mahabharata for the first time could do worse than start with this wonderfully readable selection.
Modern Lessons in an ancient tale........1999-06-15
Interspersed entirely through this excellent transalation of the epic are overt lessons in modern politics, group dynamics and diplomacy by the great master Rajaji himself; but he out does himself in elucidating the subtle homilies that make this epic so great.
MUST READ IF you want to understand this great epic.......1998-12-29
This is the best book about Mahabharata that I have ever read. Rajaji gives a thrilling account of this classic. I cannot recommend it enough!!
Book Description
Few works in world literature have inspired so vast an audience, in nations with radically different languages and cultures, as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, two Sanskrit verse epics written some 2,000 years ago.
In Ramayana (written by a poet known to us as Valmiki), William Buck has retold the story of Prince Rama--with all its nobility of spirit, courtly intrigue, heroic renunciation, fierce battles, and triumph of good over evil--in a length and manner that will make the great Indian epics accessible to the contemporary reader.
The same is true for the Mahabharata--in its original Sanskrit, probably the longest Indian epic ever composed. It is the story of a dynastic struggle, between the Kurus and Pandavas, for land. In his introduction, Sanskritist B. A. van Nooten notes, "Apart from William Buck's rendition [no other English version has] been able to capture the blend of religion and martial spirit that pervades the original epic."
Presented accessibly for the general reader without compromising the spirit and lyricism of the originals, William Buck's Ramayana and Mahabharata capture the essence of the Indian cultural heritage.
Customer Reviews:
Buck's Mahabharata.......2007-07-15
The Mahabharata is the world's longest epic, but this version is short and sweet. Like Buck's Ramayana, it conveys the essence and spiritual energy of the original, in this case without having to read all 18 volumes. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed C. Rajagopalachari's version but vastly prefer Buck's and have recommended these to many people over the years who have been delighted with it.
Not the best version of Mahabharata to read.......2006-11-10
I would strongly recommend you to get "The Mahabharata" retold by C.Rajagopalachari. This is the best version of the Mahabhatata you can ever read!!! Please do not buy the version by William buck...
For Flavor and Sense, A Fine Introduction.......2006-06-10
I am pleased to see so many reviews of this book. I have read it several times, most recently a week ago, and though I now like it less than I first did, the first encounter was delight, and I still enjoy the warmth and energy of Buck's version. He is validated by centuries of prior writers adapting the MAHABHARATA for their audiences.
I, too, am sorry that Buck decided to make some of the changes and omissions he did, but as others have pointed out this volume is a fine way to sample the taste and sensibilities of Sanskrit literature, including its humor.
Buck was pretty good at inserting translations of key phrases, suggesting the use of aphorism throughout the epic, and he provided plenty of clues to the complexity of original. Most important, he kept the story moving along. (His RAMAYANA is an even better example of his rendering of Sanskrit epic into English story.) Like others, I would recommend this MAHABHARATA in preference to the R. K. Narayan version from Penguin, which is much more drastically condensed.
The Clay Sanskrit Library is now issuing new translations, real translations, of the MAHABHARATA in parts. I'd recommend "The Forest" for anyone seeking to get a better sense of how extensive the subplots and interspersed stories are.
William Buck's version of the Mahabharata.......2006-03-30
I looked at excerpts from various retellings of the Mahabharata story before purchasing Buck's version and that of R. K. Narayan. The latter gives an adequate, well-told resumé of the story. In addition, it includes a genealogical table and a pronouncing dictionary of principal characters. But Buck's version is more complete and -- especially -- more enthralling. I can't speak for the original, but Buck's version possesses the magic of old tales retold. After all, the Mahabharata was originally passed down orally. Buck's version captures all the spontaneity of such a tradion, as well as the thrill of the story and the poetry of the narration. A great story, well told.
A Mine of Jewels and Gems.......2005-02-01
Vyasa's Mahabharata is a massive epic that has no equal in Western literature. The central story of the Mahabharata revolves around five brothers (the Pandavas) who were disinherited of their kingdom through the treachery of their cousins (the Kurus) and their struggle to regain what is rightfully theirs. The epic culminates in the apocalyptic Battle of Kurukshetra, engineered by the Gods to wipe out the warrior race. Tagged to this central plot is a veritable mine of jewels and gems - a whole library of ancient Hindu folktales, myths and legends that serve to illuminate the ancient Hindu concept of dharma and adharma (which can be translated very loosely as "right/truth" and "wrong/falsehood"). William Buck's retelling of the Mahabharata is the second version that I've read in two months - the other being C. Rajagopalachari's version. While I enjoyed Rajagopalachari's version immensely, I felt that something was missing. As with most other Indian writers who retell the great Indian epics for English speaking audiences, Rajagopalachari successfully evokes a deep sense of piety - these epics are, after all, sacred scriptures to the Hindus - but he fails to measure up in terms of evoking the sheer sense of awe and wonder that Vyasa clearly intended his epic to convey. This Buck manages to do in spades - his version is told simply but clearly, with very little of the sermonising that Indian authors are sometimes prone to overdo, thus successfully transporting the reader to a wondrous time when Gods still walked the earth with men. My sole complaint is that Buck sometimes randomly changes events/protagonists for no apparent reason - as others here have already noted, Buck has (i) Draupadi volunteering to become the shared wife of the Pandavas rather than this being the unintended result of their mother Kunti's edict to share the treasure that they brought home that day, (ii) Arjuna marrying Princess Uttarah instead of his son Abhimanyu, (iii) Krishna killing Duhsasana before the war instead of Bhima during the war, and (iv) Prince Uttara breaking the Kurus' battle formation instead of Abhimanyu. Even Yudhishtira's final trial before his entry into heaven is presented by Buck only as a dream. I can only give Buck four stars instead of five due to these unnecessary changes. Such faults aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you have never read the Mahabharata before, I would suggest starting with Buck's version. It will get you hooked onto this wonderful epic and make you hungry for more - then go on and pick up Krishna Dharma's unabridged version for a more accurate retelling. Buck very unfortunately died before he could finish his retelling of the Harivamsa, a companion piece to the Mahabharata that fleshes out the life story of Krishna, along with that of Vishnu's other avatars.
Book Description
The Mahabharata is the more recent of India's two great epics, and by far the longer. First composed by the Maharishi Vyasa in verse, it has come down the centuries in the timeless oral tradition of guru and sishya, profoundly influencing the history, culture, and art of not only the Indian subcontinent but most of south-east Asia. At 100,000 couplets, it is seven times as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey combined: far and away the greatest recorded epic known to man. The Mahabharata is the very Book of Life: in its variety, majesty and, also, in its violence and tragedy. It has been said that nothing exists that cannot be found within the pages of this awesome legend. The epic describes a great war of some 5000 years ago, and the events that led to it. The war on Kurukshetra sees ten million warriors slain, brings the dwapara yuga to an end, and ushers in a new and sinister age: this present kali yuga, modern times. At the heart of the Mahabharata nestles the Bhagavad Gita, the Song of God. Senayor ubhayor madhye, between two teeming armies, Krishna expounds the eternal dharma to his warrior of light, Arjuna. At one level, all the restless action of the Mahabharata is a quest for the Gita and its sacred stillness. After the carnage, it is the Gita that survives, immortal lotus floating upon the dark waters of desolation: the final secret! With its magnificent cast of characters, human, demonic, and divine, and its riveting narrative, the Mahabharata continues to enchant readers and scholars the world over. This new rendering brings the epic to the contemporary reader in sparkling modern prose. It brings alive all the excitement, magic, and grandeur of the original - for our times.
Customer Reviews:
Great Introduction.......2007-06-08
This is an abridgement of the great classic. The author seems to be focussing on the central story, and cuts out huge quantities of tangential material which would bog down that story. The result is a book which is as readable and enjoyable as Lord of the Rings, a real pleasure. If you feel inspired to study The Mahabharata in greater depth after reading it, great, but it stands on its own as a great read, well worth the investment of time.
Customer Reviews:
Princess.......2003-12-10
I loved this book because it was anti-thetical to western notions of women as the one's that need to be saved(Think Disney). The woman engages in a journey to find love rather than experience an instantaneous 'aha-I see you and I love you" scenario. My 4-year-old daughter loves the pictures and the heroic story too!
Discover this hidden treasure! (Best for ages 4-10).......1999-07-09
At the risk of sounding politically correct, I must say it's rare to find a children's story in which the lead woman isn't either wicked beyond all reason or totally incompetent; look to Disney for proof.
Then there's Savitri. Although she comes from money, she judges others by their character rather than social status (something notably rare in India today). This quality is illustrated when she selects a mate. The author interprets this folktale by showing respect for India's cultural tradition of arranged marriage while also supporting a woman's right to choose. These two apparently opposing methods of mate-selection are "married" as Savitri herself has her father arrange to meet the man she has selected -- how delightful!
When faced with the life of her husband in jeopardy, Savitri reveals amazing personal character. She faces India's grim reaper with tremendous courage, unwavering determination and sincere devotion. And in doing so, she thinks first of others (her step-father's happiness) before thinking of herself.
Overall, the story is told in a clear manner, with interesting names (parents may need to assist with pronunciation) and beats Dr. Suess hands-down. The pictures are exquisitely done.
Savitri is a wonderful treat for any boy or girl (age 4 to 10) although, I must confess, I enjoyed it too (and I'm a bit older).
The author has other books based on stories from other cultures. Search for 'a tale of ancient india' on AltaVista's Advanced Search for links to a full text of the book as well as the author's website.
Enjoy Savitri! scottie
Book Description
Growing from an oral tradition of ballads based on historic events in India, the Mahabharata was passed down and extended through the centuries, becoming the longest poem ever written. R. K. Narayan provides a superb rendition in an abbreviated and elegant retelling of this great epic.
Customer Reviews:
Don't buy it! It's all in Sanskrit! No, I'm just kidding........2007-09-23
This is actually in English and is a pretty good book. I mean, these old epics tend to get wordy and lose the story, because the writers at the time had no knowledge of storytelling but just wanted to impart rules and ideas to the people who read the book. The author cuts a lot of that out, meaning it's shortened down into a very readable piece.
disappointing.......2006-02-22
i love r.k.narayan's narrative, but the way he retold the great epic is disappointing. he relies on the power of his narrative and forgets to stick to the epic style. the book captures most of the ideas, but it disregards the beautiful and magical details that embellish the epic, just like they embellish the culture it belongs to. the retold mahabharata may be a good read for those who want to have an idea of the epic, but then the idea can be obtained from the internet and for free.
Useful as first introduction only.......2001-01-21
This book is only useful for those who want a very basic introduction to the Mahabharata, and only want to invest a minimum of time doing so. This book will give the reader the basic outline of the Plot, but does not dwelve into the many important Philosophical portions of the Epic, and the "outside stories". The book is well written. I like the style of R.K. Narayan. As an introduction this book is much better than that of Buck, not only because Narayan is a better writer, but because he had a better knowledge of the Epic, Hinduism and Sanskrit Literature.
If you must get an introduction, I recommend the one by C.V. Narasimhan, which based on selected verses, and brings the reader much closer to the Mahabharata.
Good book for new readers.......2000-12-21
This is a good book for those who do not know Mahabharat story. The reason it is good for the beginners is that it is concise and flows through the subject quickly. So it would be a good book for new readers who can quickly get a sort of overview of Mahabharat.
If you already know Mahabharat plot and story, try and get a little advanced book.
A Great Epic.......2000-11-11
This shortened prose version of the Mahabarata by R. K. Narayan presents the engaging adventure of the five Pandava brothers' efforts to reclaim their empire. The story itself has nearly everything anyone could want in a good book: edge of your seat action and edge of your mind inspiration. In addition to celebrating the Pandavas' super-human strength and feats of daring, the book also catalogs many types of human relationships: mother-child, sybling-sybling, husband(s)-wife, king-courtier, mentor-apprentice, even writer-reader..... Long after you finish reading this book, you'll be realizing why Hindus recognize it as one of their two most sacred books---it's got everything! And yet it rarely stoops to the level of being preachy. (Narayan also has a shortened prose version of the other sacred Hindu book---The Ramayana.)
Book Description
The Mahabharata, an ancient and vast Sanskrit poem, is a remarkable collection of epics, legends, romances, theology, and ethical and metaphysical doctrine. The core of this great work is the epic struggle between five heroic brothers, the Pandavas, and their one hundred contentious cousins for rule of the land. This is the third volume of van Buitenen's acclaimed translation of the definitive Poona edition of the text. Book 4, The Book of Virata, begins as a burlesque, but the mood soon darkens amid molestation, raids, and Arjuna's battle with the principal heroes of the enemy. Book 5, The Book of the Effort, relates the attempts of the Pandavas to negotiate the return of their patrimony. They are refused so much as a "pinprick of land," and both parties finally march to battle.
Customer Reviews:
the tragedy.......2007-01-17
The tragedy of J.A. B. van Buitenen's most excellent translation is his passing in 1979 that prevented the translation from being completed. Therefore, I warn those who read the first 2200 pages (the first three volumes) that they will have to seek out another translation (such as that by P.Lal, which, in my opinion is not of the caliber of van Buitenen's) if they wish to complete the epic tale. The only complete translation in English of The Mahabharata that I know of is that of Kisari Mohan Ganguli, published by the New Delhi publishing house Munshiram Manoharlal.
An interesting note is that James L. Fitzgerald has continued with van Buitenen's translation, although he began with Vol. 7 (van Buitenen completed the first three volumes) rather than the next volume, 4, and anticipates it will be a 10 volume set. My guess is Fitzgerald began with the most interesting volumes so if he died without completing the project someone else would have to pick up the less interesting parts.
Books:
- The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare (Modern Library Classics)
- The Mayor of Casterbridge (Modern Library Classics)
- The Metamorphosis (Norton Critical Editions)
- The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Novels (A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Valley of Fear)
- The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Novels (A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Valley of Fear)
- The New York Stories of Henry James (New York Review Books Classics)
- The School For Scandal (Classic Books on Cassettes Collection)
- The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You (2 Volume Set)
- The Turn of the Screw and The Aspern Papers (Penguin Classics)
- The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1)
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