I am starting this blog to essay my reading of the Mahabharata. I am reading a Penguin classics abridged translation of the book written by John D. Smith. I would try to present a rational interpretation of the events and characters in the book without having any prejudices or having any judgements and some humour thrown in.
Rather than being my review of the book this is a blog for discovery of inner self and understand how the society has shaped me. This book may be a inaccurate translation of the Mahabharata but I am in the belief that this book is a unbiased translation of the epic and I do not have the energy or the skill to read and interpret the unabridged text in Hindi or Sanskrit.
Why read Mahabharata?
I have been raised at a Hindu home and have always believed the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita to be the answers to all dilemma materialistic or spiritual. Whether I agree or not I do not the have free will but I am bounded by the limitations of my thought that have been propagated by our society. I have always regarded Mahabharata to be a entertaining story but now its time to realize the spiritual context if it in there.
Why blog about it?
Firstly I decided to only read the book and discuss it with my parents and interpret how it really affect me. But now after I realized that sometimes just reading a book does not ingrain you with the message of the book. Blogging would not only encourage me to read the book with constant dedication but also analyze my ingrain thoughts. I was enlightened to this after my incomplete interpretation of the book Life of pi by Yann Martel. I understand that the Mahabharata is much more complex book than the life of pi but one has to start somewhere.
The book starts with a basic introduction of the style of writing of the Mahabharata and introduction to the titular characters of the book. The Mahabharata is a collection of stories and chapters compiled over 800 years (400bc to 400ad) so does not have a single writing style. It has no standard version and can be published in versions having 24000 shlokas to 100000 shlokas. It has been divided into 18 books and can be naturally be divided into three sections the pre-war events (books 1-6), the war and night-time massacre that follows it(books 6-10) and the wars aftermath.
I may not be able to provide a clear narrative to the story due to lack or understanding or language but bear with me through the book.
And please feel free to comment.
Rather than being my review of the book this is a blog for discovery of inner self and understand how the society has shaped me. This book may be a inaccurate translation of the Mahabharata but I am in the belief that this book is a unbiased translation of the epic and I do not have the energy or the skill to read and interpret the unabridged text in Hindi or Sanskrit.
Why read Mahabharata?
I have been raised at a Hindu home and have always believed the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita to be the answers to all dilemma materialistic or spiritual. Whether I agree or not I do not the have free will but I am bounded by the limitations of my thought that have been propagated by our society. I have always regarded Mahabharata to be a entertaining story but now its time to realize the spiritual context if it in there.
Why blog about it?
Firstly I decided to only read the book and discuss it with my parents and interpret how it really affect me. But now after I realized that sometimes just reading a book does not ingrain you with the message of the book. Blogging would not only encourage me to read the book with constant dedication but also analyze my ingrain thoughts. I was enlightened to this after my incomplete interpretation of the book Life of pi by Yann Martel. I understand that the Mahabharata is much more complex book than the life of pi but one has to start somewhere.
The book starts with a basic introduction of the style of writing of the Mahabharata and introduction to the titular characters of the book. The Mahabharata is a collection of stories and chapters compiled over 800 years (400bc to 400ad) so does not have a single writing style. It has no standard version and can be published in versions having 24000 shlokas to 100000 shlokas. It has been divided into 18 books and can be naturally be divided into three sections the pre-war events (books 1-6), the war and night-time massacre that follows it(books 6-10) and the wars aftermath.
I may not be able to provide a clear narrative to the story due to lack or understanding or language but bear with me through the book.
And please feel free to comment.
Hello Pratyush,
ReplyDeleteMahabharata is one of my favorite stories too and look forward to starting another journey. And if the introduction is anything to go by, sure to be an interesting journey. Well done!
Cheers
Mohua