NewMahabharata
The Great Epic of Ancient India
by VyasaEpic PoetryMythology
महाà¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤
Originally in Sanskrit400 BC
18 chapters10,201 pages185h read
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About This Book
Enter the vast world of the Mahabharata, the longest epic poem ever composed and one of the foundational texts of world literature. When the blind king Dhritarashtra's sons cheat the five Pandava brothers out of their kingdom in a rigged dice game, it sets in motion a thirteen-year exile and an unstoppable march toward war. At Kurukshetra, armies led by Arjuna, Bhishma, Drona, and Karna clash in an eighteen-day battle that reshapes the world — but not before Krishna delivers the immortal Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield. Spanning eighteen books from the birth of dynasties to the Pandavas' final ascent to heaven, the Mahabharata weaves together divine warriors, impossible vows, forbidden loves, and the eternal struggle between dharma and desire into the greatest story ever told.
Characters
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Vyasa
c. 4th century BCE
Vyasa, also known as Krishna Dvaipayana or Veda Vyasa, is the legendary sage traditionally credited with composing the Mahabharata, one of the two great Sanskrit epics of ancient India. According to tradition, he was born on an island in the Yamuna river and was the son of the sage Parashara and the fisherwoman Satyavati. Vyasa is also attributed with compiling and arranging the four Vedas into their current form, earning the title 'Veda Vyasa' or 'splitter of the Vedas.' He plays a unique dual role as both the author and a character within the Mahabharata, appearing at critical moments in the narrative.
Places and Terms in this Book
Pandava— Collective term for the sons of Pandu.
Gandiva— The celestial bow given to Arjuna by Varuna, renowned for its power.
Kaurava— Collective term for the sons of Dhritarashtra, the royal family of Hastinapura, including the Pandavas and Kauravas.
Yadavas— The clan of Krishna, based in Dwaraka, descended from Yadu and including the Vrishnis.
Panchala— A kingdom ruled by Drupada, father of Draupadi, and its people, allies of the Pandavas.
Rakshasa— A class of demons or man-eaters in Hindu mythology.
Vocabulary
Brahmana— The priestly class in the Hindu social order, responsible for rituals and learning.
Kshatriya— The warrior and ruler class in the traditional Hindu social order.
Dharma— Righteousness, duty, or the moral law governing individual conduct.
Suta— A caste of charioteers and bards, also refers to Karna's foster family.
Akshauhini— An ancient Indian military formation consisting of a specific number of chariots, elephants, cavalry, and infantry.
Atiratha— A warrior of the highest rank, capable of fighting many opponents simultaneously; a great chariot-warrior.