Mahabharata [Paperback] [Jan 01, 2010] C.Rajagopalachari

I started reading this because of what I heard on "Ancient Aliens". This book does not have much to do with that subject. It is like the Iliad with great moral teachings which illustrate why we cannot view morality in black and white, right or wrong. It has stimulated my interest in Hindu teaching - My next read is the Bhagavad Gita. As a Buddhist, I have gained insight into the origins of our teachings. As a former Christian, I have gained a greater perspective of what Jesus taught.

This is the second time I am reading this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Such an interesting event in the history of the world! Rajaji is one of my favorite authors and love his writing style.

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.

Gives a good gist of Mahabharat with all the main characters and events. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Mahabharata is of course a must read for every person. This is good version to start with before you plunge into "real" one like one by Gita Press with Sanskrit verses.

I do have other bridged/abridged versions but certainly enjoyed this at a high level if one does not wish to read the entire MahaBharata.

Right now, it seems to be holding my attention

The author has done justice to the original epic. The book is a condensed version of the grand narrative put into a series of chapters and is meant for teens. Rajgopalchari was a great statesman and his book reflects that.

This is a great translation and summary by the respected Rajaji, and an immense undertaking. However, if you are looking for the vimanas, detailed weaponed of astras and other amazing feats that beyond human capabilites, you may want to look else where or get the actual complete renditionnof the mhabarata. Great read none the less!

Rajaji's Mahabharata is one of the best introductions to this great Indian epic. The language is very easy to understand, making it perfect for beginners who are new to Indian scriptures or dharmic books. The storytelling is engaging and flows smoothly, keeping the reader interested from start to finish. Rajaji has simplified the complex original text without losing the essence of the stories or the deep moral lessons. Each character is brought to life in a way that’s relatable and thought-provoking. If you're looking to start reading dharmic literature or want to understand the values and culture of ancient India, this book is a great place to begin.

This is the best translation I have read..

The Mahabharata tells the story of the two main noble families of Pandavas and Kauravas. The Kauravas exiled the Pandava family by various means, to ensure that this family would gain access to the throne. Eventually the Kurukshetra war was engendered by the Kauravas to ensure they were the ones in power, however, they didn't win in the end. The story is too complex to describe more accurately, but it really happened a long time ago, and is well worth reading. There is still a place called Kurukshetra in the north west of India, proving its existence, and India used to be called Bharat.

重厚長大な（多分）叙事詩からPandava5兄弟と従妹のKaurava100兄弟との大戦争を中心にまとめてあります。難解な登場人物の名前や複雑に入り組んだ人間関係の把握に悩まされますがそれさえ克服すればストーリーはめちゃくちゃ面白いです。苦行でステータスを上げたり呪文や超強力な武器などが登場しどこかのTVゲームの世界に似ています。物欲、嫉妬、怒り、猜疑心、情欲、思いやり、勇気、正義、、色々な感情が織り込まれ数世代に亘って繰り広げられる個々のイベントが運命的な大戦争へと発展します。宗教的な意味合いはよく分かりませんが巧みに構成されたストーリーだと思います。 英語は難しくないのですがスキャンエラーが結構あります。これで★-1にしました。ヒンズー教の聖典なので誰か直してほしいです。

Lovely author also writes The Ramayana which was my introduction to C.Rajagopalachari.