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The Mahabharata

By Vyasa
Penguin Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Mahabharata is an epic narrative from ancient India that explores themes of duty, justice, and the complexities of life. It follows the conflict between two royal families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, culminating in a great war. The story delves into philosophical and moral dilemmas, offering profound insights into human nature and spirituality.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This epic may appeal to you if you enjoy rich storytelling with complex characters and themes of duty, morality, and the struggle between good and evil. It offers a deep dive into ancient Indian culture and spirituality, providing profound philosophical insights and timeless lessons. Its interwoven tales and historical depth create a captivating narrative that has influenced literature and philosophy for centuries.

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Presents one of the major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. This book offers a discussion of human goals (artha or purpose, kama or pleasure, dharma or duty, and moksha or liberation). It explains the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'Self') and the workings of karma.

This selection by John D. Smith includes an introduction on the nature and fundamental themes of the Mahabharata, the events of story and the massive cast of characters appearing in it, and its importance to India and Hinduism.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

New selection and translation of the great epic story of ancient India, revealing a mythic world of bloody conflict, magic and beauty.

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It holds immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent and is a major text of Hinduism. Its discussion of human goalsβ€”artha or 'purpose', kama or 'pleasure', dharma or 'duty', and moksha or 'liberation'β€”takes place within a long-standing tradition, attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world, the nature of the 'Self', and the workings of karma.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140446814

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 May 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by John D. Smith
  • Edited by J D Smith

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 42.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 621g

Pages: 912

Collections

Hinduism Non-Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: Religion & Spirituality Religion & Spirituality Vyasa

About the Author

John D. Smith was born in Nottingham in 1946. He attended Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read Sanskrit and Hindi. In the early 1970s he held a research fellowship at Christ's College, Cambridge; this was followed by nine years as lecturer in Sanskrit at the School of Oriental and African Studies in the University of London. In 1984 he returned to Cambridge, where he is now emeritus Reader of Sanskrit. He has worked on both Sanskrit and modern Rajasthani, and his publications include The Visa?adevarasa- a restoration of the text (Cambridge, 1976) and The epic of Pabuji- a study, transcription and translation (Cambridge, 1991).

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