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Mahabarata
171 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
45 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 21, 2013
Have you ever heard the proverb : don't judge a book by its cover? For me it can be applied to this book! It might sound too old for people around my age, but it's not really! First time i read this book was at my junior high school as my teacher asked us all to read and review this novel. And you can imagined how bad we grumbled as we thought that this book is really appropriate only for a single old lady with cats. lot of cats.
but soon as i sank my tooth to this quite historical novel, i can't complain more. it contains so many life-lessons, which one of my personal opinion of a good literature.
so yeah i look forward to read this novel again as soon as i have spare time (and finish my abandoned books).
but soon as i sank my tooth to this quite historical novel, i can't complain more. it contains so many life-lessons, which one of my personal opinion of a good literature.
so yeah i look forward to read this novel again as soon as i have spare time (and finish my abandoned books).
November 8, 2025
The Mahabharata is an epic of immense scale and complexity, weaving together mythology, philosophy, ethics, and history into a narrative that has captivated readers for thousands of years. Attributed to the sage Vyasa, this ancient Indian epic is one of the longest literary works in the world, chronicling the intense family rivalry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, two branches of the Kuru dynasty, and the climactic battle of Kurukshetra. But beyond its plot of power and war, the Mahabharata delves deeply into the intricacies of human nature, dharma (duty/righteousness), and the eternal struggle between good and evil, making it a timeless exploration of life’s greatest moral dilemmas.
At its core, the Mahabharata tells the story of the Pandavas—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—who, despite being the rightful heirs to the throne, are wronged and exiled by their envious cousins, the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana. Their journey, from exile to their eventual return to the battlefield, presents readers with nuanced explorations of loyalty, honor, justice, and revenge. Each character is vividly portrayed, bringing forth a diversity of virtues and flaws that make them relatable and human. The noble but flawed Yudhishthira, the mighty Bhima, the valiant Arjuna, and even the complex and morally ambiguous characters like Karna and Draupadi, make this epic an extraordinary study of human emotion and ethical conflict.
One of the Mahabharata’s most profound sections is the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna that occurs on the brink of the great war. Faced with the moral crisis of fighting his kin, Arjuna turns to Krishna, who then imparts spiritual wisdom on topics such as duty, selflessness, karma (action), and the nature of the soul. The Gita serves as a philosophical and spiritual guide, transcending the confines of the epic and addressing universal questions about purpose, responsibility, and the pursuit of truth. This discourse has inspired countless generations, with its teachings on detachment, devotion, and wisdom offering guidance for readers from all walks of life.
The Mahabharata also presents various moral and ethical debates that continue to resonate today. Through complex characters like Duryodhana, Karna, and Draupadi, the epic explores issues of justice, revenge, loyalty, and the gray areas within ethical decisions. The infamous game of dice, where Yudhishthira loses everything—including his kingdom and his wife Draupadi—through a bet, raises questions about the limits of forgiveness, the nature of duty, and the price of pride and ambition. These themes highlight the fragility of human nature and the often-painful consequences of human desires and decisions.
Steeped in Hindu philosophy and the concept of dharma, or righteous action, the Mahabharata emphasizes the importance of duty and the difficulty of determining what is right in complex situations. The epic suggests that dharma is not always straightforward and that adherence to it requires wisdom, self-awareness, and sometimes, sacrifice. This nuanced view of dharma—one that acknowledges the conflicting demands of family, duty, and morality—makes the Mahabharata an intricate philosophical and ethical work.
The Mahabharata’s language is rich and poetic, with numerous passages that blend narrative with poetry, philosophy, and allegory. Its vast cast of characters, interwoven stories, and mythological elements create a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly, evoking the reader’s imagination while offering profound insights into the human condition. Despite its ancient origins, the epic’s reflections on loyalty, love, revenge, and forgiveness are strikingly relevant, providing timeless wisdom on the human experience.
Reading the Mahabharata is an experience unlike any other—it is a journey into the complexities of the heart and mind, a profound study of humanity’s virtues and vices, and a sweeping narrative of one of history’s greatest conflicts. For its unmatched scope, depth, and its ability to engage readers on multiple levels—emotional, philosophical, and spiritual—the Mahabharata stands as one of the greatest epics of all time. Its themes and lessons continue to inspire reflection on life’s purpose, morality, and the pursuit of truth, making it a timeless masterpiece that speaks to readers across cultures and generations.
At its core, the Mahabharata tells the story of the Pandavas—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—who, despite being the rightful heirs to the throne, are wronged and exiled by their envious cousins, the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana. Their journey, from exile to their eventual return to the battlefield, presents readers with nuanced explorations of loyalty, honor, justice, and revenge. Each character is vividly portrayed, bringing forth a diversity of virtues and flaws that make them relatable and human. The noble but flawed Yudhishthira, the mighty Bhima, the valiant Arjuna, and even the complex and morally ambiguous characters like Karna and Draupadi, make this epic an extraordinary study of human emotion and ethical conflict.
One of the Mahabharata’s most profound sections is the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna that occurs on the brink of the great war. Faced with the moral crisis of fighting his kin, Arjuna turns to Krishna, who then imparts spiritual wisdom on topics such as duty, selflessness, karma (action), and the nature of the soul. The Gita serves as a philosophical and spiritual guide, transcending the confines of the epic and addressing universal questions about purpose, responsibility, and the pursuit of truth. This discourse has inspired countless generations, with its teachings on detachment, devotion, and wisdom offering guidance for readers from all walks of life.
The Mahabharata also presents various moral and ethical debates that continue to resonate today. Through complex characters like Duryodhana, Karna, and Draupadi, the epic explores issues of justice, revenge, loyalty, and the gray areas within ethical decisions. The infamous game of dice, where Yudhishthira loses everything—including his kingdom and his wife Draupadi—through a bet, raises questions about the limits of forgiveness, the nature of duty, and the price of pride and ambition. These themes highlight the fragility of human nature and the often-painful consequences of human desires and decisions.
Steeped in Hindu philosophy and the concept of dharma, or righteous action, the Mahabharata emphasizes the importance of duty and the difficulty of determining what is right in complex situations. The epic suggests that dharma is not always straightforward and that adherence to it requires wisdom, self-awareness, and sometimes, sacrifice. This nuanced view of dharma—one that acknowledges the conflicting demands of family, duty, and morality—makes the Mahabharata an intricate philosophical and ethical work.
The Mahabharata’s language is rich and poetic, with numerous passages that blend narrative with poetry, philosophy, and allegory. Its vast cast of characters, interwoven stories, and mythological elements create a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly, evoking the reader’s imagination while offering profound insights into the human condition. Despite its ancient origins, the epic’s reflections on loyalty, love, revenge, and forgiveness are strikingly relevant, providing timeless wisdom on the human experience.
Reading the Mahabharata is an experience unlike any other—it is a journey into the complexities of the heart and mind, a profound study of humanity’s virtues and vices, and a sweeping narrative of one of history’s greatest conflicts. For its unmatched scope, depth, and its ability to engage readers on multiple levels—emotional, philosophical, and spiritual—the Mahabharata stands as one of the greatest epics of all time. Its themes and lessons continue to inspire reflection on life’s purpose, morality, and the pursuit of truth, making it a timeless masterpiece that speaks to readers across cultures and generations.
September 2, 2012
Two summers ago I had the pleasure of travelling to India on business. While I was there for three months, I wanted to immerse myself in the culture...and read the classic literature of India. This was a huge undertaking...It is two books of about 1000 pages each, but was a wonderful way to spend my time and learn about the country where I was temporarily residing!
August 15, 2012
Read it in one gulp, followed by the Gita. Life changing experience
Want to read
April 29, 2014How?
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August 18, 2014I like it
August 26, 2012
Buku yang selalu saya baca berulang-ulang, puluhan kali mungkin.
April 11, 2018
The Mahabharata is one of the classic books of Hindu culture. It contains many teachings, especially about being and how to behave in the world. For example it says that all beings are only souls, nothing can kill us. When there is a war and people die, you do not have to feel guilty, it's what you came to, and your soul is immortal.
Also in the aspect of ethics and social norms is very different to our time. It was customary or natural for a man to have many women, but here a case is defined in which a woman can have up to five husbands.
The book has a great part where it narrates the war, but within this narration it accommodates the way of thinking and teachings of the Vedas, the sacred books of India.
The most important thing for them is to be close to the gods, especially the supreme incarnation of God: Krishna.
The book is very good, if you are interested in the Hindu philosophy, the Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita and this book are essential.
Also in the aspect of ethics and social norms is very different to our time. It was customary or natural for a man to have many women, but here a case is defined in which a woman can have up to five husbands.
The book has a great part where it narrates the war, but within this narration it accommodates the way of thinking and teachings of the Vedas, the sacred books of India.
The most important thing for them is to be close to the gods, especially the supreme incarnation of God: Krishna.
The book is very good, if you are interested in the Hindu philosophy, the Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita and this book are essential.
October 7, 2021
The narrative core is the avatar/shaman Asvathama and how he triggers the Kali Yuga by beheading the old powers...
His mind was filled with the evil deeds of the Pandavas, and his heart was full of sorrow and anger. He was wide awake and saw everything that was going on around him, for the night was starry. A large owl that flew by, attracted his attention. He saw it perched on an branches of a tall tree, sitting close to the tree under which they were resting. The owl had sharp claws and a hard beak. With it it began to kill the crows that were sleeping in their nests. Some of them she cut off the head with her sharp beak, others wings and legs. In this way she destroyed all the crows on that tree. After that she fluttered her wings with joy.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
His mind was filled with the evil deeds of the Pandavas, and his heart was full of sorrow and anger. He was wide awake and saw everything that was going on around him, for the night was starry. A large owl that flew by, attracted his attention. He saw it perched on an branches of a tall tree, sitting close to the tree under which they were resting. The owl had sharp claws and a hard beak. With it it began to kill the crows that were sleeping in their nests. Some of them she cut off the head with her sharp beak, others wings and legs. In this way she destroyed all the crows on that tree. After that she fluttered her wings with joy.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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March 21, 2025El esfuerzo de M. Saleh por sintetizar el Mahābhārata en un volumen accesible nos recuerda que los grandes mitos fundacionales de la humanidad siguen resonando en la actualidad. Me maravilla cómo la épica india no solo ha inspirado literatura, sino también arquitectura, escultura y pintura a lo largo de los siglos. Desde los templos de Angkor Wat hasta las miniaturas mogolas, el Mahābhārata es un pilar estético y espiritual de la civilización india. Me parece que esta obra de Saleh permite a nuevas audiencias conectar con ese legado, aunque inevitablemente toda síntesis implica una selección y, por ende, una interpretación.
August 17, 2021
Mahabarata edisi ini merupakan versi cerita yang lebih ringkas, pernah baca edisi yang persis di perpustakaan sekolah waktu SD, tapi ingatnya samar-samar. Karena ringkas sepertinya karakternya tidak bisa tergambarkan secara utuh. Selalu tertarik dengan cerita-ceritanya karena terasa dekat dengan sejarah kita, kerap kali juga tokoh-tokohnya dipinjam paksa oleh penguasa negeri dari dulu hingga sekarang, untuk menyucikan tujuan berpolitik sepertinya. Mengaku diri Pandawa, jumawa sekali. Mengaku diri Kurawa, saya rasa lebih tepat, lebih manusiawi.
August 16, 2024
Baca yang cetakan ke-7 terbit tahun 1991. Penulisannya singkat, tidak seperti membaca novel maupun biografi, lebih seperti rangkuman cerita. Ini pertama kalinya saya membaca tentang Mahabrata maupun cerita perwayangan, maka dari itu banyak karakter-karakter yang asing bagi saya, juga nama-namanya yang mirip, sepeti raja Duryudana dan Drestaratya, dll. Walau begitu, tidak terlalu susah hingga akhirnya tenggelam dalam cerita. Cukup asik, menegangkan, dan runtut.
3,8/5!
3,8/5!
January 26, 2025
สนุก แต่สงสารกรณะกับอัศวัตถามา(ชื่อเขียนยากเชี่ย)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews