On the Meaning of the Mahabharata

by Vināyaka Sakhārāma Ghāte

It was in 1942 that the late Dr. V.S. Sukthankar was engaged to deliver four lectures on the 'Meaning of the Mahabharata' under the auspices of the University of Bombay. However, the fourth and last lecture was not delivered on account of his sad sudden demise on the morning of the day fixed for it. The Manuscript (Ms.) of these lectures-a veritable treasure to cherish had remained lost to the world of scholars for the long period of fifteen years. It beared the title "Four Lectures on the Meaning of the Mahabharata." This rather heavy-looking title has been abridged here in publication into the substantial title "On the Meaning of the Mahabharata." In a great many places, sentences or paragraphs have been placed in rectangular brackets in pencil. This bracketed material has been retained in the body of this book. Secondly, an alternative word or phrase is occasionally found written with a pencil in the margin along with an underscoring of the relevant word or words in the text. It is thought advisable to retain the text of the script as it stands, leaving such marginal alternatives alone. However, there is one exception: Dr. Sukthankar had rewritten in pencil almost a whole para at the end of the third lecture. This pencil-script is incorporated in the body of the book. A facsimile of this page is reproduced as the frontispiece. An English rendering of the German quotation from OLDENBERG is given in an Appendix for the convenience of the general reader. In Index I Sanskrit quotations are printed in Devanagari for the benefit of those not quite conversant with the transiliteration.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, India, Religion

Hardcover

Published March 1, 2016

Reviews

[Gautham Shenoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprising of four lectures, Sukthankar masterfully handholds the reader into the wonderful world of the Mahabharata. This book can be read if you know the basic story, without necessarily having read the Vyasa Mahabharata completely.

The first lecture sharply criticizes the German Indologists for their speculative analysis and their attempts at interpreting the text from the Historic-Lenses, something which neither do justice to the text, nor does it shine any new light.

The subsequent three chapters view Mahabharata from an Adi-Bhautika, Adi-Daivika and Adhyatimika lenses - an Indic way of approaching the Mahabharata. It is in these chapters that Suktankar excels as he analyses the characters, situations, and the metaphors themselves in the light of the respective Indic lens.

The book is now republished by Motilal Banarsidas and a hard bound version is available. Do read it if you get a chance!

[Ganesh V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent, marvellous, mind blowing book on the timeless epic. One of the MUST READ books of all time.

This book is a collection of the manuscripts of the 4 lectures planned by Dr. V. S. Sukthankar (VSS) on this topic. Unfortunately, the 4th lecture wasn’t delivered due to the untimely death of VSS on the morning of the day planned for it. However, due to the generous efforts of many, importantly his son, the manuscripts were found & converted into this book.

The construction of the book in itself is quite amazing. The first part of the book deals with the academia / intelligentsia’s take on the Mahabharatha, specifically the foreign authors. VSS’ enormous research is quite apparent in the number of references. The root of the common debate of Buddhism vs Brahminism could be explained. Some of the claims of these authors are weird to put it lightly. However, the most absurd one is the “Inversion theory”. VSS’s analysis and counter arguments make for some very interesting reading. One of the finest for sure. theOverall, this lecture actually exposes the challenges that are relevant more so in the modern context.

The next 3 chapters are explanation of Mahabhartha from 3 different perspective planes viz., Mundane Plane, Ethical Plane, Metaphysical Plane. In the mundane plane, the focus is on the characters and story i.e. focus is on character. In the Ethical plane, the perspective is one of Dharmic one where the epic takes the form of a fight between Dharma and Adharma.

The pièce de résistance is the last one i.e. explanation on Meta-physical plane where the characters are related to Self and its relation with the Supreme. This is definitely one of the finest pieces written on this topic. Do look out for the origins of Daivi and Asura tattvas and their interpretations thereof. The explanation of some characters from the epic from a meta physical point of view i.e. their manifestations in self makes for some very interesting reading.

Though a short book, it requires quite a bit of comprehension & perhaps reflection to assimilate the point being set by VSS.

In a nutshell, MASTERPIECE..

[Ramaprasad KV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes on the Mahabharata, by the editor of the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata

[Manish · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the ongoing reading projects has been the Mahabharata and I’ve been relying on the ‘transcreation’ of Professor Lal of Kolkata’s Writers Workshop. I've managed to finish the Drona Parva while the Karna Parva was delivered a week back. This continuing fascination has also extended to trying to pluck every accessible text on the epic and get awed to no end on the interpretations it offers.

Three lectures of Sukhtankar make up this book. The first is a critique of the various efforts of western Indologists in trying to ‘view’/ interpret the epic. The rest try to explain the epic from the mundane, heroic and metaphysical planes. His interpretation of the confusion surrounding Krishna’s persona made for some interesting reading. Overall, a good addition to the Mbh library for anyone interested in going a bit deeper into the epic.

[Vivek Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of three essays penned by V.S.Sukhthankar is a must for Every Mahabharata enthusiast. While the book doesn't go into the detail of many academic topics, what it gives you is a sympathetic perspective which is much needed in understanding our ancient epics. I believe that is the reason why the very first chapter is spent on criticizing the criticism of the epic by scholars.

Then the essay superficially goes into the discussion on the key character and what shapes them and the metaphysical meaning of those characters. For example at one instant Yudhisthir is compared to the upright trunk of the tree Dharma, whereas Krsna is compared to the roots. It talks about Bhishma and his conflicts and the reason his demise is one of the more remarkable descriptions of the epic. How Vidura and Karna both being the "illegitimate" children grows up to be the exact opposite of each other.

At the last Sukthankar also discusses Gita and why it is the heart of everything happening in the epic.

This book is a summary of a very nuanced, layered, and sensible discussion of the epic on several levels. As the author stated about Mahabharata, "We have not outlived this mighty book yet. On the contrary, we have yet to learn the lessons taught by the book of books, which offers to each what he needs."

[Vivek Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of three essays penned by V.S.Sukhthankar is a must for Every Mahabharata enthusiast. While the book doesn't go into the detail of many academic topics, what it gives you is a sympathetic perspective which is much needed in understanding our ancient epics. I believe that is the reason why the very first chapter is spent on criticizing the criticism of the epic by scholars.

Then the essay superficially goes into the discussion on the key character and what shapes them and the metaphysical meaning of those characters. For example at one instant Yudhisthir is compared to the upright trunk of the tree Dharma, whereas Krsna is compared to the roots. It talks about Bhishma and his conflicts and the reason his demise is one of the more remarkable descriptions of the epic. How Vidura and Karna both being the "illegitimate" children grows up to be the exact opposite of each other.

At the last Sukthankar also discusses Gita and why it is the heart of everything happening in the epic.

This book is a summary of a very nuanced, layered, and sensible discussion of the epic on several levels. As the author stated about Mahabharata, "We have not outlived this mighty book yet. On the contrary, we have yet to learn the lessons taught by the book of books, which offers to each what he needs."

[Pramod Pant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written. A couple of problems with the writer. He wrote these lectures in 1943 when India was under British subjugation and his resentment to that fact shows in a book where it shouldn’t have had any place. The second issue is the application of psychoanalysis to an epic which is more than two millennia old. That’s jarring.

Overall, a really good work. :)

[Vikrant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mahabharata never stops giving, and this book reveals some great insights into the Mahabharata. The small size and the lecture format are somewhat limiting, I would like to read a more thorough and comprehensive work. A new aspect for me was Sukthankar's review of the Western criticism of the Mahabharata by the early Indologists.

[Akhil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ver well written last paragraphs if the conclusion chapter

[Kirti Upreti · Rating 4 out of 5]

"yad ihästi tad anyatra yan nehästi na tat kvacit"

[Pramod Vemuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a collection of four lectures published posthumously in defence of the spirit of Mahabharata against the "Inversion Theory" - a theory which argues that the original nucleus of Mahabharata was a tragic recollection of the war in favour of the Kauravas, which was corrupted later by the boogeyman aka brahmins.

My enjoyment of the lectures was in descending order, possibly because I wasn't as fully engaged as I could be. Nonetheless it was an enjoyable read and a pleasant academic defence of the scripture, and vastly superior to the modern decolonialist takes which often lack depth.

[Ragesh M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholarly but conservative. Can't digest his criticism of Karna.