Some books have tremendous enduring value and
power that inspire and uplift the entire humanity. Mahăbhărata will certainly top such
great works by its grandeur and splendour. Expanded from its original twenty four thousand
verses to one hundred thousand verses, it has become a ocean of tales of heroic men and
women consisting of all varieties of divine, humane and demoniac nature, thus conferring
on it the distinction of being an encyclopedia of human characters. It has taken a form of
a holistic literature as it churns out lofty ideals of human code from social and ethical
problems that it squarely handles in hundreds of human situations. Vyăsas genius
could easily do this wonder.
In essence it is a story of the descendants
of the king Bharata that form the history of ancient India meaningfully called Bharata. It
is full of artistically presented stories of epic character. Multicoloured personalities
taking their shapes from multidimensional situations in Mahăbhărata have influenced the
national character of Indian people, more subtly and powerfully than the actual heroes and
events produced in its history. Characters of Krishna, Vidura, Dharma, Arjuna, Karna,
Bhima, Bhishma, Drona, Kunti, Găndhari, Draupadi etc. carry special significance to
Indian mind, learned and illiterate alike. So is the case with Rămăyan with its
characters of Răma, Sită, Laxman, Bharat, Hanumăn etc. Their trials, tragedies and
triumphs have provided this ancient land a guiding light in its long history of peace and
turmoil. However this great epic has a potential to transcend national barriers to touch
the core of human heart, irrespective of land, race, religion or language. Crossing the
regional boundaries, it has now become the treasure of the world, which is so full of
vitality of life.
Mahăbhărata claims to be the encyclopedia of ancient
Indian culture as it preserves historical, geographical,legendary, political, theological,
philosophical, social, economical, religious and spiritual heritage of this ancient land.
Its teachings of Dharma, the righteousness above everything else, reigns
supreme over all its complexities of life.
At the place called Vishăla Badari on the
bank of Bhagirathi river in the Himalayas the great sage Vyăsa worked continuously for
three years after the great Bhărata war was over and completed this ocean like epic
called Mahabharata.
While dealing with eternal human problems of universal
nature Mahăbhărata miraculously touched upon Gită the greatest Indian scripture rightly
called a "celestial song of India". Along with Rămayan and Mahăbhărata Gită
also is Indias noblest heritage. Though with pride we say so it is our humble
attempt to present this immortal divine thought to common people educated as well as
moderately educated who can not grasp the scholarly works of spiritual masters and
intelligent thinkers who have produced volumnous commentaries on Bhagvad-Gită throughout
the ages.
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