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. Vyăsa’s 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 India’s 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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