Description
Book Synopsis
A new selection from the national epic of India Originally composed in Sanskrit sometime between 400 BC and 400 AD,
The Mahabharata-with one hundred thousand stanzas of verse-is one of the longest poems in existence. At the heart of the saga is a conflict between two branches of a royal family whose feud culminates in a titanic eighteen-day battle. Exploring such timeless subjects as
dharma (duty),
artha (purpose), and
kama (pleasure) in a mythic world of warfare, magic, and beauty, this is a magnificent and legendary Hindu text of immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative text
Table of ContentsThe MahabharataPreface
Pronunciation of Sanskrit
Introduction
The Mahabharata
1. Beginnings
2. The Hall
3. The Forest
4. Virata
5. Perseverance
6. Bhisma
7. Drona
8. Karna
9. Salya
10. The Night-raid
11. The Women
12. Tranquillity
13. Instruction
14. The Horse Sacrifice
15. The Hermitage
16. The Clubs
17. The Great Journey
18. The Ascent to Heaven
Variant Readings Adopted
Key to Names and Glossary
Further Reading
Map: The India of the Mahabharata
Genealogical Tables
Index
