Customer Reviews

The Mahabharata, Volume 3: Book 4: The Book of the Virata; Book 5: The Book of the Effort

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The tragedy of J.A. B. van Buitenen's most excellent translation is his passing in 1979 that prevented the translation from being completed. Therefore, I warn those who read the first 2200 pages (the first three volumes) that they will have to seek out another translation (such as that by P.Lal, which, in my opinion is not of the caliber of van Buitenen's) if they wish to complete the epic tale. The only complete translation in English of The Mahabharata that I know of is that of Kisari Mohan Ganguli, published by the New Delhi publishing house Munshiram Manoharlal.

An interesting note is that James L. Fitzgerald has continued with van Buitenen's translation, although he began with Vol. 7 (van Buitenen completed the first three volumes) rather than the next volume, 4, and anticipates it will be a 10 volume set. My guess is Fitzgerald began with the most interesting volumes so if he died without completing the project someone else would have to pick up the less interesting parts.

This ancient Indian epic is still interesting today. It provides knowledge not just of it's own story, and inserted stories, but of myth that all India has known about for centuries. I can't wait to get the
other volumes, some of which are still being translated at the U. of Chicago.It is even more interesting than the Iliad and Odyssey, and interesting to compare to them.