Mahabharata (The Condensed Version of the World's Greatest Epic) (Hardcover)

~ Krishna Dharma (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dharma successfully captures the mood and majesty of a rich and ancient epic and, in the process, does full justice to the critical elements of the complex story? A well-wrought saga that will be appreciated by Western readers and admirably serve to introduce a new generation to the rich spiritual, cultural, and historic legacy of India. Highly recommended." -- The Midwest Book Review, October 1999

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Description

An exciting and profound story of life in ancient times, Mahabharata is at once a fascinating epic and a compendium of ethical and spiritual teachings.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Torchlight Publishing (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188708925X
• ISBN-13: 978-1887089258
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,472,149 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the author, May 11, 2001

By	Krishna Dharma (Manchester UK) - See all my reviews

Mahabharata, a part of the ancient Vedas of India, is a story quite unlike anything else. There are few books which have survived as long as this five thousand year old epic. Its enduring popularity is itself testimony to the profound wisdom contained in its pages. In fact it includes the Bhagavad-gita - a masterpiece of spiritual knowledge revered by millions worldwide - and is the narration of the factual events which surrounded the speaking of that illuminating text.

Mahabharata thus deals with the activities of Krishna, the supreme person and author of the Bhagavad-gita. This gives it a unique quality. Because of Krishna's presence, and the presence of many of his pure followers, one feels uplifted by reading the book. It soothes its readers on a deep spiritual level, bringing them closer to an understanding of the divine, and awakening a transcendental joy that surpasses all other happiness. Although from the external point of view it is a tale of conflict and intrigue among kings, demons, gods and sages, there is a deeper spiritual meaning which pervades the whole work. One can thus go on reading it again and again without it becoming stale or boring. On the contrary, one discovers different layers of meaning with each reading. Mahabharata is a book to be treasured and passed on from generation to generation.

As the writer I have simply tried to make the work easily accessible. Before this I wrote another, longer novelisation, but I felt that at 900 odd pages it might be a little long for some readers. I therefore condensed it into this smaller book, which I hope will be useful for those desiring a shorter overview of the epic. The essential story is still there, but obviously some details have been omitted.

I have remained faithful to the original, often presenting the dialogue exactly as it appeared in the Sanskrit manuscripts, but I have endeavoured to bring the text to life by the techniques of dramatisation and characterisation. I studied several translations, and cross referenced other Vedic texts for verification of detail where possible. I myself am a priest trained in the Vaishnava tradition, followers of Vishnu or Krishna, and Mahabharata is a Vaishnava text. My book is perhaps the first time that Mahabharata has been presented in English from the perspective of its original author, the sage Vyasadeva. It is suitable for a wide range of readers, from those coming new to the work, to those wishing to study it for academic purposes.

I hope you find it enjoyable. I am constantly endeavouring to improve my books, and am always open to any suggestions or feedback from my readers. Those unfamiliar with Sanskrit terms (i.e. most of us) may initially find some of the names a little difficult, but do perservere, you will soon master them and when you do you will be richly rewarded by reading Mahabharata. It is without doubt the greatest spiritual epic of all time, at least in my humble opinion.

Krishna Dharma

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the best!, June 21, 2001

By	Susanne (Pinehurst, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Although condensed from his previous version, nothing appears to have been lost! This edition is so exciting, from beginning to end, it's just as hard to put down as Krishna Dharma's other books (full version of Mahabharata and Ramayana). For people who can't see themselves reading 960 pages, this smaller version will be thoroughly satisfying in under 300 pages. The author's writing style keeps the suspense going, making this ancient epic as thrilling as any modern blockbuster. The spiritual message of the Mahabharata is threaded throughout the book, which only adds to its entertainment value. Mahabharata is a wonderful and intriguing saga that gives us all that we expect from a great novel, while simultaneously moving the reader to introspection and meditation on the spiritual. What more can one ask?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Are you new to the mahabharata?, June 3, 2009

By	John J. Wright (Albany,NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are new to the Hindu classics or dont have the time or attention span to read a 1600 page book then this is for you. You will get the basics and I mean basics of the mahabharata.
If you are a advanced student of the Hindu epics this book simply will not do. It is way to short and so much critical info is left out that you come away with only a skeliton of the text. Also this kind of reads like a star wars type tale the way its done by him. I would recommend Dharma's longer version if you like a westernized stream of thought or ramesh menon's Mahabharata is a more complete yet easy to read version. But this book cant be discounted out of hand becouse it is intended for the causual reader.