5. 50 PoC Book Review
Jul. 8th, 2010 08:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brigdh5. The Mahabharata: a Modern Rendering by, um, it's complicated? Traditionally ascribed to Vyasa (who is also a character in the story itself), probably actually composed by multiple people at various points in time, this version translated and edited by Ramesh Menon.
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Indian epics (the other being the Ramayana), and I've been meaning to read it for ages. And I'm very happy that I've now done so! (Though I guess that means I need to read the Ramayana next.) I picked this translation off of a recommendation on this community, and though I can't compare it to any others, I did really enjoy it. It's quite long- two volumes of about 800 pages each- but it's a fantastic, compelling story, full of all kinds of awesome stuff: gods and secret identities and earth-destroying weapons and reincarnations and gender-switching and so much more!
To completely over-simplify the plot, there are two sets of cousins: the Pandavas, who consist of five brothers who are all the sons of gods, and the Kauravas, who consist of a hundred brothers who may be demons. The eldest son of each group wants to inherit the throne, and the machinations and secret assassination attempts and broken promises eventually lead to Kurukshetra and the Greatest War Ever, which causes the end of the age. My favorite characters were Amba, who holds such a grudge that she kills herself and is reincarnated as a warrior to kill her enemy; Draupadi, who marries all five of the Pandava brothers and is amazingly fierce; and Kunti, who is able to summon gods, and who uses this to sleep with them.
There's so many characters and sub-plots and side stories and so forth that it's hard to even describe the Mahabharata. But it's AWESOME, and I loved it.
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50books_poc)
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Indian epics (the other being the Ramayana), and I've been meaning to read it for ages. And I'm very happy that I've now done so! (Though I guess that means I need to read the Ramayana next.) I picked this translation off of a recommendation on this community, and though I can't compare it to any others, I did really enjoy it. It's quite long- two volumes of about 800 pages each- but it's a fantastic, compelling story, full of all kinds of awesome stuff: gods and secret identities and earth-destroying weapons and reincarnations and gender-switching and so much more!
To completely over-simplify the plot, there are two sets of cousins: the Pandavas, who consist of five brothers who are all the sons of gods, and the Kauravas, who consist of a hundred brothers who may be demons. The eldest son of each group wants to inherit the throne, and the machinations and secret assassination attempts and broken promises eventually lead to Kurukshetra and the Greatest War Ever, which causes the end of the age. My favorite characters were Amba, who holds such a grudge that she kills herself and is reincarnated as a warrior to kill her enemy; Draupadi, who marries all five of the Pandava brothers and is amazingly fierce; and Kunti, who is able to summon gods, and who uses this to sleep with them.
There's so many characters and sub-plots and side stories and so forth that it's hard to even describe the Mahabharata. But it's AWESOME, and I loved it.
(Crossposted to
50books_poc)
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no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 05:07 am (UTC)Karna is my favorite. Also Amba/Sikhandi, Bhima, Draupadi, and Krishna. And Bhima's demon son Ghatotkacha.
I also enjoy the associated story of Barbarika, the head on the hill:
http://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=83
Before decapitating himself, Barbarika told Krishna of his great desire to view the forthcoming battle, and requested him to facilitate it. Krishna agreed, and placed the head atop a hill overlooking the battlefield. From the hill, the head of Barbarika watched the whole battle.
At the end of the battle, the victorious Pandava brothers argued amongst themselves as to who was responsible for the victory. Krishna suggested that Barbarika's head, which had watched the whole battle, should be allowed to judge.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-19 10:43 pm (UTC)I had so many characters I loved, it was really hard not just rambling on forever over my favorite parts. And DUDE. I love the head on the hill.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-09 05:14 am (UTC)Look forward to your impressions of the Ramayana, which makes the Iliad seem like a quaint folk tale.
*When you make an assumption, you make an ass of you and umption.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-15 07:41 pm (UTC)Now makes sense.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-19 10:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-19 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
no subject
Date: 2010-07-20 08:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-20 09:47 pm (UTC)Or not.
I know my letters.
And an odd collection of technical terms.
And the difference between सच्चिदानन्द and the other one, and can discourse on for some small length on Nagarjuna's interpretation of the concept of प्रतीत्यसमुत्पाद(and I must never be encouraged to do so. Use small arms fire if necessary.)
And I can count all the way up to eleven!
My Great Grandmother would not have been impressed.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-22 08:20 pm (UTC)And true, I'm sure I could puck up a little if I tried, but I feel like there are so many other languages I need to learn first!