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| The '''Mahabharata''' (]: /"mäh\@%bh\är@t/ see also ]) is a sweeping ] of ] ], analogous in both size (over 100,000 ]s) and religious significance to the ] ]. It tells the story of a war between the Pandavas, the sons of King Pandu, and the Kauravas, the sons of Pandu's older, blind brother, King Dhritarastra. The main event in the text is the appearance of ], the 8th avatar (incarnation) of ]. | The '''Mahabharata''' (]: /"mäh\@%bh\är@t/ see also ]) is a sweeping ] of ] ], analogous in both size (over 100,000 ]s) and religious significance to the ] ]. It tells the story of a war between the Pandavas, the sons of King Pandu, and the Kauravas, the sons of Pandu's older, blind brother, King Dhritarastra. The main event in the text is the appearance of ], the 8th avatar (incarnation) of ]. | ||
| The term Mahabharata is used in ] grammar dated to 450 BC. Thus it was substantially complete by that time. | |||
| The Mahabharata walks through all walks of life and is considered to be an encyclopedia of human relations. | The Mahabharata walks through all walks of life and is considered to be an encyclopedia of human relations. | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| *Full etext in ] and in transliterated ]: | *Full etext in ] and in transliterated ]: | ||
| **http://www.hindunet.org/mahabharata/ | **http://www.hindunet.org/mahabharata/ | ||
| **http://bombay.oriental.cam.ac.uk/john/mahabharata/statement.html (requires free registration and license agreement) | **http://bombay.oriental.cam.ac.uk/john/mahabharata/statement.html (requires free registration and license agreement) | ||
| *http://www.investindia.com/newsite/religion/mahabhar.htm Brief Summary of the Mahabharata in English | *http://www.investindia.com/newsite/religion/mahabhar.htm Brief Summary of the Mahabharata in English | ||
| *http://home.earthlink.net/~shubhrasudha/lopa3.html More detailed, book-by-book summary | *http://home.earthlink.net/~shubhrasudha/lopa3.html More detailed, book-by-book summary | ||
| *http://www.sulekha.com/column.asp?cid=305835 : For date of the Mahabharata War | |||
Revision as of 19:35, 29 August 2003
The Mahabharata (SAMPA: /"mäh\@%bh\är@t/ see also note) is a sweeping epic of Hindu mythology, analogous in both size (over 100,000 verses) and religious significance to the Christian Bible. It tells the story of a war between the Pandavas, the sons of King Pandu, and the Kauravas, the sons of Pandu's older, blind brother, King Dhritarastra. The main event in the text is the appearance of Krishna, the 8th avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu.
The term Mahabharata is used in Panini's grammar dated to 450 BC. Thus it was substantially complete by that time.
The Mahabharata walks through all walks of life and is considered to be an encyclopedia of human relations.
The Mahabharata is written in eighteen parvas (chapters or books) which are:
- Adiparvan
- Sabhaparvan
- Aranyakaparvan
- Virataparvan
- Udyogaparvan
- Bhismaparvan
- Dronaparvan
- Karnaparvan
- Sargarohanaparvan
- Sauptikaparvan
- Striparvan
- Santiparvan
- Anusasanaparvan
- Asvamedhikaparvan
- Asramavasikaparvan
- Mausalaparvan
- Mahaprasthanikaparvan
- Svargarohanaparvan
Set in the sixth book of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita, a well known masterpiece of Hindu thought, wherein Arjuna is advised by Krishna that he must fulfill his duty by participating in a battle, at the risk of losing many friends and relatives in the fighting.
See also: Ramayana - Golden age - millennialism
External links
- Full etext in devanagari and in transliterated Sanskrit:
- http://www.hindunet.org/mahabharata/
- http://bombay.oriental.cam.ac.uk/john/mahabharata/statement.html (requires free registration and license agreement)
- http://www.investindia.com/newsite/religion/mahabhar.htm Brief Summary of the Mahabharata in English
- http://home.earthlink.net/~shubhrasudha/lopa3.html More detailed, book-by-book summary
- http://www.sulekha.com/column.asp?cid=305835 : For date of the Mahabharata War