The Mahabharata

500 Pages·2015·2.91 MB·English

Translated by Bibek Debroy

THE MAHABHARATA
Volume 1
(Sections 1 to 15)

Contents
About the Translator
Praise for the Series
Dedication
Family Tree
Map of Bharatavarsha
Introduction
SECTION ONE
ANUKRAMANIKA PARVA
The table of contents, setting out the background for the recital of the story and summarizing the main
incidents
SECTION TWO
PARVASAMGRAHA PARVA
The various books, giving two listings of the Mahabharata with a very brief summary of the highlights
of the story
SECTION THREE
POUSHYA PARVA
The story of Poushya; setting up the snake-sacrifice
SECTION FOUR
POULOMA PARVA
About the Bhargava lineage, descended from the great sage Bhrigu, through Chyavana, Pramati, Ruru
and Shunaka
SECTION FIVE
ASTIKA PARVA
The snake-sacrifice, which provides the setting where the Mahabharata story was told
SECTION SIX
ADI-VAMSHAVATARANA PARVA
The descent of partial incarnations. It relates the story of Uparichara Vasu and Vyasadeva’s birth
from Parashara and Satyavati.
SECTION SEVEN
SAMBHAVA PARVA
The origins of the core story
SECTION EIGHT
JATUGRIHA-DAHA PARVA
Burning down of the house of lac
SECTION NINE
HIDIMBA-VADHA PARVA
Killing of the rakshasa Hidimba
SECTION TEN
BAKA-VADHA PARVA
Killing of the demon Baka
SECTION ELEVEN
CHAITRARATHA PARVA
Stories of Chitraratha, a gandharva
SECTION TWELVE
DROUPADI-SVAYAMVARA PARVA
Droupadi’s svayamvara, choosing her own groom
SECTION THIRTEEN
VAIVAHIKA PARVA
Droupadi’s marriage
SECTION FOURTEEN
VIDURAGAMANA PARVA
Vidura’s arrival
SECTION FIFTEEN
RAJYA-LABHA PARVA
Acquisition of the kingdom
Footnotes
Introduction
SECTION ONE
ANUKRAMANIKA PARVA
SECTION TWO
PARVASAMGRAHA PARVA
SECTION THREE
POUSHYA PARVA
SECTION FOUR
POULOMA PARVA
SECTION FIVE
ASTIKA PARVA
SECTION SIX
ADI-VAMSHAVATARANA PARVA
SECTION SEVEN
SAMBHAVA PARVA
SECTION EIGHT
JATUGRIHA-DAHA PARVA
SECTION NINE
HIDIMBA-VADHA PARVA
SECTION TEN
BAKA-VADHA PARVA
SECTION ELEVEN
CHAITRARATHA PARVA
SECTION TWELVE
DROUPADI-SVAYAMVARA PARVA
SECTION THIRTEEN
VAIVAHIKA PARVA
SECTION FOURTEEN
VIDURAGAMANA PARVA
SECTION FIFTEEN
RAJYA-LABHA PARVA
Acknowledgements
Follow Penguin
Copyright Page
About the Translator
Bibek Debroy is a member of NITI Aayog, the successor to the Planning
Commission. He is an economist who has published popular articles, papers
and books on economics. Before NITI Aayog, he has worked in academic
institutes, industry chambers and for the government. Bibek Debroy also writes
on Indology and Sanskrit. Penguin published his translation of the Bhagavad
Gita in 2006 and Sarama and Her Children: The Dog in Indian Myth in 2008.
The 10-volume unabridged translation of the Mahabharata was sequentially
published between 2010 and 2014 and he is now translating the Hari Vamsha, to
be published in 2016. Bibek Debroy was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015.
Praise for the Series
‘The modernization of language is visible, it’s easier on the mind, through
expressions that are somewhat familiar. The detailing of the story is intact, the
varying tempo maintained, with no deviations from the original. The short
introduction reflects a brilliant mind. For those who passionately love the
Mahabharata and want to explore it to its depths, Debroy’s translation offers
great promise . . .’
—Hindustan Times
‘[Debroy] has really carved out a niche for himself in crafting and presenting a
translation of the Mahabharata . . . The book takes us on a great journey with
admirable ease.’
—Indian Express
‘The first thing that appeals to one is the simplicity with which Debroy has been
able to express himself and infuse the right kind of meanings . . . Considering
that Sanskrit is not the simplest of languages to translate a text from, Debroy
exhibits his deep understanding and appreciation of the medium.’
—The Hindu
‘Overwhelmingly impressive . . . Bibek is a truly eclectic scholar.’
—Business Line
‘Debroy’s lucid and nuanced retelling of the original makes the masterpiece
even more enjoyably accessible.’
—Open
‘The quality of translation is excellent. The lucid language makes it a pleasure to
read the various stories, digressions and parables.’
—Tribune
‘Extremely well-organized, and has a substantial and helpful Introduction, plot
summaries and notes . . . beautiful example of a well thought-out layout which
makes for much easier reading.’
—Book Review
‘The dispassionate vision [Debroy] brings to this endeavour will surely earn him
merit in the three worlds.’
—Mail Today
‘Thoroughly enjoyable and impressively scholarly . . .’
—DNA
‘Debroy’s is not the only English translation available in the market, but where
he scores and others fail is that his is the closest rendering of the original text in
modern English without unduly complicating the readers’ understanding of the
epic.’
—Business Standard
‘The brilliance of Ved Vysya comes through.’
—Hindustan Times