I did many months ago, during school. Even though I'm a Christian, I found it to be a very entertaining story. Of course, I didn't read the whole thing. Did any of you? If so, what did you get out of it? Did you have any favorite stories?
2006-09-19 15:24:50 · 8 answers · asked by l;wksjf;aslkd 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It wasn't required reading, by the way.
2006-09-19 15:25:12 · update #1
It's a Hindu text. The unabridged version is pretty long. It's around 5000 pages.
2006-09-19 15:28:33 · update #2
I heard about the Ramayana. I considered reading it. I might.
2006-09-19 15:29:14 · update #3
Do not to others what ye do not wish
Done to yourself; and wish for others too
What ye desire and long for, for yourself — This is the whole of dharma — heed —it well.
— Veda Vyasa, The Mahabharata
Thats the summery of whole Mahabharat story.
It is really a well written epic and with many plots and sub plots intermixed. It is said originally It was called "Jaya" and had only 25000 verses. Then later on many chapters were added and currently it has more than I,00,000 verses.
If you want to read it again , start with 20th chapter- Shanti Parva. Read it first then go back to first chapter and start over this way. It would be a bit easier to read it thus--- in flash back.
Its interesting book. I dont think being Christian will hinder you in enjoying it anyway.
Its not exactly religious .Its 18 chapter is known as Bhagvat geeta and is seen as the most important scripture of Hindu religion. Chapter 18 is in a way a commentry over philosophy of Upanishads and Vedas the religious philosophy of Hinduism.
Rest of Mahabharat is pretty seculer nothing religious at all. And Geeta itself wont kill you. Accept it reject it , but Karma theory given in Geeta is also a quite common belief so it should not be a problem. Off course you can skip 18 chapter if you think its agaist your beliefs.
I have read the story many times. In many forms. From POV of different characters and writers... It never tires me. There is always some new angle to story. I love the it.
Characters of Mahabharat stand for righteous behaviour. Yet nobody can live upto it .. They have high standards yet all of them break it at one point or another... And pay for it... nobody is above human failures , ..Even deeds thought to be done as greater good back fire at times..... You see them, put yourself in their shoes and try not to commit those mistakes. It has intriguing plot anyway.
2006-09-21 01:13:44 · answer #1 · answered by rian30 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I read a copy that was left in a hotel room somewhere in LA. I found it very interesting and read the whole book that night. I am a Christian too but it behooves us to know what others believe too.
2006-09-19 22:29:09 · answer #2 · answered by keith 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Haven't read it, but there was a TV serial from India that played it out. It looked interesting, in an old BBC, Dr. Who sort of way.
2006-09-19 22:43:09 · answer #3 · answered by mahgri 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.Lovely text.I love the Pandavas.
And for anyone interested there is an e-book in
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/results
2006-09-19 22:52:06 · answer #4 · answered by Mac 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like Sri Balaji (Venkateswara Swami) epics better, he is reincarnation of Vishnu (Krishna in Mahabharata). Ramanyana is also ok.
2006-09-19 22:27:50 · answer #5 · answered by 8 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds cool!
What is it?
Is it the manual for working at 7-11?
Is it an Al-Quida guidebook?
Is it the Simpsons episode where Ahpu goes back to college?
2006-09-19 22:27:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
no
2006-09-19 22:27:39 · answer #7 · answered by denise f 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No............
2006-09-19 22:26:45 · answer #8 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋