'Mahabharat- Different Versions -Perspectives' - Page 65

Originally posted by: abhijitbasu

@Bheegi
Sangeeta, Somehow, I had earlier missed seeing your question, hence the delay in reply.
As regards the point why the Bhaarata war was fought, there could be layers of interpretation. The traditional one-point answer, of course, is to establish dharma, which is mentioned many a time in the original epic, as is duly conveyed in the KMG translation. This theme is wonderfully encapsulated in Krshna's epochal message in the Bhagavad-Gita: paritraanaaya saadhunaam vinaashaaya ca dushkrtaam / dharma-samsthaapanaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge //. 'For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the establishment of righteousness, I come into being from age to age.' In the limited context of the warrior story, Yudhishthira with his right of primogeniture and with his own credentials of virtue, embodied goodness, while the other side, with their 'original sins' (as already cited by me in an earlier comment), represented the 'wicked' cause. Those acts of protection and destruction are of course for the greater good of the society. To that extent the Star-Plus interpretation is correct, more so because for quite some time after the war, there was greater 'unity' in Aryavarta under first the Philosopher-King Yudhishthira and thereafter the great Kuru empires (recorded in Puranas) of Pareekshit and Janamejaya.
But that is not all. The Mb has its other philosophic-mystic messages which have to be factored in here. To mention one, it is a Tragedy driven by the nature of the Time (kaala). The epic events take place in a rare juncture of cyclic Cosmic Time - at the transition between two yugas, or cosmic ages. There is a certain forlorn inevitability in the happenings, as expressed in that exquisite shloka of hair-raising quietude (shaanta-rasa) uttered by Yudhishthira: asmin mahaamohamaye kataahe / sooryaagninaa raatri-dinendhanena / maasartu-darvee parighattanena / bhootaani kaalah pacateeti vaarta // [In this cauldron of great illusion, with the sun as fire and day-night as fuel, Time is cooking all beings. That is the message.]

Originally posted by: KrisUdayasankar

Hello all!

Just saying "Hi" since I'm new to the forum, though I've been reading through the very interesting discussions on and off. Look forward to being a part of the exciting debates :)

Krishna

Originally posted by: KrisUdayasankar

I also have a reason for giving Arjuna a bit of bad press in book 1, but his reputation as a womanizer is pretty well established in MBh. I can't recall the reference offhand, but will post on that again, once i pull it up :)

Thanks so much for enjoying the books :)

Originally posted by: KrisUdayasankar

Hi Anu!

Both firstborn and firewrights are part of the bramhanical (such as it was) order. Firstborn = Varuni (Vashishta's Gothra) and Firewrights are Angirasa (Angiras) - which includes other gothras such as Bhargava, Bharadvaja etc.

The weapon in the KP episode was a 'reverse-engingeered' Bramhastra, which the Nagas recreated - hence the effects.

As for the other Divyastras - its kind of surprising to see that everybody seems to have a huge stockpile of astras, as though they are just common weapons. To be honest, kind of touch to reconcile everything as a divyastra. Still, hope you enjoy book 3!

PS - there is a twist in how Govinda escapes the astra at KP - As per the canonical MBh, KP is when Govinda is given the Sudarshan chakra. The adage or 'mantra' that is part of Govinda's realization when he fights the effects of the astra off is based on a translation of the Sudarshana mantra - kind of... :)

Originally posted by: Sabhayata

Sir actually this brings to my mind another question that has been bothering me for long time

Its Regarding Ajaya only written by Anand Neelkhanth.In this book the writer seems to suggest that in Dwapar yug those people who used to believe in caste system or used to maintain caste system were the heroes and those who used to speak against it were considered wrong,evil or enemies of the society

So wanted to know in your opinion who much truth is there in this theory?

Personally for me if i go by Mahabhart incidents some of which you mentioned as well like Arjuna's involvement in Eklavya's incident ,Bhima insulting Karna due to his caste in Rangbhoomi ,Yudhishtir's involvement in burning of Nishada and then Kirshna ji and Arjuna's involvement in Khadavdahan

Now these events are never portrayed in a negative light in the epic or let me say are never criticized by any one in the epic despite these events having some casteist elements .Which has led me to believe that as per dwapar yug standards perhaps these events were not wrong.That perhaps in dwapar yug caste system and the belief in it of our heroes was so strong in it that they didnt mind the death of those people who perhaps belonged to lower caste.Which is why despite these incidents they are the heroes of our epic

Not sure how right i am in my POV since i have only recently formed it .So just wanted to know what you think about this?

Originally posted by: luv_sakshi

Sir, its our good fortune that renowned authors & Stalwarts like you are a part of our Forum! I am honored to have you here. I have been reading all your write ups & the clarifications you have been providing us members so far, on various aspects that have aroused our interest & curiosity alike. This has helped us clear so many doubts running thru' our minds on the Epic & has given us a clearer perspective on various events & characters therein. So Thank You Sir!

I have always been questioning this in my mind..trying to recall & relate to the various events that eventually led to the Great War. Different versions of the MB open our minds to further reasoning as to why the war was needed in the first place! That also raises a lot more questions on the Epic & the War itself..who's Perspective comes closest to the actual Epic by Ved Vyasa?

Surely, Kurukshetra wouldn't have been fought only based on Family Feud between cousins or Draupadi insulting Karna on his caste or laughing at Duryodhana's fall..neither would it have been fought only due to Draupadi being humiliated, insulted, molested & disrobed in the Dyut Sabha alone..Like Lord Krishna says, some events are only "Nimmith" in larger ones that are destined to take place. So definitely, there was a Deeper & More Meaningful purpose in the Great War of Kurkshetra being fought..something that the Gods had Decided for a Greater Purpose to mankind as a whole.

Thank You Sir for the above Post wherein you have put across a detailed answer on the reason for the MB war being fought. I had been seeking a detailed & clear answer to this question for long now & this post has definitely given me a clearer perspective on the Battle.

Originally posted by: luv_sakshi

Sir, its our good fortune that renowned authors & Stalwarts like you are a part of our Forum! I am honored to have you here. I have been reading all your write ups & the clarifications you have been providing us members so far, on various aspects that have aroused our interest & curiosity alike. This has helped us clear so many doubts running thru' our minds on the Epic & has given us a clearer perspective on various events & characters therein. So Thank You Sir!

I have always been questioning this in my mind..trying to recall & relate to the various events that eventually led to the Great War. Different versions of the MB open our minds to further reasoning as to why the war was needed in the first place! That also raises a lot more questions on the Epic & the War itself..who's Perspective comes closest to the actual Epic by Ved Vyasa?

Surely, Kurukshetra wouldn't have been fought only based on Family Feud between cousins or Draupadi insulting Karna on his caste or laughing at Duryodhana's fall..neither would it have been fought only due to Draupadi being humiliated, insulted, molested & disrobed in the Dyut Sabha alone..Like Lord Krishna says, some events are only "Nimmith" in larger ones that are destined to take place. So definitely, there was a Deeper & More Meaningful purpose in the Great War of Kurkshetra being fought..something that the Gods had Decided for a Greater Purpose to mankind as a whole.

Thank You Sir for the above Post wherein you have put across a detailed answer on the reason for the MB war being fought. I had been seeking a detailed & clear answer to this question for long now & this post has definitely given me a clearer perspective on the Battle.

Originally posted by: AnuMP

Krishna


Didn't know that part about the Sudarshana mantra. I will have to read KP track again

I have more questions

What's the Greece connection for? Any sources suggesting Govinda might have travelled out of Aryavarta?

Also the Jaydrath scene with the Greek girl gave me chills. Poor Abhi 😭

Originally posted by: abhijitbasu

The Mb, as I see it, is a colossal work with many facets. To present it as a one-dimensional chronicle of caste oppression is to trivialise and sensationalise things beyond reason. As you yourself have observed, the stray examples of class / (not 'caste', which was a much later development and coinage) discrimination / persecution that I have highlighted are presented by the epic's narrator without much ado. That was the character of the age and perhaps its better not to sensationalise it by viewing it through the lens of today's egalitarian principles. After all, when Draupadi publicly rejects Karna with the bold assertion: naaham varayaami sootam [I shall not accept one belonging to the soota class], even today's reader would perhaps look at it as a natural reaction from a well-endowed princess in wishing to choose a social equal, given the milieu of the time.