The Mahabharata-a modern rendering/2 Vol Set Edition: Fifth Impression: Vol I & II

This review is not about the content - it's a beautifully written rendition of the Mahabharata. But I would recommend buying from an alternate publishing house - the one with a different cover. This version was sloppily bound without leaving enough margin space so parts of the text get swallowed up into the binding making it a pain to read.

This epic poem so completely entranced me that for two weeks I could not put it down. If I didn't have to work a day job as we all do, I would have gone without sleep until I had finished it. Why is this so? I'm not entirely sure. There is some adage I've heard somewhere that a books have a tendency to find the people who must read them when those people become ready; just as "when the pupil is ready, the teacher appears." Ramesh Menon has done an extraordinary job rendering this 4000-odd year old epic poem into powerful, simple, resonant prose. Not having any background in Sanskrit, I'm not certain what creative liberties have been taken with the translation, but one thing I appreciated was some of the dramatic commentary interspersed between stanzas of the Bhagavad Gita. Menon dramatizes this most-famous section of the Mahabharata so that it comes across as something cinematic; and whether or not such words actually exist in the original text, the idea that Krishna is cognizant of the unborn future generations hanging on his every word to Arjuna for their own salvation was a nice touch. In a word, this is the grandest epic of them all. Prepare to fall in love, to undertake trials, suffer humiliating defeats, mete out justice, travel the land high and low, win the day, live in opulence, and confront death as the words, pictures, and scenes of "Great India" play out before the mind's eye.

It is high time I write this review. I have bought this book again and again. I also own a digital version. If you love the stories of Mahabharata, you would love this book. If you love literature, you would love this book. If you just want to be told stories in way a where you are totally enthralled in the Yuga where Mahabharata enfolded, you would love this book. I have loved this book for many years. I have gifted it many times. The beauty and fallibility of the characters and the beauty in which their story is told still brings tears to my eyes. I feel like I am transported to an ancient but a timeless world. I have found it to be great for gifting. The people I gifted this book to, ended up buying it as a gift for others. I wish you a wonderful time reading it! Note: This is not a children's book.

By necessity, this two-volume work is a considerable abridgement of the full story, but the author assures us he's included the essentials. As one ignorant of both Hinduism and Sanskrit I can't testify at all to the accuracy of the translation. Regardless of your religious or cultural interest, it stands as a piece of literature. The story tells of a family divided by envy, battling for control of the empire of Bharat (India). It includes the Bhagavad Gita, where the avatar Krishna consoles the warrior Arjuna on the brink of battle, and pages of advice for how to live a worthy life. Above all, it tells us of the way of the warrior who seeks to live and die in honour. Notable is the moral complexity of the characters, who sometimes do wrong for a good reason. Even the arch-enemy is sometimes shown sympathetically. It's not a simple good-vs-evil story. Note to the reader: both volumes include a glossary at the end, which will help to understand the Sanskrit terms. The only defect in this book is that the page margins on the spine side of the pages are a bit too small, so it's sometimes hard to read the last word on the line. That was not a serious problem, but it did sometimes break my concentration.

such an incredible translation of this ancient story. i originally ordered the penguin classics translation, but i was disappointed to find that a large portion of it is summarized and about half is direct translation from sanskrit poetry. after doing a lot of searching, i found ramesh menon. his translation, however, brings the characters, their stories, and the whole situation to life. it's like reading the greatest romance, drama, action novels ever written all in one place. however, i am not a scholar but a casual reader. i am also not of indian origin and i have little to no familiarity with the hindu religion. the penguin edition has a lengthy introduction explaining the basic story line, sanskrit linguistics, some basic concepts in indian/hindu worldview (like dharma, caste system) which are huge themes in the book. since i had the chance to read that wonderful introduction, i definitely have an easier time reading and understanding menons version, which is lacking in an introduction. to make up for this, menon has a basic appendix and glossary at the end of the book, but if you're not an indian reader his explanations may not be in depth enough to help you understand. menon also cuts out pretty much all the preamble to the story (which he states is over 200 pages) which includes some interesting stories and information not related to the main story including a snake sacrifice. if i were a scholar and wanted a more inclusive (but still abridged) version, i may have stuck with penguin or another more scholarly edit. in conclusion, menon made this ancient story easy to read, exciting, intriguing, romantic, etc etc. if you are not familiar with the story of the mahabharata and you find yourself inexplicably intrigued (as i did), you will find a world of magic inside of menons re writing of this epic. if you want a scholarly version, i would still say menon is the way to go, but maybe you would want to supplement with the free complete translation (available at protect gutenberg online) or some other scholarly editions with more complete introductions. i plan to try to read the complete online version at project gutenberg once i get through menons.

First of all, let me thank Mr. Menon for his wonderful rendition of this great epic! I am very impressed with his powerful writing. Some of his descriptions are visually stunning, just waiting for a new Peter Jackson to create a movie trilogy that will match the high quality of his masterpiece: Amba bent on revenge, climbing the Himalayas and wending her way through ice and snow to seek out Lord Shiva; Kunti reciting her mantra from rocky cliffs at sunset, summoning the wind god Vayu. These are well written scenes that stay with you and haunt you long after you have read them. The author has also recreated the characters' feelings and emotions in such a way that makes them more human: Bheesma rejecting Amba as he is falling in love with her; Pandu's two wives living out a love-hate relationship with jealousy flaring up at times. I own several abridgements of the Mahabharata, and in terms of sheer readability, this is by far the best! The writing is so good, you want to keep on reading even if you know the plot. Bravo Mr Menon and again a great big thank you!