Book review
Mahabharata -- Vol 1

The Kuru Princes of Hastinapura

This deluxe hard-bound volume describes the lineage of the Kuru princes. When Pandu, the father of the Pandavas, dies in the forest, his wife kunti returns to hastinapura with the five boys.

The great Dronacharya trains the kuru princes in the art of war. The feats of strength preformed by Bheema, and Arjuna's skill at wielding the bow awake jealousy in the minds of Duryodhana and the other kuru princes.

Duryodhana plots the exile of the Pandavas to the city of Varanavata. Acting on the coded warning given by Vidura, the Pandavas manage to escape from the burning house of shellac.

They live in the guise of mendicants at Ekachakrapura. Later they proceed to Panchala to aatend the Swayamvara of Draupadi. Arjuna, the skilful archer, wins Draupadi's hand. In order to obey their mother's words, all the five brothers are married with due ceremony to Draupadi. The Pandavas are recalled to Hastinapura and are given half the Kingdom.

Veda Vyasa's epic on the Bharata race was first recited in public by his disciple Vaishampayana at the behest of the ageless seer Vyasa himself.

The recital took place in the august presence of King Janamejaya, a great-grandson of Vyasa, and the many learned sages who had assembled for Janamejaya's Sarpa Satra (a twelve-year-long Yajna).

Mahabharata -- Vol 2

The Pandavas in Exile

The earlier volume describes the training of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, the Pandavas' escape from the burning house of shellac, their marriage to Draupadi and their subsequent return to Hastinapura.

This volume describes the slaying of Jarasandha by Bheema, the subjugation of the other kings by the Pandavas and the Rajasooya Yajna performed by Yudhishthir. Later, in the game of dice, the Pandavas lose their kingdom and live in exile.

At the end of the period of exile, when the Pandavas come back to claim their kingdom, Duryodhana refuses to part with even five villages.

Mahabharata Vol 3

On the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

The earlier volume described the growing animosity between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, the costly game of dice which led to the banishment of the Pandavas for thirteen years, the events during the exile and the proposal of peace from Dhritarashtra conveyed by Sanjaya toe the Pandavas.

This volume describes the attempts of Krisha to bring about a peaceful settlement between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. They fail and a bitter is fought for eighteen days. The Pandavas emerge victorious in the end.

Table Of Contents:

The Mahabharata Vol 1

Veda Vyasa
Bheeshma's Vow
The Advent of the Kuru Princes
The Pandavas at Hastinapura
Enter Drona
Enter Karna
The Conspiracy
The Escape
The Birth of Ghatotkacha
The Pandavas at Ekachakrapura
Enter Draupadi
Draupadi's Swayamvara
The Pandavas Recalled to Hastinapura
Arjuna's 12-year Exile

The Mahabharata Vol 2

A Hall for Yudhishthira
The Pandavas Conquer the World
Yudhishthira's Rajasooya Yajna
Indraprastha Lost
The Pandavas in the Forest
Arjuna's Quest for Weapons
Arjuna in Indraloka
The Reunion
Duryodhana Humbled
The Twelfth Year
The Pandavas at Virata's Palace
Panic in the Kaurava Camp
Sanjaya's Mission
Duryodhana Refuses to Yield

The Mahabharata Vol 3

Krisha's Peace Mission
The War Begins
Bheeshma in command
The Fall of Bheeshma
Drona's Vow
The Slaying of Abhimanyu
Arjuna Fulfils his Vow
The Battle at Midnight
Karna in Command
The Kurus Routed
After the War
Yudhishthira's Coronation
The Ashwamedha Yajna
The Celestial Reunion

HARD COVER