The Mahabharata

The Mahabharata, like its less illustrious predecessor, the Ramayana, has left a larger than life impact on the Indian psyche. Perhaps the fact that it entails all the possible dimensions of human behaviour is a reason people still identify so intensely with this wonderful piece of literature. The aim of the Ramayana is but to sing the glory of the Maryada Purushottam , and thus put forward a life story that is supposed to be perfectly ideal in all respects. And in a bid to glorify Rama, the Ramayana has done little justice to the other main characters; their personalities have been painted shabbily and casually, most being severly unidimensional.

The Mahabharata, on the other hand, does not have any central character: and though the basic story revolves around the clash among Kuru princes for power, there are stories within stories, and branches coming out of the stem that lead to twigs and leaves. Even the villains have virtues, and the heroes have vices, and it is difficult to single out a spotless character in the entire epic. All the main characters are painted as strong, emotional and determined individuals who are keen to speak their hearts out. They behave in manners that appeal even to the modern man. Even Yudhishthira, the epitome of virtuousness gets criticised by his younger brothers for his folly. Draupadi doesn't weep in sorrow for the abuse she faces, but censures her husbands for her misery. It is here that the Mahabharata by far surpasses the Ramayana. The great warriors no longer remain aliens fighting a space odyssey, but people like us, people who think and feel the way we think and feel. And through this realization, our heart bleeds for Karna's misery; our hatred ignites to see Dusshasan's atrocities and our conscience cries against Bhishma's helplessness.

Traditionalists might argue religiously that the aim of this epic is to spread the lessons of the Bhagavatgeeta, but in fact, the book is much larger and much greater than that inspiring speech attributed to Krishna. The Mahabharata is more than just the history of a family feud. It's a reflection of life itself. And like life, its appeal is eternal.