Free Essays on Mahabharata

The â€Å"Mahabharata† holds a place of special revere in Indian society. An ancient tale, thousands of years old, it inspires poets, writers, and artists across the globe. Its creator is unknown, expect as the mythic figure of Vyasa, a poet and seer who appears in the verses he is supposed to have written. Likely the poem was authored by countless writers who grafted its many tales and moral stories onto the skeleton of this epic tale of the five brothers. Foremost among these brothers is Yudhishthria, the eldest. He was born to be a king. A pillar of morality, intelligence, restraint, and confidence, but he possessed a small weakness, his love of fortune. He is a gambler at heart, or else he longs to test his luck at the throw of the dice in order to escape from the walls of sacred duty that surrounds him. Yudhishthira is the model Hindu hero. He encapsulates the tenets of this great religion, and is so well-versed in them that they have become part of his soul, one that is immortal, destined to eternal joy in India’s heaven. Still, he has a price to pay. He must lead his brothers in battle. Fight the great war of the Bharatas, the â€Å"Mahabharata.† Dharma, one’s sacred duty, is truly the subject of the Mahabharata. Called a monstrosity by some critics because of its sheer size, the national epic of India nevertheless has a consistency of vision. Employing the numerous voices of varied storytellers, priest, demons, and heroes, the poem describes the Hindu ideal of scared duty. Similar ideas can be found in western philosophy. As mentioned in â€Å"The Republic†, Plato’s conception of the ideal state placed each individual in his or her specific place in society, each with duties and responsibilities that assure happiness for everyone. The Greek philosopher also elaborated an idea of the transmigration of the soul, reincarnation or samara. The ancient Indians knew of the existence of the Greeks... Free Essays on Mahabharata Free Essays on Mahabharata The â€Å"Mahabharata† holds a place of special revere in Indian society. An ancient tale, thousands of years old, it inspires poets, writers, and artists across the globe. Its creator is unknown, expect as the mythic figure of Vyasa, a poet and seer who appears in the verses he is supposed to have written. Likely the poem was authored by countless writers who grafted its many tales and moral stories onto the skeleton of this epic tale of the five brothers. Foremost among these brothers is Yudhishthria, the eldest. He was born to be a king. A pillar of morality, intelligence, restraint, and confidence, but he possessed a small weakness, his love of fortune. He is a gambler at heart, or else he longs to test his luck at the throw of the dice in order to escape from the walls of sacred duty that surrounds him. Yudhishthira is the model Hindu hero. He encapsulates the tenets of this great religion, and is so well-versed in them that they have become part of his soul, one that is immortal, destined to eternal joy in India’s heaven. Still, he has a price to pay. He must lead his brothers in battle. Fight the great war of the Bharatas, the â€Å"Mahabharata.† Dharma, one’s sacred duty, is truly the subject of the Mahabharata. Called a monstrosity by some critics because of its sheer size, the national epic of India nevertheless has a consistency of vision. Employing the numerous voices of varied storytellers, priest, demons, and heroes, the poem describes the Hindu ideal of scared duty. Similar ideas can be found in western philosophy. As mentioned in â€Å"The Republic†, Plato’s conception of the ideal state placed each individual in his or her specific place in society, each with duties and responsibilities that assure happiness for everyone. The Greek philosopher also elaborated an idea of the transmigration of the soul, reincarnation or samara. The ancient Indians knew of the existence of the Greeks...