Mahabharata Unravelled - II (The Dharma Discourses)

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The first volume of Mahabharata Unravelled covered the itihasa of our ancestors true to the narration of Rishi Veda Vyasa. But the Mahabharata is more than a story of the past. It has extensive discourses on ethics, personal and social interaction, administration, jurisprudence and related topics, in the form of conversations. For instance, the Shanti Parva, the longest of the 18 parvas, is a treatise on Raja Dharma. Advice on the responsibilities and duties of leaders and administrators is imparted to Yudhishthira by Bhishma from his bed of arrows on the battlefield. Then there is a profound dialogue between Dhritarashtra and the erudite Vidura that appears in Udyoga Parva, popularly known as Vidura Niti. Likewise, there is a thought-provoking story Rishi Markandeya narrates to the Pandavas of a meat-seller who teaches dharma to a Brahmin named Kaushika.

In Mahabharata Unravelled-I/ Ami Ganatra highlights the most important lessons from the Dharma discourses found in the Mahabharata. Their teachings hold true even in current times, perhaps more so than ever.

Author Ami Ganatra debunks myths, quashes popular notions and offers insights into such aspects not commonly known or erroneously known, based solely on facts as narrated in Vyasa's Mahabharata from generally accepted authentic sources. For a history of such prominence and influence as the Mahabharata, it is important to get the story right. So pick this book up, sit back and unveil the lesser-known facts and truths about the great epic.

AMI GANATRA is an alumna of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). A management professional, she is also a devout yoga practitioner, a certified yoga instructor, and a student of Sanskrit and Indian knowledge systems.

In my first book, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser- Known Facets of a Well-Known History, I covered the life stories, the itihasa, of our ancestors as narrated by Rishi Veda Vyasa. But the Mahabharata is more than just a story of the past. Tradition accords it the status of a Dharmashastra.

What Are Dharmashastras?

The immediate question that may be asked is, 'What is Dharma?' I have covered the meaning and essence of Dharma in the essay 'What is Dharma?' in the introduction of Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser- Known Facets of a Well-Known History, so I will refrain from repeating the details here.