The Mahābhārata: An Inquiry in the Human ConditionThis book is a scholarly treatise on the subject of Indian philosophy and is also written by one of its foremost and most well-known proponents. Chaturvedi Badrinath shows that the Mahabharata is the most systematic inquiry into the human condition. Badrinath shows that the concerns of the Mahabharata are the concerns of everyday life––of dharma, artha, kama and moksha. This book dispels several false claims about what is today known as ‘Hinduism’ to show us how individual liberty and knowledge, freedom, equality, and the celebration of love, friendship and relationships are integral to the philosophy of the Mahabharata, because they are integral to human life. What sets this book apart from others is that Badrinath has used more than 500 Sanskrit shlokas, which he has translated himself to illustrate his arguments. Secondly, his approach to Hindu philosophy is one based in humanism, rather than in divisive politics. |
Common terms and phrases
acts anger answer Anushāsana-parva arise asks attributes become begins Bhishma body brāhmaṇa brings called cause concerning condition conduct context conversation created death desire destroyed dharma discipline effort energy equally everything existence fact father fear feelings force forgiveness foundation freedom functions given giving governance greater greed happen happiness heart human Ibid individual keep killed kind king knowledge learning living look Mahābhārata material means mind moksha mother nature never one's pain person philosophy physical pleasure prosperity protect providence question reason regard relation relationships remain respect sage says seek seen sense sexual Shanti-parva shows social speak speech story suffering things thought true truth turn understanding universal Vana-parva violence voice weak wealth wife woman women wrong Yudhishthira अनुशासन वन वा वै शान्ति हि