Was Mahabharata a World War? An Analysis

Was Mahabharata a World War? An Analysis

Mahabharata a World War

Apart from Mahabharata’s popular narration of the victory of good over evil, ‘Mahabharata: A World War’ has 2 primary themes.

This book authenticates the events mentioned in Mahabharata by associating them with over 400 present-day locations. These places are complemented with folktales too. Mahabharata mentions many places that are spread worldwide proving it was not a local battle. Tribes like the Turkic-Greeks, African Berbers, Chinese, and many others fought against the Pandava-s. While the Mongols, Tibetans, and a few others were with the Pandava-s. Chapters are summarized with maps for better visualization.

Secondly, here you can learn about many lesser-known but related legends from 24 other Hindu scriptures. These stories add important dimensions to the epic. For example, Bhagavata Purana declares that reading its chronicles of God Krishna will clean and calm your mind. This book challenges the misconception that Krishna played the role of a shrewd politician.

There is also a wrong notion about discrimination against Ekalvaya. Harivansha Purana describes that he was born to a Yadava nobleman and given in adoption to his Nishada friend. There are also tales of Bhima’s aerial flight to Lanka, and Yudhishthira and Arjuna’s visits to Rameshwaram. ‘Mahabharata: A World War’ quotes Skanda Purana’s elaboration of Khaatu Shyam’s life. There are many more anecdotes.

Mahabharata is a vast scripture that some may find quite lengthy to read. This book recaps even minor and relevant events narrated in the grand classic. For example, discover which Asura-s and Rakshasa-s reincarnated as some of the kings who allied with the Kaurava-s. Also, Karna learnt under Guru Drona along with the Pandava-s and Kaurava-s. Karna kidnapped Kalinga’s Princess Bhanumati against her wishes for Duryodhana. This dents the wrong narrative about injustice done to him.

During Yudhishthira’s Rajasooya yagnya, the Romans and Chinese were denied entry in his court. Further, this book meticulously maps how Nakula subdued Ramath (present-day Jerusalem) and Arjuna went as far as East Turkestan (near Mongolia). One may wonder how the ancient Hindu kings travelled so far to establish Dharma (righteousness). The answer is ‘Uttara patha’ which is mapped in detail from ancient Hindu scriptures. This northern highway predates the ‘fabled’ Silk route by thousands of years.

The epic Mahabharata is incomplete without its spiritual aspect. This book covers Purushartha (the meaning of life) in detail. Purushartha includes Dharma (virtue), artha (wealth), kaama (desires), and moksha (freedom from rebirths).

Markandeya Purana calls Mahabharata a moksha shastra. In this book, you can also absorb the essence of the eternal Bhagavad Geeta.

Extract from page 47, Mahabharata: A World War:

Jarasandha assembles a huge army. To attack Mathura, Jarasandha prepares 13 akshauhini-s (अƗौिहणी, akṣauhinī). These military phalanxes include allies who are jealous of Krishna’s prowess:26

1. Hastinapura’s Prince Duryodhana

2. Vidarbha’s King Bhishmaka and Prince Rukmi

3. Ujjaina’s kings Vinda (Vinda) and Anuvinda

4. Kashmira’s King Gonanda

5. Sindhu’s King Jayadratha

6. Madra’s King Shalya

7. Bahlika’s Bhurishravas

8. Gandhara’s King Subala (Shakuni’s father)

9. Chedi’s King Damaghosha (Shishupala’s father)

10. Panchala’s King Drupada

11. Nishada’s King Ekalavya

12. Pundra’s King Vasudeva (different from Yadava King Vasudeva)

13. Karusha’s King Dantavakra and his brother Viduratha

14. Saubha’s King Shalwa

15. Pragjyotisha’s Bhagadatta, lord of the Yavana-s

16. Other kings from Kerala, Pandya, Kaikeya, Trigarta, Kaushambi, Banga, Kalinga, Kashi, and Kirata-s.

Jarasandha’s troops attack Mathura but are defeated by Krishna, Balarama, and their minimal Yadava army. Krishna avoids fighting Jarasandha on the battlefield due to Rishi Chandakaushika’s boon. Jarasandha returns to Magadha as his time has not run out and he awaits a different destiny.

Though Jarasandha lost, the determined tyrant kept trying many times to finish off Balarama and Krishna. Balarama and Krishna succeed in finishing off Magadha’s 2 heroic generals Hamsa and Dimbaka. During one of those raids, Krishna kills the hot-headed Ekalavya. Balarama slays Jarasandha’s ally Kashmira’s King Gonanda. Jarasandha is unsuccessful in all his 17 attacks on Mathura.27

The book ‘Mahabharata: A World War’ is readable as it is in a simple language. Hari bol.

Featured image sourced from Google.

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