The Mahabharata, in combination with its sister epic the Ramayana, emobodies the quintessence of our national consciousness, unity and great cultural heritage. These two great works together constitute the biggest single source of Indian poetry, philosophy, drama, fiction, music, sculpture, painting, folklore and other forms of creative expression. Since ancient and hoary past these epics have been read, recited, enacted and told in story forms throughout the length and breadth of India. These were translated and transcreated from the original Sanskrit, in most of Indian languages within a few centuries of their composition. These traveled to distant lands and countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Java, Sumatra, Vietnam, Burma, etc., in the early centuries of the Christian era. A work of great genius, like the Mahabharata belongs to the entire humanity, and not only to India and her people. It transcends all sectarian, institutionalized, religious, region and such other boundaries. A follower of any religion or country would not find anything wrong in reading, reciting, listening to, enjoying and learning form this great ancient literary and philosophical creation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR B.R. Kishore
It is a well established fact that Vedas are the oldest form of written books in our literature. Vedas contain the priceless teachings to human life forever. These preachings make us understand to discriminate between the permanent and the transient, the good and the evil. Vedas have been the gems of wisdom to mankind-the eternal values of life: how to be a perfect human being, to see self in all creations, and to treat all objects equal. Vedas convey the greatest doctrine of brotherhood and universality in the present scenario: Melt all illusory differences. Remove all barriers that separate man for man. Embrace all for the self is the same. This treatise is a compilation of all the four Vedas-Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda-in an easy-to-understandable language and simple diction for the common readers. The Vedas are the oldest known religions, philosophical and literary monuments of mankind. The term Veda signifies sacred knowledge, lore and wisdom. These most ancient documents of Indian thought, culture and sacred lore pave the path of final release (Moksha) through righteousness. As such, their message and significance cut across all the possible boundaries of country, caste, creed and age. They are universal in their meaning and appeal, and belong to the whole humanity as well as for all ages. What constitutes Vedic lore stands aloft in its splendour like the Pole Star shedding the divine light for the onward progress of entire humanity. The four Vedas-Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda-are traditionally termed Trayi or Triple Vidya (three-fold Knowledge) because they deal with Jnan (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion) and Karma (Action), They are in prose, verse and songs. The Rigveda underlines the path of Jnan, the Samveda that of Bhakti, the Yajurveda that of Karma. The Atharvaveda represents a synthesis of the three. Te Vedas form the foundation of Indian religious, philosophical and cultural systems and observances. Indian culture and civilization has survived the ruthless ravages of time all these centuries only because it is based on the rock foundation of the wisdom of the Vedas.
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