INDIA IS FAMOUS as the land of great variety-be it food, clothing, customs, or languages. But there are also many things that unite the people of India. The two great epics-Ramayana and Mahabharata are the common language of Bhaarata; something that brings everyone together, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kutch to Kamarupa. In fact, 'Bhaarata,' which is the traditional name for India, comes from King Bharata, the son of Shakuntala and Dushyanta-and the great war of the Mahabharata was fought between the descendants of this King Bharata.
For thousands of years, the Mahabharata has been a hugely popular work. What is the reason for such widespread respect and admiration for the epic? What is the miracle of this epic that makes us read it, discuss it with family and friends, think about its characters and situations, and read it once again with fresh vigour? What makes us revisit the Mahabharata every few years, only to find newer insights and revelations?
The answer to these questions may be found in the epic itself. It will be difficult to proceed without understanding the meaning of these four words: dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. Together, they are the four cardinal values of ancient India.
Dharma is the principle of sustainability. It is defined as 'that which supports everything. It is the universal compromise between individuals and society for peaceful co-existence. We can define dharma as 'the harmony in the world that sustains greater good. Dharma can also mean 'righteousness, "virtue, "moral, "law, "duty, "state,' etc.
Artha refers to 'the means to fulfil our desires. Often, it refers to 'wealth,' which is one of the most straightforward ways to achieve what we want.
Kama is 'desire' or 'the enjoyment we experience when our desires are fulfilled.'
Moksha refers to 'the ultimate release from all troubles.' Going beyond fear and desire leads us to moksha. We may define it as 'a state of supreme bliss that is continuous and does not depend on any external source.'
Coming back to the Mahabharata, it is an encyclopaedic work that entertains us, inspires us, educates us, and guides us. And if we spend enough time with it, the great epic can even enlighten us.
Vedas (1180)
Upanishads (493)
Puranas (624)
Ramayana (741)
Mahabharata (357)
Dharmasastras (164)
Goddess (497)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1503)
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Shiva (370)
Journal (187)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (362)
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