Purusartha- A Reflection on the Lives of Characters of the Mahabharata

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THE characters in the Mahabharata, despite their much discoursed bearings, elicit a peculiar extraordinariness. Their uniqueness signals our reflection because it conveys certain values and universal truths for us to comprehend the meaning of our existence and develop astuteness towards our socio-political conducts. For various reasons, the Mahabharata has always intrigued Indian and international audience. Our common beliefs and understanding of the epic and its characters come from popular cultures such as television adaptations or stories and literary interpretations. But, in the vast textual ocean which Vyasa has composed, there is never a dearth of newer dimensions waiting to be explored. There are more depths and complexities to each character than what meets the eye. By today's social and political standards, these characters might raise moral and ethical issues and debates, however, their answers are somewhere interred in the narrative framework of the epic that has to be delved into.

Four years ago, when I began my journey of writing on one of the greatest Indian epics, the Mahabharata, I had little idea on the theme or subject I would choose for my writings. The works of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusion, (2008) and Irawati Karve's Yuganta (2007) unfolded before me the sensitive and emotional face of the characters and their struggles. This inspired me to further explore and understand the characters and come closer to the truths of their conducts and situations. While I was still in the process of reading the Mahabharata, I was recommended Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's poetic composition, Rashmirathi (1952). Dinkar's masterpiece greatly moved me and I commenced my journey as a writer by seeking reasons and answers for Karņa's tragic projection in the epic. I observed that despite a plethora of essays written on him, there were still lacunae which needed representation and voice. In the process, I was acquainted with scholarship that helped me in developing more ideas and drawing connections with the Mahabharata. Michael Sandel's Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?' (2009) paved way for the second chapter on Yudhisthira. The proceeding chapters were an effort of my four years of reading and re-reading of the epic and reflecting on the why and how of circuitous stories, situations and actions. The final addition to the book was the chapter, "All Beginning Must Come to an End". While I wrote this chapter at the end, I gauged it best to place it in the book's beginning as it lays important foundation for understanding the epic and the manner in which I have perceived the characters.

Vyasa's ingenuity does not offer us readymade truths but gives us the freedom to explore the epic and delve into the many layers within which he wraps his stories and its truths. We all must find our own truth and the Mahabharata gives us the space for expounding it. This further helped me in drawing intertextual references and delineate the epic's relatedness with the other Indic scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Rāmacaritamānasa and Devi Mahatmya.

I decided to name my book Puruşārtha. In the Indic thought, puruşăārtha is defined by the four basic means of man's existence on earth, viz. dharma (responsibilities), artha (money), kama (desires) and moksa (salvation). The characters from the Mahabharata whom I have carefully analysed define purusartha for me. They offer us some of the greatest life lessons by showing us the importance of striking a balance amongst the four elements of purusartha even in the face of adversities. This balance is what forms the basis of order both within and without.

IF CHANGE is the only constant, truth is the only static. The Mahabharata (Mbh) is considered one of the seminal Indian Sastras that has sought attention in academic discourses, scholarships and media. One is inevitably familiarized with its stories and characters that have been an integral part of the Indian cultural milieu and psyche since eons. But the more one familiarizes oneself with the text, the more one traverses surface meanings and gets acquainted with the truth and themes that are universal in nature. These reasons make the Mahabharata part of a living tradition that has kept its readers engaged and viewers curious since time immemorial. The epic has stories within stories and narratives within narratives, all waiting to be delayered and each time one dives into the vast ocean of the epic, newer truths are unfolded and fresh possibilities revealed. The beauty of these stories and brilliantly formulated narratives lies in the subjective spaces they offer to all individuals, who, from any walk of life, situation and context can expound for themselves the right course of action and conduct. Thus, the Mahabharata does not merely provide us a dramatic plot with coincidental encounters of characters and situations. Quite the contrary, it familiarizes us with ourselves better and shapes our understanding of our social, political environs more articulately.

The purpose of writing the book Purusartha is to carefully study characters from the epic and through them redefine the concept of dharma, polity, heroism, androgyny and liberation The book directly connects the readers and their social settings to these concepts, offering unique perspectives through which they can reflect upon their lives and acquire clearer, more prudent insights into their individual and socio-political attitudes and conduct. In the process, many stereotypical beliefs concerning these characters have been demythified and controversial yet pertinent questions that have centred around them, their actions and decisions have been answered. Unlike previous scholarships that have stressed on the susceptibility of characters (in the epic) towards committing humanly mistakes and erroneous judgements, puruşārtha argues that despite their human-like fallacies, these characters delineate brilliance and extraordinariness in dealing with challenges and struggles that come their way. Their struggles are commonplace but the choices made and actions taken to deal with them offer significant and universal life lessons.

The difference between the terms sastra and sastra technically rests on their separation by a mere vowel. But moving beyond the phonetics, the two bear etymological distinctions: sastra gives one power and money, while sastra takes one beyond these. It elevates an individual in matters of higher consciousness and offers liberation. A meaningful approach to the purport of a sastra is what takes Purusartha in the Mahabharata beyond surface meanings and quintessential interpretations. The chapters herein draw upon intertextual references from other equally important Indic scriptures. Consequently, this makes the characters more relevant than before as they unravel extraordinary dimensions and meanings. In a simple tone and language, there are relatable parallels drawn with current scenarios, making this book a comprehensive read and accessible to a readership and academia interested in expounding the hidden truths and meanings in the Mahabharata.