# The Condensed Mahabharata of Vyasa

- Link: https://writersworkshopindia.com/2015/07/09/the-condensed-mahabharata-of-vyasa/
- Published: 2015-07-09T17:01:12+00:00
- Author: admin

4.7/5 - (6 votes)

**Transcreator:** P. Lal[⌊A sample cover of the book: brown handloom sari with gold embossed nameplate and lettering for the title and author's name. The border of the sari lines the right hand margin of the cover.⌉](https://writersworkshopindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/The-Condensed-Mahabharata-of-Vyasa.jpg)
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Pages:** 478 **Year of Publication:** First published 1980, Third edition 2010 (
Revised and Corrected) **Price:** HB Rs 600, FB Rs 400 **ISBN:** HB 978-81-8157-
955-3 (9788181579553) FB 978-81-8157-956-0 (9788181579560)

**Teaser**
 Here is an excerpt from P. Lal’s preface:

“There are many condensed versions in English of the _Mahabharata_ of Vyasa but 
the only one that can be called a translation is Dr. V. Raghavan’s rendering which,
by shortening the 100,000 shloka epic to about 2,000 shlokas, is microscopic in 
its compression. My aim has been to re-tell the story of the Kurukshetra war at 
greater length but always in Vyasa’s own words, without simplifying, interpreting,
or elaborating. I have selected only such shlokas as formed a continuous narrative,
leaving out the large clutch of sub-stories, legends, peripheral digressions and
other tangential material that is fascinating by itself but not absolutely relevant
to the tale of the Kaurava-Pandava conflict. I have stressed incidents and episodes
with dramatic qualities which provided illuminating entries into the complex motivation
of the _Mahabharata_‘s main characters.”