# The Mahabharata of Vyasa: Condensed from Sanskrit and transcreated into English (2nd Edition)

- Link: https://writersworkshopindia.com/2015/07/09/the-mahabharata-of-vyasa-condensed-from-sanskrit-and-transcreated-into-english-2nd-edition/
- Published: 2015-07-09T16:59:07+00:00
- Author: admin

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[[**Author:** P. Lal (transcreator)[⌊A sample cover of the book: dark olive green 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.jpeg)
 **Pages:**
478 **Year of Publication:** First published 1980, Second edition 2006 **Price:**
HB Rs 400 **ISBN:** 81-8157-444-3 (8181574443)

_**About the Book**_

> “There are many condensed versions in English of the _Mahābhārata_ of Vyāsa but
> the only one that can be called a translation is Dr. V. Raghavan’s rendering which,
> by shortening the 100,000 śhloka epic to about 2,000 śhlokas, is microscopic in
> its compression. My aim has been to re-tell the story of the Kurukshetra war at
> greater length but always in Vyāsa’s own words, without simplifying, interpreting,
> or elaborating. I have selected only such śhlokas 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-Pāndava conflict.
>  
> I have stressed incidents and episodes with dramatic qualities which provided 
> illuminating entries into the complex motivation of the _Mahābhārata_‘s main characters.”

P. Lal, in his preface