Mahabharata by William Buck
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Book Reviews of Mahabharata
Book Review: Buck's Mahabharata
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember reading Buck's version of Mahabharata sometime in 1998-99. While its true that it does not fully conform to the widely accepted plots as known to us through other versions- there in lies the beauty. Most of the old Indian literature use to pass on from one generation to another by word-of-mouth; as stories from parents, uncles and teachers. It was only much later that they started to get documented(Its estimated that they were in existence for over a 1000 years before they started getting documented somewhere in the 3rd or 4th century AD). Therefore whenever you talk about any of these epic's you always prefix the author's name, as in "Valmiki's Ramayana" or "Vyasya's Mahabharata". There are versions and they all differ a bit! With all the inaccuracies, mentioned by other reviewers, you may just call this a Buck's Mahabharata. The supposed factual inaccuracies do not in anyway diminish the author's work.
As with all epics, every time you read or hear the stories again, you get a new insight into the characters and what the story is trying to tell.
The reason I still remember Buck's version of the Mahabharat, even after so many years is because something very dramatic happened to me when I was reading it, in one of the most unlikely portion of this epic battle- it was the scene of Duryodhana's death.
As far as Aswatthama was concerned, it was not possible for Duryodhana to be slain - as he said he could even reconcile to Drona's(Aswatthama's father, their teacher and a great warrior himself) death in the battle field...but how could Duryodhana die!
(Duryodhana) "...I lived like a God; whatever I wanted was easily mine. What man in the world would not wish in his secret heart to be free from laws and rules, able to follow himself whatever the cost, able to do whatever he will? Krishna(God) could not tempt me to peace."
Duryodhana was a learned man. He knew he could never win against Krishna(God). Yet he was (as we all are perhaps) born with a death wish; determined to challenge God.
As I said, every time you read these epics(again and again) you learn and discover something new! Duryodhana's character as shown in his dying stages, in this version, opened a new meaning of life, death, desire, good, bad, evil and ego that I had not understood, through Duryodhana's character, before! My whole view of Mahabharata has changed since then!
Buck's description of Aswatthama's inability to come to terms with Duryodhana's fall in the battle field was surprisingly (and unexpectedly) overwhelming for me! As I read Aswatthama break down in front of a dying Duryodhana, reading alone in my apartment in New Jersey(I almost remember that evening 10 years ago), I suddenly realised I was trying to choke back that lump in my throat. I distinctly remember a tear in my eye.
I am otherwise not a very emotional person, and I had not anticipated this, certainly not in an English translation of the Mahabharata. It was as if emotions just sneaked up on me! To me that experience was itself worth the book and qualifies it as a great narration!
Definitely recommended!
Book Review: "Once Hearing This, Who Can Bear Listening to Other Stories?"
Summary: 5 Stars
India has two great Epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, which have influenced popular Hinduism more over the last 2,000 years than the Sacred Scriptures, the Vedas, themselves.
The Ramayana tells of how Sri Rama, helped by the monkey/god Hanuman, rescues his wife Sita, kidnapped by the demon Ravana and held captive in his fortress on Sri Lanka. The Mahabharata is a more complex tale of war, betrayal, thoughtless oaths and the tragedies of loyalty.
The Ramayana is a literary epic, shapely and polished.
The Mahabharata is a titanic, sprawling miscellany, filling half a shelf on a book-case. Complete sets gather dust and nourish weevils in University Libraries.
In what was both a labour of love and a virtuoso feat, William Buck distilled the pure story into one small magical paperback. Sure, it's a beginner's version, but most of us are beginners at Hindu epic. This is a book that makes all fantasy fiction look lame. It is as enchanting as "The Lord of the Rings" and as credible as "All Quiet on the Western Front." The giddying intricacy of the plot is the organic intricacy of a fern unfolding, not the mechanical intricacy of a thriller. It took generations and a whole civilisation to create this book. There are not many like it.
In two words. Read it. If you have children of 9, 10 or older, get them to read it, buy it on CD, download it, or read it to them. Friends, neighbours, people you bump into at the supermarket, get them to read it. Traditionally, reading the Mahabharata was believed to convey a blessing, like performing a religious rite. I can't think of any reason to doubt it.
Book Review: AS MAGNIFICENT AS HIS TRANSLATION OF RAMAYANA
Summary: 5 Stars
There will always be grounds for criticising a translation of an epic as vast as Mahabharata - and some of the other reviewers have expressed those criticisms - changes in detail (who did what to whom), the reduction of the Gita to a single sentence, and so on.
But to those who understand the poem, the allegory, the philosophy of this mighty tale, Buck captures the essence as wonderfully as he does in his translation of the Ramayana..
The real significance of both these superlative pieces is in the hidden messages, pearls of wisdom, hints about the nature of the world we live in and those unseen ones we know little about. If there are depths to these ancient, universal epics that Buck has not probed, if there are pearls he has not uncovered, I do not know them either.
These epics were written as poems - Sanskrit itself is a language in which small phrases contain universes of wisdom, susceptible to misinterpretation just like the parables of Jesus (by his own admission... eg. see Matthew, Chapter 8, paras 10-13). These are not works to be read quickly or taken lightly...... but to be slowly, sweetly digested. Buck understands the poetry and gives us that poetry in his own words, better than any other English translation I have read. Poetry cannot be rushed, it cannot be swallowed down like a Big Mac and fries. This is serious stuff, wonderful stuff... and it may take a lifetime to fully appreciate it.
Book Review: Not for the Scholarly anyway
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far the best written English version of this epic; William Buck strives for the essence and feeling of the text, not a scholarly literal translation that is archived elsewhere and is inaccessible to the many. There are other reviewers who criticise Buck's rendition for this very reason, however Buck never intended his rendition to BE scholarly, and as for the differences in the content mentioned elsewhere, it must be understood that there isn't any one version of the story, and instead Buck's approach was to develop the characters themselves and THEN the essence and spirit of the story, focusing on what the lessons and values instead of tedious accuracy.
Bottom line: If you know Sanskrit, go elsewhere as this wasn't meant for you. If you don't, and want the essence and spirit of this great epic; Buck rules supreme.
Book Review: William Buck's version of the Mahabharata
Summary: 5 Stars
I looked at excerpts from various retellings of the Mahabharata story before purchasing Buck's version and that of R. K. Narayan. The latter gives an adequate, well-told resumé of the story. In addition, it includes a genealogical table and a pronouncing dictionary of principal characters. But Buck's version is more complete and -- especially -- more enthralling. I can't speak for the original, but Buck's version possesses the magic of old tales retold. After all, the Mahabharata was originally passed down orally. Buck's version captures all the spontaneity of such a tradion, as well as the thrill of the story and the poetry of the narration. A great story, well told.