Mahabharater Chhoy Prabin by Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri [Hardcover]

The Mahabharata, with its vast narrative, is as compelling as the diverse and vividly portrayed characters within it. While legendary figures like Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Karna, Duryodhana, Shakuni, Draupadi, and Kunti dominate the epic, there exist other significant yet often overlooked characters whose deeper exploration adds a new dimension to its understanding.

In this study, the author focuses on the elderly figures of the Mahabharata, whose wisdom, dilemmas, and actions shape the course of the epic. These include Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Dhritarashtra, Vidura, and Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa.

• Bhishma, despite his old age, remains youthful in spirit. He arranges his father’s marriage, abducts princesses for his half-brother, and upholds his vow with unparalleled devotion.
• Dronacharya, born of a celestial nymph, chooses the life of a warrior despite his Brahmin heritage and becomes the royal teacher of Hastinapura.
• Kripacharya, a lifelong dependent, remains in Drona’s shadow, ultimately assisting in the massacre of Draupadi’s sons.
• Dhritarashtra, the blind king, is a complex figure—his inner conflicts and moral dilemmas make him one of the most intriguing and psychologically layered characters in the epic.
• Vidura, on the other hand, is calm, righteous, and unshaken by the luxuries of the royal court. His life is a testament to resistance against injustice.

Above all, there is Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, the sage and the very composer of the Mahabharata. His role extends beyond that of a storyteller—he actively influences the lineage of the Kuru dynasty and remains intertwined with the fate of the Kauravas and Pandavas.

Through meticulous analysis, the author reinterprets these timeless characters, presenting them in a way that resonates with the modern reader, uncovering their internal struggles, moral complexities, and profound philosophical undertones.