Mahabharata Book Five (Volume 1)

The Pndavas believe they have completed the terms of their exile, though Durydhana claims that they did not live unknown for the full thirteenth year, since rjuna was recognized in the battle at the end of the preceding book, Virta. While the Pndavas and Kurus make their preparations for war they organize a series of embassies to negotiate peace. This volume constantly highlights the inevitability of conflict and the futility of negotiation. Most characters are concerned that war between family cannot fail to be sinful. Contained herein is the Sanatsujatya, a philosophical passage to rival the Bhagavadgita. Like the Bhagavadgita, the Sanatsujatya tells that karma will not chain one in the cycle of rebirth, if one refrains from desire. Through understanding the truth of non-duality, that the world is mere illusion, one is subsumed into eternal existence with Brahman. Co-published by New York University Press and the JJC Foundation For more on this title and other titles in the Clay Sanskrit series, please visit http://www.claysanskritlibrary.org