94 Quotes from The Mahabharata: Translated by R.K. Narayan
Foreword
“Poets have told it before, and are telling it now, and will tell it… What is here, about piety, profit, and pleasure, is found elsewhere, but what is not here is nowhere else.” - Mahabharata 1.1.23 and 1.56.33
There is no single Mahabharata.
“What is the greatest mystery?” Yudishthira replies, “Day after day and hour after hour, people die and corpses are carried along, yet the onlookers never realize that they are also to die one day, but think they will live forever. This is the greatest wonder of the world.”
Introduction
Eight times longer than the Iliad and the Odyssey put together.
There can, however, be no such thing as a final statement on the Mahabharata.
The geographical locations, such as Hastinapura and Kurukshetra, are still extant in the northern-most part of India.
“The lamp of history illumines the whole mansion of the womb of Nature.” - Vyasa
Chapter 1: The Eighth Baby
Once of a vow is made, it’s eternal.
A beautiful child will be born to Ambika. He’ll rule this country, but he will be blind since Ambika shut her eyes during conception.
The mantra is not to be trifled with.
Chapter 2: Enter - The Players
Don’t you realize that time changes everything?
I will give you back half your kingdom, unasked. The other half I will keep and rule so that we may remain equals. I will always be your friend; I have no doubt about it.
Chapter 3: House of Joy and Ashes
Keep your teeth sharp enough to give a fatal bite at any moment.
One who understands his enemy can never be hurt.
The wanderer may know the direction by the stars and survive by firmness of mind.
Remember the jackal emerges from many mini outlets.
Chapter 4: Bride for Five
Drupada had performed prayers and sacrifices, and from the sacrificial fire arose a son and a daughter.
Don’t make too much from an inadvertent bit of advice.
We cannot go back on the command of a mother.
In the vision of a God there is no joking, everything works according to a scheme.
Chapter 5: Uncle’s Gift
He had no mind of his own.
Don’t let your past error continue and take you down the path of annihilation.
It is said in all our shatsras that quick action and force alone can eliminate a threat.
Chapter 6: City of Splendour
I shall not utter any word that may create differences among persons. Harsh words and arguments are at the very root of every conflict in the world.
One who does not feel angered at the rise and prosperity of his enemies is like a mud effigy without any feeling.
Jealousy is normal, legitimate emotion.
Put up a lotus pond so still that people may want to walk on it.
It is against the warrior’s code to refuse when invited to play a game. I will come.
Chapter 7: Stakes Unmatched
Gambling itself is not harmful, but it becomes a vice when deceit is employed.
There can be no such thing as deceit in a game.
The real evil is the stake; one who stakes irresponsibly and blindly commits a sin.
Playing by proxy is not permissible.
You follow your conscience and I will follow mine.
The question of morality is difficult to answer.
The God responded.
Chapter 8: Wandering
Reciting a hymn in his praise, he uttered his 108 names, standing in knee-deep water and fasting.
As the sick man detests the medicine given to him, so did the king hate the words of advice I uttered.
“Please take back your curse.””That I can’t, once uttered.”
You should never forgive a devil, but destroy him without leaving a trace.
Anger is at all times destructive, and I will not admit that there could be any occasion for its exercise.
Everyone worships peace.
I do what seems to be right only because it is the only way.
Man should decide on his course of action and accomplish it with the instrument of intelligence.
I have given my word… Nothing else matters.
Chapter 9: Hundred Questions
“Who is the friend of the exile?“ “The companion on the way.“
“Who is the friend of one about to die?”” the charity done in one’s lifetime.“
“What is one’s highest duty?““ To refrain from injury.“
Pride, if renounced, makes one agreeable; anger, if renounced, brings no regret; desire, renounced, will make one rich; avarice, if renounced, brings one happiness.
True tranquility is up the heart.
Mercy may be defined as wishing happiness to all creatures.
Ignorance is not knowing one’s duties.
Wickedness consists in speaking ill of others.
“What is a true Brahmin? By birth or study or conduct?“”Not by birth, but by knowledge of the scriptures and right conduct.”
A Brahmin born to the caste, even if he has mastered the Veda’s, must be viewed as of the lowest caste if his heart is impure.
One who has scanty means but is free from debt; he is a truly happy man.
The Path is what the great ones have trod. When one looks for it, one will not find it by study of scriptures or arguments, which are contradictory and conflicting.
Servitude
When my conch is blown, its sound always makes my enemies tremble, but you are no enemy, be calm.
The arrows at my ears were to convey Arjuna‘s salutations and the arrows at my feet are his homage. This is the language of arrows.
Those who are in authority, naturally act with unreasonable severity when they are angry.
War or Peace?
Perhaps because you are of the priestly class and employ words as a weapon.
The entire universe and all nature functions and keeps life growing only by a proper balance of action and reaction. Otherwise, creation will collapse.
Do not pursue a line of action, which is clearly unjust; happiness lies only in doing the right action.
He whom the gods wish to destroy will first be deprived of his good sense, and then he will stoop to perform the worst act.
Man is not a disposer of his destiny. The Creator has made man a slave to fate.
Many the Lawgiver has classified 17 kinds of foolish men, such as those who strike the air with their fist or attempt to bend the rainbow.
I cannot escape fate, which will finally drag me where it will.
The soul that is constantly being affected by the pursuit of objects and experiences becomes clouded.
I am tied to the wheel of time, I cannot fly away from it.
Why will a strong man ask for less?
Half a world is enough kingdom for you.
Action
You will say it is the duty of a kshatriya (warrior). Alas, I curse being born in this caste. The waves of violence never cease.
Victory creates animosity.
If I have to face the whole world, I will not flinch.
The scriptures declare that it is a sin to kill a harmless person, and the same scriptures declare that not to kill one who deserves it as a sin.
The day is coming. Do not fear.
You only plan to win Krishna‘s support with all your bribes. You will not succeed. Give him rather what he comes for… Peace and justice.
One should accept food only if one is desperate or loves the person who offers it. I am in no desperation. Nor have you endeared yourself to me by any act of yours.
You are gifted and brilliant, but you must have discrimination and understand right and wrong.
Fate, fate, what can one do? My blessings and farewell.
Hesitant Hero
You are stricken with grief at the thought of those who deserve no consideration.
One should realize the deathlessness of the soul encased in the perishable physical body.
These men who stand before you are already slain through their own karma, you will be only an instrument of their destruction.
Delirium of Destruction
You cherish unworthy sentiments.
It was your misfortune that you should have degraded yourself thus.
Honor! How late you are in remembering this word!
Victory and Sorrow
I know exactly how I shall leave this world.
It is your duty to rule it, less it should fall into lesser hands than yours and suffer.
A weakling can be of no use to his fellow men.
Quarrels and differences of opinion have their place even in heaven among the gods.
Remember, we can never see wealth acquired without some harm or injury to others.
Parrot like repeaters of the Vedas, who go on babbling without relevance.
If renunciation and passivity are the greatest of virtues, then mountains and trees should be the most virtuous in creation, for mountains and trees, always lead a life of aloofness and do not cross anyone’s path.
The man who is afflicted with madness must be treated by a physician and not obeyed.
Epilogue
Nothing is really ever conclusive.