The Mahabharata, Volume 1: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning (Sanskrit Edition)

JABvanBuitenen, unlike anyone else, was able to transliterate the lyricism and music of Sanskrit into English. The subtle mastery of both languages make his translations of the Mahabharata (first 5 books only) and the Bhagavad Gita the most authoritative and for we who know no Sanskrit, the closest experience to it’s music and symbol beyond semantics that one can have. His translations are must-haves for anyone who loves or wants to know the Mahabharata.

This is a masterful text and must have for any library. I hope that scholars will continue with the translations of the later books.

Great and Easy to read

This translation was chosen for a class on the Mahabharata by a professor of mine who read the complete text in the original Sanskrit. She referred to this as the "only accurate translation", and having read bits and pieces of other translations I think I understand why. There are several translations of the Mahabharata by Indians who don't actually understand Sanskrit that well and are translating based on later retellings more familiar to them. This translation comes the closest to the way the story was actually understood by the ancients. Some reviewers seem to find it unfortunate that the resulting choices of words are sometimes "critical," but in fact they are simply accurate and the resulting text remains a timeless epic and a world classic.

This review applies to Vols. 1, 2 and 3 (Books 1-5) of the Mahabharata. The translation by J.A.B. van Buitenen comprises approximately the first third of the "Critical Edition" (Poona) of the Mahabharata and represents the only translation (partial) attempted thus far of this "Critical Edition". The only two completed prose translations date from the 1880's and 90's by K.M. Ganguli and by M.N. Dutt. The latter seems to "follow" the first. Dr. van Buitenen dismisses Ganguli's transaltion harshly in his introduction, yet his criticism of the "grating" English which "...does not allow comfortable reading..." applies to his translation as well. He takes many liberties in his "translation" and one gets a distinct impression of hastiness when reading, especially when coming across obvious errors. The judgments which van Buitenen passes on the History of Mahabharata Scholarship should be read with caution, for this may I recommend the recent Brockington: "The Sanskrit Epics". The only reason I would recommend this translation to anyone is, that it is unfortunately, all that is available. I would recommend the interested reader to seek out the Ganguli translation instead.

Van Buitenen was THE epic Sanskrit scholar of his era. His careful translation from a definitive text, in as much as India ever produces a definitive text, is a gift to the person who reads Sanskrit as well as to those who are dependent upon a translation. This applies to all published portions of his translation. The only disadvantage of this translation is that after it ends due to Prof. Van Buitenen's death, there is no adequate translation to finish the epic - only abridgements or translations from the turn of the (19th)century.Given the propensity of Indian epics to wander through a variety of stories within stories, I would suggest that someone with no familarity with the Mahabharata begin either with the Peter Brook's video - the longest version you can find - or with an abridgement. It will help you keep the players and action straight. However, once you know the base story there is no substitute for the epic in its own ornate and convuluted style. The difference between the abrigements and the real thing is as extreme as reading a retelling of the Iliad for fourth graders vs. reading Homer in translation.Even incomplete this readable, accurate translation is best of class.

The tragedy of J.A. B. van Buitenen's most excellent translation is his passing in 1979 that prevented the translation from being completed. Therefore, I warn those who read the first 2200 pages (the first three volumes) that they will have to seek out another translation (such as that by P.Lal, which, in my opinion is not of the caliber of van Buitenen's) if they wish to complete the epic tale. The only complete translation in English of The Mahabharata that I know of is that of Kisari Mohan Ganguli, published by the New Delhi publishing house Munshiram Manoharlal.An interesting note is that James L. Fitzgerald has continued with van Buitenen's translation, although he began with Vol. 7 (van Buitenen completed the first three volumes) rather than the next volume, 4, and anticipates it will be a 10 volume set. My guess is Fitzgerald began with the most interesting volumes so if he died without completing the project someone else would have to pick up the less interesting parts.

This translation is wonderful, far clearer than the earlier Ganguli (although Ganguli is still nice to have around for those moments when vanB chooses to leave a relatively obscure Sanskrit term untranslated). Overall, though, it is a far more accessible translation than Ganguli's, and serves to communicate the immediacy and urgency of the story which early listeners/readers would have experienced far better. The only real drawback is, of course, that the translator only got through the first five volumes in his lifetime. For those wanting to get a good, clear sense of the Mahabharata in all its incredible (and occasionally meandering) scope, pick up van Buitenen's three volumes, his Bhagavad-Gita, Johnson's Sauptikaparvan, Fitzgerald's books 11 and 12, and use Narasimhan's abbreviated version to fill in the holes.

Il s'agit du premier volume d'une traduction (savante) du Mahabharata en anglais. (Pour l'instant seuls les volumes 1, 2, 3 et 7 ont été publiés, soit moins de la moitié de l'œuvre). Il faut préciser que sa lecture demande non seulement une très bonne connaissance de l'anglais mais aussi un goût prononcé du détail et qu'elle requiert un sérieux effort si on n'est pas un familier des civilisations anciennes de l'Inde.

No sólo es esta una obra de referencia, sino que además tanto este como los otros dos tomos llegaron en un estado prístino.