Critical Review: The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic by R. K. Narayan
R. K. Narayan's The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (2016, University of Chicago Press) is an audacious attempt to compress one of humanity's longest and most intricate epics. The Mahabharata is more than a tale — it's a layered narrative of history, philosophy, morality, and devotion, intricately entwined with the essence of Indian culture and spirituality. Through Narayan's retelling, enter this timeless tale in a fresh, accessible way.
R. K. Narayan
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayan (a.k.a. R. K. Narayan) was born on October 10, 1906, in Madras, India. Considered among the best Indian writers of the 20th century, Narayan's literary career spanned decades, during which he wrote many novels, short stories, and essays — frequently set in the fictional town of Malgudi. His trademark plainspoken, graceful prose hooked readers with tales that mirrored the intricacies of Indian society amid cultural conflict between tradition and modernity.
Narayan was more than just a literary hero; he was also a champion of Indian culture and heritage. His books have been translated into many languages and have won several awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan. His focus on simplicity and clarity in storytelling has made his themes accessible to readers of many walks.
The Mahabharata in Hinduism
The Mahabharata is significant in Hinduism. It is worshipped as both an epic account of the Kurukshetra War between the Pandavas and Kauravas, and as a philosophical work exploring dharma (duty/righteousness), artha (purpose), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation). These four aims of human existence explain the traditional notion of moral and ethical decisions, and the epic becomes a manual for self-improvement and mystical ascent.
Among its many subplots and lessons is the Bhagavad Gita — a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna in the heat of battle — grappling with profound existential questions of duty, righteousness, and the self. The Mahabharata, with its moral quandaries, dilemmas of fidelity and justice, and the masks of human emotion, aligns exceptionally well with Hindu beliefs in karma and reincarnation.
Critical Analysis of Narayan's Version
In The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version, Narayan tries to offer an abridged telling of the epic for a 21st-century audience. One of the strengths of Narayan's version is his knack for blending modern writing with the old, portraying complex characters and scenarios that are rich yet accessible to a contemporary audience.
Narayan's fluent, often lyrical, prose conveys the emotional force of the source. He skillfully abridges epic tales while preserving crucial plotlines and characters, rendering the story accessible and appealing to readers less versed in the complexities of the original Sanskrit work. This is a valiant effort, as it inspires you to confront a tale that might otherwise appear daunting because of its size and ambition.
Yet loss is unavoidable during such condensation, which leaves one wondering how faithfully is Narayan's retelling. No doubt, compressing the Mahabharata entails losing nuances and layers of meaning from the original epic. Certain philosophical discussions and moral quandaries that are so richly embedded in the original may strike as shallow or oversimplified in this abbreviated version. Narayan's Mahabharata, enjoyable as it is, occasionally trades depth for terseness.
In addition, Narayan's reading is colored by his own cultural context and literary sensibilities. It perhaps does not adequately convey the richness of significations ascribed by other academics and followers of Hinduism throughout the ages. To readers of different traditions, your own versions of the Mahabharata may differ significantly, shaped by local customs, annotations, and belief systems.
It would also be interesting to hear Narayan's take on the ethical quagmires represented in the Mahabharata from a contemporary perspective. His focus on the family can sometimes drift towards a conservative perspective. Still, it is also a point where his morality comes under strain from realpolitik.
Conclusion
R. K. Narayan's The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version is an important entry in the conversation surrounding this epic. It entrances with its storytelling and acts as a gateway for new readers to enter into the epic. But it also raises critical questions about the realities of adaptation — the trade-off between maintaining intellectual depth from the source text and broadening the user base.
As readers move through Narayan's retelling, they recall the timeless relevance of the Mahabharata, which continues to resonate with challenges encountered today. In this, Narayan's work neither fails to acknowledge the epic's deep cultural origins nor to stimulate thoughtful reflection on it. In a world struggling with the challenges of the moral life, Narayan's retelling reminds us of the timeless pertinence of ancient wisdom — a valuable, if watered-down, introduction to the lush philosophical tradition of Hinduism.
