10 Stories from the Mahabharata

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Pride, as we all know, leads us downhill. Yet, all of us, even the gods and our epic heroes, at one time or another, are ensnared into this trap. Is there any hope?

Yes, as these stories from folklore and the Mahabharata tell us, once having learned our lesson, it is possible to live a better life!

"I am sure, these stories will give a direction to the children and their parents and enable them to make a deeper study of our Puraņas and Itihasas and share its precious message with others." - Swami Chinmayananda ....Krşņa blessed them all and said, "So long as you remember that there is an unseen hand which guides you... you will not have a chance to suffer."

There are many other words of wisdom interspersed with the fun-filled stories. The author, Sri C.L. Purushothama Rao is a seasoned Mission worker with a deep knowledge of our ancient literature but also, with the ability to mould it for children so that they may enjoy the tales and learn from them.

This book contains ten stories culled out from Mahabharata, keeping in view the main theme, namely, 'Pride Goeth Before a Fall' (now titled as '10 Stories from the Mahabharata'). Two of the stories - 'Asvatthama accepts his defeat', and 'Bhima and Arjuna learn a lesson in humility' are based on the folklore while the rest are selected directly from Mahabharata. It is written in simple English, chiefly for children to evoke interest in Mahabharata stories and through them love for the great epic.

Most of these stories were first published in 'Bal Vihar' magazine for which I am grateful to the concerned authorities.

I am deeply indebted to the Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Bombay, for bringing out this in book form.

It is the cardinal insistence of our rși culture from Vaidika times that the world would be a better place to live in, if a better value system is followed by the people.

Society is constituted of individuals and, therefore, as the individuals so would be the society. If individuals live the baser values of animals - selfish, aggrandising, fighting, living only on instincts and impulses - that society will be an unholy place for peace and joy to arrive and dance.

When the individuals are taught to appreciate and trained to live the healthy, noble values, an evolved and a civilised society blossoms. Such a society would invoke mutual respect and concern, creating an atmosphere conducive to peace and progress.

Our Puraņas and Itihasas like the Ramayana and Mahabharata are inexhaustible treasure houses of such healthy values.

With the present-day cry on the need for a value based education in our country, the stories from our Pauraņika literature would provide perennial and easily assimilable source of guidance to the young men and women and through them serve to rebuild the society.