Dharmaraja: Epic Characters of Mahabharatha

By Dr. M.K. Bharathiramanachar

Dharmaraja was true to his name- a person with fortitude, wisdom,courage, tolerance, kindness and righteousness. He was known to be a stickler to the dictates of dharma;thus, when he was invited to play a game of dice with the Kauravas, he didn't refuse. Infact, he played until he lost everything he had – his kingdom, wealth, brothers and even Draupadi. He could conquer hatred as can be seen when he sent Arjuna and Bhima to battle against the Gandharvas for the release of the Kauravas. Jayadratha was spared at his behest even though the latter had dragged Draupadi in his chariot. Only after he answered all the questions posed by the deadly python, Nahusha, did the python release Bhima. He impressed the yaksha so much that instead of one, all his brothers were brought back to life. Later, when the Pandavas lived in cognito in Viratanagar he stopped his brothers from destroying Virata as he was grateful to him for giving them shelter and food. Before the start of the Mahabharatha war, he took the blessings of all the elders though they were on the Kauravas' side. He was the chosen one to receive lessons in dharma and administration from Bhishma when he lay on his bed of arrows. Much against his wishes, he was forced to utter a lie to Drona , which he covered up by adding a truth though very softly. He was very moved by all the bloodshed and loss of life caused during the war. Sage Dwaipayana had to convince him to taking on the responsibility of becoming the King. He then systematized the administration and gave responsibilities to able men. Kunti, the Pandavas and Draupadi served and respected Dhritarashtra and Gandhari – they hadn't received such treatment at their own children's hands. Yudhistira's reign as a king was a model one as he was virtue incarnate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana
• Release date: May 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9788194018537

Book preview

EPIC CHARACTERS OF MAHABHARATHA

DharmaraJa

Written by

Dr. M.K. Bharathiramanachar

Translated by

Prof. G. S. Mudambadithaya

© Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana, Bengaluru. All rights reserved.

Published by:

Bharatha Samskruthi Prakashana

C/o. Bharatha Darshana,

163, Manjunatha Road, 2nd Block,

Thyagarajanagar, Bangalure 560 028,

Ph: [phone], [phone]

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FOREWORD

Sri Srirangasadgurave Namah

Sri Vedavyasa’s immortal work, the Mahabharata, is our national epic reflecting like a golden mirror, the internal and external forms of the character and culture prevailing in the land of Bharata from times immemorial. It is hailed as the fifth Veda as it portrays the battle between the demoniac and the divine forces ending in the triumph of the latter, and announces to the whole world the universal truths of life. At places it orders with the tone and tenor of a paramount monarch. At some other places it teaches through stories and episodes and examples like a bosom friend and in some other places it brings home truths in the manner of a sweetheart. It is therefore a Sruti, and Smriti and an Itihasa and a Purana and a Kavya, all embodied in one single work. It is an inexhaustible sourcebook for various literary works in Samskrit and local languages. On account of its extraordinary size of 18 parvas and the weightiness of its contents, it is appropriatly called the Mahabharata. Regarding the exhaustive teaching of the fourfold goals of life recommended by the founders of our culture, it has been rightly announced about this book as follows:

"Whatever is found here is found elsewhere and

what is not found here is found nowhere else."

We bless the efforts of Bharatha Samskrithi Prakashana to acquaint young minds with the prime characters of the above extraordinary work through these little vibrant volumes. It has derived inspiration from the 32 volumes of the Kannada version of the Mahabharata published by Bharatha Darshana, a premier publishing house, solely dedicated for the cause of the Bharathiya culture. The language of these booklets is very simple and lucid, so as to enter the hearts of the young minds and lead them on to the reading of the original. We hope that the younger generation will be able to analyse and judge these characters in the right perspective, elevate themselves and become good citizens of our nation.

We come across a large number of elderly people also who do not have a correct knowledge of the characters of the great epic. We hope that these little life-sketches based on the original Mahabharata, will serve very useful to them as well.

We fervantly hope that Bharata Samskruthi Prakashana will bring out many such useful publications in the future

With Narayanasmaranas

Sri