The Mahabharata, Volume 1: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning [Sanskrit]

By: Van Buitenen, J. A. B.

Book Overview

Revised

• Format: Paperback
• Language: Sanskrit
• ISBN: 0226846636
• ISBN13: 9780226846637
• Release Date: August 1970
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 545 Pages
• Weight: 1.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

the tragedy

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.

van Buitenen's Mahabharata

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.

Five Mahabharatas

I'm familiar with four translations of the Mahabharata. The first of these, that of C. Rajagopalachari (1951), contains a selection of over one hundred of the more interesting stories and episodes with interspersed comment. Rajagopalachari's translation is a joy to read. The quality of his English style is on a par with that of the finest English writers, and his vivid and dynamic versions of these stories capture much of their humor and poignancy, and have a real vigor, sparkle, and human interest. Anyone approaching the Mahabharata for the first time could do worse than start with this wonderfully readable selection. I wish I could say the same for the second and longer abridgement that came my way, that of Kamala Subramaniam (1965) in 766 large pages. Sadly, though one appreciates the effort that went into it, this is a book that I could not in good conscience recommend to anyone. Subramaniam seems to have had no grasp of English style at all. She has chopped each Sanskrit verse into small bite-sized pieces of English, and the staccato effect of her unending series of short, simple, unvaried sentences would, I think, weary any discerning reader. The third translation, and the only complete one I have, is that by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, published between 1883-1896. Mine is the economy paperback reprint in four stitched and sturdily-bound though poorly printed volumes, and runs to over 5000 closely printed pages. Although not, of course, based on the recent critical Poona edition of the Sanskrit text, this edition should serve well enough as a reading text for anyone but a Sanskrit scholar. J.A.B. van Buitenen, in the first volume of his own recent translation, comes down rather hard on Ganguli, though he apologizes for his harshness in a later volume. But to an impartial reader, van Buitenen's harshness seems hardly justified. As a native speaker of English myself, I find Ganguli's feeling for English to be on the whole superior to t

Van Buitenen died before finishing - what a shame

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.

An excellent contemporary translation

I find van Buitenen's work to be careful, rigorous, readable, and accurate. To me it is far more enjoyable than the Ganguli translation, and the copious explanatory notes help decipher obscure passages and explain the rationale behind any unorthodox translations. Van Buitenen preserves the flavour of the original Sanskrit, while at the same time adopting renderings that will not sound forced to the English ear. After all, if a translation is awkward, it cannot be considered to accurately render a beautifully flowing original. I thank and admire van Buitenen for his excellent work.